The month of January is all about character interviews. Today, I’m firing questions at Catherine from author Valerie J. Long’s latest release The Second Soulmate, a fantasy romance.
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1. First off, tell us who you are and what role you play in the novel.
Catherine: I’m Catherine Malloy, but most people call me Cat. I grew up and still am living in Frangeles. I had been a cop there, until my partner got killed. I quit that job and started working in a storehouse during the day, and a bar in the evenings. In this novel, I’m back into investigations and fighting evil, but this time mostly on my own.
2. Share with us your hobbies and interests, and why you enjoy them.
Catherine: I like a good espresso, and I’m doing sports to stay in shape. Otherwise, I don’t have time for hobbies.
3. Tell us how you feel about being in a novel, and if you are happy with how your author presented you to readers.
Catherine: Well, that story had to be told, right? So we took some time, I told my story and Val wrote it down. I think she did me good justice.
4. If your author was to create another novel with you in mind, give us a quick blurb of what it would be about. And be sure to give the title.
Catherine: Uh-oh, I hope that won’t be necessary. You know, I’ve got enough of interesting for a lifetime. And if you’ve read the story, you’d probably agree that we don’t want any more of the like to happen, don’t you?
5. Which character in the novel do you like the most, and why?
Catherine: Thanatos. He’s a straightforward and honest guy, and boy can he kiss!
6. Which character in the novel do you dislike the most, and why?
Catherine: That would be Lou. He made a real effort to get on my bad side, sending his pets with those sharp teeth after me.
7. Tell us why we should read the featured novel and what we will find most intriguing about you.
Catherine: Basically, you should read that story so that you know what’s been going on in Frangeles lately and so that you know better than to walk dark and lonely alleys all alone. Oh, do you think I might be intriguing? Perhaps we should talk about that over a drink tonight? Your place, as mine might still be haunted by Lou and his pets.
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Title: The Second Soulmate
Series: N/A
Author: Valerie J. Long
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Heat Rating: 2 Flames (kissing, hugging, etc.)
Length: 17,111 words/76 pages
Release Date: October 28, 2022
Publisher: Extasy Books
Catherine Mallory is an ex-cop, storage worker, and waitress. Her life has become dull after she lost her partner and therefore quit her job. She likes dull.
Blurb: Catherine Mallory was one of Frangeles’ best detectives, until the day that her partner was killed by an unlucky stray bullet. She quit her police job and started operating a forklift at day, serving drinks at night. Both jobs together pay her rent and her food and keep her from brooding over how she had failed her teammate.
One day though, she finds the dead victim of a violent crime, and her old job instincts kick in. She decides to investigate and interfere. She can’t know that this decision will lead her into deeper trouble than ordinary mortals could imagine.
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Two dark silhouettes stepped out of a shadowy passage ahead. Seven inches of metal reflected the dim light of one of the few working street lamps.
Cat shrugged and flexed her fingers. The side streets of Frangeles late at night were no place for a girl on her own. That was what Joaquin had always said, and Joaquin’s advice had usually been good.
But Joaquin was dead now, and Cat no longer cared. She wore shorts, boots, and a loose-fitting shirt. Her pockets contained a multicard, a lighter, and a lipstick she hadn’t used for years.
There was nothing to gain for the occasional street rat but trouble. Trouble everyone could easily have avoided—she by sticking to the main roads, them by staying out of her way.
The man with the blade stepped forward. “All you got, now!”
Yeah, exactly. Cat’s foot kicked the knife from his hand. Two quick strikes took the air out of his lungs, and a sharp hit with the edge of her hand almost shattered the other thug’s lower jaw.
She assumed the playful tiger stance and waited.
Her opponents glanced at her, made up their minds, and hurried away.
Once they had disappeared, Cat straightened herself and continued on her way.
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I was born in Germany in the sixties of the last century. I am working as an IT Project Manager for an international company, and I live in Wiesbaden. I’ve chosen a pen name for two reasons. First I know my real name is too difficult to pronounce for most of the world. Second—as an IT person I know about the dangers of too much internet exposure. As a writer, I need a lot of exposure, and the pen name will retain a little privacy for me.
I read a lot. My bookshelves are overloaded with surely more than 2’000 books, mostly fantasy and science fiction. Among my favorites are J. R. R. Tolkien, Robert Heinlein, Alan Dean Foster and David Weber, only to mention a few. You bet I’ve grown up with Captain Kirk and Luke Skywalker, but I’ve also digested «Barbarella» and «Logan’s run»…
I am a fan of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, I like Alien, Sin City or Kill Bill, but I also enjoy watching Notting Hill.
I also travel a lot. If you read my stories and think—oops, she must know that place well—maybe you’re right, I’ve been there before.
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Maggie Blackbird 