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The Protagonist Speaks

Interviews with the characters of your favourite books

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Logan Preaker, Seiner Butch, Amira Dhorian, and Tania Maestas (of Earth Warriors, by Lui Petri)

Dear readers, tonight with us are four unlikely heroes from Earth’s future. They are here to speak about the alien empire that declared war on earth, and about rising to the challenge when militaries and governments crumble.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

Logan: Oh, an interview right here and now?

Tany: Oh yay! We besties are gonna get super famous after this!

Seiner: Tany, focus on the questions for this time, please…

Amira: So, this will be those archival questions back in Sorania? I can take that as you wish, dear human.

Logan: So, where do I grew up for each of us, you say? Well, I was raised near the Little Tokyo district in LA, which is where I could find many people of various ethnicities, most were good, and chatty and go to play around while my parents did their business, others didn’t care much, but my parents always taught me to always love everyone for what they do, instead what they are like. To see the inside instead of the exterior if you catch what I say. It didn’t came without sacrifices, but that’s how it was for me.

Seiner: Alright. Name’s Seiner Butch, originally from the old England, yet no teacups or grey rains as you assume from us. But that nitpick aside, got some dual parents like Logan had, with my dad being the best lawyer back then while I took my chances in studies and curriculums and all that bloke stuff. That’s how I got this brain, yeah. As for how we got here… long story, maybe next time.

Amira: I shall gracefully speak out now. Amira Dhorian, former princess of the Dhorian Royal Family from the Soranian Kingdom, one of the main planets of the Committee of Planets. As princess, I was instructed to practice my knowledge of diplomatic measures, as well as some close combat should the need of war arrive. For that nature, I grew up training in other planets with my brother Varris, where I also practiced my power to understand beings through their hearts and souls, something that benefited us Soranians for decades. Such where simpler times where I thought peace was the guaranteed form for all life forms. Sadly, that didn’t came to be.

Tany: Well, if you want to light up the mood, here ya go! Name’s Tania Maestas but call me Tany if you like! An El Paso girl from my travelling parents who wanted to make their cute lil’ girl smile even if they took odd jobs to feed me and all that jazz, get some besties in school and even try to make it fun for the others! And after the fun, I had even more in Dallas, where I tried to be a goodie one even when my grades didn’t grade on Einstein, but hey, I found my besties. But now… I can make besties with these three!

Seiner: Hopefully without getting to blow your staff up, that is.

Tany: Hey!

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

Logan: Ah yes, I do remember fondly once I went to a day in the beach with my high school pals, just watching the sunset with people no matter who they were was the sight I can always cherish the most in life, the closest I could see in following what my parents and Richard wanted for me. That, and having dinner with the closest town hall in Los Angeles, that act of kindness I won’t ever forget…

Seiner: Me? It’s so obvious from me, but for your insistence, building my first ever functional robot with C-… My brother witnessed it in its full glory back in a park. To even achieve that a tender age? Must mean I have the gift… Or if you want something more sentimental, I’d say my 6th Christmas with whole family. The happiest I’ve been before it went down. No, not the time to say.

Amira: I have so many, but if I must pick one, it is when I felt the touch of Varris when I was born. Even fresh from birth, I could see that Varris’s touch carried warmth that showed me the beauty of a person, the first one I could read. Even if they kept a firm face, I could hear the joy and crying within him, to have a sister to look for. That is what I can cherish right now.

Tany: Awww. Oh, me? Oh, so many to pick, so little to tell, how can I… Oh, got it! Rapid fire! My 10th birthday party with the whole neighborhood, getting my only A+ in class, going to Berlin in class, and of course, tying my shoes, all made me smiley smile so very much I can tell you all day! Oh wait, I forgot when I won the arcade prize and-

Seiner: Next…!

What do you do now?

Logan: The de facto leader of the Earth Warriors while working in tandem with the UEF in the war against the Zlocu. It’s the choice we had to carry out to survive, if what the Guardian see in us is true. I strike with my blade to shield those who need to survive, and also to take down whenever possible, even though I believe there has to be other ways. Given I’m the only left in the family, I had to settle with them, but I like them, I really do.

Amira: Oh, Logan…

Seiner: I’m the gadgeteer and genius. If you need some transport or a specialized weapon or anything else to get through some messy obstacle, I’m your guy. Of course, it’s time limited in how I use them, so I must calculate which one is the best use, so I balance that out as much as I can.

Amira: Well, given that my planet is no more, I am still thinking of what I should do for my people’s memory, while I try to understand humans even more right now, even those oustside Logan, Seiner and Tany while I still look for Varris. It is a scary thought, yet for the sake of all, I must continue.

Tany: And I’m your magical jester student who can summon almost everything you need or if you want to get your sorry butt kicked like a naughty dog! You want some snow flakes to chill? You got it! Want to fire up a BBQ? I got you! Want me to slap little butts with giant gloves? I can-

Seiner: No. Cease.

Tany: But why?!

Logan: I… think because that would a bit too dirty for this interview.

Tany: C’mon, Loggie, not you too!

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

Logan: Well, it was a close one to say the least, the first one since Amira got released from custody. Going into a stadium from San Diegoto rescue top scientists and some of our comrades in a hellish three way against the Zlocu was not in my bingo card but despite all, we got through, right guys?

Seiner: Oh, for sure, Logan. At least splitting up in each direction helped us to ease the pressure in knowing who to save and shield while we did our parts.

Amira: Yes, I certainly have done so much to secure everything in place, but when facing Yamja… I tried my best to control myself, but even then, there was so much I can handle. I am thankful for Logan for stepping on time.

Tany: And then we got some pizza party back at base to get everyone happy! Almost everyone though, that meanie Ji-ae sulked with that asshat Walty like we weren’t there. Is that the thanks we get?!

Amira: I believe they are still processing what has happened, especially with their partner.

Tany: Oh… yeah, move on, never mindly that.

Continue reading “Logan Preaker, Seiner Butch, Amira Dhorian, and Tania Maestas (of Earth Warriors, by Lui Petri)” →
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Athena (of The Orichalcum Crown, by J. J. N. Whitley)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a young princess, talking about exile, dragons, and lost family members.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

I grew up in the palace. Father was often too busy being the emperor, and Mother too busy not caring. That left the servants with the job of keeping me respectable. I was easier to discipline before my powers. More polite, dignified. Once I realized nothing could hurt me, I wanted to let loose.

The kiddos weren’t around yet, so I had to make my own fun. Mostly exploring the palace, learning history or sparring with Klaus. 

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

I was more a teenager at the time, but Old Man Python made a mechanical bike. He had me test out the prototype. Since I’m harder to hurt, it was safer to use me than someone else. He let me keep it after the tests.

As for memories, there’s a lot. 

Hate to admit one of them involves my father. He helped me control my powers when they manifested. There’s an aura around my body that doesn’t let anything in. Great for a bar fight, terrible when I’m trying to drink. I couldn’t let anything in the first few days. Then he sat with me, promised me his hand wouldn’t hurt me, and I was able to let him through.

A lot with my sisters.

One of the best days of my life was when Olive joined the family. Rambunctious little scamp but looking after her gave me purpose. Olive needed to wind down, and the little ruby needed to relax. Seeing Olive smile the first time she painted. Kidnapping Makoto to take her running through the flowers.

Hate to play favorites with the kiddos, but nothing beats the first time I held Lucielle. I’d been an older sister a couple times but never from the start. Meant a lot to me.

What do you do now?

Still trying to figure that out to be honest. Best part of being an exiled princess is not having to deal with the pageantry of politics. The worst part is everything else. 

Did a lot of traveling and liked most of what I saw but hard to stick around in places that don’t like my family name.

Heard my family was in danger and made my way back home. So, my duty now is to keep my sisters safe. Mostly, that means being suspicious of every one else and punching when necessary.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

I was minding my own business when my uncle found me. He’s one of Mother’s earliest creations. History says he used to be a dragon, but you wouldn’t guess by looking at him now. 

Uncle’s the kind of person who doesn’t take much seriously, but when he speaks you listen. He warned me someone was plotting to assassinate my father at the annual ball.

And if he’s in danger, there’s no telling what might happen to my sisters. So, it’s up to me to warn them of the danger and to stop any plans already in motion. Like I said, being suspicious and punching when necessary.

Continue reading “Athena (of The Orichalcum Crown, by J. J. N. Whitley)” →
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Sonja Vinzler (of Kepstadur Keep, by R. G. Sartain)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a woman trying to find a way to bring her brother back from the dead. Though educated in magic, it is still an uncharted territory. She is here to talk about haunted places and the undead, as well as family ties.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

Jrendavar is great — a little grey, so I’m told, but you get used to that after a while. A peaceful country for the most part, at least in the West where I’m from. The nearest city is Helslidir, though these days, our vineyard might be better known. Snow’s Grove Vineyard. My grandparents were the first to discover magic to grow grapes where grapes really didn’t want to be grown. 

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

If I’m honest, it’s hard to remember too far back. There was a time where my siblings and I would bind hay into little stick-figure people. None of them lasted long enough to become favorites. We spent a lot of time with our imaginations, my brother, sister, and I. They were both talented with perception magic early on — illusions and hallucinations and whatnot. So maybe “imagination” isn’t quite the right word.

What do you do now?

Oh, well… Well, I’m a bookkeeper, actually. Or I was. Once I get back home, I will be again, probably. Numbers just work in my head. I keep up with figures for most of the businesses that work with the vineyard. I am nervous to find out who’s been tracking everything in my absence. Surely someone has…

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

Sure, yes… What is there to say about Kepstadur? It was pretty cold for the summer months, even here. Beautiful, but cold. And definitely haunted. There were times I couldn’t hear my own thoughts, the voices were so loud. It was hard to know the real from the fake — and losing that certainty in yourself is pretty jarring. I knew the magic there would be strong, but the revenants… that first attack still rattled me. 

Continue reading “Sonja Vinzler (of Kepstadur Keep, by R. G. Sartain)” →
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Admiral Nil (of Sons of Taldra, by Duane Simolke)

Dear readers, tonight we bring you a reality show from an alternate reality, one where the human home world comes together under a constitution based on the Iroquois Federation. Our guest is here to speak about interplanetary conflicts, as a race of alien shapeshifters is intent on using people as a food source.

Welcome to the season premiere of Lalololalo’s Celebrity Show. Over the past forty years, you’ve known me as the gossip master who interviewed wallscreen actors, hologram designers, pressure tournament champions, and the like. Well, today, I’m the luckiest woman on the planet Valchondria, because the Top Maintainer herself is my special guest, Admiral Nil! Tell us a little about yourself, Admiral.

As you mentioned, I am Admiral Nil. As the commander of the Maintainers, I keep the world safe.

How would you describe the Maintainers to people who don’t know?

That’s a disturbing thought. We are a combination of military and police on the human home world, Valchondria. We guide Valchondrians in their daily lives, to keep them safe from disrupters and heavy hazard thoughts.

Did you have any favorite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

I had many toys, and I organized them in my room according to size and cuteness. Larger was always cuter. That was before the time when everyone regained the ability to see in color, but I imagine the largest toy was more brown than the gray shade I saw. It was a hiliate, a huge crustacean that our Valchondrian ancestors kept as pets and a mode of transportation.

My parents knew that I displayed the superior genetic code of someone who could attend one of the elite academies that train the Maintainers. They even knew, somehow, I would one day lead the Maintainers. I talked of little else, though I eventually found a boyfriend and told him we would become married one day. My spouse is very ill now, and our son is the only comfort in my life. No, my job is the truest comfort, but I do love my spouse and my son. They are treasures.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

While we’re facing a deadly outbreak of influenza, a spaceship is on a trajectory to Valchondria. As your audience hopefully knows, we outlawed contact with anyone outside our atmosphere years ago, because one of our ships of colonists encountered a hostile alien race called the Naadloosh, while our other ship of colonists became so entangled in an ancient religion that they named their colony planet after their supposed holy book, Degranon.

I’m admittedly concerned about the ship that’s approaching. The Naadloosh never found Valchondria. We have a planetary defense system, but aside from the occasional meteor, we have never had a situation that tested its effectiveness. I don’t want to find out how well it can defend us. The Naadloosh slaughtered the colonists immediately. They were just waiting for a chance to attack someone and kill them. We’ve never understood why. It was something about their territory, their area of space. They’re a savage species that only bring death. I shudder at the thought of them finding us.

Continue reading “Admiral Nil (of Sons of Taldra, by Duane Simolke)” →
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Alicia Stormwell (of The Witch’s Bestiary, by Evangeline Hunter)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a vet specialising in magical creatures turned reluctant hero. She is here to talk about vampires, werewolves, and manticore poop management.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

New York City, baby. Born and raised. I’ve been yelled at in ten languages before my morning coffee and once saw a cyclops try to parallel park in Midtown. My mom ditched me when I was a kid—vanished into a cloud of magical smoke or an MLM pyramid scheme, hard to say. I was raised by her sister, Aunt Lydia, who is basically what would happen if Aunt Mame ran a cursed antique shop in SoHo and could hex your ex with a glance. She taught me how to make potions, run a business, and never trust anyone who says “trust me.”

Now, I run a nonprofit called The Bestiary, which rescues magical creatures and gives them a second chance. And thanks to a permanently irritated dimensional witch, my nonprofit is now physically attached to my apartment. The good news: my commute is excellent. The bad news: sometimes a kelpie wanders into the kitchen and eats my cereal.

Did you have any favorite toys as a child?

Most kids have teddy bears or glitter wands. I had a lock-picking kit. Aunt Lydia gave it to me when I was seven. She said, “Sweetheart, your magic’s about as reliable as a goblin accountant, so you’ll need backup.” I also did martial arts, fencing, and the occasional magical beast wrangling camp. You know. Normal childhood.

What do you do now?

Technically, I’m the founder and director of The Bestiary, a rescue and rehab center for legendary beasts. Realistically, I clean up unicorn poop, negotiate with territorial manticores, and rescue abused phoenixes from underground fighting rings.

And okay, fine, sometimes I moonlight as a freelance magical crime consultant. If you call breaking into smuggler hideouts “consulting.”

Also: we accept donations. Like, right now. Seriously. I have a Venmo.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

Oh, just your average Tuesday. A vampire detective, very broody, very cheekbones, shows up and hires me to help investigate a dead witch and a suspiciously attractive wolf. My bank account says yes before my brain catches up. Turns out, the wolf isn’t just magical. He’s a werewolf. And not just any werewolf: Kyle. Tall, brooding, and somehow always shirtless. Suspicious, right?

Except… he’s innocent. I can feel it. Which means someone else is framing him—and if I don’t clear his name, the real killer might make me their next ritual sacrifice.

Continue reading “Alicia Stormwell (of The Witch’s Bestiary, by Evangeline Hunter)” →
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Harold Bergman (of The Wichita Chronicles, by H.B. Berlow)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a Jewish private detective who is rather introspective after coming back from WWII. He is here to talk about his life as a policeman before becoming a private detective, and about the dark underbelly of society where shadows dance with malicious intent and faith emerges as his sole weapon.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

I was the only child in a Jewish household in Wichita, KS. When I wasn’t reading Torah and Talmud, I snuck in a few short stories by Black Mask writers.

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

Most of my friends came from temple or school. My Jewish friends had dreams of being a doctor or a lawyer. I decided to become a cop.

What do you do now?

I put my desires to be a detective sergeant on hold and enlisted after Pearl Harbor. I made it all the way to December 1944 when my foot and leg were shot up. I’ve got an annoying limp that I do my best to ignore. I became a private detective because it made about as much sense as returning to the police force or becoming a rabbi, like my father wanted.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

I was just about to propose to my high school sweetheart, when a wealthy older lady’s chauffeur, shall we say, escorted me to her home to locate a missing ‘companion’. It soon wound up with connections to a gangster who died 25 years prior.

What did you think as you uncovered the leads in the case?

Every lead I turned up related to a gangster named Eddie Adams who was killed in 1922. It didn’t make sense…until it did.

Continue reading “Harold Bergman (of The Wichita Chronicles, by H.B. Berlow)” →
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Jasper Ashford (of Little Hamlin Chronicles, by Sarah Ashworth)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a high-school student, juggling school, life, and magical training. He’s here to tell us about supernatural occurrences, a shipwrecked redhead, and a mysterious song.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

Well, it all depends on how far back you want to go. If its my early childhood then I grew up in an orphanage in a not so glamorous part of town. The place itself wasn’t too bad, the staff taking care of us were pretty decent. It’s just there wasn’t always enough to go around so kids were basically fighting for scraps, couldn’t really afford to be weak there. Fun times.

In my later childhood until now I was adopted by a pretty sweet lady who took me to her home on a small island. It was nice, she’s not wealthy by any means but she lives a comfortable life and it was just nice to have my own bedroom. Though I scared her when I was hording food in my room when I first moved there. It took a bit of time but I became secure enough to not do that anymore.

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

There was one time at the orphanage when me and Eric decided to steal the cookies in the kitchen. It was a rare treat for us and we wanted them. OK, I say we decided it was more I woke Eric up in the middle of the night and wouldn’t let him go back to sleep so he went along with me to get it over with. His words, not mine. We had a blast though and got to enjoy the chocolaty goodness of the cookies.

Another fond memory was when I found my magic spark. I tried to pickpocket a woman and she saw me do it. I remember backing away and holding my hands out in front of me and poof I fired a pink cloud in her face and ran. She eventually caught me but didn’t turn me in. Instead, she adopted me because in her words I reminded her of a younger version of her and she saw my potential with magic.

I had stuffed dragon which I keep in my closet and cuddle it every now and again. Hey! Dragons are cool OK!

What do you do now?

Right now, I’m just a high school student who’s juggling school, my magic training, finding interesting things to write about in the school paper. Also going on some strange adventures which sometimes involve getting into trouble but I think it breaks up the monotony a little bit. Wouldn’t you agree? Sure, I fall asleep in Mr. Hughes’ class a lot but the adventures are worth it.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

Well, it all began with my friend Eric being kidnapped, can’t leave that guy for five minutes without something happening to him. I thought he’d abandoned me again and I was angry as we had only just managed to patch things up after all the craziness from before. It was only when I found evidence that he didn’t leave of his own free will that I started to look for him. I reluctantly teamed up with Mel who had hurt and betrayed me before and we ended up going to the mainland to search for him and bring him home.

Continue reading “Jasper Ashford (of Little Hamlin Chronicles, by Sarah Ashworth)” →
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Weylin & Asurei (of Stone & Word, by Anne Pengelly)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a young boy with a special magical gift and a travelling assassin. They are here top talk about their world, and what happens when ancient seals begin to crack.

Tell us a little about where you grew up.

Weylin: Fenward. A river village where nothing ever changed, or so it seemed. My earliest memories are of chasing fish through the reeds, listening to my mother’s voice carry over the water. It was safe, small, a place where people expected you to stay and grow old in the same patch of earth. I would have been content with that once. But now the seals are breaking, one by one, and Fenward has become a memory instead of a destiny. The world is demanding more of me than I ever thought possible.

Asurei: I didn’t grow up anywhere worth remembering. My childhood was an apprenticeship to hunger. Streets teach you quickly who you are, or who you’ll have to become to survive. I became sharp. I became fast. And eventually, I became a Ghostblade. The Order of the Ghostblade forged me into what I am: an assassin who steps out of shadow when a name is given. My past is smoke. My present is steel.

Did you have any favourite toys as a child?

Weylin: A carved top, rough and unsteady, made by my father before he died. It never spun straight, always wobbling across the floor, but I loved it. I used to think if I could just make it balance, I could fix everything that had gone wrong, bring him back, stop the grief from swallowing us. Looking back, I suppose that was the first time I believed broken things could be mended. That belief is what carries me now.

Asurei: Toys are for children who have time to play. I didn’t. But I did learn early that people can be bent and broken like wood or glass. Fear was my toy, manipulation my game. The first time I discovered I could make someone dance to my tune, it was intoxicating. But if you press me for a softer answer… once, long ago, I had a ribbon, pale as moonlight. It was torn from me, like everything else. I still remember how it felt between my fingers.

What do you do now?

Weylin: I walk the world, whether I wish to or not, because the seals are breaking and something old and vengeful is stirring beneath the earth. The words I carry, the stones that answer me, they’re part of it. I didn’t ask for this burden, but if I don’t stand in the breach, who will? Fenward no longer needs me; the world does. And so I go on.

Asurei: I kill when the First Flame commands. A name is spoken, and I make sure the voice that spoke it is never silenced, or that the name belongs to a corpse. I am a Ghostblade, feared because I never miss. But sometimes, in the quiet after a mission, I wonder what I might be if I wasn’t only a weapon. Redemption is a dangerous thought for someone like me, but it lingers, like a shadow that refuses to leave.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

Weylin: I’ve walked roads I never imagined, met people who carry more secrets than smiles, and learned that magic listens, but not always kindly. The seals are breaking, and with each crack, something terrible strains against its bonds. I don’t know if I can stop it, but I know I have to try. That’s the shape of my adventure: stepping forward even when I’m not certain my feet will find solid ground.

Asurei: Adventure? Don’t insult me. What I’ve lived is blood, betrayal, and shadow. I’ve taken lives and unmade kingdoms in silence, and the world calls it ‘necessary.’ But I’m beginning to see that perhaps necessity is only another word for chains. Maybe that’s what this journey is teaching me, that I’ve been bound all along, and the knife at my belt can’t cut the ties that matter most.

Continue reading “Weylin & Asurei (of Stone & Word, by Anne Pengelly)” →
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Willy Jones (of A Night in Annwn, by Owen Jones)

Dear readers, tonight with us is a shepherd who lost his will to live after his wife’s passing. After collapsing and waking up in a hospital he soon realises he made it to the Welsh Afterlife — but things aren’t as he had thought they would be.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

I was born and grew up on a mountainside, although it was only a small mountain, near Brecon in South Wales. My parents had a tiny cottage there. It was very quiet; we had no neighbours, so although we didn’t own the mountain, it felt like we did. The only road to the top passed by our house, but few people used it.

I was an only-child, my father was a shepherd of his own flock, which roamed freely on the mountain, since there were no animal predators. My mother took care of us, and made things, mostly foodstuffs, to sell in the village on a Saturday.

Perhaps it was my nature, or perhaps it was the environment, but I grew up a quiet, thoughtful, but not lonely, child. I loved my parents, and our lifestyle, although those feelings were never expressed openly. It wasn’t done in those days. I was equally happy helping my Mam in the garden or kitchen, or my father with his sheep, which, although they wandered freely, always came to meet him on ‘their spot’ at 08:00 AM.

I liked school, but not as much as being on our mountain. I left as soon as I could, at fifteen, I think, to help my parents. We were a Christian family, but really only enjoyed singing hymns in the village church on Sunday mornings. Our community’s real belief, which was not incompatible with Christianity, was in Annwn. We sometimes discussed it among ourselves, but never with strangers

Annwn is the ancient Welsh, perhaps even Celtic, word for the pre-Christian, Welsh Heaven.

When the early Roman missionaries arrived, they persecuted us, so they say, because Annwn is underground – some say under the mountains, which we can see a little way off from our cottage. The Romans thought that meant that we were Devil-worshippers, which was untrue. That’s probably why we all go to church, enjoy our singing, but don’t discuss religion with outsiders.

We remember what that can lead to even 2,000 years later.

Continue reading “Willy Jones (of A Night in Annwn, by Owen Jones)” →
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