Our alter-egos are taking over:
FROM THE DESK OF
DONA PENZA TATTLE, ESQ.AND
ASSOCIATE WRYE BALDERDASH
Greetings,
“I saw
Daffodils!” announces Tattle as she plops into her office chair. “Now, I truly feel that spring is here.”
Wrye
looks up from his tablet with his glasses trembling on the tip of his nose and
a jelly-filled donut ready to be devoured.
“Knock, knock!”
Well-acquainted
with his jokester personality, she automatically responds, “Who’s there?”
“Spring.”
“Spring
who?”
“It is
time to spring into our Love of Literature Leap interviews!”
“All-righty! Bring the donuts.”
Just
outside Naomi Stone’s door, Tattle asks, “So what do we know about Naomi Stone.”
Wrye
lifts a bushy brow, “You mean you don’t know? She is the author of many CBG
books, including the The Team Guardian
Adventures." He pulls out his
tablet, performs a few keystrokes and looks at her website and quotes, "In
a near future world, probability bombs have imbued hundreds of people with
special powers. Not all of these people are law-abiding citizens. Team Guardian
uses their powers to police the miscreants."
"I
knew that," Tattle says smugly.
"Then
why did you ask?"
"Just
to make certain you knew."
Groaning,
he raps on Naomi's door, whispering before she answers, "I really like her
work. We must remember to review some of
her books."
Before
Tattle can respond, the author's imaginary husband opens the door, unleashing
the caterwauling of a cat. The
semi-transparent apparition ushers the duo inside as they greet a very
surprised Naomi.
W:
“Donuts?” Wrye hands her the assortment.
N:
“Ooo. Is that a Bismark? Yum.”
T:
“We apologize for coming unannounced but at our mature age, we oft forget to do
so. As Günter Grass wrote, ‘Memory likes to play hide-and-seek, to crawl
away.’”
W:
Frowns and whispers, “I thought you said you arranged this interview months
ago.”
T:
Flutters her hand as if chasing away the pesty question. “Um, can't
remember. As Günter Grass wrote, “Memory
likes to play hide-and-seek, to crawl away.’ Now, dear Naomi, are your ready
for your interview?”
N:
"If you don't mind my being in jammies or the state of general chaos.”
T:
Looks down at her own Minnie Mouse slippers. “Don’t mind at all.”
N:
“I can put on some tea or coffee if you like? Donuts call for liquid
refreshment.” Naomi steps into the tiny kitchenette and puts a kettle on.
When
Naomi returns, all settle into seating across from each other.
T: Smiling happily, Tattle scoops up a furry
feline and rubs behind its ear. We see
you are a cat person, if you could be a cat, which breed would you be and what
would your daily routine be like? Would
you still write? If so, what?
N: “I think I'd be one of the advanced-evolution
cats from Jim Butcher's new Citadel Spires series - they have vestigial thumbs,
and I'd probably still be able to manage a keyboard. I'm very determined that
way.”
W: “Hmmm, interesting response. What a grand cat to become. I think that
would be my choice as well. So, what is your biggest fear? Spiders? Snakes?
Harpsichords? A day without chocolate?”
N: "My biggest fear is people who want to
know my biggest fears so that the knowledge can be used against me... I mean,
snakes. They’re sleek, I mean slimy skins just give me the shudders..."
T: Winks at the not-quite-there hubby, "Ah,
Naomi, he is a cutie. You are one lucky lady. Is he normally this quiet? Oh and is he the inspiration behind any of
your books?”
N:
“The best quality of an imaginary husband is that he only talks to me when I'm
paying attention. Of course, then we argue incessantly. My imagination has the
perversity of disagreeing with me constantly - and yes, he's very
inspirational. I've always had a thing for imaginary characters. My first crush
was on Rocky the Flying Squirrel, when I was in grade school. I daydreamed of
adventures with Batman and Robin and the crew of the Starship Enterprise, and
became a vegetarian for a couple years because of my feelings for Kwai Chang
Caine of the Kung Fu series. One of the most powerful qualities of fiction is
the way imaginary characters and situations can move us to experience very real
feelings.”
W:
Nods in agreement and appreciation of her introspective response. He walks around, peeking at her fantasy book
collection, noting her obsession with bookmarks, and finally asks,
"Anywho, you have an interesting outlook on the world. Would you consider yourself an arm-chair
adventurer or get-out-there and mow-m-down and watch my smoke sort of
writer?"
N:
“That's the kettle! Coffee or Tea?”
T:
Eyes wide, looks at Wrye. "What
sort of question is that? Explain ye-self, m'abstract minded bud in
literature." Then to Naomi, he is coffee and I am tea, thank you.”
W:
"Ummm, in other words, are your exploits through your stories or are any
of those stories based on real life adventure."
N: “Considering that my characters include super
heroes and a magical djinni, I have to confess that the real-life inspiration
is entirely in their emotional/psychological lives. That's what fiction is all
about, right? The events may all be imaginary, but the feelings they inspire
are real, and they allow
us to experience vicarious adventures that may be beyond us physically. How
cool is it that we can relax at home while at the same time climbing Mount Doom
with Sam and Frodo, or running through the jungle with Mowgli and Bagheera?”
T:
Smiles, resembling that remark. "If you could have any supernatural or
superhero power, what would it be and why?”
N:
“I recently lost my younger brother David to multiple myeloma - bone cancer. He
spent the last several years trying numerous therapies including stem-cell
replacement and debilitating chemo. At this point I can't think of a better
superpower than that of a healing touch. There's so much need. We need armies
of healers. We need to look at our society, all the contributing toxins and
pollutants that are factors threatening the health of our people. A super power
in a story is a substitute for a solution to real life problems. We can dream
about the super powers, but the real heroes are those with the technical and
scientific skills to find remedies to the diseases and ways to cleanse us and
the environment of the toxins.”
T:
“I am so sorry for your loss. Death truly rearranges our outlook on life.”
W:
“And that outlook gives depth to writing. I, too, am very sorry, my condolences
to you and yours.
They
share a moment of respectful silence.
W:
"Of all the characters you have written, who would you like to be and
why?"
N:
“I'd love to spend some time in the shoes of Amelia Swenson, the heroine of
'Spirited,' with her djinni lover - and growing magical abilities of her own.
Of course, that would carry with it the responsibility of using those powers to
do as much good as possible in the world. I'm afraid I wouldn't have much time
for my writing in that case...”
T:
"Please tell us what books you wrote with CBG and a one-liner about
them?"
N:
“'Spirited' is my full-length novel, in which Amelia unwittingly frees both a
djinni and a dangerous succubus demon and enlists the djinni's aid in saving
the world from the demon.
In
a near future world where many people have super powers, Team Guardian works to
police the bad eggs among them. 'Team Guardian' collects the three novellas
below:
~In
'Sweet Mercy' a reverse-empath, Rachel Connolly meets her hero, Fluke, a man
with amazing luck and they work together to stop a Puppet Master.
~In
'Safe Haven' Rachel's brother David meets his match in Beth Talbot, a
psychometrist as they work together to stop a super-powered hacker from taking
over the world's banking systems.
~In
'Shining Hope' illusionist Sophia Alvarez works with the team and teleporter
Tom Stanton to stop a vigilante going after sexual predators. A date-rape
experience in her past leaves her with conflicted feelings about the mission.
W:
"Wow! They all sound fabulous. They
will definitely be on our TBR list. Naomi, we both agree it has been a pleasure
to interview you." Heads toward the
door and is about to leave when he glares at Tattle. "Put the cat
down. It is not yours."
T:
Pouts!
N: Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hope
you all enjoyed our interview.
Dona
Penza Rutabaga Tattle, Esq. and Associate Wrye Balderdash
of
Blather City, Wannachat
Created and written by: Angelica Hart and Zi
***
Angelica Hart and Zi ~ Vixen Bright and Zachary Zane
www.champagnebooks.com - www.carnalpassions.com - angelicahartandzi.com
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