With the start of 2013, I decided I wanted to try to do a weekly feature on different authors who are not common house hold names. Some are relatively new, some are more established and on their way to becoming well known. The format for these ‘profiles’ is pretty open. For the most part I’ve left it to the author to determine the way they introduce themselves to readers. Each of the authors profiled has at least one published work and I encourage everyone reading to check out their books. Comments and feed back are welcomed and encouraged.
To kick things off, I’ve asked someone I’ve known for a few years to be my first author profiled. Alicia Nordwell – Cia to most everyone who knows her – and I met on Gay Author’s website. She was quick to offer her help whenever I had questions about how to navigate the site, but she is also a terrific beta reader. I’ve found she has wonderful instincts on the direction of a story, what is unnecessary and what works. But most importantly to me as a writer, she is not afraid to tell the truth. Much like the emperor with no clothes, no writer wants to be given false praise from friends only to be sliced apart once it’s put out there for all to read. Cia has never let me go out naked.
Cia has written many stories that are posted for free on the Gay Authors website. Two of my favorites are Escaping the Pain and Two of a Kind. Recently she had her first book published, Pricolici. To introduce her book and her characters to you, Cia has prepared an interview with her character. I think once you read what follows, you’ll be enticed to buy the book to find out more. With that, I’ll turn things over to Cia.
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For fun, and to help me get into my character’s mindset, I often do interviews with them. They can be detailed questions that let me write down details like favorite foods, scars, medical issues, family names, first childhood pet, type of vehicle they drive … which helps with keeping all the details straight when you create novels, especially those you plan to serialize. Sometimes my interviews take on a more personal feel as I get into the character’s persona. Those can be fun to do when you’re working to create the plot and need to make the link between characters in your head to the character on the page vivid enough readers feel like they could step out of the eBook and *ahem* shake their hand. Or other things. I thought I’d share an example of persona interviews that I did from my eBook, . These guys are some of my favorite characters of all time, and since I plan to bring them back in a sequel, it was a lot of fun making these up!
Stelian
Hi Stelian. Thanks for agreeing to this interview.
I didn’t really agree. Tucker said I needed to do it. Apparently I’m too much of a mystery.
Is that on purpose?
Is what on purpose? Being a mystery?
Yes.
No, not really. I’m just not big on talking about myself. And I’m usually very busy. I have my business to run, my own haitas, plus the Hunters and I are often busy keeping other haitas in line and ferals put down before they can expose us to the humans.
Well, thanks for making time for me then; I didn’t realize you were quite that busy.
It’s not like I had much of a choice. The power’s out. My excuse of having to do paperwork is not exactly logical when it is this dark. Plus Tucker can be persuasive.
I don’t think I am going to follow that last statement. What did happen with the power? I wasn’t expecting a meal by lamp light.
Tucker was playing with his magic and zapped the power pole again. It’s a good thing calls route to my cell phone if the house line is down. I’m pretty sure he did it on purpose. And Grecia made the chicken; I’ll pass along your appreciation.
Well how about I just ask my questions then?
Sooner we’re done the better. Please proceed.
What has been your favorite occupation?
Well I’ve certainly had quite a number over my lifetime. Thousands of years on Earth will do that to you. I’ve been a soldier, a blacksmith, a farmer; at one time I even bred horses for a living. But if I had to pick one, I’d go with hunter. My wolf certainly enjoyed it more than sitting here behind this desk. Though, the corporate world can be quite cutthroat. Just last week I managed to purchase a building under a developer’s nose that was planning on building a club too close to mine.
Oh? What are you going to do with it?
I was thinking about giving it to Grecia and Marevin. That woman can seriously cook. She was over just last night to drop off the chicken you enjoyed so much tonight and made this awesome pasta dish I can’t even pronounce for us too. But it was delicious. Besides, I like to help my haitas diversify. The world is changing almost faster than some of us older lupes can keep up with nowadays.
What is your most treasured possession?
My mate. Shit. Ow, Tucker. Okay, so he’s not a possession and he has no sense of humor lately. I keep forgetting he’s learned how to shock me with those little energy bursts and my growl doesn’t scare him anymore.
I guess I don’t need to ask who is the greatest love of your life is then?
No. You don’t.
I’m just going to ignore that look. Moving back a question, so what is your most treasured possession?
If I had to pick one thing, I’d say my father’s gold medallion. The face is almost worn off the front, but I’ve had it since I was less than five hundred years old. He was killed during the war, but he gave it to me before he left.
Were you close with your father?
As much as we could be. I didn’t agree with his plans to stay in the lowlands. I wanted to move our haitas into the mountains where it would be safer. He went to war; he didn’t come back. So I moved the haitas. I still loved and respected him though, and I wish that he hadn’t died.
Speaking of moving, what has been your favorite journey?
Anything by modern conveyance in the last 50 years. Can you imagine what the sea crossing was like back in the 1700s? Pure hell, especially for our wolves. The crew knew what we were, but we had no way to run, no hunting for months at sea. The last time I had to go to Europe it took only twelve hours.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Tucker! Don’t listen to him, that is not what I was going to say. Stop laughing, little lupe, it’s your turn next. And I am not an ass! Why don’t you go practice outside? The moon is just as bright as this lamp.
Okay, are we close to done yet? What else is on that notepad?
Moving it right along then. When and where were you the happiest?
Do I have to answer a question that sappy?
Well, I could bring Tucker back in here to help convince you. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind. Shall I?
You’re really not very nice to us, are you? Fine. Meeting Tucker. Even though he was a pain in my ass and passed out on me.
Okay, no more emotional questions. Keep going.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Well, I’m not independently wealthy, exactly; I have to work. Being around for years and years doesn’t mean that I have some corner on the market before things happen. I won’t lie and say that I’m not comfortable though, as is most of the Pricolici. The one thing that might be considered an extravagance is the small plane I own. But, it isn’t just for private business use; it’s also used for haitas business. The Hunters can’t exactly travel commercial when we have to track down feral lupes outside our local area.
You mentioned your age before, and I know you’ve lived through so many years it boggles my mind. Out of everything, what is your greatest regret?
I thought I said no more emotional questions.
I can get Tucker anytime. Your growling doesn’t scare me either.
Fine. Just … don’t tell Tucker I said this. I will always regret that I was unable to protect Phell’s wife. He was my friend for a very long time, and we faced many battles together. I wish that I could have reasoned with him, but he went after my mate. Even more than that, I wish Tucker hadn’t had to kill him. Taking a life, even one like Phell, damages something inside you.
Now no more inner secret type questions.
Out of everywhere you’ve lived, where did you like it the best? Where would you like to live, if you could be anywhere?
I like it here, but my favorite place is my cabin in the mountains. It reminds me a lot of the simple lifestyle from my early life. It’s simple, no electricity, no cell service, no computers. Just a single room with a giant bed, a fireplace and acres of forest to roam as my wolf. I plan to take Tucker there in the spring.
What in the hell was that?
You’re asking me?
Well I wasn’t asking the gods and no one else is here. Stay here.
Is Tucker okay? He didn’t blow anything up did he?
He’s fine but Tucker just called up the mother of all thunderstorms. He’s going to get sick standing out in the rain again; I’m going to go get him. We’ll have to do this later. Or not, damn it; that lightning strike almost hit my car! I partially blame you, you know, you gave him these powers!
You can interview Tucker tomorrow. If I let him live that long.
Tucker
Good to see you Tucker.
Yeah, you too. Sorry I wasn’t available yesterday.
Did you really fry Stelian’s car?
Not so much. Turns out that more energy near an electrical system like a vehicle computer… Stop glaring at me, Stelian. It’s not my fault. You told me to go practice.
Should I come back?
No, no. It’s fine. I already apologized all day yesterday. He’ll get over it or not, whatever.
Why are you whispering?
My mouth’s sore. Okay, why are you both laughing?
Seriously, what the hell is up with you two? I burned my tongue on my coffee.
Sorry about that. How about we head outside? I thought maybe you could show me some of what you can do as a hultan.
Sure! No, I won’t mess with the weather again, Stelian.
So, how does it feel to find out you’re this completely unique magical being?
Because being a lupe wouldn’t have been enough? It’s weird, to be honest. All I have is what Stelian can tell me, and what I’ve read in the book that he gave me. I wish there was someone who could tell me how everything is supposed to work.
Is it hard?
Yes and no. Here, we can sit down in this corner. The corner by the stream is my favorite area of the backyard garden.
It is nice, even now. So, care to explain?
Well, I don’t know how well I can put it into words. It’s not hard finding the magic inside me now, or absorbing energy. Learning to control it is hard. I haven’t told Stelian it was an accident, but I really didn’t mean to start a thunderstorm the other day and the lightning was a complete fluke. I hadn’t called any of it since … that night.
I wondered if the traumatic use of your magic for the first time overtly would make you afraid of it.
I don’t scare easy.
No. Somehow I can see that. You’d have to be pretty strong-willed to deal with Stelian. Did you ever expect to mate an alpha?
As a gay man? No. I really didn’t ever expect to mate at all. With the way my pheromones had gone crazy, I’d planned to find some place to hole up far from people-especially lupes. Mating with the oldest damn alpha of them all was a huge surprise. He’s a good male and a wonderful mate, even if he is a possessive, growly ass sometimes.
Is he still growling at all the males that come near you?
Yeah, makes Grecia laugh, wench that she is.
So I have this whole list of questions I planned to ask you. Interested?
Do we have to? I don’t really feeling like going into the whole ‘what was your childhood like, what are your goals in life’ conversation.
You don’t like to think about either of those things? Or just talk about them?
You’re determined to get into my head, aren’t you?
Yep. Readers want to know. So spill.
My childhood was not horrible, but not great. My parents died when I was really young and I was raised by Shane’s haitas. I was in school before everything went crazy when I turned twenty. I suppose I could go back, but I’ve always been a fan of history. Shane discouraged me from looking into anything from the past too much but Stelian doesn’t care. Have you seen his library?
Yeah, I have. There are a lot of cool artifacts in there.
No kidding, and he has personal stories for all of them! Like that medallion his dad gave him. He’s kept that one gold coin on him for over a thousand years. I know lupes can live for thousands of years, but it still boggles the mind.
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I wondered about that. You’re not really a lupe, so what does that mean for your life span?
I dunno. Stelian said the hultans he knew, though it was only two, didn’t seem to age like humans. But they did die out, you know? Something caused that, somehow. I haven’t found anything in the book though. I guess we just take each year as it comes.
So, it sounds like you do have your hands pretty full then, with the new mating, exploring your magic, and all you’re trying to learn about hultans.
Yeah. It’s definitely not boring. Stelian still needs to loosen up a bit, but I’m working on that with him. Speaking of, I promised him a steak dinner tonight. Part of my apology outstanding. Feel like helping me crank up the bbq?
Of course! Maybe while we do that we can discuss exactly how your magic works.
Ask away, though I really don’t understand it yet.
What can you do with it?
It has to do with manipulating energy. I’ve gotten better at it. I didn’t get anymore marks from calling the lightning the other night like the first time.
I remember those marks on your shoulders and arms. Are they all still there?
Yeah. I think they’re kind of cool looking though, so I don’t mind, almost like tattoos.
So, what can you do with energy?
I seem to be able to call storms, and I can do some healing with it, though I have no control over that. I did start this garden, though; you want to see?”
Sure.
So, this is it. Dead of winter, and I have watermelons growing. I’ve been pulling energy from the earth to support their growth. I anchored it and set the edges of the plot. Feel the ground.
It’s warm!
Yeah. I’ve got the ground generating its own heat! Last week, that night it snowed for an hour? Everything in the garden was covered with a half inch of snow, except for here.
That’s really cool. Think we can have some watermelon after we have our steak then?
Pretty sure a few are ripe. They’re Stelian’s favorite.
Is that a blush on those pale cheeks I see?
No. Shut up. You know, you are mean. Don’t be an ass or you can’t have any steak.
Sorry, sorry. I’ll stop.
So the interview is over? That’s good because someone needs to make the potato salad and I’m not good in the kitchen.
Fine, I’ll go make some potato salad. Don’t think you’re getting off the hook though, we still have a whole new story to share with my readers.
Don’t remind me. That cave is cold and dark; I’m not looking forward to exploring that again.
Well, remember to take extra batteries next time!
I think we should both just agree my lack of forethought to bring spare batteries is really your fault. Now go make that potato salad!
Author Info: Alicia Nordwell is one of those not so rare creatures, a reader turned writer. Striving to find something interesting to read one day, she decided to write what she wanted instead. Then the voices started … Yep, not only does she talk about herself in the third person for bios, she has voices in her head constantly clamoring to get out. Fortunately for readers, with the encouragement of her family and friends, she decided for her own sanity to keep writing. Now you can find her stories both free and e-published! Oh yeah, she’s a wife, mom of two, and lives in the dreary, yet ideal for her redhead complexion, Pacific Northwest. Except for when she disappears into one of the many worlds in her head, of course!
Blog: Cia’s Stories@Blogspot
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