“Writing is…the imaginary friend you drink your tea with in the afternoon.”

—Ann Patchett

 

The easiest way to get to know someone is to talk to them, but you can’t really do that with a fictional character. At least, not in the traditional sense. In the imaginary sense, however, you absolutely can ☺. A fictional world has no boundaries, after all.

 

The Beyond Androva series will continue with Averine at the centre of the next story, and I can’t wait to write about her! However, I need to get a sense of who she is before I can do her character justice. With that in mind, I created a new character interview to discover a bit more about her personality and motivation.

 

If you had the chance to interview a character from one of your favourite books, would you take it? What would you ask them? Thank you very much for visiting my blog today 💕.

 

Interview with Averine, set immediately after Lost in Magic

 

Me: Thanks for talking to me. I know you have plans with Kellan this evening.

Averine: (smiles politely) It’s fine. Whatever you need. The case against my father… Wait. How do you know I have plans with Kellan?

Me: Well, I wrote about them. At the end of Kellan’s story.

Averine: Story? (pauses) You mean his witness statement.

Me: Not exactly. I’m not with the Xytovian government.

Averine: Who are you then?

Me: I’m writing a series of books about Xytovia. There are three so far. Your story will be the fourth.

Averine: What? My story? (laughs) Are you serious?

Me: Yes. I’m looking forward to it because you’re my first non-magical protagonist.

Averine: Who on Xytovia would read a story about me?

Me: That’s a good question. No one, actually. The books are for a Terran audience approximately two thousand years in your future.

Averine: (shakes head) This is so weird. But I’m not going to tell you my life story. It would take too long, and anyway, I’m not sure I want to remember. I mean, about… (swallows) about losing my mother and everything.

Me: I’m sorry. I wish it hadn’t happened that way. But you—and Xytovia—wouldn’t be where you are right now without it.

Averine: Maybe not. (frowns) You seem to be very well informed.

Me: Yes and no. I’m up to date with everything so far. But in terms of what happens next—not so much. That’s where you come in.

Averine: And what if I don’t want to be your protagonist?

Me: I’d be disappointed. I think you’d be great. And I also think you deserve an adventure.

Averine: Well… I am looking forward to exploring Xytovia. But there’s no guarantee anything exciting would happen.

Me: I disagree. I doubt Vayl is the only territory with a secret. Besides, don’t you want to give readers the chance to find out who you really are? They’ve only seen you from Kellan’s point of view.

Averine: (eyes widen) What did he say about me?

Me: I don’t know if I should tell you. It wouldn’t be fair on Kellan. But…

Averine: Yes?

Me: Maybe you could swap stories when yours is written. That way, neither of you is at a disadvantage.

Averine: Hmmm. Maybe.

(Kellan pushes the door open abruptly, his scowl softening when he sees Averine)

Kellan: Here you are. What’s going on?

Averine: Another interview.

Kellan: Now? I thought we were done. (turns) Can’t this wait until tomorrow? Wait… I know you. You’re the storyteller. You visited me in the Dimension Cell. (smirks) I said you should give me my own book, and I was right, wasn’t I?

Averine: (rolls eyes)

Kellan: What?

Averine: Of course you would be the person who demanded your own book.

Kellan: (grins) Why stop at one book? Can’t there be a Kellan series?

Averine: OK, that’s it. I’ve made up my mind. I’ll be your next protagonist.

Kellan: What do you mean?

Me: It’s the reason I’m interviewing Averine. I want to tell her story.

Kellan: Oh. Well, that’s great. You’ll be great. Obviously.

Averine: Good. It’s decided then.

Me: You know, I’ll need to give readers some background. The majority of Kellan’s story took place after he escaped the cell. So, I was thinking that Averine could tell the part about when the two of you first met.

Kellan: That’s not a good—

Averine: I’d love to.

(silence)

Kellan: You hated me.

Averine: I didn’t hate you.

Kellan: You said if kissing me would cure you of mage-sickness, you’d rather die.

Averine: I suppose I did say that. (smiles sweetly) But I discovered that underneath your arrogant exterior, you’re actually an adorable little xyleander blossom.

Kellan: (groans) Adorable? Xytovia help me, that’s even worse. Storyteller, you have to stop her. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.

Me: I think it’s important that readers see the real you, Kellan. And Averine knows you better than anyone.

Averine: (laughs) I like you, Storyteller.

Kellan: I give up. Will you at least let me read it before anyone else?

Averine: You can read it. As long you don’t expect me to change anything, and as long as I can read your story too.

Kellan: OK. But you should know I said only good things about you.

Averine: Thank you. You’re adorable.

Kellan: (glares)

Me: (hastily) I think this is a good moment to wrap up the interview. Averine and Kellan will return in the fourth Beyond Androva book. Thank you for reading!