Character Tour: Cindy Koepp

Welcome back! I’m thrilled you could join me from the Character Tour 2013! Exciting books with great characters by wonderful authors in a variety of genres are in our future. You’ll find it all here on Fridays!

This week, I am beyond excited to give you all a little peek into the worlds of one of my critique partners, Cindy Koepp. She’s a fantastic storyteller (I know from experience). So, sit back and get ready to meet some neat characters.

Texas is an interesting place. The weather can range from freezing to broiling in less than 24 hours, and, even if you live in the cities, you don’t have to go anywhere to get up close and personal with wildlife. You can travel from sun-up to sundown and still be in the state. Now and again, you’ll run into interesting characters who think Texas is still its own country.

I’ve lived in Texas for years.

I’m one of those odd creatures who has an education from rival universities. My degree in Wildlife Ecology came from Texas A&M University. Then, a few years later, I went through teacher certification at the University of Texas at Austin.

For about 9 months a year, I spend most of my time educating the minds of 3- and 4-footers. That’s height, not leg-count. It keeps me busy, but I still find time now and again to work on my writing and crafts while I whistle tunes back and forth with a silly Timneh African Grey.

My current works include a science fiction novel called Remnant in the Stars from Under the Moon Publishing and a self-published book of math word problems for educators and homeschoolers.

My writing is influenced by the experiences in my life, the people I’ve met, and the God I worship.

Now, meet the characters:

Pashan waddled up to the front of her class and climbed onto the Talking Chair.  Her tummy threatened to bring breakfast back up.  What was worse?  Mommy standing in the back with her happy, wide eyes or her classmates staring at her?

Warm feelings of reassurance washed over her.

You do fine, Little One. 

Pashan looked back at Mommy and blinked once.  I hope so. 

You must only introduce your recording then press the speech button on the recorder. 

And hope it works. 

It works.  We just test it two minutes ago. 

Pashan pulled the recorder out of her pocket and set it on her lap. She swallowed hard. “For my interview, I speak to a royal courier.  Her name is Addya Dace.”

She pushed the speech button.

Addya: Hello, little one.

Pashan: How do you know the nickname my parents call me?

Addya: I do not.  I only know you are littler than I.

Pashan: I think everyone is littler than you, except maybe some humans.

Addya: You wished to ask questions?

Pashan: Yes, yes.  I have an interview I must do for class.  How do you speak my language?

Addya: I work as a royal courier.  To do this task, talking in other languages is vital.

Pashan: What does a courier do?

Addya: I deliver letters and data to other locations for King Evryt Lixine of Aelstria.

Pashan: Oh, so you run a communication board?

Addya: I do not understand this phrase.  I travel across the country for the king to give his letters and data to others.

Pashan: So you fly?

Addya: (chuckling) No, no.  These wings do not fly.  I can glide, not fly.

Pashan: What about with a ship?

Addya: Too easy to shoot down.  The data I carry is often too vital and not always well-received.

Pashan: So put better shields on it and hire a human to work the gun for you.

Addya: Shields?  Little one, I do not think adding round metal disks to the outside of the craft is a good idea.  The crafts only carry a certain weight and nothing greater.

Pashan: I do not mean metal armor.  I mean shields.  Blue energy-barrier shields.  Even humans have them now.

Mommy: (whispering) Technology common in our world may be unknown in hers.

Pashan: (whispering) Can we give her better technology?

Mommy: (whispering) She does not know how to deal with it when it needs repairing, and we do not wish to complicate her life.

Pashan: (whispering) Oh.  So, what do I do?

Mommy: (whispering) Apologize and go on with the next question.

Pashan: (whispering) I do nothing wrong.  (pause) Okay.  (Louder) I apologize, Addya.  I do not know your technology.  I think you mean something different.  Are you on a mission now?

Addya: Yes.  The king sends me to get evidence of a traitor.

Pashan: Do you succeed?

Addya: Yes, I do.  Now I have to get the evidence to the king quickly.  The traitor wishes to regain the evidence and destroy these feathers first.

Pashan: You have very many feathers.  How many does the traitor wish to destroy?

Addya: (chuckling) Every one.

Pashan: Then he wishes to kill you?  That is not a very nice thing to do.

Addya: No.

Pashan: Do you get the information there on time?

Addya: I do not know.  I have a long distance to travel yet.

Pashan: Do you go alone?

Addya: I have a friend.  He is a Schaflander who is called Karl Schild’ann.

Pashan: It is good to have help.  My daddy goes out to help his very good friend Abbott Jade Kirsten Major find my oldest sister.  They have a whole ship with them.

Addya: I trust they have success soon.  (rustling noise) I have to leave now.  The countess sends her guards after these feathers and I do not wish to visit with those creatures.

Pashan: Yes, yes.  Thank you for speaking to me.  I hope you have your information to the king soon.

Addya: Thank you.  Good day.

When the recording ended, Pashan pressed the speech button again to stop it from looping back to the beginning.  She climbed down from the Talking Chair and returned to her cushion on the girl’s side of the class.  Mommy’s wide eyes beamed her joy.

“That is very interesting, Pashan.” Teacher sat in the Talking Chair.  “Where can your classmates learn more about this royal courier?”

Pashan tucked the recorder into her pocket.  “They can go to Jukepop Serials.  A biographer writes the adventure there and calls it The Condemned Courier.”

“Very good, Pashan.  Kivi is next.”  Teacher left the Talking Chair.

Kivi groaned.  “Do I have to?”

Teacher frowned. “You can choose to fail the assignment if you wish.”

He trudged up to the front of the class.

Interesting interview, Cindy! I have so many questions now, I’ll have to check out The Condemned Courier when I get a chance. What of you all? What peaked your interested about Pashan and Addya? What differences did you notice? Discuss!