#CharactersTell Background Characters - Interview with Setra Giardin

Well hello there people! Another week has passed, and not only that, we've officially entered Spring! It's the time for flowers, for birds to migrate south, for colors, and...well, for another interview! This week is dedicated to the Background Characters!

And well, he does bring the British charm!

This week we have Setra Giardin. She's a French-Canadian born-vampire working for The Order in Martyn Currill's novel "Of Angel's Blood". It's available on Amazon (Which you can find following this link!) and on FeedARead (Which instead is found here!)

Martyn is a UK based novelist, with already some works under his belt! You can find him on Twitter (where you should totally go follow him!). Aside from that, he's a fellow geek, and a lovely person to boot, so make sure to keep your eyes on him!

But! It's time to meet our guest for tonight!

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And we’re back with another week of #CharactersTell, and as it’s becoming tradition, fourth week is for Background Characters! So, hello there! Would you mind introducing yourself? Telling us who you are, what book are you from and who’s your author?

Bonsoir! I am Setra Giardin, from the novel OF ANGEL’S BLOOD, by Martyn Currill. And may I say, thank you for inviting me here. I don’t often get asked about myself.

I know right? The sad fate of background characters! But today we’re here to fix that! By your greeting, I’m guessing french? Where are you from? And especially, how is spring in your world?

French-Canadian. I was born in what is now Quebec, but I moved to Toronto about ten years ago, to undertake new duties here. And spring in Toronto is much like spring everywhere else, but with less rain and fog than England.

Oooh! New duties? What do you do for a living? And what were you used to do before moving to Toronto?

I serve The Order, as I always have. Like many born vampires, I was born into my service, and it is a matter of pride for us. Since moving here I have helped to train the team here, eventually taking over as the base commander three years ago.

Waitwaitwait! You were born a vampire? That does change things quite a lot! Are vampires common in your world? And what about other races? And what does The Order do in your universe?

[Laughs] you are either blind or ignorant to have gone so long without noticing. Though I suppose that is not your fault - we have been driven to hide our presence more than we would like, through your kinds’ relentless persecution of us. That is where The Order comes in. We are an organisation dedicated to providing safe, welcoming places where vampires and other preternatural beings are welcome, even finding purpose. We work, live and fight alongside a dedicated cadre of mortal soldier called Omega Company, men and women who believe in our cause, and seek to further a mutually co-existent society. Indeed, our current leader was a mortal himself, until recently.

As for other races, I do not know. There are a small amount of werewolves in Ireland, I believe, but I have heard little of any others. But they may well be out there! [chuckles]

Hey, can’t fault me. I see a lot of worlds a lot of times. So, vampires, men, and some werewolves in Ireland huh? Interesting! Let’s talk about the vampires. Are you like the popular culture depicts you? I mean, not evil, you don’t strike me as such, but speaking of abilities and problems and so on.

[laughs again] One of our greatest members once said that we are not inherently evil, we are simply ‘morally flexible’. A finer phrase I have yet to find.

Our abilities can vary, depending on bloodlines and so on, but we often have a certain degree of telepathy. Some are telekinetic, too, and only a very small number could control a human mind.

As for problems, it is a peculiar fact that over time, as more and more mortals were ‘turned’, many classic weaknesses were actually bred out of our physiology. Unfortunately, that just means the hunters become ever more inventive...and sadistic.

That sounds like a constant, uphill struggle...it sounds like there ain’t many of you, and you still need to keep everyone safe. It must be pretty stressful. What about your abilities and powers? How is it living with them? Telepathy might seem cool, but I bet it can get a tad annoying at times…

That is why we train rigorously. Lord Black - an unfortunate surname - suffered greatly with his psychic abilities, as I recall. However, those who were born into vampirism were taught how to use them, and how to block out the background noise, from a young age. Those who are turned...well, not all of them adapt well.

I can definitely imagine that! But let’s try to lighten up the mood, shall we? I understand how hard this life must be, but there has to be something you people do to relax and unwind. What’s your choice? Is there any game or passtime peculiar to your organization or your race?

Not particularly, no. Omega Company, being professional soldiers, will pass the time with their typical pastimes - drinking, or contact sports or some such. I do not know. I stay away from them. Myself, I am a lover of classical music and literature, though I have found a modern book series most fascinating - The Lord of the Rings. Exceptional.

Oh my, a book-lover! Can’t help but say that’s pretty much a winning tract around here. And do you ever think what you might do if things smooth out and the Order manages to make the world a better place for everyone? What would you do?

Human nature means that will never happen. I have lived through enough of your history to know that. But if it did? I might take up a different role. Maybe leave The Order, and teach. Or something similar. I have not had chance to consider it, really.

And what would you teach if you did? Any subject you’d love to pass on the younger generations?

With my background? French, naturally. Or history. [Laughs] or French history. Anything to curb the ignorance of the modern generations.

That’s a very noble ideal. And one I support one hundred percent. Unfortunately, though, our time is almost up - anything you’d like to say to our readers?

Only what our leader himself has added in his memoirs - to remind you, all of you, that we are not your enemies. We will welcome anyone who wishes to aid us, who believes in our cause.

We are all around you, but we are not evil. Merely morally flexible.

Also, I might be in need of a new aide. I will consider all applications.

Well, I *am* unemployed at the moment...But! Thank you for your time and telling us more about you today! We’ll make sure to see what’s going on in your world in the book!

Merci. It has been a pleasure.

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And this makes it for this week as well! We'll have a couple of days off, but April the 1st we'll be back with another Main Character! So keep your eyes open for that!

As always, remember that YOUR Characters can be featured in these interviews! Just send me a message on Twitter, which you can do just using the link on the right-hand side bar!

With that, I bid you all goodnight!

#CharactersTell Side Characters - Interview with Emily Lawrence

Welcome back, #CharactersTell crowd, for another weekly interview! I hope you're getting ready for spring, which is basically behind the corner - but speaking of which, today we'll talk with someone who's actually working to get some semblance of normalcy back in the whole world!

A gorgeous ginger, too!

Today's guest is Emily Lawrence, a Forensic scientist trapped in some sort of time loop in "Before Noon". She's a chipper, friendly person who's been a blast to interview! And well, she does sound feisty, and she looks the part as well!

She's so nice she even pets cacti!

The author of "Before Noon" is Gladys Quinn, who's an amazing writer that you should totally follow on Twitter (and you can do so by clicking this link here). You can find her on her site as well, which you'll get to through this link. Her novel is currently available and being updated on Wattpad, and it's easily readable for free (!!) on her profile, that you can reach following this link to keep yourself up to speed on this intriguing story, along with her completed works!

But enough faffing about! Time to get to the interview!

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And we’re back with another side character for this week’s interview! So let’s start with some introductions, shall we? Who are you? What book are you from, and who’s the author?

It’s great to be here! The name’s Emily Lawrence. I’m from Before Noon by Gladys Quinn.

I’m still waiting to find out what will become of my life by the time the book ends… Stay tuned.

We definitely will! What can you tell us about you and the world you’re living in?

Sure, definitely.

[clears throat and leans back, preparing for a long answer]

Wait, which one do you want to hear about first?

Mmh. Let’s go with the world, first. It’ll give us some context to know you better if we know where you live.

I was about to go along with world, anyway. [laughs]

So, it looks like I’m from your relative future—not sure how that works, but yes, in this time, climate change has become detrimental. I live in Australia, which is one of the first places to burn up.

OK, hang on. I forgot to mention that there’s some strange “voodoo magic” going on that’s making me relive the end of the world. So yes, people of 2018, thanks for screwing my life up. Just kidding.

At the very least we get to read about it. Still, one hell of a groundhog day scenario, huh? Have you ever seen the world before it went down the drain? What can you tell us about your early years, how you grew up?

I was born 27 years before it properly went down the drain, so I suppose so? But even then, I grew up taking the intercontinental train with my father to see what the world was like before it got too hot. They have screens in the tunnel that shows moving pictures of what the parts of the planet were like as you pass them. I really liked doing that.

Let’s see… I grew up in a fairly rural area in Victoria, where you could still see the stars at night. My father was an astronomer—he went to space eventually, in fact—so one of my favourite things to do was to look up through a telescope. When my father was called up for a sun research mission, I spent the rest of my childhood living with his best friend. Never knew my mother. She passed away shortly after I was born.

I have to admit, that sounds like quite the interesting, and rough life as well - between the loss of your mother, your father being away...but I can’t help but notice you do still seem to be very energetic and chipper, even with your current predicament. Were you always this cheerful, or is it something that came up later on in life?

That’s a very good question, mate. [scratches her head before continuing] I guess all these “rough” things happened so early in my life, so I’ve had a lot of time to regroup and prepare for this end of the world fuss. I took my father’s departure badly as a teenager, though. I associated with gang life, shaved my head, took drugs, all of that mess. It took so many bad trips to make me realise that I let such a small window of my life take over and it was destroying so much more time than it needed to. I think everyone was surprised when I went back to school, and probably fainted when they found out that I continued with my education up to a doctorate in forensics! [laughs]

For now, though, I think I’m keeping cool because I know that there’s a way to potentially fix things. There’s a hell of a lot of anxiety, for sure, but I’m keeping myself occupied by being methodical, trying to crack the mystery day by day. If I didn’t get the weird, repetitive dreams a few months before my apocalypse started resetting, I would have definitely been a wreck. Do I look like a wreck right now? I’m definitely stressed.

Well, considering the loquacity, I can see that. But, speaking of stress! Right now we’re approaching the good season in our time, where people usually go out, enjoy some more relaxation… Even in your current predicament, there must be some way you take the edge off and relax. What do you like to do in your spare time?

[snorts then makes a face] Work.

[laughs and pauses to think]

I do like drawing. I have an eidetic memory, and thankfully good hand-eye coordination, so sometimes if I feel very inspired to recreate a memory on paper, I’d draw it.

That’s a good hobby to have! We know you’re a side character in this story...How did you get to know the Main Character?

[shifty eyes] How do I say this nicely… I think I’ve been unfairly labelled the side character just because I’m not the narrator.

Anyway, Isabel asked to meet me through a friend of mine, I think two months into the apocalyptic resets? She seemed convinced that I held the key to stopping her suffering, which was the same resetting of the day I’ve been going through. [whispers] And I did hold the key to that.

It was a weird meeting, to say the least. She was giving me death stares all the time, until she found out that I was going through the same thing as her. Then I got less frequent death stares. Then a few more when I asked her to take her top off. [starts laughing]

Oh my! Well, look at the bright side, you can always become a main character for the next one… And interesting way of gaining death stares, there! So, our time is almost up for tonight - anything you’d like to tell our readers?

It wasn’t like what you’d think! [still laughing] She had a few identifying tattoos that I saw in those weird dreams that I told you about earlier. I’d never met her before so I had to check if the clues were leading to her or not.

Anything I’d like to tell the readers, hmm. [stops to think then grins] If you figure out how to send things to later this century, send me some natural coffee! I doubt our element-printed coffee tastes nearly as good as coffee grown and brewed naturally.

Oh shit, [covers mouth at the swear] was I supposed to say something meaningful?

Don’t worry. My main character told me to fuck off in the first interview, so yeah, swearing is fine. And glad to see coffee addiction is still alive and well despite all the hardships!

Anyway, it’s been a real pleasure having you around, Emily!

Thank you so much for having me! It’s been a good break and now it’s time for me to get back to… I guess, saving the world? Please do not mention that on my tombstone; that’s bloody lame. Anyway, thank you again!

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Well, she was quite talkative, wasn't she! It was definitely a pleasure to meet her! But, as always, all good things must come to an end, and so this interview. But stay tuned for next week, where we'll meet a background character!

And as always, a reminder - if you wanna see your character featured in one of these interviews, it's easy! Just shoot me a Direct Message on Twitter (you can find the link on the right sidebar!) and we'll sort it out!

See you next time!

#CharactersTell Antagonists Characters - Interview with Dr. James Pritchett

This cake looks delicious af, btw.

Hello #CharactersTell crowd! Welcome back to one of our blog interview, and before we begin - Happy international women's day!

Here she is, with her charming smile!

I hope you're all passing it well! As for us, we're here with a returning guest author this week, and we're delving back into Hollie Hausenfluck's 'Deja Vu' book. For those of you who haven't seen the Background Character interview two weeks ago, which you can find here, Hollie is a lovely woman and author that you can find on Twitter, where you should totally follow her (and you can find her profile through this link).

'Deja Vu' is her upcoming Romantic Suspense novel, but aside from that, she is a prolific blogger - and you can get to her amazing blog through this link!

But we all know why we're here - we're here to get to know the Antagonist! So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Dr. James Pritchett, this week's guest!

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And we’re back with another Antag! I have to say I am a bit wary, you never know what sort of people comes around… What about you? What can you tell us about you, the book you’re in and the author writing it?

My name is James Pritchett. I’m from the novel Deja Vu, written by Hollie Hausenfluck.

A pleasure to meet you, James. Can I call you James, or do you prefer another way of addressing you? And...well, you’re the antag of this novel, but I’d like to get to know you a bit better. Where were you born? What’s your star sign?

First of all, I would prefer to be addressed as Dr. Pritchett. I didn’t spend 7 years in medical school for people to call me Mr. As for the rest of your questions, I don’t see myself as the antagonist. I’m the hero. I save people, just not in the traditional sense of the word. I was born in Charleston, SC and I don’t set much stock in star signs, but if you must know, I’m a Taurus.

Dr. Pritchett it is then. And well, they do say that Taurus signs are uncompromising, practical and patient. Do you recognize yourself in this description?

I am a very patient man. I’ve waited more than twenty years to get what I want. As to being practical, of course I’m practical, I’m a doctor. You have to have a practical outlook when it comes to dealing with patients. Uncompromising? I don’t see myself as uncompromising. Other’s might argue different, but I’ve done nothing but compromise my whole life for other people. Now it’s their turn.

I mean, a testament to your patience is being here humoring me with my questions, so I think I can see your points. A doctor, then? May we know in what field of specialization?

Right now, I work at a rehabilitation facility in the heart of downtown Charleston. I’m a general practitioner, though my field of expertise used to be obstetrics. I spent a lot of time in school studying and when I started working at an OB/GYN office, I just couldn’t handle working that close with these women. The filth, oh it was terrible.

If you are feeling this way about them, what made you take that specialization back in the day? And what made you choose to become a doctor?

Well, it’s a very long story, but I guess it’s important. I was born to a crack addicted mother, who couldn’t quit her habit long enough to raise me. She signed away her rights and I bounced around in the system. I never really found a stable home and I thought as I grew into a teen, that I wanted to help these women, but it turned out being an obstetrician, just wasn’t how I wanted to help them. Now I do different work and it’s even better.

I’m sorry you had such a rough life before the start of this book. I can imagine something like this must have put you in a pretty sour disposition towards seeing certain...things in your line of work. Though I can’t help but feel like the way you say ‘work’ does sound a tad...ominous? Is it what is putting you in this position in the book?

Yes. It seems that no one understands how important my work is. Although, I’m not sure If I would consider it work, it’s more like art. I transcend these women and turn them into masterpieces.

So you consider yourself an artist? How did you start finding out you had this sort of artistic streak?

It really started as an experiment. First, I found my mother, after 20 years, I was able to track her down. I thought maybe a meeting would be nice, maybe we could have one of those happy family reunions, but unfortunately I was wrong. She hadn’t changed. So now, I was left with the hard decision of what to do. I decided I would try to fix her, but when that didn’t work, I killed her. I immortalized her. Everyone will remember Sarah Smith as the poor drug addicted prostitute that was murdered. Her story will be told over and over again.

That’s...quite interesting, actually. Do you think your work will give them some sort of justice? Notoriety or infamy? It kinda sounds like you not only want to make your art, but give relevance to a life that might be completely forgotten if not for you.

What can I say? I’m a saint. But there’s more to it than that. I only work with women who have children. I know what those children are going through. Abandoned and forgotten by a mother who would rather do drugs than be a mother to her children. In a lot of ways, these children that are left behind should be thanking me. I just don’t understand how other people don’t understand how important my work is.

There are the whole societal norms and the common social construct of moral and ‘goodness’ after all. How did you find yourself detaching from those views? Or have you never shared them to begin with?

Maybe it had something to do with the way I was raised. I never really had a role model or any parental guidance. What little guidance I did receive was always delivered with some form of abuse. You see these? *James pulls up his shirt sleeves*

Look like cigarette burns right?

A hard life can give eschewed lessons, after all. There could be an interesting argument for the whole ‘Nature vs. Nurture’ here, but I wouldn’t want to spoil the fun for the readers to delve deeper into these sort of things themselves. So let’s change the subject, lighten up a bit. Sure, you might have your views on the world and your work, but you’re still a person. What do you do aside from...well. That? Are you an outdoors person?

Not really. In my free time, I do a lot of research and reading.

An intellectual through and through. Research related to your ‘work’? Or something else? And what about your social life?

I do a lot of research on addiction and how it affects the body. Social life? I do a lot of dating, but it’s not in the sense that you’re thinking.

Oh my! A very interesting way of wording it...I’m sure there’s quite the surprise behind those words, but far from me spoiling it. Not to mention, we’re almost out of time for this week! Anything you’d like to say to our readers?

Don’t take me for granted. I will get what I want, no matter what it takes.

I mean… don’t get me wrong, but that does sound like quite the Taurus response. Maybe there is some truth to that stuff after all. Anyway! It’s been a real pleasure having you with us tonight! Can’t wait to see your art in Deja Vu!

It was my pleasure.

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Brr. I've got the shivers after talking with him, he does sound like a driven and ruthless individual - and I can't wait to see him in action in Deja Vu!

As always, here's a reminder that you can get your characters interviewed here by reserving a slot - to do so, send me a direct message on Twitter! You can find the link to do so on the right sidebar! And with this, another week start and I bid you goodnight! See you around people!

#CharactersTell Main Characters: Interview with June Parker

Hello there, #CharactersTell crowd!

February is gone, and with the new month, a new cycle of interviews comes right along with the questions on Twitter!

June's looking gorgeous too!

Getting us back in the swing of things with another Main Character is the talented author Rebecca Yelland, who brings to the table June Parker, the protagonist of her "Dancing at Midnight". The book is an emotional adventure with amazing reviews on Amazon, and you should totally go and check it out! You can find it following this link!

She has a fun smile too!

You can find Rebecca Yelland on Twitter (where you should totally follow her) and she has a very snazzy site as well, that you can find here! She's an amazing, fun person and I had a blast doing this interview!

But enough talking! Let's get to know June a bit more, shall we?

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And we’re back to a main character! Hopefully, I won’t have you cuss me off like Zoe did last month...Can you introduce yourself, the book you’re from and your author to us?

My name is June Parker. I’m from the book, Dancing at Midnight by Rebecca Yelland.

A pleasure to meet you June! Thank you for joining us today. Can you tell us a bit more about yourself, and the world you live in? And do you like dancing at midnight?

I was born during the Great Depression. I’ve had an eventful life. The book is about my story as told in journal format. The title refers to a special moment in the book. (spoiler)

Then let’s leave the meaning of the title for the readers to find out~ So! The Great Depression? That’s an interesting period to live in, it must not have been easy in an era like this… How are you living it? How do you get by?

No, it wasn’t easy. My life took a turn of painful events. I ended up in an orphanage for a brief time. All of this a secret to the daughter who found my journals after my death.

Oh, so is this how we’re going to follow you in your steps? Condolences by the way...I...guess. Did you always have a penchant for writing a journal? Or did something happen that made you want to start one?

This is the only journal I’ve ever written. It was for a specific purpose during a certain point in my life. The why and how are part of the mystery for the reader.

And what about the who’s? You said you’ve spent some time in an orphanage and had some clearly interesting times in your life. Did you make many friends? They do say there’s strength in numbers...or did you tend to stay more on your own?

My father was a musician who refused any work that wasn’t such. My mother work as a nurse supporting our family. After a while she kicked him out thinking our life would be better. Then she lost her job and couldn’t find work. She had no choice but to place me in the orphanage. I met two people there that would be my source of strength through adulthood.

I’m glad you managed to find someone who would stand by you after such hardships. And do you like music? Does it keep a good spot in your heart or did you try to distance yourself from it due to how it had your parents split?

I’ve never really thought about music one way or another. I adored my father. I didn’t understand at the time why my mother threw him out. Despite our hardships, he gave me a special gift on my birthday. A stuffed bunny that I kept forever to remember him.

Oh! So despite everything you did manage to keep a heart for cuddly and fluffy things - have you ever wanted to expand your collection of stuffed animals?

My mother married again when I was 10 and took me out of the orphanage. My stepfather was very wealthy, but very evil. When I first came to their new house, my room was filled with dolls, toys and stuffed animals. It was a high price to pay for the abuse I would endure there. Only my father’s bunny meant anything to me.

I can understand that. Gifts to just make gifts are meaningless, if there’s no affection behind them. And what about you? What’s the best gift you made to someone?

I can’t say for who (spoiler), but I made a message book for someone with a note of encouragement for each day they would be away from me.

Awwwh! That sounds absolutely adorable and gorgeous! Now for something a bit different - what did you do for a living?

After I left - or rather escaped - my mother’s house at 17, I was reunited with my friends from the orphanage and got a job as a server in the dining room at a mountain resort. It was the best time of our lives.

Oh dear that ties so very well with what I wanted to ask next! We’re entering March, and with it we’re getting towards springtime...What’s your favourite season?

Summer. I will never forget our summer together at the resort.

Sounds like you had a blast that summer. And what about being outside? Do you prefer swimming or hiking?

Not so much hiking. But I took many lone walks around the lake there and found my own quiet place to think.

That’s lovely. And are the owners of the resort treating you well?

Yes. They even kept me and my friends on during the off season so we’d have employment.

I’m so glad to hear that! It sounds like you really found a great place to be after you ran from your mother’s house. With all that happened it’s good to know you had such high points. Do you have any vices? Bit of a glutton? Or something else?

No. I’m a gentle soul and very self-disciplined.

Discipline is a good thing. And you sound very mature and centered as well. Did you ever have to act as the strict one with your friends? You know, keep them in line?

No. I admired my friends for their boldness and spontaneity. I actually wanted to be more like them.

Have you ever tried? Without counting the running away, it sounds like that was a necessity more than just spontaneity… did you ever do a crazy thing just for the fun of it?

Not really. They were the masterminds and I loved to go along.

Well, can’t wait to read about your adventures with them then! I’m afraid our time is almost over for today...anything you’d like to say to our readers before saying goodbye?

We’ve only hit the halfway point of my story. Many tragedies follow later. Because of that, my personality becomes withdrawn and misunderstood. When someone experiences excessive trauma in their lives it can affect the way the interact with others. Especially their children. My daughter never understood me because I hid this part of my life from her. You never really know someone until you know their story.

And I’m glad your author is going to share your story to us, so we, along your daughter, will get to know the whole you. Thank you again for your time, June! It’s been an absolute pleasure having you here with us today. We’ll see you on our bookshelves soon!

Thank you for having me. I hope someone can learn something from my story.

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And this is it for our first week of March! Getting to know June was amazing, and she sounds like she has quite the interesting and powerful story to share, so be sure to go and read it!

Remember: if you want YOUR character to be interviewed here on the blog, just send me a direct message on Twitter! You can find the link to do just that on the right sidebar, along with all the other links!

With that, I bid you all a good evening!

Toodles~