An Interview With An Author Part II by Betsy Ashton

Welcome back. I'm your Intrepid Reporter interviewing Betsy Ashton, author of the incredibly chilling EYES WITHOUT A FACE.

IR: I'm here with Betsy Ashton. Welcome back.

Me: Thanks. And thanks for the coffee.

IR: We've already talked about the cover and why you wrote the book. I want to talk now about the killer herself.

Me: I'm good with that. This killer got under my skin.

IR: She doesn't have a name.

Me: I think you mean she doesn't have a given or family name.

IR: Right.

Me. In her small town, most kids grew up with nicknames, Buddy, Bub, Junior, Princess. Her family nickname is a representation of how her family sees her.

IR: Did they really call her That Thing?

Me: Alas, they did. It shaped her worldview.

IR: I found I couldn't always believe her.

Me: Well, she is unreliable. She doesn't want you to believe everything she says, but she wants you to believe everything she does.

IR: That sounds contradictory.

Me: It is and isn't.

IR: I see, I think. Is she a sociopath?

Me: She doesn't think so.

IR: So, she's a psychopath?

Me: She doesn't think so.

IR: That's why she's called unreliable, isn't it?

Me: That's part of it.

IR: I may be foolish, but sometimes I found myself rooting for her.

Me: Good. That's what she wants you to do.

IR: I got a distinct Dexter vibe. Was that intentional?

Me: By no means. I have heard of Dexter, of course, but I've only seen one episode. I don't receive the channel it was on.

IR: Did you have any television show in mind?

Me: Criminal Minds. I think the episodes are perfect for that show.

IR: Do you see any of the actors playing That Thing? G-Man?

Me: Casting That Thing is for a different interview. If Joe Mantegna weren't so old, I'd like to see him play G-Man. That said, I wouldn't turn down Shemar Moore...

IR: Do you have any advice for a budding author trying to do what you did with this book?

Me: Humanize your character.

IR: How do you recommend doing that?

Me: Give her a cat.

IR: I'm afraid our time is up. I hope I can have you back to learn more about how you write and what you are working on now.

Me: It would be a pleasure.

Weather and Baseball and Television, Oh My! by Alicia Dean

(Sorry. I am going to see Wizard of Oz in IMAX on Tuesday, so I guess I’m in the zone :)) 

However, the title is related to this post. Those are three of things I love about Autumn. I love the change in weather. I very much dislike Summer and heat and sun, so when the weather cools off and Fall is here, it means Winter is coming soon…which is my favorite season of all. 

Another thing I love about Fall is MLB Post-Season. This year, my team (the Cincinnati Reds) is going to the playoffs, and I am so excited! We blew it last year, but I have faith that it won’t happen again. 

I also love that my favorite shows premiere in the Fall. It’s been a long hot Summer without them, and I’m anxious to be reunited with old friends. A few of my shows air during the Summer: Dexter (which is ending forever, and I’m afraid I will have to seek counseling to deal with it) and True Blood. But my shows that have either just started or will start soon are New Girl, The Mindy Project, How I Met Your Mother, The Middle, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, and in January, Justified. 

 But the shows I’m looking MOST forward to are The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, which start October 3^rd. I’m such a big fan, I wrote two Vampire Diaries stories for the launch of Amazon’s Kindle Worlds:

Hopefully, you’re not as much of a tv addict as I am (I even watch reruns of Leave it to Beaver, I Love Lucy, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, etc, etc), because it takes up a lot of time. But, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. 

What are some of your favorite shows—new and old?