Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hi all, I would like to start a thread for character interviews. It is a fun way to talk about our books and what´s in them besides the oh soo boring plug of the cover and blurb.

Everyone with characters worth talking about is invited. :D

Everyone with questions to the characters is also invited. :D

I go first:

Meet Balian. He is the caretaker of Elearah in The Pearl and he is also one of the main characters in Almost a Goddess. He is bard and wizard, and a great cook.

S: "Thanks for doing interview, Balian."
B: "Thanks for having me, sweetheart."

S: Smile. "Well, tell us something about yourself."
B: Curls his lip. "What you see is what you get."

S: Sigh. "Please, Balian, give me something. They say you're the best bard in the world. Comments?"
B: Grin. "I know a story or two."

S: "Mika said that in the four months he traveled with you, crossing Huo to the Spirit Mountains, he never heard you repeat a story."
B: Lifts an eyebrow. "Well, why would I? Each place is special. They need different stories."

S: "Ha! Now you're contradicting yourself."
B: Amused smile. "Am I?"

S: "You're not making things easy on me, you know? You should be promoting that book you're in. Telling us all kinds of wonderful things about yourself."
B: "No, darling. You're trying to promote the book. I´m just living."

S: Scratching her head. "Alright. They say you're a wizard, is that true?"
B: "Only when there is need."

S: Pouting slightly, thinking hard. "Is it true that you can stop time?"
B: Eyes sparkling mischief. "Is that a loaded question?"

S: "No. Why? You stopped time more than once in The Pearl."
B: "That is Timus' prerogative. I just call upon his power to stop time. It is not me who does it. I´m just a mortal."

S: Mouth making a silent O. Mental note: Timus, god of time.
B: "And I can't do it too often, or for long periods of time. To upset the fabric of reality has consequences, often unsettling ones."

S: "If it's Timus' doing, then why you couldn´t stop time in Almost a Goddess when you had been almost sucked to death by that vampire?"
B: "Because I was not strong enough to call in the power."

S: "Mmm. How does it feel to ride a dragon?"
B: Chuckle. "It is an interesting experience, that´s for sure."

S: "Is it true that you have magic seeds of plants that grow fast, in front of our eyes?"
B: "No, sweetheart."

S: "But we saw it happening in the Black Castle."
B: "Those where just regular seeds. Then I invoked the Mother for fertility, and Timus to speed time."

S: "Hum. You are Elearah´s father, but you are not her real father. How you came to that position?"
B: Looking into the distance, "I started the events that killed both her parents. So it was just a matter of assuming responsibility for my own acts."

S: Eyes open wide. "How did you do that?"
B: "I saved her life."

S: "Wait a minute. That's not in the books. Not in The Pearl, not in Almost a Goddess."
B: Grin. "To put things into words is your job, not mine."

S: Eyes closing to half mast. "Hum. And how is to be the father of a goddess."
B: "I don´t know. Pearl is not a goddess yet. She might be in the future, but you never know."

S: "Can you tell us a story?"
B: "Better not. They are quite long. People can see "The Legend of the Obelisk" in The Pearl, and "The Lucky Girl and the Golden Forest of Erijam" in Almost a Goddess." Grin. "See? I am helping you promote your books after all."

S: "You're terrible, did you know?"
B: Chuckle. "That I have heard."

S: "What was in the truth potion you gave to the king of Huo?"
B: "Oh dear. You know about it. And you also know that we can´t tell. You should erase the reference in the book´s Pinterest page, by the way. Don´t give away my secrets. That is not good."

S: Blush. "Alright. There's a lot more that I want to ask you, but we are running out of time. Would you have another interview with me later?"
B: Grin. "Of course."

Wow, that was almost not self-promotion. Impressive.

LOL

Self-promotion is a necessary evil. But it is sooo boring, and uncomfortable. Like cold-calling, maybe worse. *shiver*

So... do you have questions for Balian?

Want to add your own interview?

Well, you certainly get points for originality, Sandra. ;)

Nienna wrote: "Well, you certainly get points for originality, Sandra. ;)"

Hehe :D

I didn´t invented this. The first time I saw it was from a lady in MOA (Meet our authors, in Amazon). She started a thread there. She is not a writer, but a reader who likes to know more about the books, get some of the inside story.

I thought it was brilliant. :)

Let me introduce Laliala Menin, former Curator and now Archmage of the golden Temple of Rindor, a majestic place of worship, home to the Brotherhood of the Wulf from The Aduramis Chronicles: Destiny of the Wulf & The Aduramis Chronicles: Underworld.

H: Welcome Archmage Menin.
L: Please, call me Laliala.

H: Thank you for permitting this interview today.
L: You are quite welcome, although I must say I am not used to celebrity.

H: You are Archmage of the Order of the Wulf, how can you not be used to it?
L: Brotherhood.
H: Sorry?
L: I am Archmage to the Brotherhood, not the Order. The order are the military arm of the temple overseen by Curator Wulf. I oversee the religious and non-military aspects of out belief system.
H: I stand corrected.
L: Celebrity is something I shy from. I am a humble servant to Lord Rindor. This is my calling.

Laliala smiles sweetly and a mischievous look flashes across her face.

H: Can you tell us where you are from and a little about your childhood?
L: I hail from a small village called Serin, which is in western Westeroe. That's a continent to the left of the capital Rosthagaar. I grew up a mill owner's daughter, and as you can imagine I make fantastic bread. I was unschooled until I became entrusted to the Brotherhood's protection.
H: Protection?
L: Yes, Sadly an earthquake hit our village and flattened it. My father, may Rindor bless him, was lost when the stone mill collapsed around him. The local Lord of the land sent the surviving parentless children to reside with the Brotherhood, and my schooling began, alongside a very old and dear friend, Dareth Jericho.
H: What did the Brotherhood teach you?
L: My learning consisted of daily prayer to the god's Rindor, Maresh and Taminoth, followed by instruction in the magical arts.

H: How did you find learning those things?
L: It was one of the most exciting times of my life, as a child you have a certain imagination, but for those imaginings to become a reality with the aid of magic was a dream come true.
H: Such as?
L: I always wished to be able to fly.
H: You can fly?
L: No, don't be silly. I can port, though, from one place to another in the blink of an eye.

H: Can you explain how you became Archmage?
L: I began like all acolytes at the very bottom of the rung. I worked my way through my schooling and it soon became apparent that I had an aptitude for tactical thinking. This was noticed by the then Curator of the Great Library, who invited me to tryout for a role as military tactician.

H: Can you explain why a predominantly religious order utilises magic and has a military arm?
L: When Lord Rindor, our High God, chose Soliath Wulf to lead the people of Er'ath into a new order of things, his desire was that they learn and study all things including magic that was to be used for good in defending the cities of Rosthhagaar against attack. The military arm, or the Order of the Wulf is responsible for ensuring temple safety and also patrolling the cities as city guards. We basically maintain peace and order in the land.

H: What would you say is your greatest achievement?
L: Living to fifty...no seriously, being instrumental in the capture of Lordich Secracar.
H: You had a role to play in that?
L: Indeed, as Curator of the Great Library, my role was to ensure order and balance was restored, and I took my armies to meet him in battle. We won, and captured him. But it have since learned that Lordich escaped his execution by signing a pact with Death. We, the people of Er'ath are once again in great danger. However, we are scouring the cities looking for this man. If anyone knows of his whereabouts, please come forward.

H: Ahem, well, thank you for that impromptu plea. I sincerely hope you capture him. I see that your personal guard-
L: Zaruun.
H: Yes, Zaruun. I see that he is attempting to catch your attention, so I will ask one last question. What are your plans for the future?
L: As you know, I can never marry, or enjoy the pleasure of male company. But, my plan is to strive to end Lordich's reign of terror, bring peace once more to the land. But first we must reunite the Swords of Cerathil, to cement the rule of Rindor.

H: I thought that was an old wives tale?
L: No, it is very real I assure you. Should we not reunite the swords, then Rindor's rule shall be open to contest. Even Death himself shall rise to the heavens and challenge his brother for the right to rule.

Z: Coughs.
L: Yes, was is it Zaruun?
Z: General Jonjo has returned from Mador.
L: (Raises brow) If you will excuse me, pressing matters.

Laliala stands and leaves the interview at this point with only a brief goodbye. I hope you have enjoyed our brief interview with Archmage Menin, Brotherhood of the Wulf.