A. L. Kaplan

Tag: character interview

  • Countdown to the Day of Reckoning – 3 Days – An Interview of Tatiana from Star Touched

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    Here is an interview of Tatiana, the main character in Star Touched, that The Wolf did a while back.

    Wolf: Welcome to Wolf Notes, Tatiana. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

    Tatiana: Thank you, Wolf. I’d love to be a bird. That way I could fly anywhere I wanted, feel the wind in my feathers as I soared through the air. I’d be free, with no worries.

    Wolf: That sounds nice. Any particular kind of bird?

    Tatiana: Swallows are pretty and graceful. I love the way they glide.

    Wolf: Sweet. Swallows are cool to watch. Would you consider yourself a cat person or a dog person?

    Tatiana: I love all animals, but I suppose I’m partial to dogs right now. Fifi is very important to me.

    Wolf: You mean that tiny poodle you’re bonded to?

    Tatiana: I’d rather not talk about her. Please ask a different question.

    Wolf: Sure. While walking through the woods you come upon…

    Tatiana: Wild blueberries, a whole field of them. There are also wild carrots, dandelions, cat tails, and all sorts of other yummy foods.

    Wolf: That sounds more like a grocery store. What is the strangest food you ever had?

    Tatiana: Food is food these days. Although I did see someone else eat, well… something I really don’t want to talk about. I mean I’ll eat almost anything, but not…that. I’d rather starve. Not that I would. I’m pretty good at finding food in the wild.

    Wolf: I’m not sure you really answered that one. Let’s try another. What do you do for fun?

    Tatiana: Surviving is very time consuming, so I don’t have much free time, but when I do, I love to read. Doesn’t matter what. Fiction, history, science… I just love books. When I read I can be anyone and go anywhere. It’s a wonderful escape and I learn things.

    Wolf: I agree. Books are pretty awesome. You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

    Tatiana: That’s a tough one. I don’t like the idea of staying in one place. My roots would need to be movable. More like legs.

    Wolf: A walking plant?

    Tatiana: Yes. With a forest green stem and bright-green heart-shaped leaves with a splash of blue. They could be made into a tea that would cure any disease. I’d also grow clusters of tasty and nutritious berries. Each would be enough to fill your belly for a day.

    Wolf: That sounds fantastic. Aren’t you worried people would hunt you down for those berries and leaves?

    Tatiana: Oh. I didn’t think of that. Can I change my answer to a small inedible red flower with no useful purpose?

    Wolf: Sorry. No take backs. There is a door at the end of a dark damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

    Tatiana: Open the door and try to fix whatever machine is malfunctioning.

    Wolf: Are you a mechanic?

    Tatiana: No, but I’ve read lots of books on fixing things.

    Wolf: If you could choose any weapon, what would it be?

    Tatiana: Knowledge. I don’t like weapons or fighting.

    Wolf: If you could pick any super power, what would it be and why?

    Tatiana: None!

    Wolf: Really?

    Tatiana: I don’t want ANY special powers. I just want to be a normal person. I need to go now.

    Wolf: Wow, Tatiana ran out of here fast. If you want to know more about her, you’ll have to read Star Touched.

    Don’t forget to get your copy of Star Touched so you can learn more about Tatiana an her friends.

  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Gareth & Marty the Merchant

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    Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

    Wolf: In honor of Independence Day, I’ve invited Marty the Merchant and Gareth Jenkins to Wolf notes. Both are characters in STAR TOUCHED. Tell us a little about yourselves.flag

    Marty: Not much to tell. After the Cataclysm wiped out most of the population and the country fell apart, I became a traveling salesman. I’m not into the mercenary thing like some former army folks.

    Gareth: I’d already left the army by then to open a bar in my home town. Things were rough for a while, but business has since expanded to include a store and rooms to rent.

    Wolf: You both seem to have adapted well. There is quite an age difference between the two of you, fifteen years. Did you meet in the army?”

    Marty: Yeah. I was a bit of a trouble maker. Gareth helped straiten me out and refocus into more useful activities.”

    Gareth: Marty is being too polite. He was a prank pulling pain in the butt. Even so, he always managed to do what needed to be done without complaint. A slacker he’s not.

    Marty: I’m glad someone saw more than trouble. Gareth recommended me for special forces. It was a turning point. Turns out my sneaking around skill had a bonified use.

    Gareth: We’ve helped each other through the years. Marty pulled me out of a rabbit hole after my wife, Margaret died. Don’t know what I would have done without him.

    Wolf: Sounds like you make a good team. The Cataclysm tore a lot of people apart, yet you’ve managed to stay connected. How’d you manage. I mean there are no phones or computers and the roads are a mess.

    Gareth: Marty knew where I was.

    Marty: Being a traveling salesman lets me roam the country side. One of the first places I went to was Atherton. Needed to look up my buddy.

    Wolf: About that roaming, what is it you do?

    Marty: I’m just a merchant.

    Wolf: Right, sure you are. There are a lot of things that people have had to do without since the cataclysm. What do you miss the most?

    Gareth: Tuna. I love canned tuna but after eight years in a can, even I don’t want it.

    Marty: Yuck. Canned tuna and noodles is what my mom cooked all the time. Sometimes she’d mix in canned peas or green beans for variety. I’ve had enough of that stuff for a lifetime. I miss coffee. Anytime I find a stash it’s like I hit the jackpot.

    Gareth: There used to be a coffee place on almost every corner, even Atherton had at least two. That’s saying something for a small town. Now all we have are a few old stale beans. Tea just isn’t the same.

    Wolf: At least you have those. If you could reestablish the USA, would you?

    Gareth: Absolutely, but I’d get rid of the electoral college thing. Everyone’s vote should count. And there should be limits on how much money can be spent trying to get elected.

    Marty: Term limits, definitely term limits. A government for the people by the people has no room for professional politicians. Elected officials should do their duty, then go back to their daily lives.

    Gareth: Don’t forget about education and health care. We need to see to our future leaders and care for all citizens

    Wolf: That’s a lot of changes. It’s going to be hard to do when so many are struggling to survive.

    Gareth: Never said it would be easy. Maybe the star-touched could help with some of the health issues. Put their healing abilities to good use.

    Wolf: Switching gears slightly, try to complete this sentence. You’re walking through the woods and come across….

    20170401_101611Gareth: A quiet lake teaming with fish and a small boat. I’d row out to the perfect spot, toss a line in and wait for a bite. Pure bliss with no worries.

    Marty: Sort of like that fishing trip we took after you left the military.

    Gareth: You mean the one where you said you were going to sleep late, then swam out and put a dummy on my hook? Absolutely not.

    Marty: The look on your face when you reeled that thing in was priceless.

    Gareth: You almost gave me a heart attack!

    Wolf: I’m with Gareth. You have a warped sense of humor.

    Marty: I’m not that bad.

    Wolf: Really? How would you finish that sentence?

    Marty: Can’t answer. This is a G-rated blog.

    Wolf: On that note, pick up a copy of STAR TOUCHED and have a happy and safe 4th of July. If you see any military or former military personnel, don’t forget to thank them for their service.

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  • WOLF NOTES: An Uncommon Interview – Bobby Sue Thompson

    081Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

    Wolf: Welcome to Wolf Notes, Bobby Sue. Why don’t you start by telling me about yourself?

    Bobby Sue: Thank you, Wolf. I’m really tickled you asked. You sure have big teeth.

    Wolf: You do know that I’m a wolf, don’t you?

    Bobby Sue: As sure as my mom’s pecan pie. Just kiddin’ with you. I grew up in south central Kentucky, not far from Tennessee. The rest of my family is in Oklahoma. At least I hope they’re still there. Haven’t heard a peep from out there since the Day of Reckonin’. Sure hope they’re okay.

    Wolf: What’s the Day of Reckoning?Startouched front cover2

    Bobby Sue: That’s the League of the Stars’ name for the Cataclysm. You know, the day all heck broke loose. Meteors, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions. Anyway, my folks and I were vacationin’ in Ohio during the Day of Reckoning. Well, I was vacationing, seein’ the sight and all. There was a big old conference for psychology professors that they couldn’t pass up on. The building collapsed. They didn’t make it.

    Wolf: That’s horrible. So sorry for your loss.

    Bobby Sue: Thank you. You’re sweet. I miss them horribly, but I’m doing okay. They wouldn’t want me to keep mopin’ about. Life has to go on. Got a great job working for Gareth here in Atherton. He runs a store and tavern. Real nice fella. He’s kinda like a substitute dad to all of us workin’ there, but that woman he has in charge, she’s a mean piece of work. Although, she does show the occasional bit of honey when Gareth is near.

    Wolf: Interesting. I’ll steer clear of her. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

    Bobby Sue: I’d love to be a scissor-tailed flycatcher. That’s the Oklahoma state bird. I found this sweet little hairclip at the market the other day. I don’t often buy stuff, but this one just called to me. Someday I’ll make it back there and find out for sure who survived.

    Wolf: That’s beautiful and it looks fantastic in your red hair.

    Bobby Sue: Why thank you. I swear, your fur is almost as soft as Fifi’s.

    Wolf: Thanks, but I’d rather not be pet…. On second thought, as long as you’re there, I do have an itch behind my left ear. Would you consider yourself a cat person or a dog person?

    Bobby Sue:  I love all critters, but they don’t all love me. The only one who can get near that crazy rooster of Gareth’s is Tatiana. Animals just seem to take to her like a fish to water. Would you like to meet her? I could introduce you.

    Wolf: Thanks, but we’ve already met. I interviewed her last December. Today is Clear Sky Day. What can you tell me about that?

    Bobby Sue: The Day of Reckonin’ spewed all sorts of ash an’ junk into the sky. Then one day we all woke up and it was gone. Boom. Just like that. Sky was clear. Sun was shinin’. Things finally started warmin’ up. It was the first sign of hope we’d had since the disaster. You should come to our annual ceremony and celebration in the town square. It’ll be a lot of fun.

    Wolf: I think I’ll pass. People might freak out if I showed up.

    Bobby Sue: Oh. You’re probably right.

    Wolf: What can you tell me about the star-touched? Where’d they get their powers?

    Bobby Sue:  That’s a tough one. I mean, it’s only been eight years since they came into their powers. And before you ask, I don’t know where they got them or how they got picked. The league has been tryin’ to figure it out since the first star-touched showed up. They don’t know, the star-touched don’t know, nobody does. Maybe we’ll figure it out some day, but gosh, give it some time.

    Wolf: I guess you’re right. If you could choose any weapon, what would it be?

    Bobby Sue: Weapons aren’t my thing. I prefer to talk to people. If the world hadn’t turned upside-down, I would have been a social worker so I could help folks.

    Wolf: And if talk doesn’t work?

    Bobby Sue: A big old stick to knock some sense into them.

    Wolf: Remind me not to make you angry. If you could pick any super power, what would it be and why?

    Bobby Sue:  Not sure I’d want any kind of super power. They’re a lot of responsibility. People could get hurt if you’re not careful. And some folks get jittery around people with powers. I’d hate to see more riots like we had a few years back. But I suppose if I had to pick, it would be the ability to help fix what’s hurt inside a person’s mind. Psychologically speaking, not the physical stuff.

    Wolf: That would be a great gift. Thanks for stopping by. To learn more about Bobby Sue and the star-touched, grab a copy of Star Touched.