Bertram: Who are you?
Jakob: Jakob Tomas Faircrow
Bertram: Where do you live?
Jakob: On Earth, in a place called Cloudy Bay. But I’ve lived a lot of other places too. Suzanne liked me so much she decided to use me in Sons of the Mariner, but I started out in Song of the Arkafina, in a book called Ketha’s Daughter.
Bertram: What is your story?
Jakob: I came to Earth to protect Tessa Kivelson. We have a connection from before this life that I don’t understand. I love her very much, and she somehow tolerates me too.
Bertram: Are you the hero of your own story?
Jakob: I’m the screwup of my own story. If you want hero you should talk to my twin brother Lut.
Bertram: What is your problem in the story?
Jakob: I’m haunted by the memory of my dead wife, who eventually comes back to life in a horribly twisted way.
Bertram: Do you embrace conflict?
Jakob: It embraces me, and I have to fight back.
Bertram: Do you run from conflict?
Jakob: Never. I’d have to turn my back on it, and that would be a mistake.
Bertram: How does the author see you?
Jakob: She makes me seem a lot more sensitive than I really am. Suzanne writes for other women, and they like to read mushy stuff. I don’t mind too much–it pays the bills.
Bertram: Do you have a hero?
Jakob: My father. He was a God — the Mariner, but he never used his power indiscriminately. He wanted a simple, quiet life with the people he loved.
Bertram: Do you have any special strengths?
Jakob: I have the physical strength of ten regular guys.
Bertram: Do you have any special weaknesses?
Jakob: See above. My strength makes me dangerous as hell. Especially to people I care about.
Bertram: Do you have any skills?
Jakob: I can navigate the worlds between.
Bertram: Do you have money troubles?
Jakob: I don’t care about money or personal possessions.
Bertram: What do you want?
Jakob: To stay out of trouble.
Bertram: What do you need?
Jakob: My girlfriend Tessa. She is my rock and my harbor.
Bertram: What do you want to be?
Jakob: Calmer and more rational.
Bertram: What do you believe?
Jakob: That the world is a dangerous place.
Bertram: What makes you happy?
Jakob: Eating fast food. Watching old movies with Tessa. Going fishing with my brother. Staying in one place. The passage of time.
Bertram: What are you afraid of?
Jakob: Too many things to mention. The Gyre is a dangerous place.
Bertram: What makes you angry?
Jakob: Stubborn people who won’t do what’s good for them.
Bertram: What makes you sad?
Jakob: Thinking about Maia.
Bertram: What, if anything, haunts you?
Jakob: That my father left without saying goodbye.
Bertram: Have you ever failed at anything?
Jakob: I’ve failed at everything.
Bertram: Has anyone ever failed you?
Jakob: I don’t give them the chance.
Bertram: Have you ever failed anyone?
Jakob: Every woman in my life. My mother died because of my stupidity. My wife died because I failed to protect her. It’s only a matter of time before I screw up my relationship with Tessa as well.
December 9, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I’m a blurb on the cover of Suzanne’s book Heart of Hythea! Check it out.
December 9, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Who is this Suzanee Francis of whom you tag? 🙂
December 9, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Yikes. No matter how careful one is, something always slips through. I changed it to Suzanne, but I’m leaving your comment because it’s cute.