What is your story?
My name is Sarah Hollingsworth and I have psychic abilities. I run a detective agency in Sydney. Of late I have been called upon by a lawyer, Jackie Rose, to look into the murder of Kaze Majo, a Japanese wind witch. There is little doubt that the murderer is Gary Whitebridge, a working mule. My primary mission is to discover why it happened. Even on the first day snooping around the office where it took place I got the impression that where they had worked was full of bad vibes that had to have contributed to Gary’s action against Kaze.
How do your enemies see you?
My enemies see me as a trouble maker. They would like for me to just go away. The office manager, a lazy caterpillar named Mr. Always, is afraid I will make changes in his work environment. He has every right to be afraid.
How do your friends see you?
My friends see me as a real go-getter. They know I’ll fight for justice no matter what. I’m sometimes seen as a hawk and sometimes as an owl.
Do you think the author portrayed you accurately?
Yes and no. The author has skipped those times when I was younger when I used to lose my temper. Also those times when I was too judgmental of others.
Do you have money troubles?
No. I can play the stock market any time with my psychic abilities. If I went to Los Vegas I’d come away a millionaire. I am more interested in people than money.
Do you like remembering your childhood?
Yes and no. I was happy being a lika-lika bird frolicking in the surf. My skin condition put a stop to that. When my psychic abilities kicked in I almost went mad with all the voices crowding into my head. Luckily a gentleman was there to help sort that out.
When my favorite beach at Cronulla was attacked by newcomers against pretty lika-lika birds wearing bikinis I was naturally taken aback. I don’t believe anyone has the right to take surf and sun away from anyone. I also believe that females in Australia going to an Australian beach should have the right to dress as they please.. Nature may have cut short my lika-lika life but I’ll be damned if I will allow some group of intolerant males from somewhere else do it to somebody else.
What do you want?
I want the office where Kaze and Gary worked cleaned up. There are vicious praying mantises on the prowl and mules on the point of committing suicide. I’m making out a full report for the lawyer, Jackie Rose, and also for the company’s head office. The local office manager, Mr. Always, is not going to like it one bit.
What are you afraid of?
I am afraid of meeting up with a praying mantis who has superior psychic abilities to my own. A praying mantis with the ability to both read and control minds is to be feared.
Do you have any distinguishing features?
I have jet black hair and very pale skin. I burn easy and have to be careful of the sun’s rays. I look a little like Morticia out of the Addams Family.
What is your favorite music?
I like jazz because I like the hole-in-the-wall cafes in Sydney that play jazz. Great atmosphere. I also like surf music and anything that used to play in the ’60s when we went surfing because I remember my wonderful days as a lika-lika bird. You know, surf and sun and all that. A pity it was cut short when it was discovered I burn too quickly under the sun.
What are the last three books that you have read?
They would be Walk like a Lika-lika Bird by Y. A. Aila, The Praying Mantis by I. M. Belle, and Flight of the Office Hawk by I. W. Alana. I especially enjoyed Walk like a Lika-lika Bird. It brought back wonderful memories. Oh, and recently I re-read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
Who is your true love?
I have yet to meet him but he’ll turn up sooner or later. He’ll most likely be an owl or a mule with wings and a big heart.
Have you ever had an adventure?
For a psychic living in Sydney, Australia every day can be an adventure. I suppose a special adventure was traveling to another world that happens to be in another universe. It was a place of some interest with talking cats such as Sir Morris and Lady Penelope for company.
What is your most prized possession?
A full length mirror which is also my most dangerous possession. It is the gateway to another world.
What is your most closely guarded secret?
I can’t read every mind. Some people can either mind block on purpose or by accident. Others have such muddled thinking it’s a real headache to even attempt to read them.
Where can we learn more about you?
Pat Bertram Introduces . . . 