First of all a huge thanks to author Jennifer Harlow for this guest post!
She is also sending me a review copy of her book Mind Over Monsters, where a review will be up as soon as I receive the book and have read it. So keep an eye open for it! 🙂
~
An
Interview with Special Agent Beatrice Alexander
Interview with Special Agent Beatrice Alexander
By
Jennifer Harlow
Jennifer Harlow
Through some of my Pentagon contacts (thanks Daddy and Uncle
George W.) I was given exclusive access to the clandestine branch of the FBI
known as the F.R.E.A.K.S. or Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred
Supernaturals. Their newest agent, former schoolteacher and telekinetic
Beatrice Alexander, agreed to meet with me under the cover of night at a coffee
shop somewhere in the Midwest. (It rhymes with “Ansas”)
George W.) I was given exclusive access to the clandestine branch of the FBI
known as the F.R.E.A.K.S. or Federal Response to Extra-Sensory and Kindred
Supernaturals. Their newest agent, former schoolteacher and telekinetic
Beatrice Alexander, agreed to meet with me under the cover of night at a coffee
shop somewhere in the Midwest. (It rhymes with “Ansas”)
So, thanks for agreeing
to do this.
to do this.
BA: It’s okay. <rolling
eyes> Gave me an excuse to get away from a pest. As long as I’m home in
time for The World of Henry Orient. I
love Peter Sellers.
eyes> Gave me an excuse to get away from a pest. As long as I’m home in
time for The World of Henry Orient. I
love Peter Sellers.
I understand you just got
back from your first case in Colorado. Killing zombies must be a far cry from
finger-painting with fourth graders.
back from your first case in Colorado. Killing zombies must be a far cry from
finger-painting with fourth graders.
BA: Totally. Though about the same amount of biting involved.
What made you decide to
make such a drastic career change?
make such a drastic career change?
BA: I, uh, <clears
throat> almost killed my brother one night. He was saying awful things
about me and I snapped. Almost blew out a vessel in his brain. I never had much
control over my curs—sorry, gift,
they insist we say that, and the F.R.E.A.K.S. offered me a chance to learn
about it. Get that control.
throat> almost killed my brother one night. He was saying awful things
about me and I snapped. Almost blew out a vessel in his brain. I never had much
control over my curs—sorry, gift,
they insist we say that, and the F.R.E.A.K.S. offered me a chance to learn
about it. Get that control.
Have you always been
telekinetic?
telekinetic?
BA: Ever since I was a kid. My mom’s boyfriend was about to hit
her, so I sent a plate across the room flying right into his head. There
were…other incidents too, but I don’t want to talk about them if you don’t
mind. <a pause> I don’t really
like talking about what I can do full stop. Sorry. For years only three people
ever knew, my brother, Nana, and friend April. She only found out because my
first and only sleepover her stuffed animals were dancing in the air. She thought it was cool.
her, so I sent a plate across the room flying right into his head. There
were…other incidents too, but I don’t want to talk about them if you don’t
mind. <a pause> I don’t really
like talking about what I can do full stop. Sorry. For years only three people
ever knew, my brother, Nana, and friend April. She only found out because my
first and only sleepover her stuffed animals were dancing in the air. She thought it was cool.
Most people would love to
have your gift.
have your gift.
BA: Then they’re morons. Would they love to wake up and find
their bed levitating? Getting angry and almost killing someone without lifting
a finger? Knowing that if you tell someone what you can do they’ll run for the
hills? Being called a freak, an aberration? <scoff> No, it is nothing to love.
their bed levitating? Getting angry and almost killing someone without lifting
a finger? Knowing that if you tell someone what you can do they’ll run for the
hills? Being called a freak, an aberration? <scoff> No, it is nothing to love.
Did you know that there
were others out there like you before you joined? Others with gifts?
were others out there like you before you joined? Others with gifts?
BA: No. God, no. If you came to me three months ago and told me
Dracula and the wolfman were alive and sharing a house, I’d have called you
nuts. Like everyone else I thought they were all made up. Now I have a werewolf
living across the hall and a vampire in the basement, among others.
Dracula and the wolfman were alive and sharing a house, I’d have called you
nuts. Like everyone else I thought they were all made up. Now I have a werewolf
living across the hall and a vampire in the basement, among others.
Who else is in the Squad?
BA: There’s Carl, he touches things and knows all about their
history. Uh, Andrew is a medium, Irie a pyrokinetic, and Nancy can teleport.
She’s not big on privacy and locked doors. <a private smile; turning red>
Then there’s Will. He’s the werewolf. Oh, and Oliver.
history. Uh, Andrew is a medium, Irie a pyrokinetic, and Nancy can teleport.
She’s not big on privacy and locked doors. <a private smile; turning red>
Then there’s Will. He’s the werewolf. Oh, and Oliver.
Was it hard joining such
a tight knit group?
a tight knit group?
BA: Well, I moved around a lot as a kid, so I’m used to being
the new girl, but still. Yeah. We had some growing pains, to say the least,
but…we stopped the necromancer and all the zombies. Together. I think they’re
warming to me. At least I hope they are. Time will tell. <face falling> Oh, crud. Not again.
the new girl, but still. Yeah. We had some growing pains, to say the least,
but…we stopped the necromancer and all the zombies. Together. I think they’re
warming to me. At least I hope they are. Time will tell. <face falling> Oh, crud. Not again.
When I turned to see what had gotten her so annoyed, my jaw
dropped. Sauntering into the shop was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen. The
picture I viewed did not do him justice. I recognized him from my dossier as
Oliver Montrose, another F.R.E.A.K. A vampire one. He slid into the booth right
next to Beatrice but flashed me a smile that scrambled my brain. Thank God I
had the tape recorder still running.
dropped. Sauntering into the shop was the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen. The
picture I viewed did not do him justice. I recognized him from my dossier as
Oliver Montrose, another F.R.E.A.K. A vampire one. He slid into the booth right
next to Beatrice but flashed me a smile that scrambled my brain. Thank God I
had the tape recorder still running.
OM: Well, well, well, what do we have here? Who is your new,
delectable friend here, Trixie?
delectable friend here, Trixie?
BA: <shooting daggers
with her eyes> None of your business. What are you doing here? Are you
following me? Again? Because this is getting close to stalkerish. I’m beginning
to feel like I’m in a Lifetime movie.
<to me> He does this. All the
time! I turn around, and there he is with that stupid grin on his face!
with her eyes> None of your business. What are you doing here? Are you
following me? Again? Because this is getting close to stalkerish. I’m beginning
to feel like I’m in a Lifetime movie.
<to me> He does this. All the
time! I turn around, and there he is with that stupid grin on his face!
OM: My grin is not stupid. <to me; grinning to show fangs> Do you find my grin stupid, my
dear?
dear?
BA: Oh, leave her alone! Now you’re just being childish. We’re
trying to do an interview here. Go away.
trying to do an interview here. Go away.
OM: <cocking an
eyebrow> An interview, you say? Fantastic. I do not mind answering a few
questions about fair Trixie here. Perhaps your readers would be interested to
know some nights she sleeps in nothing but a towel.
eyebrow> An interview, you say? Fantastic. I do not mind answering a few
questions about fair Trixie here. Perhaps your readers would be interested to
know some nights she sleeps in nothing but a towel.
BA: <mouth dropping
open> I do not…we have not…will
you shut up? Get out of here or I’ll…
open> I do not…we have not…will
you shut up? Get out of here or I’ll…
OM: What, tell Will? <to
me> Our team leader has such a soft spot for Trixie here. If she asked
him, he would stake me without a second thought. He almost did in Colorado. But
my darling Trixie would not let him. <growing
serious> She saved my life, you know. She saved us all.
me> Our team leader has such a soft spot for Trixie here. If she asked
him, he would stake me without a second thought. He almost did in Colorado. But
my darling Trixie would not let him. <growing
serious> She saved my life, you know. She saved us all.
BA: He’s exaggerating.
OM: No…I am not. She was magnificent. Truly.
Their eyes met, almost cooling her anger, replacing it with
nervousness. She looked away.
nervousness. She looked away.
BA: Just go away, okay. Please?
He stared at her face for a moment, almost sad to see she was
serious. He rose.
serious. He rose.
OM: As you wish, my dear. See you at home.
He walked out of the café, and she shook her head.
BA: I am so sorry about that. Sometimes he’s really great and
sometimes he’s…that.
sometimes he’s…that.
It’s alright. So, how did
you save his life?
you save his life?
BA: He’s exaggerating. He, um, the necromancer did something
to him and he attacked me. Will wanted to stake him, but I wouldn’t let him. It
wasn’t his fault. And as you can see he’s fine now. Relatively speaking.
to him and he attacked me. Will wanted to stake him, but I wouldn’t let him. It
wasn’t his fault. And as you can see he’s fine now. Relatively speaking.
Did this cause a problem
with you and your team leader?
with you and your team leader?
BA: Um, no, We’re fine now. Great. He’s actually, um, teaching
me some more martial arts. <turning
red again> Among other things. He used to be a police officer in D.C. so
he knows a lot. He’s just…wonderful.
me some more martial arts. <turning
red again> Among other things. He used to be a police officer in D.C. so
he knows a lot. He’s just…wonderful.
So far what do you like
best about the job? Besides your team leader.
best about the job? Besides your team leader.
BA: Well, I really liked the whole investigation part of it.
Interviewing people, finding clues, getting to the truth. I love mystery novels
and now it’s like my life has become one. <sweet smile> Though I felt more like bumbling Stephanie Plum
than Sherlock Holmes.
Interviewing people, finding clues, getting to the truth. I love mystery novels
and now it’s like my life has become one. <sweet smile> Though I felt more like bumbling Stephanie Plum
than Sherlock Holmes.
So all in all are you
happy with your choice to join the F.R.E.A.K.S.? No regrets?
happy with your choice to join the F.R.E.A.K.S.? No regrets?
BA: <laughing> Of
course I have regrets. What happened in Colorado was horrible. People died. I
had to chop up two zombie hordes with a machete. I have literal scars from the
whole ordeal. And it was my first case. But…a large part of me loved it. I’ve
faced monsters and won. I can be myself here, warts and all. I need that. I
never realized how much until I got here. I’m not alone anymore. That…makes it
worth it.
course I have regrets. What happened in Colorado was horrible. People died. I
had to chop up two zombie hordes with a machete. I have literal scars from the
whole ordeal. And it was my first case. But…a large part of me loved it. I’ve
faced monsters and won. I can be myself here, warts and all. I need that. I
never realized how much until I got here. I’m not alone anymore. That…makes it
worth it.
Her cell phone rang. As she listened to the other end, she
grew grave before standing up.
grew grave before standing up.
BA: I’m so sorry. There’s a golem on the loose in New Jersey,
I have to go. Nice meeting you.
I have to go. Nice meeting you.
She ran out the door off to face another monster. I for one
feel safer knowing she’s out there.
feel safer knowing she’s out there.
Jennifer Harlow is the
author of Mind Over Monsters, first
in the F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad paranormal mystery series. Please visit her website www.jenniferharlowbooks.com to read her blog “Tales
From the Darkside” and to get the soundtrack to the book. You can also friend
her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter at jenharlowbooks.
author of Mind Over Monsters, first
in the F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad paranormal mystery series. Please visit her website www.jenniferharlowbooks.com to read her blog “Tales
From the Darkside” and to get the soundtrack to the book. You can also friend
her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter at jenharlowbooks.
Awesome! 😀
That was a fun and interesting interview with Beatrice. 🙂
Christina, Jenn (we are legion, no?) thanks 4 the comments.
Book sounds great, can't wait to read it! 😀
That was so much fun, can't wait to read the book 🙂
Very cleverly done! Sounds like a fun book…
eai(at)stanfordalumni(dot)org
Sounds like a great team, if they don't kill each other first. 😀
very clever and an interesting guest post 🙂
Great post! The book sounds like a fun read. 🙂
This looks interesting..Great guest post 🙂
Krazyyme @ Young Readers
hahha.. That was so much fun Interview.. Very Interasting… Can't wait for Her book.. ^^
Haha this cracked me up, very fun guest post and it definitely got me interested in the book!
Oooh, this book sounds like something right up my alley! I have a weakness for books with characters who have special powers.
Thanks for the fun interview 😀
P.S. Oliver seems HOT!
Indeed! 😀
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jolene, Anonymous, Lynn, Krazzyme, Aparajita, Astri, Emily: Thanks! Sales pitch though, it's out right now. It's available on Amazon, B&N, in bookstores, and on all e-book venues. The second TO CATCH A VAMPIRE coes out early September.
Tayte: Them killing each other, let's just say great minds think alike
Rachchan: Oh, Oliver is very hot. And so much fun to write
Lol this was hilarious :)))
-JennyC
"Would they love to wake up and find their bed levitating?" – Telekinesis is fawesome! And one can learn to control one's powers, just like Rogue (X-Men) did 😀
Loved this post .Have a great weekend
This is a fun interview. I love reading things from the character's POV.
Haha. That was a great Interview. I love it. 🙂
hahahaha omg what a fun interview! <3