American Author
Interviews with Characters
Interview with Ryanne Brady (a.k.a. "Bruce")
Q: In In Her Jeans we saw you meet Eric, but I'm curious, do you remember meeting Tom?
A:No. He and my dad were partners on the police force when I was a baby, so he was always just around.
Q: Like an uncle?
A: I guess so. Yeah.
Q: What is your best childhood memory?
A: When I was four, my parents took me to Disneyland. During the electric parade, I couldn’t see, so my dad put me on his shoulders. Being up there--seeing all that--was like magic! But better than that was this one moment when I looked down. My dad had one arm around my legs, holding onto me and the other wrapped around my mom. They were looking at each other and smiling. They looked so happy. That's my favorite memory of them.
Q: What is your worst childhood memory?
A: You would think it would be the police coming to tell Mom and me that my dad was dead. Don't get me wrong, that one's horrible. But the days that followed that, when my mom wouldn’t leave her room, are even worse. It was like both my parents died. I honestly wasn't sure my mother would live through it. I felt completely alone. That's when I knew it was now my job to take care of us.
Q: There wasn’t anyone else there to help you?
A: On the second day, I called Tom. After that, he stopped in every day. Brought us groceries and at least got my mom out of bed. But he couldn’t be there all the time. He still had to work and live his own life. Mom wasn’t always nice during those days. Can we move on to something else?
Q: Sure. What is something you’ve done that you’re proud of?
A: Learned to protect myself, and taught others to do the same.
Q: Other than your parents, which two people have most influenced your life and why?
A: Tom because he became a surrogate father, and…um…I guess my business partner, LuAnn. Running a successful business with her has given me options I didn’t always have.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A police officer, like my dad.
Q: What is your favorite time of year?
A: Summer. I like the sunshine.
Q: Other than people and pets, what is the most important thing in your house?
A: Photos of my parents.
Q: What do you do to soothe yourself when you’re upset?
A: Practice on my body bag or my wing chun dummy. Hitting things always makes me feel better.
Interview with Cruz Whitehorse
Q: We know how you met Luna from the Blue Moon books, but how did you and Tomas meet?
A: In a fight over a girl.
Q: You don’t mean Luna, do you?
A: No. Way before Luna. He was nine. I was ten.
Q: Can you tell me about it?
A: I was at the Miss Indian New Mexico competition at the state fair. This kid, about my size, kept bragging about the girl from his pueblo. He wouldn't stop, so I spoke up for the girl from mine. We exchanged words, then pushes, and finally punches. An elder separated us and made us sit together in the back of his truck.
Q: That ended the fight?
A: No. Realizing we both preferred the girl from the Santa Domingo pueblo ended it. We became friends after that.
Q: What is your best childhood memory?
A: Christmas at Tomas’s house when I was twelve.
Q: You spent Christmas with his family?
A: I went over in the afternoon. His whole family was there. There was lots of food. Everyone was happy.
Q: What is your worst childhood memory?
A: --
(For the record, Cruz didn't answer this question. He stared at me until it became uncomfortable and we moved on.)
Q: What is something you’ve done that you are proud of?
A: Protected people who couldn't protect themselves.
Q: Other than your parents, which two people have most influenced your life and why?
A: My friend Kurt. He took me in when I didn't have a home. He gave me a job and helped me find some purpose in life.
Q: And the second person?
A: Probably my uncle, Ignacio. He taught me to love and respect nature.
Q: When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A: Alive.
Q: Excuse me?
A: There were days I wasn't sure I would live long enough to be an adult, but I knew I wanted to.
Q: What is your favorite time of year and why?
A: Fall. The temperature’s perfect for camping and hiking and there are less people in the forests.
Q: Other than people and pets, what's the most important thing in your house?
A: My guns.
Q: What calms you when you're upset?
A: Nature.
