Writer's Grove

Special Guests: Kelly Meding’s Spiffy Characters!

Kevin says: I have made no secret that I am a fan of Kelly Meding’s Dreg City series. She has a new series coming out this week that looks wicked cool—a superhero yarn called the MetaWars. TRANCE comes out on Tuesday—I can’t wait!—and I’m tickled to have Kelly here to say howdy. Please say howdy back n’ whatever else in the comments! Here she is…

Juggling two book series at once is a bit of a crazy-making experience, especially when it comes time to promote the new series and introduce it to readers.  Especially in introducing the MetaWars series to the readers of my Dreg City series.  MetaWars is both similar and different, and I’m very excited to offer it to the world.

It occurred to me that, instead of me introducing the individual new characters to readers, I’d let other characters do that for me. And not just any characters—the Dreg City characters will be doing brief one-on-one interviews of the MetaWars characters.  And if you haven’t read either series yet, or haven’t even heard of me, then I hope these Interviews will at least pique your curiosity.

Today Milo Gant, a Hunter in the Dreg City books, will be interviewing Renee Duvall, supporting heroine of the first MetaWars book TRANCE.  What follows is a transcript of their interaction, which includes five pre-written questions, and then a final statement from Renee.

If you have any questions for either character, feel free to ask them in the comments section!

Enjoy!

Renee: I don’t bite, sweetie.  Relax before you sprain something.

Milo: Sorry, it’s just…I mean, you’re, uh….

R: Tall? Gorgeous? Blue? Stacked?  All of the above?

M: Yeah.  I mean, you’re blue, yeah, and tall.  I mean, I’ve seen gremlins and gargoyles and shi-um, things before, but I’ve never seen a blue person.

R: I get that a lot.  And since you’re being kind of adorable about it, feel free to stare.

M: …..

R: But, you know, talk, too, while you’re staring.

M: Sorry!  So, let’s see…question one, who are you and what do you do?

R: I’m Renee Duvall, but on the job I go by the name Flex. It’s not a super original code name, I guess, but it’s to the point.  As for what I do, I used to be a Vegas dancer, but now I’m a superhero.  What do you do?

M: Me?  I hunt things.  Goblins and vampires and things.

R: Awesome!  Ever been to Vegas?

M: Er, no.  And I think I’m supposed to be asking the questions.

R: Oh, right.  Go for it, honey.

M: *coughs*  So question two, what do your Meta powers do?

R: It’s pretty awesome.  You ever play with Silly Putty?

M: Not lately, but I know what it is.

R: You know how you can pull it out and stretch it really long?  That’s me.  My arms and legs and neck, and even my torso can all stretch out really far.  Just not, like, my head or anything.  I can’t flatten out and slide my whole body under a door, but I could probably get an arm under there.  I’m super flexible, too.  It’s awesome to be able to grab something across the room without actually getting up to do it.

M: That sounds very handy.

R: Oh yeah. It can be pretty kinky, too, depending on your taste.

M: *blushes*

R: Do you have any cool powers?

M: I, ah, can throw sarcasm around with the best of them.

R: *giggles*

M: Moving on, question three…oh man.  Okay, do you have a love interest?  If yes, who?  If no, why not?

R: An interest?  Definitely.  I mean, have you met William Hill since he grew up?  He was cute as a teenager, but damn, the man is amazingly gorgeous now.  There is absolutely interest there, but my powers kind of freak him out a little, which is pretty hilarious because he has super-strength.  And yet my Flex powers freak him out.  *giggles*  It’s kind of adorable, actually.  How about you, cutie?  You seeing anyone?

M: No comment.

R: Come on, we’re all friends here.

M: This is not my interview.

R: Party pooper.  What’s the fourth question?

M: If you could be anything other than a superhero, what would you be and why?

R: Believe it or not, I really loved dancing. I’d probably do something a little more high class than a show off the Strip, but it made me happy.  As happy as I could be, I guess.  But this superhero gig?  It’s what I was born to do.  It’s why I’m blue, and it’s why I’m here.  You know?

M: Yeah, I do, actually.  Last question.  Who is the one person you most want to have look at you and say they’re proud?

R: …….

M: Renee?

R: I don’t really have anyone in my life except for my teammates. I never want to let them down, so them.  I want them to be proud of me.  I’m not always the most serious person in the room, but what we do as a team is important, you know?

M: Yeah, I do.

R: Do you have a team?

M: *nods* And I’d give my life for any one of them, so I get it.  You never want to be the weak link.

R: Exactly.

*pause*

M: Do you have anything else to add before we finish up?

R: Nothing fit for delicate ears.

M:  All right then, well—

R: Seriously, why aren’t you seeing anyone?  You’re adorable.

M: Um…

R: Do you need me to knock some sense into somebody for you?

M: Cut!

END