Hello world and all who inhabit it! My lovely publisher, author, and friend, Sheenah Freitas, tagged me to partake in the “Meet My Character” blog tour. Let’s see how this goes, shall we? My characters have been a tad…restless with book two being released soon…
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A neek at heart, Sheenah Freitas has a love for the whimsical and magical. She looks to animated Disney movies and Studio Ghibli films for inspiration because of the innovative twists on fairytales, strong story structures, and character studies. When not writing, you might find her in a forest where she’s yet to find any enchanted castles.
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The Interview:
1. What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?
Me (Morgan): My character has been with me for over ten years now and, in a way, is an extension of myself, a braver, cuter version of me with kick butt powers! I think my main character, narrator, and protagonist should introduce her lovely self and do this interview…
Stary Moon: Awww! Thank you Morgan! *smiles cheerfully and blushes* I’ve always wanted to do an interview; you make them look so fun! Konnichiwa minna-san! My name is Stary Moon! I’m the heroine of Morgan Straughan Comnick’s young adult book, entitled “Spirit Vision.” Yes, I am a work of fiction, but Morgan takes good care of me! She gives me good friends, a nice family, fun adventures, and some fantastical interactions with people.
2. When and where is the story set?
Stary: Spirit Vision is a series that is set in a medium-sized, modern town in Missouri. It’s called Plantersville and is based on Morgan’s Farmington where she grew up. Farmington High School is the model for my high school and all of Morgan’s teachers have characters based on them! It’s really neat that my world is set in a location she knows so well!
3. What should we know about him/her?
Stary: Before my life gets altered, which is what the book is about, I tend to describe myself as a shy, hard working, normal teenage girl. I am a freshman after all! I’m told I’m goofy, clumsy, usually nice, and smile awkwardly way too often (My buddy Rin usually punches me if this happens). I have fun with my friends and family. My favorite classes are social studies (because me dad teaches it, giving me exposure to it) and choir, and I adore Japanese culture: manga, anime, cosplay, video games; I’m an otaku through and through-
Voice from the side: Boy Moon! I knew you were strange, but calling yourself a taco just takes the metaphorical cake!
Stary: *Does a double take towards the unknown voice then grunts, realizing who it is* Umbra! What are you doing here? First off, Mrs. Morgan said I could do the interview and second, you said it wrong! Tacos have nothing to do with Japanese culture! *face is turning red as she crosses her arms to glare at Umbra*
Umbra: You humans are a weird species; how am I supposed to know what you do? *Uncaringly flips hand in the air* Go ahead and continue your little chit-chat.
Stary: Thank you!
4. What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?
Stary: Spirit Vision starts in April of my freshmen year of high school. I have a strange dream one morning and then my day is turned upside down when a dead body is discovered at my school! As the police investigate, I begin to see traces of light and swear I can hear a voice I heard that morning from my dream. We discover that the body was that of a sixteen-year-old girl named Maren. I later see and talk to Maren and she tells me that I have been chosen by the Lord to be His Spirit Warrior, the person He picks to see, communicate, and help spirits and ghosts for forty years. My first mission is to find the person who murdered Maren so I can take the evil out of him/her. This will allow Maren to enter into Heaven. This task along with developing my new to me Spirit Warrior powers become a challenge to blend into my normal life to protect my loved ones.
Umbra: *coughs* Um, I think you forgot to mention someone…
Stary: *smirks, pretending to ponder* No…I mentioned everyone I wanted to.
Umbra: Girl, you’re a puny Spirit Warrior as it is! Don’t make me sling a energy ball at you at top speed and fry any more of those precious brain cells you need!
Stary: *places hands on hips* Like Maren is going to let you hurt me? Her pleading eyes will make you melt into a puddle of goo! But…I’ll behave even though you tried to take over my interview *covers ears as Umbra groans* To the audience, Umbra and Maren are friends and were both killed by the same person, so it is my ‘job’ to help Umbra too.
Umbra: You forgot to tell them I’m the one who helps you train your new powers since I have lots of combat knowledge. Don’t make me get out my coach whistle!
Stary: *mockingly places hand on chest in pretend horror* Oh Heaven forbid!
5. What is the personal goal of the character?
Umbra: To get away from this annoying human girl.
Stary: Oh fudge nuggets Umbra! Would you please hush! Anyway, my goals are to of coarse help Maren and my Lord, *mumbles lowly* and Umbra. *Normal, chipper voice again* I also want to control my powers and learn as much as I can about the spiritual world so I can continue to aid more spiritual beings…if I survive *shudders*
Moving on! I suppose in my normal life, I want to make an A on one of Mr. Tin’s tests for once, make the top choir, keep my two lives balanced, and not have my little brother Link annoy me. Oh! *blushes and wiggles fingers* There is this guy I like…
Umbra: *stomps foot and shoves away the question* Moving on!
6. Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
Stary: This book, Spirit Vision, is all finished and you can get it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and other major on-line book and e-book carriers. All the links are on this website or you can seach “Morgan Straughan Comnick” on the website you’re at. We really like being apart of Spirit Vision and the staff at Paper Crane Books’ are incredible to work with! Suzy Zhang also did our cover. Don’t we all look great Umbra?
Umbra: *nods* Yeah, we really do.
7. When can we expect the book to be published?
Stary: Spirit Vision 2 just finished round one of edits and the book will be out before Christmas this year; nice gift for loved ones, right? Mrs. Morgan will update her website and social medias with more update on the second book as soon as she knows them. Mrs. Morgan is now working on the next installments in the series and I can’t wait to see what adventures I get to experience next! Thank you so much for interviewing me and we hope to see you in one of our books!
Umbra: If I don’t possess you from the pages… *makes a creepy, fake laugh*
Stary: *rolls eyes* Geez…How does Maren put up with him? *smiles and bows* Sayonara minna!
Morgan: *facepalms herself* What sort of chaos have I released?
Thanks for stopping to meet my character(s)!
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The Challenge:
The next author to join in on this hop is the witty, endearing, and busting with talent…Mr. Dan Wright. Be sure to stop by his website next week to learn about his character!
Dan lives Canterbury, Kent, UK. He picked up a love of Fantasy stories after reading The Lord of the Rings, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and numerous Roald Dahl novels. He is best known for his Draconica series, a Fantasy/Manga series that has been praised for its Anime style action, humour and illustrations. He has also had a short comic strip called Queller, which was published in an anthology for the comic Lighting Strike Presents…and has also been a judge for a book competition at his local school.
Dan also runs his own website, blog and a wiki page dedicated to the world of Draconica and is a part time reviewer of books. His other hobby is playing guitar in a band called Rage of Silence. He likes all kinds of music—but he mainly listens to rock and metal, rap, some pop music and also film andvideo game scores. He also loves Disney and Pixar movies—often finding himself singing along to the tunes, or crying manly tears!
He is also a slave to his cat, who takes up a lot of his time when he isn’t at work or writing!