My Interview With: Challa Scott (RUNNER'S MOON: CHALLA)

LM: Today we're getting to meet Challa, from RUNNER'S MOON: CHALLA, book four of the "Runner's Moon" series. Hello, Challa! Thank you for joining us!

CS: Hello, Linda. Forgive me. I'm nervous.

LM: That's understandable. Don't worry. The readers just want to learn a bit about you before your book comes out on March 15th next year. Now, your back history is a bit different from the other Ruinos we've met. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

CS: Well, I was born on the Arra ship. I have no memories of Barandat. My parents were taken prisoners by the Arra. Actually, they were not mates when they were kidnapped. It wasn't until the Arra began to force all the unmated Ruinos to have sex that my mother and father found each other.

LM: And you were not their first born, am I correct?

CS: That is right. I don't know what happened to my first two siblings. At least, Jebaral told me I was Heela and Doon's third child. After I was born, the Arra took me away from them, so I never got to meet them before they died.

LM: I'm sorry to hear that. That's so sad! So, not only have you never seen your home world, you've never gotten to know your parents either!

CS: But I have Jebaral, and Tiron, and Simolif, and their life mates. They are my family now.

LM: (laughs) And we'll leave the reveal about you and the other Ruinos for the readers to find out in the next book! Thank you, Challa, for allowing us to get to know you better.

CS: You are very welcome. I've enjoyed it.

My Interview With: Compton Scott (RUNNER'S MOON: CHALLA)

LM: This is a special treat! I'm getting to interview two new people--the next hero and heroine from my Runner's Moon series. Today we're getting to meet Compton Scott, from RUNNER'S MOON: CHALLA, book four. Hello, Compton! This is quite a surprise and a pleasure!

CS: Hi, Linda! We're more than happy to be here!

LM: Okay, since readers haven't been introduced to you yet, we have to be careful not to spoil anything. But we can give out the facts that you're an Army veteran, and Challa is Ruinos.

CS: That's right. I was wounded in action overseas and given a medical discharge. I live in a small town over on the east coast, and that's where I met Challa.

LM: (laughs) A small town that's not Tumbril Harbor.

CS: Right. It's called Cooper. And it's more inland. Not right on the coast.

LM: You're a small town boy, born and bred, who entered the military right out of high school, right?

CS: Exactly. My folks were farmers before Dad died. Mom passed away when I was stationed overseas.

LM: And as of this interview, you and Challa have made a home for yourselves. But I'm sure the readers won't be surprised to learn that.

CS: No. But I'm sure they're gonna get a kick out of our story, and all the problems we had.

LM: Especially when the Arra showed up.

CS: Oh, shit, that was some scary stuff, that's for certain!

LM: I heard Challa loves the homestead, even though it's surrounded by farmland rather than forest.

CS: There's not a governmentally protected forest like Flatlock, but there's miles and miles of undeveloped land. Lots of natural land and trees and all for her to run in. Plus the house is a few miles from town, so the isolation gives her that added protection.

LM: She doesn't have a job at this time, does she?

CS: No. After she got away from the carnival, I convinced her to stay home and get to know the place first. Get to know the town and the people in it. After all, I grew up there and I know everybody. Once she feels settled enough, if she decides she wants to work somewhere, that's okay.

LM: What do the town folk think about her? Of course, no one in Cooper knows she's an alien.

CS: You're correct. Word got out she used to be with the carnival, but that's all. With her accent, she's obviously a foreigner. (laughs) But she's winning over the folks here.

LM: Well, Compton, I want to thank you again for letting us get a taste of who you are, and what Runner's Moon: Challa is about. I know the readers are anxious to read your story.

CS: Thank you for having us, Linda.

Runner's Moon: Challa, book 4 of the "Runner's Moon" series, will debut on March 15, 2010.

My Interview With: Jebaral Gitall Morr (RUNNER'S MOON: JEBARAL)

LM: I'm delighted to have on my blog today Jebaral Gitall Morr, also known as Jeb, from my Runner's Moon series. Hello, Jeb! Thank you for being here with me today!

JM: Thanks for inviting me. How are you doing today?

LM: I'm doing great. Thanks for asking. Tell me something, is being a logger much different from being in construction? I mean, you were in construction like your brother still is. Other than the obvious, are the working conditions and such much different?

JM: Actually, no. Instead of working with girders, I'm working with cut timber. There's still hauling and lifting, although we have machines to handle the bulk of it. There's also the danger of getting too near one of the band saws.

LM: Sounds like it's just as dangerous to work at the mill than it was to do construction.

JM: It can get quite horny at times.

LM: (pause) Do you mean "hairy", as in frightening?

JM: (chuckles) That's what I meant. Sorry.

LM: No problem! I heard you built your house almost single-handedly. Did it take a long time?

JM: Hannah and I worked evenings and weekends for almost three months before it was safe enough to move into. It took another three months to get it finished. We're quite proud of it.

LM: Wow. A log cabin built from scratch, in the middle of the woods. It sounds quite romantic.

JM: That's what Hannah says. She loves it, plus we're only about fifteen minutes from work, her and me.

LM: Ever get awakened at night by bear or some other animals?

JM: (laughs) Constantly. But we don't fear them. In fact, I think they fear me more.

LM: You go running every night in those woods, don't you? Think it's your alien scent that keeps them away?

JM: Yes.

LM: You were lucky enough to find Hannah, your life mate, before your older brother Simolif found his. And before Tiron found Thom, whom you and Simon have unofficially adopted. Do you see any children in your future?

JM: (pause) Hannah and I would be thrilled beyond words to parent children. But we know the differences in our species will very likely mean we won't be able to have any.

LM: Only a few people in Tumbril Harbor know you are an alien from another world. And in the past they've helped you fight the Arra as well as keep your secret. Do you think that maybe in the future you will "out" yourself to the whole world?

JM: No. That's something we've talked about, and we don't see it ever coming about. For one thing, the attention we'd received could possibly bring the Arra straight to us.

LM: Yes, but couldn't the population as a whole help protect you from being taken again by the Arra?

JM: We can't count on that. No. The fewer people who know, the better. Besides, those who know are people who've met us and know us for what we are. They understand we're not that different from people on this planet. We have hopes and fears, and we love our wives and family.

LM: Jeb, what's the lifespan of a Ruinos? Is it comparable to a human's?

JM: We don't know. It's something that Sarah is having studied. For now, we can only pray it is.

LM: Speaking of comparable, other than the fact that you can smell emotions, and your strength is nearly five times that of a normal man, do Ruinos have any other special attributes or powers we've yet to see?

JM: Well, our females can fly. Not fly. I meant glide. They have wings.

LM: I've seen that with Tiron. Anything else?

JM: (pause) Not that I can think of. But you have to remember that what you may call unique or special, we consider common among us. Guess you'll have to keep working on those stories about us if you want to find out more. (chuckles)

LM: It's a deal! Jeb, one last question. Is there anything about life on Earth that you would change if you had the ability?

JM: No. Nothing. This world has everything we Ruinos need to survive and be happy. I am content, my brother and sister are content, and I have a mate who means more to me than everything I may have or own. Unlike some humans, I have no desire to accumulate more.

LM: Spoken like a man who has learned to appreciate life. Thank you for letting me interview you, Jeb. Is there a Ruinos phrase that means I wish you a long life full of love and happiness?

JM: Orati milem dosa. May the sun's light fill you.

LM: That's beautiful. Orati milem dosa, Jebaral.

JM: And you, too, Linda.