Gabe's Guest Post

Lisa has me batting cleanup this week while she edits Hellbent. Took me a while to air the brimstone out of here after Luc’s post yesterday, but I think we’re good to go now. If any of you wanted to ask anything about…well…anything, I’m happy to answer. Just post your questions below and I’ll add the answers to this post.

For my guest blog, I was going to post the long list of reasons Frannie should choose Heaven over Hell, but then I realized she’d probably flip me over her head or something. Instead, I’m going to post this interview Luc and I recently did with the incredibly talented Andrea Cremer. Take it away, Andrea...

In case you didn't already know it, I have a fabulous critique partner, Lisa Desrochers. Lisa and I met at the San Francisco Writers' Conference in February 2009, decided to start swapping our drafts and within the year we both had book deals!! I'm still reeling at our good fortune and am always grateful that I have such a wonderful writer and friend in Lisa.

Lisa's debut, Personal Demons, is smokin. I'm thrilled to have two of the book's stars - Luc (a demon) and Gabe (an angel) - stopping by for an interview today.

Me (looks at Luc and Gabe, fans self): Ummmm, is it getting hot in here?

Gabe (jerks thumb at Luc): You’ll have to take that up with him.

Me (coughs, hurrying to change the subject): So, guys, the holidays are coming up – what’s on your wish list this year?

Luc (smirks): Frannie, over easy.

Gabe (rolls eyes): There’s the Christmas spirit. (smiles at Andrea) It’d be horribly cliché to say peace on Earth and goodwill toward man, wouldn’t it? So, I’ll just settle for Frannie’s soul.

Luc (glares at Gabe): Shouldn’t you be impaled on the top of someone’s Christmas tree?

Me (beaming at Gabe, too nervous to sneak a glance at Luc): Time to be nice - Luc, I know you’re going to hate this – what’s one trait you admire in each other?

Luc (raises eyebrow at Andrea): Seriously?

Gabe: You’re complaining?

Luc: I am.

Gabe: I’ll start. Luc is…creative.

Luc (barks out a laugh): That’s the best you could do?

Gabe: It’s better than “seriously?”

Luc (looks back at Andrea): See what I have to put up with? Okay. Give me a second… Gabe is…bright.

Gabe (throws up hands): You admire my brightness?

Luc (shoots a glare at Gabe): What do you want from me?

Gabe: I guess a reasonable answer is too much to hope for?

Luc (slumps in chair): Fine. He’s loyal, I suppose.

Gabe (nods): And Luc is courageous…when he wants to be.

Me: Okay...I guess we’ll give naughty a spin too. What have you done lately that might make Santa skip your house?

Gabe: Can I plead the fifth?

Luc (smiles at Andrea): I’ll give you his list. He’s been up to all kinds of very questionable angelic conquests, such as trying to get into Frannie’s—

Gabe (holds up hand): Whoa, there, brimstone-breath. I have done absolutely nothing outside my scope as a Dominion.

Luc: Except kissing Frannie.

Gabe: How do you know about that?

Luc: She told me.

Gabe (shifts in seat) (looks at Andrea): He, on the other hand, would have a much easier time answering the question: Have you done anything in all your pathetic existence to redeem your sorry demonic butt?

Luc (crosses arms): I have.

Gabe: Such as?

Luc: I can’t see how that’s any of your business, and this isn’t your interview. (Turns to Andrea) Santa has plenty of reasons to skip my house and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Me (tries not to blush while Luc keeps looking my way): Uh...moving along...since I love philosophy, let’s wax thoughtful for a moment. We’ll be seeing you again soon in a book titled, Original Sin. What’s your take on that concept?

Luc: Depending on which belief system you buy into, original sin can be interpreted in any number of different ways, all of which work for me. Whether you look at it as the specific sin of Adam and Eve that lead to the fall of man, or the more Catholic doctrine that it’s the general state of sin that all men are born into, it means that man will always sin and I will always benefit.

Gabe: No. It means that sometimes man sins—

Luc (smirking): And so do angels.

Gabe (shaking head): The concept of original sin is founded in Christian doctrine. In reality, it’s not nearly as cut and dry as organized religion would like to make it seem. Man has free will. What that means is they are free to make their own choices. There are temptations—

Luc (grinning): Tell me about it…

Gabe (glaring at Luc): and sometimes man falls prey to them. In the end, a man’s conscience is going to dictate how he deals with those temptations, but I don’t buy that man, in his true essence, is born to sin.

Luc (leans forward and smiles wickedly): How about you, Andrea? Up for a little original sin?

Me (holds Luc's gaze for a moment, stands up, bolts because I'd prefer to hang on to my soul) (calls over shoulder): Thanks for stopping by you guys! Merry Christmas!!! Say hi to Lisa for me!

Wow - that was...intense...ummm.....remind me to bring a chaperone next time.

Luc's guest post

Lisa bribed me with her soul to do a guest post today because she’s still editing Hellbent. Frannie pointed out that it was really unfair of me to make that deal since Lisa's soul was already headed our direction, but I’m really not all that concerned with being fair. It just made sense to cement it.

Anyway, I’m not much for guest posts, but I got a chance to make Lisa squirm interview Lisa a few months back when she was doing a guest post. Although I’m not a Creature of Sloth, I do believe in efficiency, so, for my post, I’m re-running that interview here. If you have questions for me, post them in comments and I’ll post answers when I get around to it.

Addendum: One brave soul has asked a question.
Sunlight Shadows wants to know: "Out of all the Creatures of Sin, which are your least favorite to deal with, and why?"
Creatures of Pride are superior to all others. Creatures of Wrath can’t chill long enough to get anything done, the Greedy sit around and pine for what they don’t have, and the Envious pine for what others have, the Gluttonous are too busy gorging themselves, and don’t even get me started on the Lazy. Sloth is the worst. They’re totally useless. Each of them is repulsive in their own way.

Here is Lisa's guest post from Paranormal Point of View. Arrivederci.

When Paranormal Point of View asked me to put together a guest post for the blog, I wasn’t sure what to do. I was thinking maybe something about the writing process and how Personal Demons came to be.

But then Luc, my demon and one of my narrators from Personal Demons, told me that idea was boring. What he actually said is that I’m boring. He insisted on conducting an interview to liven up the post. I’ve agreed to do it, but I’m wondering if I’ve made a mistake, because, as I sit here staring at him across the table, it feels like he has an agenda.

Luc: Everyone is writing angel books these days. *stares hard at me*

Me: Um…yeah…?

Luc: So?

Me: *beginning to sweat* So…?

Luc: So why did you write a demon book.

Me: Um… *clears throat* Well…Personal Demons is sort of an angel book—in a way…

Luc: *leans forward as eye narrow* It’s called Personal DEMONS, not Personal Angels. It’s a demon book.

Me: *drops gaze* I suppose it is.

Luc: In the other books, it seems that the *air quotes* demons are often fallen angels. Why didn’t you make me a fallen angel?

Me: Because you aren’t. *glances up to gage reaction*

Luc: *smiles smugly* No. I’m most definitely not. *pushes foot against table and tips chair back* Why did you decide to make me different?

Me: *starting to relax a little* Well, actually you decided that. You’re the one telling the story—well, you and Frannie.

Luc: *smiles*

Me: I’m just the poorly paid help with the laptop. And, while we’re on the subject, could you two talk a little slower. I can’t keep up with your conversations.

Luc: *lowers chair legs to the ground* You should be happy we let you listen in at all. Don’t push your luck.

Me: *drops gaze again* You’re right. Sorry.

Luc: *slouches back in chair* So, my origin is actually pretty interesting. How did you come up with the concept of demons being borne of sin?

Me: Well…your name, Lucifer Cain, popped into my head one day and I went on-line to research the story of Cain and Abel. I found an article that talked about the origin of sin. The phrase “creatures of sin” kept coming up and, as I flipped that over in my mind it occurred to me that, in my fictional Hell, there could be actual creatures of sin. In your case, you were borne of Pride.

Luc: *glares at me*

Me: *sinks deeper into chair*

Luc: Why did you make me a Creature of Pride?

Me: *snorts* You’re joking, right?

Luc: *glares harder at me*

Me: *thinking this interview was a really bad idea* *nearly slides off the chair under the table*

Luc: Where did you get the idea for me to work in Acquisitions?

Me: *takes a deep breath* I knew you were coming after Frannie’s soul, so where else would you work?

Luc: *drums fingers on tabletop* I suppose that makes a certain amount of sense.

Me: *nods and blows out a relieved breath*

Luc: Did you know I’d fall for Frannie? *scrutinizes me with narrow eyes*

Me: *straightening in my chair and trying not to let him see me shake* I had a pretty good idea…

Luc: *leans forward, eyes flashing red* You knew that the cherub would too.

Me: *squirming in chair* I knew there was a chance that Gabe would be drawn to her.

Luc: *through gritted teeth* And I suppose your going to tell me there was nothing you could do about that.

Me: *shrugging without looking at him* Poorly paid help. Laptop. Remember…?

Luc: *blows out tense sigh* Then you also know it’s only a matter of time before I take him out.

Me: *shrugging again* That’s between you and him.

Luc: *nods, satisfied* So you won’t get in the way?

Me: *wiggling fingers in the air* Help… Laptop…

Luc: Good. *leans back again* So, there’s nothing you can to about Frannie?

Me: Um…how so?

Luc: *fixes me in a hard gaze*

Me: *shaking head* You know she doesn’t listen to me either.

Luc: She’s going to get herself killed. *eyes darken*

Me: Then it probably wouldn’t be in her best interest for you to take Gabe out…

Luc: *pushes glowing fist across table* Are you saying he can keep her safer than I can?

Me: *sweating again* I’m saying it may take both of you.

Luc: *sighs deeply* *tucks hand into pocket* I know you’re right, but Gabriel? *grimaces* Of all the slimy celestials they could have sent…

Me: *shrugs* So, any chance there might be a truce?

Luc: *glowing eyes snap to mine* This is my interview. I ask the questions.

Me: *holding up hands* Sorry. So what else do you want to know?

Luc: *eyes lock on mine* What’s going to happen in Original Sin?

Me: Lots of stuff.

Luc: *smirks* Could you be a little more specific?

Me: Well, there are more angels…

Luc: *rolls eyes*

Me: And demons!

Luc: Great. And I suppose they come for Frannie?

Me: King Lucifer still wants her, so…yeah.

Luc: *blows out a sigh* You’re not going to make this easy on me, are you?

Me: *lifts hands and wiggle fingers again* Laptop…

Luc: Yeah, right. *stands abruptly* If you’re not going to be any more helpful than that, I’m gone.

Me: *relieved* Okay, so, we’re done?

Luc: *smiles, amused* I’ve got history homework.

Me: *cracks up despite myself* Yeah, right.

Luc: *turns for the door* See ya, Laptop.

Me: *wondering if I’ll ever live that down*

Frannie's guest post

Hi everyone! Frannie here. Lisa is editing the novel formerly known as Hellbent this week, so she’s asked Luc, Gabe and I to fill in with guest posts so she can work. Today is my day, so if any of you have questions for me, post them in comments and I’ll add them to this post with answers. In the meantime, I thought I’d post an interview I did with Luc and Gabe for Mr. Snyder’s English class. And, can I point out that getting these guys to behave themselves was apparently too much to hope for. Anyway, here it is. Make of it what you will. (From Fallen Archangel)

My name is Frannie Cavanaugh and I’m a senior at Hades—I mean Haden High. Mr. Snyder assigned an interview for English class. He said we could interview anyone, real or fictional. I’m interviewing Luc and Gabe and I’ll leave it up to him decide which they are, real or not.

Me: First off, how did you both know the deal with me. I didn’t even know the deal with me…

Gabe: *raises an eyebrow and quirks half a smile* Either did Mr. Arrogant. *tips his head at Luc*

Luc: *glares at Gabe* What featherface means to say is that we have our ways.

Gabe: *leans back in chair* And my ways are far superior to his ways. *smirks*

Luc: *red lightning crackles over knuckles*

Me: Okay. *panicking a little* Play nice. I was just asking. So…tell me about how you guys met.

Luc: *barks out a laugh* Go ahead, Gabriel. Fill her in.

Gabe: *shifts in chair as eyes narrow* He *juts his chin toward Luc* shows up in Pompeii after Vesuvius, thinking he’s all that. Going to collect all these souls—

Luc: *laughs again* No, idiot. The first time. *leans in and winks* You’ll have to excuse him. Brain damage from breathing all that ozone. What he meant to say was that I kicked his ass in the Colosseum.

Gabe: Stop telling her what I mean. *shakes head*

Me: Hold up! Did you say Colosseum? As in Rome?

Luc: I did. *eyes flash* *slow grin* And I also said I kicked his ass.

Gabe: *rolls eyes* In your dreams.

Luc: If memory serves me, I left the Colosseum under my own power.

Gabe: You don’t think Caesar would have thought it a bit strange that I should get up and walk out—

Luc: *grinning*—after I kicked your ass? Yeah, that might have raised suspicion.

Gabe: *glares again*

Me: Okay! Okay…I got it. So…changing the subject…what are your respective jobs in Heaven and Hell.

Luc: I work in—

Gabe: I believe she said Heaven first, dude. But I’m sure with your limited intellectual capacity, that flew right over your head.

Luc: *leans back and laces fingers behind head* I assumed it was an oversight.

Gabe: *turns his back to Luc* I’m a Protector of the Second Sphere. It’s my job to protect innocent people…*leans forward and covers my hand with his* special people…from him *jerks head toward Luc* and his kind.

Luc: …and, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I work in Acquisitions—mostly in high school. I get them going on the little ones. Starter sins, if you will. Not enough to tag their souls for Hell, but enough to send them in our direction eventually.

Me: Sounds…interesting…

Luc: *smiles wickedly* It has it’s perks.

Gabe: *rolls eyes*

Me: So, I’m still not really sure what the big deal is and why you both want to tag my soul, but what will happen if you fail?

Luc: *shifts uncomfortably in his chair* *eyes flash* I never fail.

Me: Okay, but hypothetically, if you did…

Luc: *shifts again and won’t look at me* I’d spend eternity burning in the Fiery Pit.

Me: That sounds…not good.

Gabe: *scowls at Luc* You’re a demon. How bad can it be?

Me: What about you? *turns toward Gabe* What would happen if Luc wins?

Gabe: *staring hard into my eyes* The end of the world as you know it.

Me: *clears throat and squirms a little* Oh… Is that all… *clears throat again* Okay, so…last question. Can you guys, like, read minds, and transport and stuff like that?

Gabe: One of us can read minds, *smiles smugly* and it’s not brimstone breath.

Luc: *glares at Gabe* But we both can transport. *eyes shift to me* And one of us can possess people, *grins* which, really, is much more fun than reading minds.

Me: *trying hard not to think of anything totally embarrassing* Oh…okay…well, that’s all I had, so—

Luc: *pushed back from table* *holds hand out to me* Let’s go.

Gabe: *stands* *glares at Luc* Not going to happen.

Me: *splits a glare between them* I’m not going anywhere. Gotta write this interview up.

Luc: *grabs my wrist* *glares at Gabe* She’s coming with me.

Gabe: *grabs my other arm* Not even in your dreams.

Luc: Back off. *shoves glowing red fist in Gabe’s face*

Me: *shakes off Gabe’s hand* *grabs Luc’s arm* *throws Luc over my shoulder onto the floor* *glares down at him* Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Luc: *stands* *glares at Gabe* *storms out*

Gabe: Later. *follows Luc out*

Me: *rolls eyes* Well, that was fun.