CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH ADEN & ROSA FROM THE SILVER ROSE

Today I am very pleased to welcome Aden and Rosa to my website to find out more about them and their story, as told in "The Silver Rose" by author Rowena May O'Sullivan.

So, Aden. Let's put you in the hot seat first. Tell me about yourself? What is your occupation? 

My name is Aden Dragunis. I’m an immortal and Dragon of Marylebone Coven. The second highest in the chain of command for all witches and warlocks across the world. As Dragon, along with my familiar Albert, a miniature fire-breathing dragon I hunt rogue witches and warlocks. I’m also a silversmith by trade and use that as my ruse, as it were, in the world of mortals.

I see. I don't believe I've ever interviewed an immortal before. So, tell me, what’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

My family are all born immortals. My father Leonardo is several thousand years old and once ruled Marylebone. I am born, not made immortal.

Interesting. What is your earliest childhood memory with your father?

Sitting at my father’s knee while he crafted silver, gold and jewelry into objects sought by kings, queens and rulers of the realms.

If you could pick one object, one tangible object to symbolize you, what would it be, and why? 

It would be the silver rose Rosa possesses.  To tell you about it would give away some of the plot of the story. Suffice to say, it plays an integral part and is a magical rose designed and crafted to bloom only for my Beloved. Alas my Beloved died four hundred years ago. Now I’ve discovered Rosa has the silver rose in her possession and I am both mystified and angry. I prefer not to think about my painful past.

Since you brought up Rosa, tell us how you two met? What was your first impression of her?

The Bells of Marylebone have tolled for Rosa. They toll only for witches and warlocks whose power is so strong they are in danger of flaming out and turning rogue.  The only way to prevent that from happening is to bind your magic with another forever, to balance the scales. I’ve been sent to Raven’s Creek  by Marylebone under a cloak of secrecy and have been instructed to shield my magic from everyone. I’m to ensure Rosa meets her fate as the Bells of Marylebone have decreed.  I do not understand why the secrecy but I will comply. If she fails, she must surrender her magic to me. If she refuses, my familiar, Albert, must take it forcibly and she will die.

Just between us, what do you like about Rosa?

When Rosa’s parents were killed when she was barely 18, she took on the burden of keeping her sisters together as a family unit with the help of her mother’s good friend, a sorceress, called Zelda.  Rosa is  loyal to the core. She is beautiful. Stunning, with long raven hair. I was enamored the moment I first set eyes on her. Which pissed me royally as I’d vowed never to love again after the death of my Beloved.

What is it that you want out of life?

I want to reconnect with my family. I have estranged myself from them, after Marylebone expelled me for the duration of my union with my Beloved. She was mortal. No good could come from it and they were right.  The pain that followed was unbearable. I’d prefer not to talk about it!

Has life handed you any major disappointments?

The death of my Beloved and subsequent children, all born mortal while I continued to live a lonely life without them. No more on the subject or this interview is over.

I can respect that. That must have been horrible for you. Let's change to a lighter subject.  If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

I’ve never had a free day. I work every day for Marylebone. Being Dragon has its responsibilities.

You need to find some time to unwind, my friend.  If you were going to do that, who would you spend time with. Aside from Rosa, who would you say is your best friend?

My best friend is my warlock apprentice Goran. He get’s himself into a whole heap of trouble in The Silver Rose because of Rosa’s interfering sisters. In fact they’re all in trouble as a result.

If you owned a CB radio what would your "handle" be? 

I have no idea what a CB radio is. I imagine it’s a way to communicate with others. I have no need with it, as I can communicate mentally.

Well! I would imagine that would be pretty convenient at times. One last question for you, and then we'll move on to Rosa, who has been waiting so patiently.  Aden, what CD would you guess is in your CD player right now?

Someone I Used To Know by NZ singer Kimbra.

Thank you, Aden. That was very enlightening. Now Rosa. Tell me about yourself. 

My name is Rosa Greenwood. I’m the eldest of three sisters, all witches. Our parents were killed in mysterious circumstances when I was eighteen. I’ve spent the past ten years keeping my family together and building a business in which my sisters and I share. I am a jeweler by trade, but I prefer to make herbal potions. They are in great demand from the community of Raven’s Creek, although not everyone admits to purchasing a potion from me.

I can see why they may want to keep that a secret.  So, what’s your family like and how does your upbringing affect you now?

Responsibility was thrust upon me at an early age. I lost my late teenage and adult years to ensuring the authorities would not separate my sisters from me. We have a close connection with Zelda Mortiboy, a sorceress  who was best friends with my mother. She has remained in Raven’s Creek to assist us through our grief and now remains because she loves it here. Although I do think there is more to why she has remained, but she’s not telling.

Hmmm...more secrets! I love it!  Rosa, what is your earliest childhood memory?

Watching my mother at the table, crafting a spell in a scrying bowl. I learned to scry from an early age. Some children learn to bake. Young witches learn to scry.

I guess we all have our hobbies, right? Now, Aden said that a silver rose would represent him.  What about you? What tangible object would symbolize you? 

The object that is closest to my heart is my scrying bowl. It was crafted for me and bespelled every year with all my spells.  The bowl was a gift from my parents. It reminds me of them and I hold it dear to my heart. The other is a silver rose my mother gifted me not long before her death. I wear it whenever I perform formal magic.

All right. Enough small talk. Let's get down to the juicy part.  Describe Aden to us. What was your first impression of him and did it change over time?

The first time I saw Aden, I knew something was up. This potential swirled in his aura like none I’d seen before. But I could see no magic surrounding his aura either. He was arrogant at first. I was cautious. The Bells of Marylebone had tolled the night before and I was immediately suspicious of his arrival in Raven’s Creek. Plus he was drop dead delicious.

Yes. I noticed.  Is there anything about your hero that you would consider a flaw?

His inability to forgive himself for past mistakes and his inability to reconnect with his family. Family is important. I should know.

Excellent point. I hope you help him with that. What is it that you want out of life?

I want to attain Mastership in Witchery. My ultimate aim is to serve Marylebone Coven. Very few are called to Marylebone and to do so means ascending to immortality. I want my sisters to be successful in life and to have families of their own. I want to survive the bells.

All good goals. Has life handed you any major disappointments?

Besides the loss of my parents and dealing with a very difficult middle sister you mean? I guess it would be not being prepared for The Bells of Marylebone and Aden’s refusal to believe he’s the one for me!

Okay now, Rosa.  If you had an unexpected free day, what would you do with it?

I would spend it in my garden and in my workroom, making herbal potions. I love to potter about.

And to wrap things up, what CD is in your CD player right now?

I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor.

Love that song! Well, thank you for joining us today. I know it's hard to talk about some of the things we talked about, but I appreciate you're being so open with us. And I think maybe we've made some people curious enough to want to read your story!

Author, Rowena O'Sullivan

Thank you so much for  allowing me to visit your website and to talk about my new release, my very first book, a paranormal romance called The Silver Rose.  This is the first in what I’ve termed  “The Greenwood Witches Trilogy”. Each sister will have her own story.  The first is about Rosa, and I’m currently writing the second sister’s story  (The Jade Dragon) which is due for release in August 2013. The Silver Rose is available as an ebook with Print On Demand coming soon and is available from:

Crimson Romance ebooks | Amazon| B&N | iTunes

Thank you so much for visiting us today, Rowena. And allowing Aden and Rosa to chat, as well. Please drop back in any time.