As an author, you’re kind of supposed to know your characters better than anyone. Maybe even better than themselves. Which always makes it fun to conduct and interview with one (or more) of them. Even though they’re my characters, they always seem to surprise me.
In this interview, I sat down with the triplet monster-hunting descendants of Medusa from my Sweet Venom series, to check in with them and see how things are going.
Originally published in the paperback edition of Sweet Venom.
The Interview
On the occasion of the release of Sweet Venom, Tera Lynn Childs sat down with the triplets of the Key Generation to talk about themselves, their destiny, and their relationship. They didn’t know that their interview was secretly observed and recorded by another party. This is a transcript of that conversation:
TLC: Hi girls! It’s so nice to finally have a minute to sit down with you and chat without a deadline looming or a monster bursting in on the scene. How’s everything going?
Gretchen: (scans the rooms)
Grace: Hi Tera! Everything’s great!
Greer: Except for the part where we almost died tonight.
Gretchen: Twice.
Grace: Well, yeah. That.
TLC: (blushes) Sorry about that. But you know I had to end the book with a bang. No pun intended.
Gretchen: (rolls eyes)
Grace: It’s okay. We forgive you.
Greer: Some of us do. Are you going to replace my Jimmy Choos?
Gretchen: All you care about is shoes.
Greer: Not true. I also care about the arts and getting a good education.
Grace: And Kyle. You care about Kyle, right?
Greer: Most of the time.
Gretchen: You’re not improving my opinion.
Greer: Like I care.
TLC: (clears throat) Can we focus on the interview? I think everyone wants to know how you three are coping with everything you’ve learned recently.
Gretchen: That’s not what everyone wants to know.
Greer: They want to know who made that phone call. I know I do.
Grace: Oh yes. That’s what I want to know.
Gretchen: I have a pretty good idea.
TLC: (shuffles papers) Um, yeah. That. You know that’s a secret. For the purposes of this interview, why don’t you just tell me how you’re coping.
Gretchen: You can’t avoid answering forever.
TLC: I know. But for now…
Greer: We’re fine. I for one am perfectly capable of handling anything that you throw my way.
TLC: (mumbles) Just wait until Sweet Shadows…
Greer: What was that?
TLC: Nothing. So Greer is taking it all in stride. How about you Grace?
Grace: Well, it’s hard. I mean, I don’t like keeping things from my family. I wish I could tell my parents about (waves hands around) all of this.
Greer: Not me. I’m perfectly content to keep this part of my life completely separate from the rest.
Gretchen: Good luck with that.
Greer: What does that mean?
Gretchen: What do you think it means?
Greer: I think it means you’re going to break your promise.
Gretchen: No, it means you’re still a snob—
Greer: And you’re a thug—
Grace: Girls, please—
TLC: Enough! (glares at triplets until they stop bickering) Listen, I know you three have been through a lot. But we have an interview to get through and—
Gretchen: Ask your next question already.
Greer: (crosses arms) Please. I have an appointment.
Gretchen: You always have an appointment.
Grace: (gives TLC a pleading look)
TLC: How about we talk about the future?
Gretchen: (snorts) What future?
Greer: Some of us have very bright futures. I have very specific plans. Graduate at the top of my class. Attend an Ivy League college. Law school and business school.
Grace: (shrugs) I just want to have a purpose. I want to make my parent proud and I want to belong.
TLC: I know. And I’m working on that.
Gretchen: Why are you asking us about the future? You’re the one writing the books. Why don’t you tell us about what’s coming up?
TLC: Um, well… (looks away)
Greer: You’re the fortuneteller here.
TLC: I can’t really—
Grace: Please. (blushes) I want to know what happens with Milo.
Gretchen: A boy? With everything we have going on, you’re worried about a boy?
Grace: He’s a very nice boy.
TLC: Girls, I wish I could tell you everything that’s going to happen, but that would take some of the adventure out of the journey, wouldn’t it?
Grace: Not even a little hint?
Greer: All right. If you don’t want to tell us… (exchanges a look with Gretchen)
Gretchen: That’s what I’m talking about. (flips up sunglasses)
TLC: (shields eyes) No, you can’t make me!
Grace: (grabs one of TLC’s hands) I want to know if Milo and I work out.
Gretchen: (grabs TLC’s other hand) Tell me who made that phone call.
Greer: (looks TLC straight in the eyes) Tell us everything you know about our story.
TLC: (brain disengages) Okay. I’ll tell you. First, the phone call came from—
The tape of this interview mysteriously cuts off at this point. Rumor has it that a pack of Cynocephali attacked at that moment. Returned to her senses, TLC ran away in the confusion of the fight as the girls battled the dog-headed men. Readers—and the triplets—will have to read Sweet Shadows to find out what happens next.
I hope you enjoyed this interview with Grace, Gretchen, and Greer. If you want to get to know them even better, you should check out the Sweet Venom series.
And, as always, you can download the PDF version to print out.
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