Beautiful People Linkup--August

The "Notebook Sisters" are co-hosting a linkup called "Beautiful People." Each month they announce a new set of questions to answer about your character so you can learn more about them.

This month, I'll be interviewing Anya Perriwinkle, the protagonist of my YA medieval fantasy The Sorceress. I actually completed The Sorceress last year, but am taking this opportunity to learn a little more about what happened during the two year gap in between the end of The Sorceress and the beginning of the sequel (which is not yet titled).


1. What does your character regret the most in their life?

Letting her friends come with her when she went to steal the magic emerald. Every day she kicks herself for it.

2. What is your character's happiest memory? Most sorrowful memory? 

When the king let Anya and her friends join the army, of which she later became the leader.

3. What majorly gets on your character’s nerves? 

Misogynistic men who doubt her simply for being a girl.

4. Do they act differently when they're around people as opposed to being alone? If so, how? 

Anya tends to let her guard down when she's alone, lets herself cry more. She doesn't want to worry her friends, despite Ronald (her best friend) insisting that they worry about her anyway.

5. What are their beliefs and superstitions? (Examples: their religion or lack of one, conspiracy theories, throwing salt, fear of black cats.)

Anya nearly died once, and was stuck in between life and death, so she knows what comes after. But she refuses to tell anyone what happened. She doesn't believe anyone should know what's waiting for them after life on earth, and wishes she could forget herself.

6. What are their catchphrases, or things they say frequently?

"James, get off (insert name here)!" "James, don't swing your sword around like that, you're going to chop somebody's head off!" "James, pay attention when you're shooting your bow. Do you want Edward to lose an eye?"

7. Would they be more prone to facing fears or running from them?

Facing them, for sure. Anya's a perfectionist, so she never stops trying to make herself stronger, less afraid, better at a certain skill, etc.

8. Do they have a good self image?

She's appropriately confident in her abilities, though sometimes a little encouragement from her friends is necessary to make her see just how capable she is.

9. Do they turn to people when they're upset, or do they isolate themselves?

She mostly isolates herself, but she knows Ronald is always there if she needs a shoulder to cry on. And James is insistent on knowing more about what's happening in her life. He tries his best to break down the walls she puts up.

10. If they were standing next to you would it make you laugh or cry?

Um, neither, I guess. We'd probably be good friends. :)