Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Character Days: CJ from the EKKO Trilogy

Is it Wednesday already?  This week seems to be flying by fast!  Well I have a bit of news before character days starts up.

First up?  We (myself and Briana) have a new interview posted up at Bookworm Ink, where you can learn a bit more about us and Seeking the Storyteller.  I also wanted to update everyone that the sequel is coming along nicely and we're almost through the second round of edits.  Publishing is still a ways off, but we're getting there!

Second - In two weeks we have another convention!  October is going to be a really busy month for us with conventions every other weekend, but we have to make up for the fact that as soon as it snows, here in Minnesota, we're not going to want to leave the house.  So first up is Fallcon, on the Minnesota State Fair grounds.  If you're around, you should come visit us!

Now... on to character days!

Character Days: CJ from the EKKO Trilogy

Tell me a little about yourself and the world you live in.
I'm an A/V guy who lives in New York, but I also spend time on the road working with touring bands.

Lets jump right in, what's your most closely guarded secret?
My connection with the spirit world. The guys in the road crew wouldn't understand.

Tell us about your single most important memory. What was it and how does it affect you now?
Visiting my home after it had burned to the ground. I never got to say goodbye to my parents.

What type of person are you? Are you a hero or do you shy away from conflict?
I engage in conflict if it's necessary. I work with some arrogant pricks, so I have to stand my ground.

Do you have any hobbies, any special talents?
Besides music, I enjoy hiking, spending time alone in the forest. The sounds and sights of the scenery stimulate me. Remarkably, the streaks of sun can imitate stage lights at times, the perfect angle, the slightest shade, the perfect silhouette. I bring those ideas back to the stage.

What sets you out from the crowd? Like your talents, would I be able to spot you if I passed you by?
Pretty average looking. Not real big on combing my hair. I'm usually dirty from climbing through rafters and working in tight spaces. Definitely a Messy-Marvin.

What's an ideal day for you?
Finding spirits that have been imprisoned. They're all over the country, and I have to find them as I travel. There's a big battle coming and they're in danger.

Do you have any one close? Any friends or family of interest?
I have several close friends in the A/V business. Since my girlfriend died, I've strayed from getting too close to anyone. (Human, that is.)

What about your most prized possession?
The amulet my grandfather gave me.

Back to your story, what initially spurred your actions? Everything had to start somewhere, so where's your beginning?
Playing with old radio's in the back of my fathers Appliance store. I was a kid when I discovered sound frequencies could open portals to the spirit world. I had no idea they'd been watching me grow up.

Where do you think your future will lead?
I have to get this beautiful spirit out of my head. We're somehow connected, but I can't seem to place it. I'll figure it out, though. It will all come together in Detroit. The mission has been planned for hundreds of years and I'm in way over my head. In the meantime, she's helped me take the stage shows to a whole new level. (We both like pleasing the ticket holders.)

Where can we find more about you?


Author:
Johnny Walker


Author's website:

Extra Info:
The books have a soundtrack. Not an Audio book, but songs from the band in the story, Nathan Juju, as well as live concert snippets to match some concert scenes.



 

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Character Days: Sasha Kelly from The Incubus Saga

This week we have a character interview from a friend of mine and an introduction to her books...

Character Days: Sasha Kelly from The Incubus Saga

Tell me a little about yourself and the world you live in.
It's the same world you live in, I'm just more aware of the truth going on around us. I'm a transient, traveling the back roads of the Unites States, and occasionally finding myself in larger cities like Minneapolis and Pittsburgh, hunting down evil fae and monsters that usually remain under the radar. Normal people don't even know they exist, but if they pass through the Veil that separates our world from the Fae Realm with intent to do harm, I track them down and send them home, or kill them if necessary. Being fae myself, it's not always an easy job, but just like with humans, there are good and bad fae out there, and the bad ones are more dangerous that you'd ever want to know. Especially when they can look just like you until they act. You might even be part fae, and you'd never know it, unless of course your fae blood triggered and proved you were a Changeling. And if that happened...I might have to take care of you too.

Lets jump right in, what's your most closely guarded secret?
I'm more than just fae. I'm an incubus, a being born of light and dark fae combined. We're naturally outcasts from the other courts. But more so for me, my deepest secret, happened during the change, when I turned 16 and was old enough to need sex to survive. I ran away from home and killed the first person I fed from. I didn't mean to hurt her, but I couldn't control myself. I think about it often and strive to never be in that position again.

Tell us about your single most important memory. What was it and how does it affect you now?
The day I left home. The reason I ran wasn’t because of the change itself, but because I’d decided long ago that I wanted to be a sealgaire, a seal—a hunter. My father hunted evil fae, that’s how he met my mother. He had been human until her. He wasn’t a killer, he just tried to do right, to help people. It got him and my mother killed when another seal discovered my father had become an incubus to be with my mother, but that only made me want to be like them more, to take up where they had left off. When I admitted this to my friends, they looked at me like I was betraying them, like one day I’d hunt them, like I was the bad guy. They didn’t understand, so I ran.

What type of person are you? Are you a hero or do you shy away from conflict?
I wouldn’t call myself a hero, though that’s something I always strive to be. Helping people is what I do. I’m a fierce fighter. Being able to grow wings, fangs, and claws helps with that. Even when I feed, I seek out people who I can help. I know that probably sounds selfish since I’m talking about sex, but…sometimes people just need someone to be there for them. If I need to feed from sex, then I always want that exchange to be something beautiful for both of us. It’s what keeps me sane and alive; those who are with me deserve that much for what they give me in return.

Do you have any hobbies, any special talents?
Life on the road isn’t exactly fruitful for funds. I’m not above stealing what I need to survive, but I’d rather pay if I can, so I pick up extra cash by singing at the bars and clubs I pass by. I have a few acoustic guitars that were my dad’s. I play and sing when I can, and if I do say so myself, I’m quite the talented singer, though my playing could use some work. I’m also very strong and agile, being an incubus, which…comes in handy in many situations.

What sets you out from the crowd? Like your talents, would I be able to spot you if I passed you by?
I’m not very inconspicuous, which admittedly can be a hindrance as a seal. While I can look human, my incubus traits still show through to some extent, mostly in my red hair. And I don’t mean ginger—I mean Crayola, fire truck, Little Mermaid red. I’m a little in love with it and it does make me stand out. Since my eyes are a glamour—my real eyes are also red, and slit like a cat—their bright blue color can often seem to glow. I’m also quite pale, as my natural skin is white, and I stand at about 6’2”. I’m slim and handsome, and I toss a charming smile at anyone I pass, so you can bet I stand out in a crowd.

What's an ideal day for you?
Making a difference and saving someone—more so than defeating any fae—is always a good day. But what I really want is just someone special for me. My kind isn’t known for being monogamous, and most others like me live out immortal lives happy with that. But some find mates. Sometimes among our own kind, sometimes with humans we turn into our kind. Like my parents. That’s what I want, so the perfect day for me would be a lazy one, curled around my love, just spending time with them without any threats on the horizon.

Do you have any one close? Any friends or family of interest?
I hadn’t for a long time, after leaving home when my friends shunned me. My parents were killed when I was only 6 months old. My aunt raised me, and she has always been supportive no matter what I wanted to do. She’s always there when I need her. But we don’t always get to see each other, now that I’m grown. I have a few acquaintances but not many friends. I’m sure that’s surprising coming from a charming incubus who beds someone new every week, but it’s the truth. Which is why meeting Nathan and Jim Grier has meant so much to me. Jim, even as a Changeling, is the first real friend I’ve had in a long time, kind and patient, and devoted to his brother. And Nathan, a human, just…enchants me. We have a lot in common, and I love the way we banter. Now if I can just get him to stop blushing and turning away and trying to pretend that he isn’t attracted to me, and to just accept there might be something between us. It’s all I’d ever ask for.

What about your most prized possession?
My father’s guitars, my parents’ wedding rings, my leather jacket—though it keeps needing replacing lately. Otherwise, I tend to travel light.

Back to your story, what initially spurred your actions? Everything had to start somewhere, so where's your beginning?
Besides wanting to be a seal like my father and leaving home, what lead me to what’s happening now wasn’t actually anything I had control over. Nathan and Jim found me. A friend of theirs, a seer named Wade, sent them my way, saying I could help them get Nathan’s dark fae bounty removed, which is a tall order to ask. I know they’re good men, I liked them from the start, and was willing to help them from the moment they asked that of me, impossible as it might be. It’s what I do. But I’ll admit, I asked them to help me finish the case I was working on first.

Where do you think your future will lead?
I hope to saving Nathan from his bounty as I’ve promised. I hope more that the future holds love. Love with Nathan would be ideal, but I won’t push. I’ve pushed him already. He needs to accept what he wants. If he wants me, I’m here.

Where can we find more about you?
My story is told in The Incubus Saga. Nathan Grier is the main character, but the series is named for me. Book 1 is Incubus, Book 2 is Changeling, and Book 3, set to come out next year, will be called Sidhe. You can read about me at BigWorldNetwork.com, or listen to the audio version by the author. You can read the whole thing for free there, or purchase the polished final version in book, eBook, and audiobook form from the BWN Store, or from Amazon.



Author:
Amanda Meuwissen

You can buy the books here!

Goodreads

Twitter



Monday, September 15, 2014

Yes I Made That Dress: Fem-Stein

Aside from doing character interviews for other people's novels, I also do a lot of sewing and I make costumes to order.  So I'm going to deviate today and talk about one of the dresses I just finished.

Some History:

For the last year or so, thank to my wifey's cosplay getting pretty popular (you can see her cosplay site here) my name has been going around as a costume maker who specializes in plus sized cosplay.   I met the lovely lady who ordered this dress at Metacon 2013 and she contacted me after the con to commission this dress.  Originally she asked for a dress based on Dr Stein from Soul Eater, but done as a dress, with designs based on some of the outfits Sarah Brightman wears in her live shows.  


Here's what I came up with:



Making the dress:

I have quite a bit of progress pictures on this one so I tried to pick the best ones.  

Basically the dress was broken down into 2 parts.  
Damnit Clayton!!


For the gray dress - there honestly isn't as much to tell.  I chose a pattern out of the ones I have stashed in the basement and make a simple dress.  After fussing around with the turtle neck, I discovered that the fabric I'd picked didn't really work for that style.  So instead I chopped it off and made a more flattering neckline that gathered at the very middle.  


The jacket was the part that took the longest!  The jacket itself was a modified trench coat.  I made it larger to match the measurements provided by the commissioner and then added triangles between the seams at the bottom so that the lower section would billow and poof out.  Then I went about stitching all the seams with black yarn just like the stitches on the above gray dress.  (Shown on hoop skirt so I could judge if it poofed out enough).



The final part, sadly, is one you won't see.  After completing the dress I attempted to make the cage I'd originally drawn in the picture and my attempts failed.  I realized, upon more research, that the cage I'd been planning actually would have required a lot more work and materials then I'd quoted, plus significant time to learn to make it work correctly.  And then I wasn't sure how to mail it.  So, instead, I spoke with the young woman who ordered the dress and we mutually decided to skip that part of the dress.  Prices were adjusted and the dress was shipped out!


Finished Product


My customer received her dress and sent this picture back to me.  I love it!  I'm very happy with how it looks on her figure and even though it doesn't have the cage as originally planned, I still like how it turned out.  She has a couple accessories she's planning on adding to it but in the meantime, she's still super cute!!

If you'd like to commission me for a dress or have any questions on how I make these pieces, please send me an email or message me through my etsy store

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Character Days: Lucky Luchazi from Lucky Sevens

Ooops, day late again, thanks to an overtime call at my other job.  Don't worry, I'm not making this a habit.

Character Days:  Lucky Luchazi from Lucky Sevens


Tell me a little about yourself and the world you live in.  
My name is Luca Luchazi, people call me “Lucky.” I grew up back East. Did my time in the Navy SEALS and that’s when I wound up out West. Las Vegas became my home. It was a good home for awhile. I found work as head of security at Lucky Sevens Casino under a great man named Charles Vega. But after Charlie died everything went to shit. 

Now I work for a spoiled brat who inherited the casino as a gift from his rich father. Not only that but I’m starting to think old Charlie didn’t have an accident after all. In fact, the entire operation stinks of corruption, smuggling and murder. And being that Charles was like a father to me I owe it to him to find out the truth. 

Tell us your most closely guarded secret? 
I'm what they call a functioning alcoholic. I don't remember when I started drinking I just know that I need to have it. Drinking takes the edge off. Especially these days I have a lot of stress that I address with a drink here and there. But don't worry, I have it under control. I can stop any time.  

Tell us about your single most important memory.  What was it and how does it affect you now? 
I'll never forget seeing Charles Vega's body splattered all over the street. He was my mentor, like a father to me, and to see him dead on the pavement underneath the casino he built from the ground up was heartbreaking and haunting.

What type of person are you?  Are you a hero or do you shy away from conflict?  
I never claim to be any kind of a hero. I do my best with what is given to me. Nothing is black and white in this world but I try to keep my nose clean and walk the straight and narrow. And if someone I love is in trouble, or needs my help, I’m always there. Especially if that someone is Brooklyn…the love of my life.

Do you have any hobbies, any special talents?
From my days in the Navy SEALS and then as head of security for Lucky Sevens Casino, I developed a nose for trouble. If you think you're going to get away with something shady you better not get on my turf. I'm not much for hobbies. My job is my hobby. I enjoy keeping the peace, keeping the trouble out of my casino. 

And in that line, what would be your ideal day? 
I've lived my ideal day. I go to work, I keep the peace. I keep an eye on things and shut them down before they turn sour. These days that has proven more difficult what with the takeover from the Zeder family. But don't count me out just yet. They don't call me lucky for nothing.  

Do you have anyone close to you, any family or friends of interest?
Brooklyn Becker. Sure it sounds like a tired old story. The guy falls for the stripper with a heart of gold. Cliché right? But this time its true. Brooklyn is different. She’s smart and beautiful all at the same time. Sure she’s stubborn,and we butt heads, but I’ve never loved anyone else in this world as much as love her. I just wish I hadn’t messed it up between us. Now if I can only win her back.

What is your most prized possession?
My pearl-handed revolver. Some say I love that gun more than any woman. She sure has treated me better than most. But I got that gun as a gift from my old man right before he passed on so I treasure it.

What initially spurred your actions in this story.  Obviously it had to start somewhere for you, give us an idea of where that starting point is and where it all started.
As soon as Charlie died. Ever since then everything has gone to shit. Names and bodies have been dropping off left and right. The Zeder family has taken over and put their idiot son Eddie in charge of the casino. The name change makes me sick. Charlie's casino was full of class and style. This new embodiment called Saints and Sinners is just a carnival attraction. It's everything that is wrong with Vegas now. Its all spectacle, nothing of substance. The decay of the city has to stop and I'm the man to stop it. 

How do you envision your future? 
Lucky

Tell us where we can read more about you? 
Lucky Sevens by Cynthia Vespia...and who knows where I might end up in the future. 


You can buy the book here!


-Cynthia Vespia
www.CynthiaVespia.com
www.facebook.com/authorcynthia.vespia
www.twitter.com/cynfulcharm

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Character Days: Christine Solaris from the Foothold of Tethys

Character Days: Christine Solaris from Foothold of Tethys


Tell me a little about yourself and the world you live in.
Gosh, where to start. Well I am Christine Solaris, I live on a small lunar base on Tethys, third moon of Saturn. Tethys is mostly made of ice with a small stone core. Among other names, such as Mother and Priestess of the Sun, I am also known as Prophet to the Savior. Our religion is that of Unifying Theory of the Sun, which we see the origin and the combining factor of all religions of mankind and possibly of other races as well. The sun gives us life, light and due to it's great mass a place to live. Because of our convictions, we are often referred to as lunatics or loonies, which is incorrect a luna means moon. It was Lena, our Savior, who corrected this and started naming us solatics, the children of the Sun, a name which has caught on.

Lets jump right in, what's your most closely guarded secret?
Well now... in a small community like ours it is actually close to impossible to keep a secret. But with this in mind, I think my secret would be ice cream. I just love ice cream.

Tell us about your single most important memory. What was it and how does it affect you now?
How does it affect me? It is my life. One night I stayed up under the Dome, our garden, and the Sun gave me a vision that I had to leave my home and find the one who would save us all.

What type of person are you? Are you a hero or do you shy away from conflict?
Oh, I am not a fighter and don't see myself as a hero. If anything, I would accept the role of mother.

Do you have any hobbies, any special talents?
I love to sing, I can play several musical instruments and know all the songs of the people by heart. As said, I have visions, and have the gift of Charm, as he light that shines through me from Sungod effects those around me. 

What sets you out from the crowd? Like your talents, would I be able to spot you if I passed you by?
On station it would be hard to miss the only one with yellow curls among people who are generally bald. But I do believe my faith and dedication sets me apart from others.

What's an ideal day for you?
Enough food, enough warmth, a comfy place to sit, friends to talk to, and no problems.

Do you have any one close? Any friends or family of interest?
I see all of humanity as my family, but the people on Tethys Base carry a special place in my heart. But having said this, there is only one person I truly love, Chris, Lena's half-brother.

What about your most prized possession?
My faith.

Back to your story, what initially spurred your actions? Everything had to start somewhere, so where's your beginning?
From a young age I knew I was special, as I could hear the voice of Sungod more clear than others. But I think my story really began with the vision to go to station and find the Savior.

Where do you think your future will lead?
The future is in the hands on mankind, but if Homo Adastra, the spaceborn humans, keep on the path the Savior has set for them, I think the future will be glorious and free.

Where can we find more about you?
Foothold of Tethys, also available in 4 parts as free E-book on torrent sites. But if you want to support the author, please buy an original copy at Amazon.com

Author:
Martin van Houwelingen

You can buy the book here!



Foothold of Tethys has a fan-page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/groups/footholdoftethys/ and a sister-site for writers to publish collective books to increase their PR: https://www.facebook.com/groups/authorauthor/