Character Interviews: Elaine

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Elaine would like everyone to know she’s participating under protest. I decided use some of the questions from the Proust Questionnaire for these character interviews.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Not having to answer stupid questions.

What is your greatest fear?

The pack finding out about my…issue.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

My inability to deal with social situations.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Brashness.

What is your greatest extravagance?

The elaborate gaming system set up in my tiny living room.

What is your current state of mind?

Busy. It’s always busy up there in my head.

On what occasion do you lie?

I’m a cougar shifter, we don’t lie, we simply evade.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

My crazy ginger hair.

Which living person do you most despise?

My mother.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Prat.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

The pack, don’t tell them.

When and where were you happiest?

When I’m hunting tiny creatures in the forest.

Which talent would you most like to have?

The ability to deal with people.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Eh. I am who I am.

Where would you most like to live?

I like my cozy flat.

What is your most marked characteristic?

My narky temper.

What is it that you most dislike?

Velvet.

How would you like to die?

The least painful way possible.

What is your motto?

Always keep your cards close to your chest.

Character Interviews: Gareth

Two wolves playing near forest

Gareth Richardson is, I think, one of the most popular characters in the series. I decided use some of the questions from the Proust Questionnaire for these character interviews.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Ivy naked in my bed, oh, it’s fine if Steve’s there to. Is he going to read this?

What is your greatest fear?

I agree with Steve on Ivy being snatched up again.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I’m not always as serious as I should be, though Steve’s serious enough for the both of us.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Pretentiousness.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I’ve spent a small fortune on my guitars.

What is your current state of mind?

Plotting.

On what occasion do you lie?

Whenever I think I can get one over on Steve.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Not a bloody thing, have you seen me?

Which living person do you most despise?

Anyone who dares look at Ivy the wrong way.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Bloody.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Ivy. And Steve.

When and where were you happiest?

In bed with a naked Ivy and Steve.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Twisting a cherry stem with my tongue would be a handy talent.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

There are days when I wish I had Steve’s ability to lead.

Where would you most like to live?

Somewhere warm.

What is your most marked characteristic?

My perfect grin.

What is it that you most dislike?

Steve looks better in a tux than I do, the bastard.

How would you like to die?

Some completely ridiculous way, just so it would give everyone a good laugh.

What is your motto?

Shit or get off the pot.

Character Interviews: Steve

Two wolves playing near forest

Steven Samuels is probably my favourite member of the Blackbird Pack. I decided use some of the questions from the Proust Questionnaire for these character interviews.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

I’m happiest when I know all the members of my pack are secure and happy, and my mates are happy.

What is your greatest fear?

It used to be injury to a member of the pack. Now I find my greatest fears revolve around Ivy being grabbed again.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I’m told I’m a tad overbearing at times.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

I have no tolerance for those who prey on women and children.

What is your greatest extravagance?

The Aston Martin.

What is your current state of mind?

Quiet.

On what occasion do you lie?

Honesty is generally the better choice, if it involves keeping someone I love safe, I will lie.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I could do with less grey hairs.

Which living person do you most despise?

I don’t despise people, I pity them because the people I should despise since I will eventually find them.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

You’ll have to ask Gareth, he whinges on about things like that and I ignore him.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Ivy, and Gareth when he’s not annoying me.

When and where were you happiest?

Running in wolf form on my estate in Wales.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Envy is a waste of time.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Ivy thinks I’m perfect, so nothing.

Where would you most like to live?

I’m perfectly satisfied with my penthouse and my home in Wales.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Depends on who you ask.

What is it that you most dislike?

Gareth’s snoring.

How would you like to die?

In old age.

What is your motto?

“Everyone has his burden. What counts is how you carry it.”

Character Interviews: Darren

Darren Martel is a character who was actually a little bit of a surprise. I decided use some of the questions from the Proust Questionnaire for these character interviews.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Beer, Footie and Natasha tied up.

What is your greatest fear?

Losing myself.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I am too forgiving.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Cruelty.

What is your greatest extravagance?

My gaming system, I blame Elaine.

What is your current state of mind?

Chaotic.

On what occasion do you lie?

All the bloody time, I’m a fox.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

That one freckle on my arse.

Which living person do you most despise?

Josh, because the stingy bastard owes me a fiver.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

I curse to damn much.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Manchester City, oh and Natasha.

When and where were you happiest?

I’m happiest when City thrashes United.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I’m already talented.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’m too generous with my forgiveness.

Where would you most like to live?

Buckingham Palace seems pretty posh, is it taken?

What is your most marked characteristic?

My sense of humour.

What is it that you most dislike?

Manchester United

How would you like to die?

Mid-Coitus.

What is your motto?

Who has bloody mottos these days? Don’t piss in your own bed.

Character Interview – Ivy

Ivy Langdon was the first character in the Blackbird series to appear in my mind. She’s one of my favourites as a result. I decided use some of the questions from the Proust Questionnaire for these character interviews.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Freshly baked scones with home-made jam, a large pot of tea and my two gits arguing in the background.

What is your greatest fear?

Losing someone I love, I know how bloody awful it feels.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I hate my tendency to hermit myself away when I’m hurting.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

I dislike lying.

What is your greatest extravagance?

My cameras. I spend far more than I can really afford on my gear and studio.

What is your current state of mind?

Happy.

On what occasion do you lie?

Not very often, I usually avoid anything other than the occasional white lie.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

My ears.

Which living person do you most despise?

Valentin Krupin and Marin Petrov.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

In general? A sense of humour. In my gits? I love Gareth’s laugh, and Steve’s smile

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

A sense of humour.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Bugger, git, bloody.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Ranulph says my greatest love is anything I see through the lens of my camera. He might be right. Though, the gits come a close second.

When and where were you happiest?

I was very happy with Alec, and I’m finding that again with Steve and Gareth. Though in general, I find I’ve been happiest when I’m letting my photography muse lead me around.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I wish I could command attention like my mum does.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish I hadn’t hermitted quite as long as I did.

Where would you most like to live?

Wales.

What is your most marked characteristic?

I think I have a rather brilliant photographic eye.

What is it that you most dislike?

Bugs.

How would you like to die?

In my sleep, I’ve felt enough pain. I’d like to be blissfully unaware when I finally die.

What is your motto?

It’s better to laugh than to cry.

Character Interviews: Natasha

NatashaFullCover600 Natasha Itsov is a character who was actually a little bit of a surprise. I decided use some of the questions from the Proust Questionnaire for these character interviews.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Hunting rabbits in icy cold conditions.

What is your greatest fear?

Being brought down by something simple and mundane.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Emotions.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Touchy-Feely displays of affection.

What is your greatest extravagance?

My custom built lane-splitter motorbike.

What is your current state of mind?

Calm.

On what occasion do you lie?

Whenever I deem it necessary.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Nothing.

Which living person do you most despise?

Marin Petrov.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

I admire most when a man knows when to walk away.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Intelligence.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Ebat. (It means fuck in Ukrainian).

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

I refuse to answer.

When and where were you happiest?

When I was very young, and when I spent time with the person who I refuse to talk about.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I wish I could cook like my grandmother.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My regrets.

Where would you most like to live?

Somewhere with snow.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Determination.

What is it that you most dislike?

Animal traps.

How would you like to die?

Taking down criminals.

What is your motto?

Do not give in.

Character Interviews: Alicia

Inspiration Alicia ‘Allie’ Lowe is a character who has been part of Ivy’s word from practically the very beginning. I decided use some of the questions from the Proust Questionnaire for these character interviews.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

All I truly need in life to be happy is a fully stocked wardrobe, a perfectly made cappuccino and a healthy family. Oh, and maybe a Rolls-Royce with a driver.

What is your greatest fear?

There is nothing more terrifying than embarrassing my family.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I happen to be a little more vain than is probably wise.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

I don’t have a lot of patience for people who are constantly dishonest.

Which living person do you most admire?

Ivy, without a question.

What is your greatest extravagance?

The clothes in my closet. Have you seen my closet? It’s filled to capacity with designer labels.

What is your current state of mind?

Panicked.

You’ll see why when you read Masquerade.

On what occasion do you lie?

Mostly to my mother, to avoid an argument, or to Alim if I want him to send a driver for me.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

That one grey hair that refuses to go away. I beg, I cajole, it remains unmoved.

Which living person do you most despise?

It’s a tie between Valentin Krupin and my rival from Uni, Iris.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Strength.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Strength.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Oh bugger it all.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?

Currently? My cat, Minxie. Ivy might be a close second, then my family.

When and where were you happiest?

Sipping tea at a cafe in Marrakesh with Ivy over Uni break many years ago.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I’d be over the moon if I could handle a camera like Ivy does.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

My overwhelming need to please my mother.

Where would you most like to live?

London, so it’s a good thing I live here.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Loyalty. I also have a very well defined sense of style.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Coco Chanel

What is it that you most dislike?

Vegemite.

How would you like to die?

Painlessly.

What is your motto?

Fashion doesn’t solve everything, but it helps.