Interview!

Since we had some virus issues last week, I'm posting that character interview here so you ladies who couldn't get to it can see it.

Here it is, minus the intro, which this gang probably doesn't need anyway.


Drusilla: Don't you just love being interviewed?

Zef: Nope. Hate it like the Scorillian plague.

Drusilla: No you don't, Zef. It gives you the opportunity to tell everyone about your hobby.

Zef: My hobby? Wasn't aware I had one.

Drusilla: (rolls eyes) Of course you do! All the words you know for, well, you know....

Zef: Oh, that. Right. Can't talk about that here, though.

Drusilla: Well, probably not...

Marla Elkhorn: Good afternoon all you readers out there in blog land! We're here today to talk with some of the characters from Cheryl Brooks' latest book, The Cat Star Chronicles: Fugitive. So, Zef, you know our hero and heroine pretty well. Tell us a little bit about Manx and Drusilla.

Zef: They were fun. I miss them something awful! Manx—he's a Zetithian, by the way—was my friend and Drusilla, well, she's a painter from Earth. Paints pictures of birds if you can believe that nonsense. Pretty useless occupation if you ask me.

Marla: (clears throat) I see. Zef, you're an eltran. Tell us what your life is like.

Zef: I live in a lake on Barada Seven and catch fish—no, scratch that—I can't catch them anymore. Too old and slow. Just have to eat the damn plants. Now, Manx could catch fish like no one you've ever seen. Used to spear them for me. I miss that... My fault he's gone, though.

Marla: Really? How so?

Zef: Made the mistake of playing matchmaker between him and Drusilla. Not that most Zetithians need any help in that department. Most females fall for them like fruit from a tree.

Marla: I see. Pretty sexy, huh?

Zef: Well, I'm no judge—I mean, look at me! I'm an amphibian. What would I know about—

Marla: (quickly) I see what you mean, Zef.

Zef: Hey, I know I'm ugly, but—now, here's someone I know you'd think was hot!

Marla: Ah, I see we have Manx joining us now. (gives him an appreciative look)

Manx: How are you, Zef?

Zef: (waves a flipper at Manx) Oh, fine. Not like the old days, of course, but I get by. So, are you two lovebirds still... (makes a loud, crunching sound which we can only assume is his way of laughing) Guess I shouldn't ask that. But you were always at it back on Barada. Got any kids yet?

Manx: We've been working on it.

Zef: (laughs again) That doesn't surprise me a bit.

Marla: So, Zef, tell us how you got them together.

Zef: Don't mind if I do. They were being such stupid, f—

Manx: Watch it, Zef!

Zef: —idiots. Her not wanting to talk to any men at all and him hiding out from the Nedwut bounty hunters. I mean, I told her he was pretty, but would she listen? No, she had to see him for herself.

Drusilla: (mutters) Do you blame me?

Zef: (sharply) I heard that, Drusilla. You think no one hears your quiet little comments, but we do. (laughs again) It was one of my favorite things about you.

Drusilla: (smiling) Not just that I didn't tell you to get lost whenever I was down at the lake working on my paintings?

Zef: No. Not just that. You were nice to me. (adds reflectively) One of the few bipeds I've ever met that was.

Drusilla: (shrugs) I try.

Marla: So, Manx, tell us your thoughts when you first saw Drusilla swimming in the lake? How did it affect you?

Manx: (swallows hard) I don't think I can say that here.

Zef: I can tell you that part! He was always naked, so you can see how she made his big—

Drusilla: Zef!

Manx: (in an aside to Drusilla) I knew it was a mistake to include him in this interview.

Zef: I heard that! I may be old and ugly, but my hearing is as good as ever!

Drusilla: (softly) Unfortunately.

Marla: So, it was love at first sight?

Zef: (snickering) More like lust at first sight.

Drusilla: Oh, it was not!

Zef: (smugly) You didn't see him after he'd caught a whiff of your scent. He was pretty taken with you. And I saw the look in your eyes when you spotted him there in the jungle. Couldn't take your eyes off him!

Drusilla: A gorgeous naked hunk with long black hair? Can you blame me?

Zef: Well, there's no accounting for taste. I mean, as humanoids go, he's okay, but you, well, you're a lot better looking in my opinion.

Drusilla: Thank you, Zef.

Manx: I have to agree with Zef on that one. You were the only woman who ever looked—or smelled—good enough to bring me out of hiding.

Zef: Must have been her red hair—or maybe her nicely shaped backside—

Drusilla: I think you've said enough, Zef.

Zef: I'm just getting started!

Marla: Just the same, I think we'd better stop there before things get out of hand. To find out more, you'll just have to read the book! You'll find Fugitive on your local bookstore shelves now.

Zef: Hurry out and buy your copy today! Or better yet, buy two!

Drusilla: Zef!

Manx: Let him talk. He might make us rich.

Drusilla: (dryly) My paintings of you have already made us rich.

Manx: Oh, yeah, right. . . .

I'm also a guest today on Marie Sullivan Force's blog. Marie had some really tough questions for me and we're giving away a book, so come on over and join the fun!