Character Interview
I was looking through my old files, and I found this character interview I wrote, back when HEMLOCK VEILS was released and when I was editing Book 2. I never posted it, probably because I either forgot about it or I thought it sucked (It kinda does). Either way, I'm posting it now. So, here's an interview between Stephen Ashton (Elizabeth's father) and myself--Stephen being the interviewer and myself being the interviewee:
My interviewer sits casually at the other end of the
square, wooden table in Starbucks. His plaid shirt is tucked into Levis, and
his hand scratches the back of his head, ruffling brown hair. He clears his
throat and opens his leather-bound journal. The end of his Bic ben has been
chewed on, mauled. Strange, for someone who’s so laidback. But the old journal
doesn’t surprise me; it’s just his style. He’s probably recorded most his findings
of the Magical Realm in books just like this. I try to hide a smile as he flips
through to find an empty page. I wonder if he has even planned the questions he
will ask me, or if he will just ask them on a whim. I shouldn’t wonder,
though—and the chewed-on pen shouldn’t have come as a surprise to me, either.
After all, I did create him.
He finds a blank page and settles more comfortably in his
chair, the sound of a coffee grinder momentarily distracting him. He’s
disappointed, I realize, that we came to a commercialized coffee chain. He has
more in common with his daughter than I thought. She even looks more like him than I thought.
“Mrs. Davenport,” he says with a nod.
“Hi, Mr. Ashton,” I reply. “I’m just going to call you
Stephen, though, if that’s okay. We don’t need formalities.” It’s silent, as
though he’s waiting for me to begin, and I smile. “I think you’re supposed to
start with a question.”
He chuckles, though it’s not a natural sound. “Yes.” He
looks at his blank page, again clearing his throat.
“Just ask what you want, Stephen. Like I said, no need to
be formal. It’s just me.”
He meets my eyes, for the first time in this visit. “Okay
then.” He closes his book. “Why me?”
“Why not you? You have just as much of a story as anyone
else.”
“I don’t even have a place in the novel.”
“In HEMLOCK VEILS, no. But you are the start of all this. For your daughter, for the story in
general. As the series continues, the readers will see that. They’ll see that
it’s you who has weaved Elizabeth into this realm.”
He nods after a moment. He’s always been a humble man in
my mind. And so genuine in thought. “Let’s begin then.”
Stephen: What
made you think Henry and Elizabeth’s story was worth telling? We all know there
is a fair share of Beauty and the Beast
retellings out there. What made this one different? What stood out to you?
Jennie: What’s
not different? That would be a better
question. Not only does this story take place in our modern world, and in the
haunting rainforest of Oregon, but the monster in this story—the beast—hasn’t
had his whole life disappear from the curse, since he is cursed only when the
sun sets. During the day, he remains the man he is—cold, wealthy, and arrogant.
Oh, and an immortal asshole. For his curse to be broken, a life has to end and
huge sacrifices have to be made. And as you know … Elizabeth had her own
demons.
S: That she
did. I’ll never forgive myself for the demons I passed onto her.
J: No need to
blame yourself. Elizabeth is strong; you know that. There is no one else who
could have stood up to these tasks like she did. It had to be her for this
journey. You know that as well as I do.
S: Who came to
you first, begging to have their story told—Henry or Elizabeth?
J: Neither,
actually. I first envisioned their story itself, envisioned the struggle to
find one’s internal beauty being explored; but I knew it couldn’t be discovered,
nor the characters be made whole, with a simple realization of that love. There
had to be something great at risk—there had to be a greater purpose. And I knew
then that if I wanted to tell this beautiful story that had been haunting me
since I was a child, death had to be involved. To break such a damaging curse,
the Beauty would have to sacrifice her life for her Beast.
(Stephen sits back,
irritated that I so willingly would put his daughter at risk. Again, he doesn’t
see it like I do. He’s too close to the situation, doesn’t realize I can see
the bigger picture, or that I have 100% faith in his daughter, and also in the
connection she and Henry share.)
J: But
Stephen, you do realize that it wasn’t me who put Elizabeth in that position?
She volunteered. After I knew what had to be done, your daughter came to me.
She told me her story, starting with the dark and rainy night she drove through
Mt. Hood National Forest, trying to seek some lost connection to you. She took
me there, demanded I tell her story. Henry, however, was a harder case. It took
me a little longer to crack his exterior. Elizabeth is the pro at that; not me.
S (laughing): I suppose she is. (Clears throat, getting back to business.)
The readers know by now that HEMLOCK VEILS is a paranormal romance and the
retelling of a classic fairy tale. But who will love this book—what is your
target audience?
J: Anyone who
loves the cathartic trigger of moving emotions, but the draw of a fresh, new
take. Something that will take you a place you’ve never been. Magic, beauty,
warmth, love—it’s all found within. But HEMLOCK VEILS isn’t just for those with
a weak spot to love stories. The character arcs of Elizabeth and Henry—as well
as the secondary characters—take us far and wide throughout the story, leaving
one to contemplate their own inner
monsters, as well as how to accept them.
I’ve had many
people tell me that they would never have normally read in this genre. It
encompasses so many different aspects of so many genres that it appeals to
everyone. Lovers of fantasy, romance, magical realism, thrillers, mysteries, or
even just mainstream fiction. Both men and women have been drawn to the story
for this reason. I would, however, have to warn that there is some adult
content in the story, given that it’s targeted for adult audiences. I’ve talked
to many teens who’ve read it and love it; but I have to state that disclaimer.
S: What’s next
for Henry and Elizabeth? For the town?
J (smiling):
And for you? Well, we left of just when Henry and Elizabeth thought they could
begin a peaceful existence. But as we know, life doesn’t always work out the
way we plan.
S: No, it
doesn’t. Sometimes a merciless author decides to drag on the pain and
suffering.
J: Ah, but
also the joy. Again, Stephen, I don’t do this of my own free will, or some desire
to mess with the lives of those I love. Because I do love you all, even the worst
of you. You are all family, friends. I’m only the medium by which my loved ones
can get their story out to the world. It’s Elizabeth and Henry who’ve told
their story to me. I just try to interpret it to the best of my ability.
S: And do you
think you’ve been successful at that?
J: All I can
hope is that the readers get as swept away in this place, setting, and story as
I did. If the reader can feel they’ve escaped into a magical place, with
characters as flawed as them, but as lovable, then that’s all I could ask for.
S: What will
we see in the next book, and when?
J: In answer
to the latter, I still don’t have a confirmation on that. But count on it being
sometime this fall. As far as what we will see in the next book, we will see
more of Elizabeth’s upbringing—how her life has been tied to all of this since
before she was born. We will see a glimmer of you, and be let in on some
eye-opening secrets of some of the characters we thought long-gone. We will see
that Elizabeth and Henry’s journey has just begun, and they have bigger demons
yet to fight. And in keeping with the tradition of classic fairy tale
retellings, you will see some inspiration from Sleeping Beauty weaved
throughout, where we discover an antagonist as intriguing as he is understated.
As meek as he is powerful. As vengeful as he is ancient.
S. Where can
readers get their hands on a copy of my daughter’s story?
We shake hands when the interview commences, and just
like that, Stephen is gone, leaving me alone in the corner table at my local
Starbucks.
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