Supernatural Central Interview
Question: Tell me a little bit about the main character of this book?
Jewel Foster is a 16-year-old high school student who hails from Kingsburg, California. It’s twenty minutes south of Fresno in the heart of the central valley. I know this because I actually live here! When I started writing, I got too lazy world-building and decided if Uncle Stevie (King) could do Bangor, Maine all the time, what’s stopping me from using my hometown… In any event, she has one friend who lives up the road in the next city. They text frequently, but don’t have any other friends. She has a poor relationship with her mother and otherwise keeps her head down all the time to essentially make herself invisible. Oh, and she hears voices.
That’s the trouble, really. It tells her terrible things, and even tries to get her to harm herself. Basically, anything she does or says, the voice has something to say about it – and it won’t be good. It really is a miracle that she’s still alive. One night, everything changes. Now she can see angels and demons all around her, helping or hindering in the lives of people. Neither side is happy about this.
Question: Do you believe in the paranormal and, if so, do you have an experience that you can share?
*laughs* I go to church every Sunday hoping I never experience the paranormal! I tell people the only ghosts I want to see are those three hitchhiking ghosts at the end of the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland!
My beliefs go back to the original good versus evil – God versus the Devil. If we open the wrong door, as it were, then strange and terrible things could happen. The only story that I have is a spiritual one. An old man from church had passed away. I didn’t really know him, but he had gone out of his way to greet me with that big voice he had. He coached sports all his life, so he knew how to project his voice. A couple of days afterward, I noticed the announcement of his passing on a social network, and it bothered me because I was never going to hear that voice call out my name again. I went to take a shower, and it kept gnawing at me. I started weeping about it. I got myself under control and got dressed. I avoided my family because I didn’t want my sadness to alarm them. I walked to the front of the house as a stall tactic and looked out the window to see a perfect white dove outside. There are no doves like that where we live, nor have there ever been. Right away my first thought was: don’t get yourself all excited. There must be an explanation. I finally asked my wife to come over and see, and she asked if I meant the dove that was outside. She told me it was sitting on my truck when she got home from work. It eventually flew onto the neighbor’s house and was still there moments later when we drove off to dinner. I have never seen another.
What titles are you working on now that you can tell us about?
I currently have three books in my Dance on Fire edgy vampire series that The Color of Sound may have something to do with. *grins* It’s a surprise for my longtime fans of those characters. The next book will be Dance on Fire 4, although the real title will be revealed later in the new year. I’m outlining that one now and plan to start the first draft this holiday season. Jewel will be joining the team, and her adventure will continue. It all happens in the same town, you see. Yeah, Kingsburg is pretty haunted. I’m really going to have to explain all of that one of these days!
Thanks for the interview opportunity, Supernatural Central
Excerpt:
Jewel is humming an 80’s hair metal song to herself as she crosses the last street of the day and steps onto the sidewalk on her block. It’s a song that never gets old; however, where she has heard it recently enough to cause it to ear worm into her consciousness, she does not know. It has been a pleasant walk home. She notices no demons on her way, and if present, none challenge her.
She notices her stalker walking toward her and makes no effort to escape.
Whatever, she thinks. He’s not ruining my day.
When he reaches her, he spins and then walks beside her.
“You sound pretty full of yourself right now,” he says evenly. She detects a hint of displeasure in his voice. “I would not have pegged you for a Whitesnake fan.”
She merely shrugs.
“What’s the problem?” she asks. “It’s been a good day. Don’t try to ruin it.”
“Yes, I will be sad to do so. It has been a long time since you have been this giddy.”
“Giddy?” she repeats. “I have never been giddy.”
He makes a sound that she doesn’t immediately discern. It is something between a laugh and a grunt. “I will grant you that it is rare, but it has happened.”
Jewel lets it go.They are halfway down the block now and neither speak for quite a while.
“You must realize that this is not a game,” he says, finally. It isn’t a question.
Jewel sighs. “I should have snuck down the alley,” she says.“You already tried that tactic.”
“So, what do you want from me?”
“You have nothing that I need,” he replies.
“Okay, what am I supposed to do?”
“For one, you can stop poking them.”
“Poking who?”
“You know who, Julie,” he answers. “Leave them be.”
Jewel stops walking. They are near the foot of her driveway now. She turns and faces him. “How can I do that?” she asks. “They’re evil. They put thoughts in your head that aren’t yours. They lie, cheat and steal. Mine told me the vilest things. All this time I thought it was me…”
“I know that.”
She stops. “See! That just pisses me off! They put horrible things into your head, and you know all about it. Who are you?”
“You already know…”
“Don’t tell me that!” she snaps. “Just don’t! I want you to spell it out for me.”
He stands and simply looks at her.
“Sonofabitch!” she shouts. “So, you’re a guardian angel or something?”
He nods.
“Can’t you even say it?” she asks and throws up her hands
“Yes, I can. I am your guardian angel. Does that help?”
“No, it doesn’t help,” she replies, still smoldering. “That only begs further questions.”
“Fine,” he says. “Ask away.”
She glances about the neighborhood as she contemplates what to ask.
“So, no one can see you?” she asks finally. It is the first thought that occurs to her in the heat of the moment. “Anyone looking this way right now sees a crazy girl alone, throwing a fit on the sidewalk?”
“Only when I allow it. When they do, they see only a man.”
“Then do it now,” she says. “I’m tired of feeling crazy. I’ve lived a lifetime of that.”
“As you wish.”
“Do you have a name? Of course you do. What is it?”
“I am afraid I cannot tell you that.”
Jewel appears startled, as if slapped. “Excuse me?”
“I have a name, yes. But it is nothing you could pronounce.”
“Try me,” she says, but he quickly holds up his hands as if to calm her.
“Please do not misunderstand. When we are named… All of us, humans, angelic beings, otherwise, it is by others who are masters or parents. There is ownership implied. Mine has given me a name because he is my master.”
“God, huh?” Jewel says. “So, you’re a religious nut.”
“The very first kind,” he answers evenly.
She shakes her head. “So, what do I call you?”
“I have hope that whenever you call me it will be friend.”
“Isn’t that a song?”
“Yes, Kenny Loggins and Melissa Manchester wrote it.”
“It’s a very old song.”
“I promise you I am far older.”
“How come you know so much about music?”
“I spend quite a lot of time waiting. I amuse myself with music.”
“Who’s your favorite?”
“Would you believe the Mormon Tabernacle Choir?”
She frowns.
“They are quite good, you know.”
“Try again?”
“The Gregorian Monks.”
“Who? Seriously? Chanting? I don’t believe you.”
“I appreciate much, but once you have heard music in heaven there is really nothing else. Perhaps Zeppelin.”
“Get out of here,” she says, exasperated, and heads for her house.
He makes no move to follow.
When she reaches the ninety-degree angle at the walkway that leads to her door, she stops and looks back. “Are you seriously just going to stay out here forever?”
His face grows serious. “That is up to you.”
“How so?”
“You have seen demons with your own eyes, and now you know you have a guardian angel, and have had one since birth.”
“Do I know that?” she asks. “Sure, I have you to vouch for that, but all I have is what you’ve told me. And you really haven’t told me much.”
“In any event,” he continues. “What does that tell you?”
“About what, mysterious stranger?” she asks. “What does it tell me? It doesn’t tell me anything.”
“When you are ready, I will be here.”
“Ready for what?”
“I will be here,” he repeats. “But, please, leave them be.”
“Why should I?” she asks and holds out her hands.
He pauses, as if measuring his words. “Because they will soon poke back.”
.png)
.png)