1) What is your least favourite trait of Jack Gorman?
I
know I should like him less than I do, but I sort of like him for all
the reasons he's an annoying ass. His drinking, and search for more
beer, is what gets him in the most trouble.
2) What was the most fun part to write?
I
probably had the most fun with the bar scene and Raven's discussion
with Jack afterwards. In the bar, Jack was the person he always thought
he was - a gift to women - and still manages to strike out. When Raven
explains what would be expected of him as a male in her world, he
realizes that he might not want what he thought. Coming up with ways to
abuse well known movie references was also fun.
3) Favourite line or paragraph from your story?
I
have a
couple of favorites, but the one that takes the prize is the metal
bikini discussion. It was nice to be able to poke at the fantasy heroine
stereotype.
###
The sun had finally crested the horizon. The man was wearing
some sort of blue hide pants and orange
shirt. His long pale feet and legs poked out of the ends of his
breeches. Why in the Goddess’s name wasn’t he wearing boots? She’d never seen
anything like it. Curiosity battled caution. And won. She stepped closer. Fresh
vomit clotted the man’s greasy straw-colored hair as if he’d rolled in it. He
cracked an eye open. His eyes might have been the pale blue of a morning sky if
not for the bloodshot whites. A trickle of blood ran from a small cut on his
bulbous nose.
“Hey, dude.” Rolling
on to his hands he pushed himself up. “Dude. Aren’t you supposed to be wearing
a metal bikini? And what’s up with your hair? It’s purple.”
“A what?”
“Umm, ya’know.” He motioned to the front of his chest and
groin area as he spoke. “A bathing suit that only covers your tits and ass.
Ya’know for swimming?”
Her brow furrowed. Raven looked down at her serviceable
chainmail and plate armor. She hadn’t been able to afford full plate, but why
on earth would any shield maiden wear plate only on her most sensitive areas?
And there was nothing wrong with her hair.
“How exactly would a metal bee key ne protect me in combat?” She shook her head.
What a ridiculous idea. Maybe he was an imbecile. No one
would any sense would think this bee key ne would make decent armor.
He grabbed her staff to pull himself to his feet. She was
taller than most women and he stood another hand higher.
“Where the fuck am I?” he slurred.
“Feynadun.”
He ran a hand through his hair. Red streaked the strands.
His eyes traveled around the circle and widened at the white birch trees and
verdant grass. “Toto, it doesn’t look like we’re in Topeka anymore.”
"Are you addled?"
###
4) What is the best part of working with a whole bunch of authors in a collaboration like this?
Working with a whole bunch of writers. Seriously.
For large chunks of time, writing is a solitary profession. This
anthology was very different from the one I previusly participated in
because of its origin and the publisher. The dinner where the idea was
born was wonderful. We then all went to our various writing corners and
came up with a story based on one idea "Jack Gorman was cut by a girl."
Once we saw everyone's story, we had to figure out a way to knit them
together. That also, was a lot of fun. I think the anthology is much
stronger for the collaborative effort that went into it, and the group
of us were able to form friendships as a result.
5) What sort of stuffed toy do you own or sleep with?
My husband. :) He gets annoyed when the critters take up the bed, so he's not giving up real estate to a stuffie.
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