Today, we are featuring Siff Braghor, from Herald Petrel by Strange Seawolf, for our Character Interview feature.

The Interview

Welcome to TRB! We are really excited to have you over. Please give our readers a brief introduction about yourself before we begin.

*stares at you for a moment as if she is trying to see the bottom of your soul* Siff Braghor, Commander, first officer on the Herald Petrel, ship number 3342 of the Company Cargo Fleet (CCF). The type is a Stargazer Mark V.

What is your age and what do you do for a living?

35. As I just said, I am the first officer on the Herald Petrel.

How you like to spend your free time?

Exercising. I do a lot of sports. Won some competitions. I also hold the current title in Pokaran Procat Pull.

What’s that?

*rolls eyes* The most important skill competition for heavy equipment drivers. Are you Earthlings never educating yourself about what goes on in the universe outside of that ridiculous small blue planet? You are so pathetic!

I also heard rumors that you read books?

Who said that? *raises suspicious eyebrow* Are you trying to lure me into a trap? *cracks knuckles*

Let’s skip that. Please share some of your beliefs, principles, motivations and morals (can be social, religious or political or, etc. Anything that will help us get to know you better.)

I believe I shouldn’t trust strangers asking too many questions.

We already had Captain Galahad and Raffi answering the same question.

Did they, now? And when two of your crew mates are eating toxic trappel berry jam with pietec feet you do the same just because they did?

Let’s skip that as well, then. Tell us something about your family and childhood.

The crew is my family, now. They are all that matter. Everything else is in the past and doesn’t mean anything.

Tell us something about your dreams and aspirations? Were you able to achieve them or are you planning to?

I am very happy to be the Commander of the Herald Petrel. I don’t need anything else.

What is your biggest fear in life?

I don’t fear anything in this universe.

How would you describe your life in one sentence?

Good, considering the circumstances.

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?

You have no idea. Be glad you have no idea. *stares at you as if she sees all the bad things that ever happened to you and all the terrible things you ever did in your life and judges you for them*

Did it change you for the better or the worse?

People constantly change. Better or worse are dubious concepts that depend hugely on viewpoint.

What are your plans for the future?

Fly to Providence 5. Then see who the new captain is going to be. Because they can’t seriously keep that lame excuse for a captain around for much longer. I have no idea what they thought when they made Galahad captain, but he is not able to run a ship. He says he was a captain before, even claiming that he led missions in dangerous territory, but I don’t believe one bit of it. He just doesn’t have it. Being a captain needs grit, confidence, quick thinking and most of all passion. I sense nothing of that in Galahad.

So, you want to be a captain?

*spits out* Mother Goddess, no! I am not that stupid. I want to be first officer under a capable captain, that’s all!

Is there anything else you want to tell us?

No. Can I go, now? I have a ship to run.

Wow, thanks a lot, Siff, for your… enlightening answers. I look forward to knowing more about you and your adventures in the future!

Herald Petrel

If you ask Harold Galahad, he isn’t fit to lead the crew of the half-destroyed cargo spaceship Herald Petrel back home. But nobody asks Harry.

An explosion leaves the ship helplessly floating in space and Harry reliving his own personal nightmare. He doesn’t want to be a captain anymore, and nobody trusts him as captain—least of all himself. The crew behaves strangely, his first officer is less than helpful, and the more he finds out, the more Harry has to challenge his own beliefs. While forced to relive the darkest part of his past, Captain Harold Galahad needs to figure out what happened and find a way back home.

You can find Herald Petrel here:
Amazon| Goodreads | Books2Read

If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Today, we are featuring Rafaela Louise Sanchez Gomez aka Raffi, from Herald Petrel by Strange Seawolf, for our Character Interview feature.

The Interview

Welcome to TRB! We are really excited to have you over. Please—

Oh, I am also very excited to be here. Like: big time! I got so many questions for you. Like, how is it to have a book blog? I think that must be totally exciting. But also exhausting, I imagine. I mean, all those reviews, you must read, like, superfast, like, at lightning speed or something. And then—

Uhm, this is a character interview. So, we are asking the character from a book questions, not the other way round. But before we begin with that, please give our readers a brief introduction about yourself.

Oh, yes, of course that makes so much more sense. Okay, my name is Rafaela Louise Sanchez Gomez but everybody calls me Raffi. I like that better, too. Like, you can totally trip over every single part of my full name, but Raffi is something straightforward and easy to say, right?

Right. What is your age and what do you do for a living?

I’m 19, will turn 20 this year. I work as Mister Galahad’s assistant. Have you met Mister Galahad already? He’s like, the cutest boss ever. Oh, wait, no, not what you are thinking. Not like that. I’m asexual, you know? That’s actually why I am Mister Galahad’s assistant. Okay, no, that sounded better in my head than when I said it out loud. But, yeah, matter of fact, I am assistant to the Head of Logistics at the Company but right now it is nearly like I am unemployed because we are on this spaceship and, let me tell you something, a cargo spaceship is like, the most boring place ever. Like, nothing happens round here. Like, if you think watching your toenails grow is boring try being on a spaceship where everybody but yourself has work to do. I had imagined this being much more fun. Ah, well, live and learn, huh?

That ties in well with our next question: How you like to spend your free time?

Oh, I love playing games on the entertainment system. Doesn’t matter what, really. Horror, fantasy, mystery, I do them all, action, strategy, shooters. I hate when they force a romantic sub-plot on your character, though. Seems nobody keeps the aromantics in mind, really. Same with movies. And most of the plot lines are somewhat dull. But it’s still fun. I mean, some of the Company productions are so plain stupid it is just too much fun criticizing them to the ground. We do that sometimes, Mister Galahad and me. We get some snacks and watch a movie together, the more stupid, the better and then we laugh our heads off.

Please share some of your beliefs, principles, motivations and morals (can be social, religious or political or, etc. Anything that will help us get to know you better.)

Okay, so…bear with me. I think religions are just a load of crap but also, it’s okay when people believe in stuff. Like, you know, whatever you need to keep you upright and get you out of bed every day, right?

I myself, I think justice is important and that everybody should be treated equal, no matter the species and rank. You know, nobody is less than the other. But I see that a lot. You know, look who is promoted in the Company and who stays in the entry level positions. Notice something? Yeah, the higher in the hierarchy you get, the more it is exclusively Earthlings. Or look how people are exploited because they are from a certain species. Like, Handorians only doing the menial work like cleaning the offices or Blunkarians being put into jobs they have to perform without breaks just because they have two heads and therefore one can sleep while the other is awake. But that’s not right. Everybody deserves breaks and vacations! And also doing stuff they enjoy! There is so much injustice in this universe. And that’s just not right!

Tell us something about your family and childhood.

Woah, you have to come visit and meet them all! We are one big family, it is amazing! Like, I do have a brother and three sisters, although two of them are technically just my half-sisters but I have so many cousins I can’t even count them! And we all lived together until I moved out to be closer to work. It was like, yeah, several houses which all belonged to my family. And several moms and dads. So, yeah, I do have a biological mom and dad, that’s where I got the Sanchez and the Gomez from but emotionally there is also Pá Ramírez and then there is dear Mommy Matii and Bantak and… I am starting to bore you, right? Well, you can just write down that I had a happy childhood and I love my family very much. Every single one of them. Even the weird ones like uncle Albi. Perhaps especially uncle Albi. But, yeah, don’t get me started…

Tell us something about your dreams and aspirations? Were you able to achieve them or are you planning to?

You know, that’s a good question. I mean, if you think what I really would like to do it would be becoming a game designer or an author for entertainment system series. I could write much better stuff than the crap that is on, you know? But at the same time, I know it isn’t possible. My ideas of a good story just don’t align enough with company’s values. They’d never let me do what I want to do. Might do some *looks around, lowers voice* independent stuff. But you better not write that.

*Continues with her usual cheery, bubbly, excited voice* I think working corporate is okay for the time being. The money is okay. Not much excitement. But I am glad that I now work for Mister Galahad. The team before that was a disaster. They had exactly two topics: romantic relationships and sex. It sucked!

But I think in the future I want to do something different. I like people and I want to have a job that is actually meaningful, you know? One that makes a difference. Still not sure what it could be, but it certainly isn’t what I am doing right now.

What is your biggest fear in life?

Something bad happening to my family or my friends.

How would you describe your life in one sentence?

Ready for my next adventure.

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?

When my Granddaddy died. It was so unexpected and so hard for all of us, for Grammy, especially. It was nearly as if the house lost its soul. Nobody knew he was so sick. He always tried to conceal it so we wouldn’t worry. If he had just said something earlier. *gulps* I mean, probably, there was nothing that could have been done but still, why didn’t he say something? He denied us to take care of him, you know? *gulps*

I’m sorry for your loss. Did it change you for the better or the worse?

I think it made me cherish life more, you know? Like, it showed me how fast life can be over and that doing stuff I don’t want to do is a waste of precious time. Also, that we have to watch out for each other and you can’t always see what is going on in people. I try to be more aware of the people close to me, now.

Okay, last question: What are your plans for the future?

Oh, well, I am excited to see Providence 5. I have never been there, have you?

I am not thinking farther ahead because, yeah, as I said, life is precious and I like to see what opportunities arise and just, you know, grab them and see where they take me.

Since this was the last one: Can I ask you some questions, now?

Well, thanks a lot, Raffi, for your intruiguing answers. I look forward to reading more about your adventures in the future!

Herald Petrel

If you ask Harold Galahad, he isn’t fit to lead the crew of the half-destroyed cargo spaceship Herald Petrel back home. But nobody asks Harry.

An explosion leaves the ship helplessly floating in space and Harry reliving his own personal nightmare. He doesn’t want to be a captain anymore, and nobody trusts him as captain—least of all himself. The crew behaves strangely, his first officer is less than helpful, and the more he finds out, the more Harry has to challenge his own beliefs. While forced to relive the darkest part of his past, Captain Harold Galahad needs to figure out what happened and find a way back home.

You can find Herald Petrel here:
Amazon| Goodreads | Books2Read

If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Today, we are featuring Captain Harold Galahad, the protagonist of Herald Petrel by Strange Seawolf, for our Character Interview feature.

The Interview

Welcome to The Reading Bud! We are really excited to have you over. Please give our readers a brief introduction about yourself before we begin.

Thank you for having me. My name is Harry Galahad. I was born on Earth. Current residence Charkovaya. I have a background in Space Navigation and Intergalactic Law. I was navigation officer and later captain on exploratory missions to the outskirts of the universe for my university. Later I worked as a captain for the Company.

Which brings me to my next question: What is your age and what do you do for a living?

I am 47 and I’m Head Logistics Planer for the Company. Well, actually, right now I am captain on a delivery flight to Providence 5, on the cargo spaceship Herald Petrel but that is… it is not what I do for a living, usually. I’m not a captain any longer. It is just… just… because my friend Singh can’t do it anymore. He was the captain. I have just taken over because nobody else was available. And also… I mean, he was my best friend. There are some things that are just… a moral obligation, I guess?

What happened to your friend?

He’s dead.

Oh, very sorry to hear that. Let’s change topic. How you like to spend your free time?

Oh, I love listening to music. Beethoven, mainly. Sometimes Bach and Tchaikowski. Some Jazz as well. I also… *looks around as if to make sure nobody is listening in and lowers voice* …read.

Oh, interesting, what do you read?

Not so loud! People could hear us! *whispers* I have a soft spot for Earth’s ancient literature. They called it Science Fiction, back in the 20^th and early 21^st century. It is endearing to see how they envisioned the future back then. Nearly cute. I mean, now, 500 years later, of course it is easy to see how wrong they were. I mean, yeah, intergalactic space flight became possible, and Earth rules the universe but… let’s not go into this further.

Alright. Please share some of your beliefs, principles, motivations and morals (can be social, religious or political or, etc. Anything that will help us get to know you better.)

Oh, I am just a normal bloke, I guess. I’m not especially religious or anything. I guess when you are traveling the outskirts of the universe and work with a lot of people from different planets, all kinds of species, you know, Blunkarians, Gathesians, Laharians, even some from Phtat’Grthak… you kind of…lose the faith that there is one true religion. I think there are some moral principles that would be good if everybody adhered to them. You know, things like: Treat others like you yourself want to be treated. Help others if you can. When in a stronger position, protect the ones who can’t protect themselves. Common sense, really.

Hm, sounds plausible but also rather generic. Perhaps tell us a bit more about your motivation?

Generic? *scoffs* Universally true and applicable, more like it. But this is your space, so I am not going to argue. Motivation, you say? *exhales* I don’t have much motivation to do anything lately, truth be told. I mean, I want to get over this mission, land that damn thing on Providence 5 and take the next flight back to Charkovaya to get behind my desk again. How’s that for a motivation?

Uhm…enough to understand you don’t want to dwell on that subject. So…Tell us something about your family and childhood.

Ah, yeah, that’s better. I had a happy childhood. My parents were great people and paved the way so I could study. They were a bit disappointed that I didn’t become a priest like they originally intended, but I hope I made them proud with my career. So, sorry, no tragic backstory to unearth here.

Oh, that’s okay. Not every character needs a traumatic childhood, although we see that a lot. Tell us something about your dreams and aspirations? Were you able to achieve them or are you planning to?

Oh, you know, I lived my life. I still know how excited I was as a newly appointed navigation officer. I also know how proud I was when I earned my stripes as a captain. But that’s in the past. Nowadays, those things don’t matter to me anymore. Nothing matters anymore. *stares ahead as if he sees something no one else sees*

What is your biggest fear in life?

I have lost the ability to be scared of anything. When death comes to take me, I am more than ready. *flinches* Oh, wait, no, that’s not true. If something bad happens to Raffi, that would be horrible! And likely. She’s so nosy! She always wants to find out. I just hope she keeps out of trouble.

Who is Raffi?

My assistant. Perhaps you should interview her, too. She sure would enjoy that! And talk your ear off. Be warned. *smiles for the first time during the interview, a very warm smile, his eyes twinkling*

Perhaps we’ll do that, thanks for the hint. How would you describe your life in one sentence?

I can even do in one word: pointless.

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?

*mumbles* I have lost my wife. Three years ago. On the 25^th of March 2519.

Oh. I am sorry for your loss. What happened?

An accident. I don’t want to talk about it. *brushes over his eyes*

Did it change you for the better or the worse?

*stares at the interviewer for several seconds before asking* Who can tell?

What are your plans for the future?

Bringing this ship to Providence 5 with as little disruption as possible. Get back behind my desk. I hope my life doesn’t last too long.

Well, thanks a lot, Captain Galahad, for your frank answers. I look forward to reading more about your adventures in the future!

Herald Petrel

If you ask Harold Galahad, he isn’t fit to lead the crew of the half-destroyed cargo spaceship Herald Petrel back home. But nobody asks Harry.

An explosion leaves the ship helplessly floating in space and Harry reliving his own personal nightmare. He doesn’t want to be a captain anymore, and nobody trusts him as captain—least of all himself. The crew behaves strangely, his first officer is less than helpful, and the more he finds out, the more Harry has to challenge his own beliefs. While forced to relive the darkest part of his past, Captain Harold Galahad needs to figure out what happened and find a way back home.

You can find Herald Petrel here:
Amazon| Goodreads

If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Today, we are featuring William Miller, from An Enemy Like Me, for our Character Interview feature.

About The Author

Teri M. Brown

Born in Athens, Greece as an Air Force brat, Teri M Brown came into this world with an imagination full of stories to tell. She now calls the North Carolina coast home, and the peaceful nature of the sea has been a great source of inspiration for her creativity.
 Not letting 2020 get the best of her, Teri chose to go on an adventure that changed her outlook on life. She and her husband, Bruce, rode a tandem bicycle across the United States from Astoria, Oregon to Washington DC, successfully raising money for Toys for Tots. She learned she is stronger than she realized and capable of anything she sets her mind to.
 Teri is a wife, mother, grandmother, and author who loves word games, reading, bumming on the beach, taking photos, singing in the shower, hunting for bargains, ballroom dancing, playing bridge, and mentoring others.

You can connect with author Teri M. Brown here:
Author Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

The Interview

Welcome to The Reading Bud! We are really excited to have you over. Please give our readers a brief introduction about yourself before we begin.

My name is William Miller. I was born in North Canton, Ohio right before the United States entered World War II. That war shaped my life, not only while the fighting lasted but to this very day. That may surprise you since I was obviously too young to be a soldier. But here is something you should know – war changes people – even when they aren’t the ones doing the fighting.

What is your age and what do you do for a living?  

I’m 76 years old, so I’m retired now. However, when I was younger, I was a carpenter. Although I built some houses, I mostly did renovation work. In my later years, I did what would be called finish work, such as creating mantles for a fireplace or dental molding to a dining room. I gained quite a reputation in my little North Carolina town for my work and stayed very busy.

How you like to spend your free time? 

I have two main hobbies, painting and fixing up old cars. My paintings were never as good as my father’s, so I often went months without getting out the oils. However, I did produce a few that I’m proud of, including one featuring a set of silver wine goblets. You can see images in the condensation. Now, fixing up old cars? That is my true love. I’ve restored over 100 cars. The first one I ever completed was a 1932 Model A coupe with a rumble seat. When I got it, it was nothing more than a rusted-out shell with more holes than metal. I had to borrow money from my father-in-law to buy it, and boy was my wife, Marie, ticked off! However, I fixed it up and sold it. With that money, I paid back my debt and bought another car. Now, 50 years later, I work on cars worth $50,000 or more.

Please share some of your beliefs, principles, motivations and morals (can be social, religious or political or, etc. Anything that will help us get to know you better.)  

There are two things that really drive me. The first is family. Family is at the center of everything I do. I worked to earn money for my family. I created fun experiences over the holidays to bring my family closer together. I would give my life for my family. Without family, what does a person have?

The second driver is patriotism. I love the United States and all it stands for. My father fought in WWII to preserve our freedoms, and I joined the Air Force for the same reason. I think I am a lot like my father in both respects. He had to make impossible decisions because of his love for both.

Tell us something about your family and childhood. 

I loved growing up in a German community. The food was amazing. I remember going to my grandma’s house when she’d be baking. I didn’t know it at the time, but she was a professional baker and candy maker. But for me, as a little boy? It was just grandma making me treats.

One of my favorites was made from leftover pie dough. She would roll out the leftover dough, spread it with butter, and sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top. Then, she’d roll it up into a log and slice it up into discs. Once baked, I’d get to eat them hot off the baking sheet.

I wasn’t very good in school. Reading was hard for me. I did fine in math and loved doing anything with my hands. To this day, I’m not much of a reader, unless it is a magazine about antique cars.

There is a funny story about me and cars as a teenager. Well, it is funny now, but at the time? My dad let me drive the sedan, but I wanted the car to look extra special for a date. The steering wheel had a brodie knob, or what my friends and I liked to call a necker knob. You could hold onto the knob with one hand and have your arm around your girlfriend with the other.

Well, I thought it would be cool to move the knob to the right side of the steering wheel. I would still hold it with my left hand, but that would allow my left hand to be across my body.

I took the car out for a test drive and stopped to show my buddies. Everyone loved the idea. However, on the way home, I must have let my mind wander. All of a sudden, I had a thought that my hand was in the wrong place, so I quickly pulled on the knob – and ran into a tree. Needless to say, my father was not happy!

Tell us something about your dreams and aspirations? Were you able to achieve them or are you planning to? 

I dreamed of being an inventor like my grandfather. Although I never actually became an inventor, I did create many things that helped me in the garage or at work. I never let the lack of a part or a tool stop me from completing a job. I just figured out another way around the problem.

What is your biggest fear in life?

My biggest fear is not living up to my father’s expectations. He’s been dead for several years, and I still wonder if he’d approve of what I’m accomplishing.

How would you describe your life in one sentence? 

My life has been a series of events that have led to this moment in time.

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you? 

My father left for the war, and I had to live with my grandparents while my mother went to work.

Did it change you for the better or the worse?  

That’s a good question. It definitely changed me. After you read An Enemy Like Me, you’ll have to decide if the change was good or bad.

What are your plans for the future?

My life is about at the end. However, I hope to figure out my relationship with my son, continue to work on my cars, and travel a bit with Marie. She has always wanted to go to Australia, so we are planning a trip next winter – their summer.

An Enemy Like Me

How does a man show his love – for country, for heritage, for family – during a war that sets the three at odds? What sets in motion the necessity to choose one over the other? How will this choice change everything and everyone he loves?
Jacob Miller, a first-generation American, grew up in New Berlin, a small German immigrant town in Ohio where he endured the Great Depression, met his wife, and started a family. Though his early years were not easy, Jacob believes he is headed toward his ‘happily ever after’ until a friend is sent to an internment camp for enemy combatants, and the war lands resolutely on his doorstep.
In An Enemy Like Me, Teri M Brown uses the backdrop of World War II to show the angst experienced by Jacob, his wife, and his four-year-old son as he left for and fought in a war he did not create. She explores the concepts of xenophobia, intrafamily dynamics, and the recognition that war is not won and lost by nations, but by ordinary men and women and the families who support them.

If you are a fan of historical fiction with a love for heartfelt, introspective war stories, then you’ll enjoy An Enemy Like Me. This emotional saga explores war and its impacts in unique ways that few military fiction novels do.

You can find An Enemy Like Me here:
Amazon| Goodreads | Author Website

If you are an author and wish to be featured as our guest or if you are a publicist and want to get your author featured on TRB, then please get in touch directly by e-mail at thereadingbud@gmail.com

Today, we are featuring Grandfather, one fo the main characters from Victorian Songlight: The Birthings Of Magic & Mystery by Dr. Kathy Martone, for our Character Interview feature.

About The Author

Kathy Martone

Dr. Kathy Martone is currently an author and artist living in a small Victorian town in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. Before retiring, and moving from Denver, CO to Eureka Springs, AR in 2015, she was a Jungian psychologist in private practice specializing in dream work, women’s spirituality and shamanic journeys. The magical world of dreams has fascinated and intrigued Kathy for as long as she can remember. Inspired by a dream in 2005, she began making velvet tapestries imprinted with the image of one of her own dream figures and embellished with ribbons, rhinestones, feathers, glass beads, Swarovski crystals, antique jewelry and semi-precious stones.  Dr. Martone’s work has been displayed in galleries in Denver, Colorado  as well as in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

In 2006 Dr. Martone self-published her first book titled, Sacred Wounds: A Love Story.  Essays and short stories written by Dr. Martone have been published in eMerge, an online magazine published by The Writer’s Colony at Dairy Hollow.  In addition, some of her writings have also appeared in two anthologies titled Dairy Hollow Echo and Not Dead Yet 2.

You can find author Kathy here:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Email 

The Interview

Welcome to The Reading Bud! We are really excited to have you over. Please give our readers a brief introduction about yourself before we begin.

Hello and thank you for having me.  My name is Grandfather and I am proud to represent the author who wrote about me in her latest novel titled Victorian Songlight.  I am not a human – at least not in my current incarnation.  But of course, you would know that, from reading Kathy’s book :>) I live in the between realms, suspended between spirit and matter, and I am infused with golden light.

What is your age and what do you do for a living?  

Gosh, it’s hard for me to pin down a specific age for you.  I can tell you, though, that my first human birth occurred in the year 15o1.  What do I do for a living?  Well, mostly I hang out around humans who are seeking spiritual enlightenment, offering support and insight.  Very gratifying work, indeed!

How you like to spend your free time? 

Suspended as I am between two different worlds, time is not the same for me as it is for you humans who live on only one plane of existence.  For example, there is no difference for me between “free” time and otherwise occupied productive time.  I just sort of float along in space and allow myself to be pulled in whatever direction the spirit, so to speak, moves me.  (Ha Ha, my little joke :>)

Please share some of your beliefs, principles, motivations and morals (can be social, religious or political or, etc. Anything that will help us get to know you better.)  

Well, ahem, let me see… (fingers tapping my forehead)

Having lived for over 500 years, I have had lots of different beliefs but perhaps it would be easiest if I focused on my current principles, morals, and motivations.  Primarily, I believe in the principles of love, kindness and compassion, for oneself as well as for all living beings.  I have been a Buddhist practitioner for most of my lifetimes and I have strong moral convictions about the sanctity of all life and the importance of living in a constant state of heightened awareness.  I am committed to the alleviation of all suffering.

Tell us something about your family and childhood. 

In all but one of my lifetimes, I was fortunate enough to have very loving parents who took very good care of me.  However, in the one instance where this was not the case, I was born into a family of wealth and power.  My parents were far more concerned with their greed for money and influence than they were with me.  Consequently, they assigned my care to their many attendants who mostly ignored me and abused me.  This was the lifetime where I began my study of compassion.

Tell us something about your dreams and aspirations? Were you able to achieve them or are you planning to? 

From the very beginning of my lives, I have dreamed of becoming an enlightened Master who would be blessed with humans to love and to nourish.  It has been my utmost privilege to have known many talented and honorable humans, with Kate being one of them.  It truly is a great honor to share ancient teachings with human beings and to watch them flourish as a result.  So basically, I guess you could say that I have always aspired to be a great teacher.  If Kate is any indication, I would have to say that my dreams have been a huge success.

What is your biggest fear in life?

Ah ha!  I knew you were going to ask me about fear.  Why is it that humans often struggle with that emotion?  I can tell you that it is largely because your bodies are sculpted out of matter which has a very dense vibration which translates into the emotion of fear.  But I digress.  For one such as me, fear is what you humans like to call an oxymoron. It just doesn’t exist in the ghostly realms.

How would you describe your life in one sentence? 

I was born and I died, both on the same day at the same time in the same womb of Divine Nurturance.

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you? 

In one of my early lives, I accidentally stepped on a caterpillar and I heard the poor creature screech in pain.  This experience stayed with me for many moons, keeping me awake at night.

Did it change you for the better or the worse?  

Definitely for the better.  It taught me that all living beings experience pain and that I should strive to alleviate suffering for all sentient beings.  This experience broadened my understanding of compassion and its importance for the evolution of consciousness.

What are your plans for the future?

Once again, spirits don’t experience time in a linear fashion.  So I don’t think about “plans” like you do.  The past, present, and future are all the same to me.  There is no difference.  For example, I am seated here visiting with you and I am also a little boy in the year 1504, while at the same time I am accompanying Kate as she reincarnates into her next life.  I guess you could say that any plans I might have would be to continue my many journeys through time and space.

Victorian Songlight: The Birthings Of Magic & Mystery

The birth of a magical child at the time of the Devil Moon sets the stage for heartache and misery, magic and supernatural love. Beset by unrelenting obstacles and bestowed with remarkable psychic gifts, Kate is often accompanied by fantastical black ravens who carry her through time and space. A well known legend in the Ozark Mountain countryside where Kate lives, Grandfather is a ghost with large golden eyes who frequently rides on the back of Pegasus, another Ozarkian legend. Victorian Songlight is a tale of redemption and renewal, death and rebirth, triumph over darkness. But most importantly, it is a love story. Alone and utterly forsaken, adrift on treacherous waters, Kate meets Grandfather for the second time in her life and they become lovers fulfilling a prophecy at the moment of her birth.

You can find Victorian Songlight here:
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Today, we are featuring Fedor, the lead character from Fedor by, for our Character Interview feature.

About The Author

Brant Vickers

Brant Vickers started work as a caddy and delivered flowers in Southern California before going into the military. He’s lived in three foreign countries and seven states. He later found his true profession and calling working with students with special needs where he met some of the most endearing and loving people on the planet. His memoir, Chucky’s in Tucson, reflects those 18 years. This led to his interest in Fedor and his imagined story. Brant lives in Arizona with his wife, Cheryl Ann.

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The Interview

Welcome to The Reading Bud! We are really excited to have you over. Please give our readers a brief introduction about yourself before we begin.

Thank you very much. My name is Fedor Adrianovitch Jefticheff and I was born in 1868 in Tbilisi, Georgia, part of Tsarist Russia. I traveled with my father for several years in a small carnival throughout Russia and Europe. A few years ago I was given the chance to become part of the Black Tent in the famous and gargantuan Barnum & Bailey’s sideshow.

What is your age and what do you do for a living?  

It’s now 1900 and I’m 32 years old. We’re currently on a several year tour of Great Britain and Europe. P.T. Barnum presents me as Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy in what is commonly called Barnum’s Freak Show. Several of us don’t like that term, but many of us embrace it and deal with the peculiars of our physical infirmaries. This is how I’m forced to make my living. I have no alternate form of employment. As my manager in Russia, Grigory always said, “If they pay in rubles we give them a show; it’s a show we provide.”

How you like to spend your free time? 

I have been a voracious reader since my mama started reading to me in my early childhood. We read books in German, English, and, of course, Russian. I am now fluent in both reading and speaking those languages. Her favorite author was Leo Tolstoy, as is mine now. But I have been fortunate enough to meet several writers throughout America. I have developed a close friendship with Mark Twain, who by the way is a fan of the circus. Also I have met, among others, Herman Melville, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Louisa May Alcott. I hope to meet several more here in Europe.

Please share some of your beliefs, principles, motivations and morals (can be social, religious or political or, etc. Anything that will help us get to know you better.)  

I have had to develop a strong attitude to my predicament in this world. My friends and I in the Black Tent cultivate a strong constitution to our lot in life. People pay to gawk at us, but it is the only method, at this time in the world, for us to make a living. My best friend in Russia once said, “I don’t think being ordinary is such a benefit and something they should proud of.” Or as my friend Mark Twain said to me one day, “There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility. Inside the dullest exterior there is drama, a comedy, and a tragedy!”

Tell us something about your family and childhood. 

I have long, thick, silky dark hair all over my body. Everywhere. My papa had the same. Our life in Tbilisi was harsh and poor. Even when my papa could get work we rarely had enough to eat and after my beloved mama died, we went on the road with Grigory. His show was small but I had several close loving friends. At age fifteen I met the Tsarevich Nicholas II and shortly after a scout for the Barnum & Bailey Circus. My life changed dramatically after that and I’ve made many more friends whom I live and work with, and consider them my family now. 

Tell us something about your dreams and aspirations? Were you able to achieve them or are you planning to? 

I have recently met the love of my life and her name is Krao Farni and we suffer from the same malady, but have fallen in love. As Mr. Tolstoy said, “all, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.” My biggest aspiration is to make enough money and live with Krao comfortably in peace.

What is your biggest fear in life?

I have a fear of not succeeding with my greatest aspiration.

How would you describe your life in one sentence? 

I have traveled and seen more of the world than I ever dreamed. My infirmity has made this possible. If not for it, my life as an uneducated peasant in Tsarist Russia would have been very meager. We were, for all intents and purposes serfs. “You can’t throw too much style into a miracle and you my friend are a miracle,” Mark Twain said of me, and I would suggest that sums up my good fortune in life.

What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you? 

Living in the wondrous, magical, and unpredictable world of Barnum & Bailey’s Circus brings tragedy along with its marvels. Losing close friends to misfortunes in our world also brings some sadness. Along with gaining much, I’ve lost a few of my dearest friends.

Did it change you for the better or the worse?  

I must again quote from my legendary tutor and life long spiritual guide Mr. Tolstoy, “There is only one thing in this word worth dedicating your life to and that is creating more love among people…” If the people, who pay to gawk and be frightened of Krao and myself, can see us and realize we live this life with dignity and love, maybe they would understand there are many ways to live. 11. What are your plans for the future?  We are planning to wed upon our return to the United States and look forward to an early retirement and spend our days reading and enjoying each other’s company. I’ll leave you with one more quote and you can probably deduce who wrote it: If you want to be happy, be. And thank you for the opportunity to share my life and thoughts with you.

Fedor by Brant Vickers

“You can’t throw too much style into a miracle, and you my friend are a miracle,” Mark Twain says to Fedor Adrianovitch Jefticheff, also known as Jo-Jo The Dog Faced Boy. Fedor lives, travels, works, and loves among the haunting cast of performers in the Black Tent Sideshow of P.T. Barnum’s Circus in the late 1880s.

Fedor not only survived, but also profited by being a memorable and unforgettable human curiosity. Along with being an intelligent and avid reader of Tolstoy, Twain, Alcott, and Melville, he has remarkable interactions with a myriad of other world-renowned characters, one being Nicholas II the Russian Tsarevich. This proves that more than just being a “sideshow,” there was a lot of individuality and heart to this “dog-faced boy.”

Richly authentic, dramatic, beautifully written, and always thought-provoking, Brant Vickers tells Fedor’s story in an epic account of this young man’s extraordinary life.

You can find this book here:
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