Search

The Protagonist Speaks

Interviews with the characters of your favourite books

Open Search

Lisa (of The Dark Colony by Richard Penn)

SONY DSCDear readers, tonight with us is an interplanetary colonist. As we ask the questions, we ask our readers patience – it takes time for the communication beam to make it out to the asteroid belt and back with Lisa’s answers. 

 

 

Why did you chose to become an interplanetary colonist, despite the isolation from the rest of humanity?

Good mornsol, Assaph. Sorry to take so long answering, I’m twenty light-minutes away from you. I know you Earthlings aren’t used to that. It’ll take 40 to answer each question. I didn’t choose to come out to the belt, my parents were born in the Moon. They joined the colony expedition for Terpsichore when I was two. So I’ve never known any other kind of life. That said, I love it, and I’d leave Earth in a heartbeat, if only to get away from the gravity. As for isolation, I’m part of a community of 200, living in each others’ pockets. From the videos, I’d say Earthlings have a lot less real contact with people.

What is your role on the Terpsichore space station?

I’m a cop. I was a lowly constable when all this kicked off, then I got thrown into situation where I had to take charge. I’m captain of my own ship now, but I’m still a cop, with a boss on Phobos. Continue reading “Lisa (of The Dark Colony by Richard Penn)” →

0

Bane Shaw (of Closer to Home by Regan O’Leary)

Closer to Home - Regan OLearyDear readers, tonight with me is a Scottish musician, now living and working in Hollywood South (that’s the south Louisiana film industry, for those not in the know).

He will tell us of his move, and of some dark secrets from his past that haunted him across the Atlantic.

 

It’s rumored that you drink a lot of whisky, is that true?

Aye, well I suppose the answer depends on your definition of “a lot.” Let’s just say I enjoy whisky like the true Scotsman I am.

What is the story behind your nickname ‘Bane’?

(Wry laugh.) Well, it means ‘Bone’. The week I turned eighteen I got a job at the public house of the Hill’s Hotel. I worked as a barman. But, bartending at night at The Rigg sometimes required breaking up fights, especially during football matches between the Rangers and Celtics. The rivalry is as old as Glasgow itself and has more to do with religious bigotry than football so things often got intense inside the pub. My manager gave me the nickname, “Bane,” because, more times than not, anyone I had to throw out of the pub left with a broken bone. Continue reading “Bane Shaw (of Closer to Home by Regan O’Leary)” →

4

Josie Tucker (of The Bride Wore Dead by EM Kaplan)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Dear readers, tonight with me is the renowned food-blogger and critic Josie Tucker. She is here to tell us about some of the hair-raising, Agatha Christie adventure – only vaguely related to food – which she had recently. 

 

Where did you grow up? When did you decide to become a food critic, despite your digestive issues?

I spent some formative years growing up in Tucson, Arizona—partly in high school, the rest in what you might call the school of hard knocks. I’m not bragging or anything—sometimes I think I’m lucky I’m still here. Those chollas, man, can eat you alive. Do not mess with teenage girls of the Latina variety. Though one of them saved my butt. More than once.

And my job…Like a lot of jobs, I fell into being a food critic accidentally. I mean, my mother used to have a restaurant, so I have a blue collar knowledge of the food industry first hand. But when I applied as an intern to the now-defunct newspaper that was my first job, I was just supposed to be a human interest researcher. You know, follow up on names and places and dates. Get a few pictures if no one else was around to do it. Long story short, I ended up ghostwriting the food column for the psycho-columnist-in-residence. By the time the psycho imploded and they found out I didn’t have any formal training—no degree from the Cordon Bleu or the Culinary Institute, nothing like that—my readership had increased enough that I was safe from being fired. The people had spoken and they liked me, for whatever reason. Luckily.

As for the digestive issues, no one knows about that, so I’d appreciate it if you keep that off the record. I’m in denial myself. Continue reading “Josie Tucker (of The Bride Wore Dead by EM Kaplan)” →

0

Max Villalobos (of The Galapagos Agenda by Leonardo Wild)

Leonado Wild - Galapagox AgedaDear readers, tonight with us is someone who we might mistake for a playboy. This son of a billionaire however, found himself embroiled in an international intrigue involving nations.

 

 

What was is like growing up as the son of a billionaire?

You mean, was I happy? Worry-free. The answer to that is a big “No.”

When everybody wants something from your father—including kidnapping him, or taking his life—then you wish you weren’t the son of a billionaire. Especially when you begin to realize that maybe they have good reason.

That’s not something you’re very much aware of when you grow up, not until you begin to realize that … well, that you don’t like your father much.

Oh yes, indeed, there are perks, perks that for many years seemed not only normal to me, but a given. But then one day I realized my father wouldn’t hesitate to kill me if he could gain something from it. Continue reading “Max Villalobos (of The Galapagos Agenda by Leonardo Wild)” →

0

Jamie Kendrick (of Bad Decisions by EM Smith)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Dear readers, tonight with me is a man who managed to break free of his white-trash background littered with bad decisions, and is now a valued members of a special black-ops unit in the army.

What is it like to wear an ankle bracelet?

It sucks. It rubs all the hair off that spot, you have to bag the monitor up whenever you take a shower, and if it’s a drug monitoring bracelet like mine, you can’t even use mouthwash or it will spike your alcohol measurement and set the damn thing off, then BOOM, jail time. Also, you got to pay for the delight of wearing it out of your own pocket. You can’t go swimming or wading or hand fishing, either, which used to be my favorite ways to waste time with my brother.

What was the scariest situation you’ve been in?

I guess I probably oughta say something like “getting shot at by human traffickers,” but the truth is that wasn’t near as scary as standing on the ground, watching the helicopter of one of those sex traffickers lift off with my nieces in the cockpit. I still have nightmares about that. Continue reading “Jamie Kendrick (of Bad Decisions by EM Smith)” →

0

Jonas Black (of Black Fall by DJ Bodden)

Black Fall - D. J. boddenDear readers, tonight on the interview couch is a young man who had recently discovered some dark secrets in his family history. He is here to tell us about his personal journey in learning to deal with who he really is.

 

When did you first realise that you and your family are different from other people?

I guess I always knew we were different. My parents had – well, I thought they had – porphyria cutanea tarda. That’s PCT for short. It’s a disease that makes people super sensitive to sunlight, so we had to have heavy black curtains on all the windows and they only left the house at night. I grew up with nannies; I spent years explaining that to people… turns out it was all BS. I felt pretty stupid when I found out. Could we talk about something else? Continue reading “Jonas Black (of Black Fall by DJ Bodden)” →

0

LX (of Fate by G.G. Atcheson)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Dear readers, tonight with me on the couch is LX (or Alex for us Earthlings), an interstellar navigator. LX has been stranded on Earth for a while, trying to remain hidden. A recent discovery of some other beings that walk our earth has forced him out of of seclusion.

 

What’s your name?

Our alphabet is different from yours but using yours, it would be Lutnalind Zhendar Xavelk…LX or Alex if you prefer. It sounds pretty much like it does in my language.

Where were you born? What is it like growing up there?

I was born on a planet called Xhartan. For most of the time, growing up there was all right. I mean, we do not have diseases, or wars. The rain only comes down when our weathermen decide the planet needs some. You see, we have the most advance technology in the universe, so what is there not to like? Yet, albeit all that, growing up there was not easy for me. Kids loved to make fun of me because of my shorter stature, and to top it all, my eyes change colors with my mood so there is not a nickname I did not receive. It forced me to spend most of my time hiding, studying under a waterfall where I found company among the wild animal kingdom. Continue reading “LX (of Fate by G.G. Atcheson)” →

0

Izzy Gin (of Seeking Sorrow by Zen DiPietro)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hello dear readers. Tonight with me is the cheeky adventurer Izzy Gin, hailing from the world of Terath where magic and technology co-exist.

 

Tell us about Terath. How do technology and mana co-exist and affect society?

Our society has developed around the use of mana. It powers our cities and serves as our currency is based on it. Manahi, of course, enjoy some prestige because there’s such a small percentage of the population who can use mana. Fortunately, most of them are good people. In fact, some of my best friends are manahi.

Recent events notwithstanding, we’re largely a peaceful population. We’re fortunate to have fantastic technology. I’ve never been able to decide whether technology augments mana or the other way around. But overall, we Terathians have a pretty sweet deal. Continue reading “Izzy Gin (of Seeking Sorrow by Zen DiPietro)” →

1

Dahoud and Merida (of Storm Dancer by Rayne Hall)

STORM DANCER dark epic fantasy RayneHall cover 2013-01-30Dear readers, tonight we are hosting the notorious Dahoud, a former siege commander with more curses on his head than a camel has fleas, and a conscience heavier than a bricklayer’s tray. Together with him is his lover, the foreign weather magician Merida. 

 

 

Let us start with Dahoud first. Tell me, what are you most proud of in your past?

[Dahoud] The first time I took charge. I was a fifteen-year old grunt in the army. Our unit was transporting supplies when the enemy attacked. One after the other, our officers fell. I rallied the survivors, and we recaptured some of the supplies, and got our wounded back to base. Nobody questioned my command, and it felt good. I was made a centurion after that, quite an achievement for a young nobody from the Samil tribe without family or education.

What was your childhood like? Any favourite toys?

[Dahoud] There was no time for childhood. When you were old enough to walk, you were put to work, guarding the flocks, mostly. I don’t remember anyone giving me toys. My mother certainly didn’t. I made my own stone sling and bow and arrows and practised with them – do they count as toys? Continue reading “Dahoud and Merida (of Storm Dancer by Rayne Hall)” →

2

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑