Twin Bred by Karen Wyle (2)

Karen Wyle has graciously agreed to allow us a glimpse into her book, Twin-Bred.Actually she has shared three character interviews with me to post here. This is the second in the series; the last one will be coming soon.

A little background on Twin-Bred

 Can interspecies diplomacy begin in the womb?  After seventy years on Tofarn, the human colonists and the native Tofa still know very little about each other.  Misunderstanding breed conflict, and the conflicts are escalating.  Scientist Mara Cadell’s radical proposal: that host mothers of either species carry fraternal twins, human and Tofa, in the hope that the bond between twins can bridge the gap between species.  Mara lost her own twin, Levi, in utero, but she has secretly kept him alive in her mind as companion and collaborator.

Mara succeeds in obtaining governmental backing for her project – but both the human and Tofa establishments have their own agendas.  Mara must shepherd the Twin-Bred through dangers she anticipated and others that even the canny Levi could not foresee.  Will the Twin-Bred bring peace, war, or something else entirely?

Character Interview with Levi

Introductory Note: this would be, to say the least, a difficult interview to arrange. "Levi Thomas" was the name that would have belonged to Mara Cadell's fraternal twin, had he survived to be born. He died shortly before that point. Mara, emotionally traumatized by that loss, coped by keeping Levi alive in her mind as a companion. (The traumatic nature of her loss is based on reports from many twin survivors.)

Q. I'll start with the question many readers would particularly like to ask you: are you purely a creature of Mara's imagination, or do you have some independent reality?

A. Wouldn't you like to know?

I could tell you to ask Mara -- not that she's in a particularly good position to answer that question -- but of course, she doesn't like to talk about me. She'd be quite perturbed that you even know of my existence (if that's what we call it for purposes of discussion).

Q. Do you agree with Mara that it would harm her career, and/or endanger the Twin-Bred project, if people on Tofarn found out about you?

A. Definitely. I've told her as much. You must understand, Mara is not the easiest person to get along with. She's prickly and doesn't suffer fools gladly. And she has a very low tolerance for organizational politics. All of which means that only her exceptional scientific ability induces people to put up with her. There are many who would like to be shut of her if they had a good enough excuse. Delusions of twin-hood? Good enough.

Q. Do you think Mara would be better off without you?

A. Allow me a small sigh. . . . Mara would be better off if I had lived. And it's possible she'd be better off if I had never existed. I'm not sure "better to have loved and lost" applies in these circumstances, if it ever does. . . .  But there we were, twins. There's no getting around that starting point. And she's tenacious, in love as in other things. It wasn't in her nature to simply move on. All things considered, I think she's better off isolated and secretive than seriously depressed. And of course, I'm good company.

Q. Do you think it's made things easier or harder for Mara, being surrounded by twins?

A. Both. But on the whole, I think it's been more healing than otherwise. All around her, she sees humans and Tofa, most of whom would never have had a twin if not for her. You could say that she's ensured I didn't die in vain. Though I doubt she's thought if it in those terms.

Q. Do you play any part in Mara's artwork -- her drawing and cartooning?

A. Not directly. I don't think I would have been that visual. I'm more about the words. We often talk about her drawings. Sometimes I lack the context to understand them, and she explains. And her cartoons show a sense of humor that she doesn't normally indulge. That side of her, that hidden mischief, is where she and I are most alike.

http://www.amazon.com/Twin-Bred-ebook/dp/B005VDVHQ2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1332721024&sr=8-2 

Crowded by Shaina Cilimberg

Shaina Cilimberg has written the novel Crowded and brought together some of the characters for an interview.....




Cole Martin is a new Christian and dating Emily Davis. He loses her trust after sexting another girl and is now trying to win her back. But it’s not easy with the competition. Josh Summers, the new kid in school with a dark past, also has his sights set on Emily. 

Emily is torn between them both. For a while she enjoys being fought over, but realizes how destructive the competition between Cole and Josh has become. Who will Emily choose? 

Thank you Josh, Cole, Lydia and Emily for stopping by. I have a few questions for you.

1. High School can be the pits. What do you guys do to make it tolerable?

Josh Summers: I'm ashamed to admit I make it worse for others in return. I used to be really popular and a bully at my old school, then something happened that ruined my rep. When I got to Deep River High, I bullied Cole Marting because I wanted Emily. I  also found out about the hate page dedicated to me on Facebook and some at my new school were even joining it. I've been so consumed with guilt I had a breakdown and felt so hated and was hated by so many people. I am a Christian though, and I want to live for Christ so badly. I've been through so much and I know I brought some of it on myself but some was because people don't know how to forgive and when people don't forgive me, I take it out on others.

Emily Davis: I just try to ignore the fake, popular girls and keep to my own friends. I love to draw and I love Jesus. I just get torn between two boys and I wasn't use to it so I let it get to my head so to speak.

Cole Martin: I just try to do what's right and be a better Christian and hang with friends.

Lydia Summers: I just try to encourage others and be there for them. My brother is Josh and we are very close and he is always there for me and I for him.

(New Character-PerfectForgiveness) Kirk Williams:  I  did something horrible...

2. If there was one thing you would like to change in your life, what would it be?

Cole: that I wasn't abused

Josh: That I never made my ex get an abortion and that I lived in a bigger house and that my family was rich again.

Emily: I love being me!

Lydia:  That my brother would stop moping.

Kirk: That I was never bullied, never abused, never abandoned and that I never killed anyone.

3. What makes you happy?

Josh: when people decide they don't hate me.

Emily: Me!!! HAHAHA

Cole: growing closer to God and my friends.

Lydia: These people answering above me.

 Kirk: feeling accepted and forgiven even if for a moment

4. What does your future hold for you?

Josh: You'll have to read the next book, Perfect Forgiveness and see :)

Emily:  I see myself as an artist.

Lydia: surfing!

Kirk: (new character in Perfect Forgiveness) I'm very scared...juvie or adult jail it's not looking good.

5. What type of music do you listen to?  Does it cheer you up when you are blue or motivate you when you need to get a move on?

We all listen to Christian rock, Christian rap, Christian alterna, Pop, rock, alterna.

http://www.amazon.com/Crowded-Deep-River-High-ebook/dp/B005HB1J7A/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1331917886&sr=1-1

Ey Wade has published a number of books and graciously allowed me to interview the central character in her YA Novel -- D.N.A.

 A little about the book...

Debney Nichole Armstrong thought she knew everything about her family. She knew her dad worked hard at everything, except building a relationship with his family. She knew her younger brothers were typical little kids, and she knew without doubt, her mother cared nothing for her first born and only daughter. But what she hadn’t known was, DNA could ruin your life.

Eighteen year old Debney Nichole Armstrong, found out about her parents’ and little brothers’ death during the night of her eighteenth birthday party. Yes, sometimes relationships in families end tragically. People leave; parents die, and lives change, but does it all have to bring out the skeletons in the closet?

After one of her reoccurring bitter arguments with her mother, Debney is left home alone while her family goes away on summer vacation. In the chaos of a romantic (with her long time crush) dinner turned teen party, she learns of the death of her family. What she really needed to know was what role did her mother contribute to the ‘accident’? Where were the bodies of her ten year old twin brothers? Who is the strange man in her mother’s journals, and who is the father of the child she now carries? No matter what the answers are, Debney knows, nothing will ever be the same.

 1.      Debney, tell us a little about your family and where you live.

My dad was originally from India, worked hard to make the money and awesome life we had. Unfortunately, he married my mom. If it wouldn’t have been for the sometimes cruel actions of my mom, my family could be nice. I live in a huge house and attend a very nice school. Before the party, I had a lot of friends. Things changed quickly once it got around I was pregnant.

2. Life or fate dealt you a very bad hand. Your family was tragically taken away from you while they were away on vacation. What made you believe your little brothers were still alive? Is that why you took the unexpected trip to Italy? 

Yes, my family did die. At least it was presumed they all died. When the police told me the bodies of my brothers were not found, I just couldn’t give up the small bit of hope I had to see them again. That’s why I went to Italy. I just couldn’t make myself give up on them and leave them lost somewhere in a strange country.

3. Everything seems to have gone downhill since your family’s demise. Your infamous eighteenth birthday party which resulted in your pregnancy brought about negative reactions from all your friends. How do you handle the stress?

I’m not handling things very well. I have these bursts of anger that sometimes make me lash out at those who try to humiliate me in school When the fear of being alone in the world starts to weigh to heavy, I tend to run and hide in the blankets of my parents’ bed as if I am still a preschooler. As a matter of fact I don’t even live in the big house, I find it easier to hide….live in the pool house out back. As an added protection for the baby I have been visiting a grief counselor.

4. Out of everything that has happened to you, what stands out the most?

Hmmm, I would have to say the stupid appearance on that reality TV show. If it weren’t for the idiot classmates trying to humiliate me, I would have never gone on there. I fixed them though. I bet it was the only time in the history of that show, a woman didn’t run off the stage crying like a fool.

5. You have a nice house, money, a child but your demons won’t let you alone. What will it take to put your mind at ease?

I’ve come to realize only time will give me peace. I learned so many horrible things about my mother so soon after hearing of my parent’s death that my mind is boggling. Luckily I have two of the most awesome and dependable friends. It gives me faith that things will get better.

Well, guess I have to go now. Thank you so much, Ms. Greta for interviewing me.

                                                    Amazon US       Amazon UK       B&N

I Saw My Life Pass Before My Eyes....

 Dannye Williamsen has written Second Chances and its sequel, The Threads That Bind. I have read them both. The first few pages hooked me and kept my attention until the last page.

 
　

Darian, one of the main characters in Second Chances, is obsessed with gaining power. You find yourself feeling sympathy for Darian at times, but you can never seem to get away from the scary side of him. I knew it might be risky, but I decided to interview him myself.

Darian, my name is Greta, and I wanted to ask: “why was it so important for you to have power?”

Power is what separates the weak from the strong. When I was weak, I was nothing. No one saw me. No one cared. When the Master found me and opened my eyes to my destiny, everything changed. I was no longer weak. I didn’t need all those people who never saw me. I was more than they could ever be.

You needed Fredrika, though, didn’t you?

No, I didn’t need her. I was giving her the opportunity to be part of something wonderful.

Aw, Darian, that’s not the whole truth, is it? You couldn’t reach your ultimate goal without her, could you?

[Note: I’m starting to notice Darian’s jaw tightening. Given his predacious history, it’s making me a little nervous.]

I don’t really care what you think. Freddie was just a shortcut. She had power, not as much as I did, but power nevertheless. Her life force would have just given me that extra boost that most couldn’t.

[I have a feeling that I’m stepping off a cliff here, but I stupidly keep going.]

Freddie had  more going for her than you did, Darian. She was a successful technical analyst. She was making a difference. You weren’t doing anything except looking out for your own selfish needs.

You think you’re so smart, but you don’t understand anything. Her life was small – just like your life, Greta Burroughs!!

[Now I’m starting to see a strange haze around him, and it feels like I’m suffocating. Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed so hard.]

Darian! Leave her alone!            

[Struggling for air, I turn and see that Freddie has arrived. Thank God! She has his attention now, and I can breathe again.]

[Whirling around, Darian confronts Freddie.]So now you want to talk! How many times did I try to get you to pay attention? You sure you don’t want to faint on me again?

Give it a rest, Darian!

[I slipped quietly out of the room while they had each other’s attention. I think I had all the answers I needed.]