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Fairytales with Bite

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN 2

31/12/2014

What is the part of your role you dislike most?
Dealing with those troublesome sprites, Whespy and Stanrock, as disciplinary issues should not really fall within my remit. There should be no disciplinary issues to deal with and if everybody acted courteously towards one another, there would be none. I note that rogue pair seem to have settled though. Her Majesty was right to send them to Earth. No doubt the shock of living on that primitive planet and Eileen’s presence helped knock some sense into them.

How much magic do you use in your role?
Magic is a great boon for keeping on top of the administration. Indeed a decent spell I swear is the only way of making sure the filing is done correctly. I sometimes ask Her Majesty to manipulate time when there is too much to do in too little a time. Her Majesty always agrees. It helps her too, you see. But knowing good food and wines comes down to decades of practical experience as does the general management of the Palace. In short, I have to know what I’m doing.

Who is your deputy?
Her Majesty insists on all of her staff, including me, having a decent holiday during the summer months at her seaside home, waited on by other staff. We host holidays at the Palace for them too. So for this a deputy is needed and I chose L’Evallier, who was happy to agree. Frankly that elf is the only being I’d trust with the running of the Palace in my absence. The other Council members would do their best but L’Evallier has a real sense of what is proper, which is more important than most people realise.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... THE FAIRY QUEEN - 9

28/12/2014

How do you cope with the enormous amount of paperwork you receive from the Council and general public?
We accept we are never going to clear it all in any one day and work our way through it in several sessions throughout the day. We find having three sessions of an hour at a time per day is better for our concentration than having one three hours session in one go. Our Council inform us of priorities when it comes to signing things into law and naturally we follow those. Else we work through from oldest document received downwards. A team of my ladies in waiting help prepare draft replies to those from the public who write in to us and we give the nod to those. Our ladies then prepare them, we read them through and sign them. We try to reply to as many youngsters as possible directly as well.

Everyone knows you love gardening and that you have own special patch in the Palace grounds that only you look after but what is it about gardening that you love and how much time do you get to enjoy this hobby?
It is a combination of enjoying the fresh air, the wonders of flora and fauna and enjoying planting something and later seeing that plant grow. We think this is magical in itself. We are most at peace in our garden (other than when in our bedroom when we are asleep!). We do not have nearly as much time as we would like to garden but we try to ensure that we have at least one hour per day. Yes, we do work very long days to try to get all that we need to do/want to do in during the course of 24 hours.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... THE FAIRY QUEEN - 8

27/12/2014

You ascended the throne in dreadful circumstances. Was there any hint of revenge when you killed the Witch given her mother set up your mother’s assassination?
We have always tried to act justly, regardless of what Eileen or other troublemakers might claim. We had had ample opportunity to “bump off” the Witch and did not do so. We killed her in combat. Yes we know you will say Eileen set up Brankaresh and the Witch knowing both would meet their fate at our hands but remember that unscrupulous pair would have had no hesitation in killing us and unpleasantly at that. We do regret the Witch’s killing a little for Eileen’s sake given they were close as children. The Witch was a fool. She should have listened to Eileen urging her not to go for the throne. We can only hope others will be deterred from rebellion by our tough stance.

There have been rumours there is a direct link between the Palace and FNN and that news items have been broadcast without the Council’s prior knowledge. Is there truth to these rumours?
There are always troublemakers stirring up problems for Heads of State. Yes, we have given information directly to FNN, mainly to save time and on issues where there is no controversy. Indeed on occasion the Council have been grateful to us for speeding the process up and sparing them having to sit through drafting a statement when we can do so alone and issue it without there being any consequences. We would not do anything deliberately to endanger our Kingdom, our Council, our people or ourselves and beyond that we will say no more on this topic.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... THE FAIRY QUEEN - 7

26/12/2014

It’s known your great-grandmother, Queen Gwendolyn, made many mistakes but which would you say was the greatest and had the most repercussions on the Fairy Kingdom?
In our opinion, she should never have married the dark wizard. I know people say he only turned to the dark side after she abandoned him but he could have chosen a different path. He could have shown her up by behaving honourably and serving the realm in a way she was not. I conclude the roots of evil were there in that wizard and all my great-grandmother did was hasten the day when that evil took hold. I select this one as the Witch had a child by that wizard, the Chief Witch I had to eliminate to protect this blessed realm. I often regret her birth! I doubt if I am the only one in this Kingdom to think that.

Was Eileen right in her assessment of the Witch in that had the latter been treated decently the crone’s rebellion may never have happened?
I cannot rule that possibility out but I honestly believe Eileen is wrong. Everyone knows Eileen and the Witch were close as children, thanks to nearness in age and shared hobbies, so if anyone was going to think the best of the Witch, it would be Eileen. Anyone can have that judgement clouded, including my cousin and heir. The Witch, being so resentful as to what Gwendolyn did (and I do understand that), would have realized she had a claim on the fairy throne and would have pursued it. Being “ill-treated” was merely an excuse.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... THE FAIRY QUEEN - 6

24/12/2014

You’ve described a typical working day when based at the Palace but how does your life work out when you have to be out and about?
A short engagement fits into my schedule as I’ve already mentioned but I do have to tour and so basically arrange a “base camp” at the noble homes of various friends, including the Council. This base camp becomes a kind of mini Palace and I follow my usual routine from there. If I’m staying at the home of a Council member, they will accompany me on the tour. Else L’Evallier sends a representative to join us. They then report back to the Council on how well, or otherwise, they think I’ve “performed”. Naturally FNN like to follow us around too!

Eileen has travelled widely amongst the cosmos. Now obviously you can’t just up and go but when you did have the chance to travel, while still a princess, you didn’t. Do you regret that?
Yes. Eileen, before she inexplicably fell out with us, always claimed travelling broadened the mind and that she picked up all sorts of useful methods of defending the weak. Goodness knows how wide her mind is by this stage! Still I will give her due. When she was willing to describe her adventures, she went into a great deal of detail about life on the planet concerned as well as about those villains she had to tackle to ensure our realm’s security. It is just such a pity she is nowhere near as helpful today.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... THE FAIRY QUEEN - 5

22/12/2014

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... THE FAIRY QUEEN - 4

22/12/2014

Do you regret killing the Chief Witch? Given Eileen’s comments about the Witch’s family being treated badly by your late relative, Queen Gwendolyn, do you think it possible Eileen had a point when asking for mercy for the Witch?
No. The late Witch repeatedly threatened the Kingdom, Eileen (to whom she owed a great debt!), as well as me, which we admit is not a surprise given Heads of State always receive death threats. We were not prepared to allow the Witch to live to carry on her policy of attacking our people. The monarch’s first responsibility is to defend their people. As for Eileen, she was always too soft on the Witch. It goes to show anyone can have their judgement skewered. Yes, we accept Gwendolyn did behave badly but it was not just to the Witch’s family, it was to others too (Eileen’s family funnily enough, I think Gwendolyn saw them as rivals) yet they didn’t try to destroy people.

Eileen warned you about Brankaresh’s “odd” behaviour which she thought treasonable. Do you regret not stopping him sooner? Will there be tighter controls on future Chief Wizards as they’re one of the few groups who could challenge you?
Yes. It is a source of huge regret as we gave him every encouragement to be loyal by rewarding his excellent early work with promotion and royal favour. There are tight controls over the Chief Wizard’s position in place now, the main measure being unannounced spot inspections. Abstar, my current Chief Wizard, is happy over this claiming this is because he has nothing to hide. No doubt time will prove him correct.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... THE FAIRY QUEEN - 3

18/12/2014

Are you ever tempted to fire your renowned critic, L’Evallier, or at least to rein him given he is your subject?
No. L’Evallier is honest, honourable, hardworking and other positive attributes beginning with the letter “H”! He’s also incredibly haughty! Having said that, he tells me what he thinks we ought to know rather than what he thinks he can get away with telling us. That is incredibly refreshing, helps me more than he could ever realise (for a start it keeps me in touch with current public opinion) and we can easily point to him as the classic example proving we do not always appoint “yes men” to our inner circle. He is also very efficient at helping us tackle our never ending correspondence. In short he is far too useful for me to get rid of!

Given you are all powerful, why did you not force Eileen to stay in the Kingdom? You could have done so. Eileen acknowledges that.
It’s precisely because I could do so, I didn’t! I don’t want a reputation for cruelty. Also given our own bleak feelings about humanity, we were rather hoping Eileen would not stay on Earth for long and would hurry back here. Alas we were wrong on that. Eileen would almost certainly put up magnificent resistance against any magic I tried to use on her. Do I really want to inflict injuries on my cousin (potentially fatal ones at that)? I feel it best to stick what we have arranged. Eileen is continuing to serve us all.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... THE FAIRY QUEEN - 2

17/12/2014

You were reluctantly against the fairy squad led by Hanastrew but have now been seen and heard praising them. What were your “anti reasons”?
You know the Kingdom periodically has rebellions so do we want to equip people with the training and methods available in the usual manner. We think not! That was our original thinking and it is not unreasonable in itself. Having said that with the Witch increasing her awful attacks made us recognize the need for a fighting unit to be able to respond nigh on immediately. We will continue to set seasons, times and develop spells we can share with the squad to help them in their valiant battles.

Eileen, of course, was for the fairy squad from beginning, so proving she isn’t wrong on every matter. Are there other issues where you feel Eileen isn’t wrong?
Eileen had selfish motives to back the squad, remember. Had the squad been proven to be useless, they wouldn’t have stayed “open for business”. In general terms Eileen is right to warn about menaces within the Kingdom as well as those exterior to it. Sadly she seems besotted with humanity and life on Earth do I doubt if we’ll get anything sensible out of he there! She works and studies hard, which is great. She’s not afraid to criticise those in power. We are all in favour of her doing that to the Council but it is a lot less pleasant when she takes it into her head to do this to me!

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... THE FAIRY QUEEN

17/12/2014

Here, Roherum can't believe his luck and gets to interview the Queen.

I cannot stress enough how much of an honour it is, Your Majesty, that you have agreed to talk to us today. Perhaps you can give our readers and viewers your perspective on the “Eileen Affair”.
There is not a lot to say except that Eileen was wrong! Duty should be everything for such a high powered fairy godmother. To leave it all for a mere human male still beggars believe and, worse, would have given our rival, the Chief Witch, the biggest laugh of her miserable life. Eileen should have known better than to give her that opportunity. Also it would have helped a lot had Eileen not bottled things up. Until almost the last minute, I had no idea she was so unhappy.

Ma’am, you and your family have striven for centuries to eradicate the practice of older fairies stealing Earth children. So with that in mind, do you regret abducting Jennifer and her small child? Wasn’t that action a kind of regression?
No. I knew getting Jennifer and Edward into our realm would being Eileen back and I am more than happy to tolerate them as long as they learn to fit in. Jennifer has to balance two types of blood in her so she will have more difficulty in balancing her skills than a full blood would. I see this as additional reason to be in the Kingdom as magical oddities are considered normal here. Jennifer would not be made to feel odd. I don’t believe I regressed. Ironically I was trying to help Jennifer not that she will ever admit to that.

interviews with my characters...jenny - part 12

15/12/2014

Are you happy to be considered your mother’s deputy? (In law you are this). Would you back up with your magical firepower, no matter how limited, the way say Hanastrew has done?
Yes but only to back her up and out of love for her rather than out of respect for the magical world (as I don’t have any). I have been practicing magical defence spells and will keep working at these. I’ve got no wish to be eaten alive by some foul creature from some weird dimension. Mother has told me about Hanastrew’s amazing abilities (including her talent for demolishing a chocolate éclair in nanoseconds, which makes me warm to her) and I don’t plan to compete with this fairy. My magical help should be considered a case of “doing what I can when I can”.

Are you sure your friends cannot detect what you are? When you practice magic, what precautions do you take to ensure no detection?

Yes. You don’t think I want to advertise it, do you? Bear in mind my fellow humans would consider me mad for revealing what Mother is. They might consider me dangerous if I used the magic to show I too have magical blood. So when I practice magic, I put on every anti-detection spell and protection charm I can think of. I don’t want any more grief that that already bestowed by my over generous Mother! Yes, I am being sarcastic, Roherum. The only thing I have to watch is when I fly. I do enjoy that so I use invisibility to protect me there. It doesn’t fool the birds in the sky though. They can sense me and get bloody annoyed. You should hear them squawk at me!

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS...JENNY - PART 11

15/12/2014

Would you come to the defence of the Fairy Kingdom if it needed your help?
Yes. I wouldn’t see innocent beings come to harm, no matter what world they’re from, so the Fairy Kingdom ought to update its records and accept that not every human is a murdering, greedy brute. Having said that I still say the Kingdom is better off defending itself. Mother has rightly pointed out because I am a half-breed I am likely to have only half strength powers (or not the entire range). My magic is bound to be watered down by my humanity. The Kingdom itself ought to be able to take sensible precautions against being attacked though it would help the cause no end if it didn’t go around annoying everybody.

Are there no aspects of human life that tempt you to give it up and make a new life away from those aspects? You would be accepted in the Kingdom now if only for your brave mother’s sake.
I hate pollution, war and greed too but refuse to believe only humans are capable of it so my general answer here is a definite no! As for being accepted for my mother’s sake, have you any idea how patronising, how horrible that statement is? I should be accepted for myself. Your comment there is added reason to stay away from the magical realm. Why go to a place where I am merely tolerated and not made welcome? How would you feel about that, Roherum?

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS...JENNY - PART 13

14/12/2014

Have you got used to the animals being able to talk in your garden? Do they ever say anything remotely interesting?
Just about. Ironically one of the few areas where I agreed with the Queen was on the talking animal experiment. Wildlife really are not here for our amusement. Having said that, Greyfur, the squirrel, is often very witty and Podgy gives me all the gossip from the bird world. Their sex lives are quite steamy apparently! Above all, the wildlife act as an early warning system something unwelcome is coming through from another dimension and I will be eternally grateful to them for that.

As a half-magical being, what do you find your limitations are? Can you only do half the spells or each spell at half strength?
One big limitation is being written off due to being half of anything! I am me, Jenny Williams, my own person etcera etcera. For the record, I’ve had no trouble with any of the spells I’ve learned. Bear in mind on Earth mongrel creatures, like cross breed dogs, are usually far healthier than their pedigree colleagues. So don’t write off half beings. I know the Queen has voiced the view I will only be able to take in half as many spells at full strength but I’m not sure if this is a canny way to get me to prove her wrong so I learn more magic so I’m playing safe and ignoring this. I will learn magic in a way that I find compatible.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... JENNY - PART 10

14/12/2014

Would you be prepared to visit the Kingdom on a regular basis to get to know the place and its people better? And would you take Edward?
Yes but I would have to have cast iron guarantees that I would be going back home again. Given the Queen kidnapped me, my wariness here should be understood. Whilst prepared to get to know the place and its people, you should be aware that doesn’t mean I’ll suddenly want to desert my own people and/or planet. I would not take Edward. The magical world is dangerous and no place for a child. Ask Harry Potter! I would take Edward later once most, if not all, dangers are dealt with.

You unwittingly reassured the Kingdom by being so against being in succession to the throne (there’s nothing anyone can do about that). Does the thought of being royal really not hold any appeal? Can’t you use the position to your advantage, the way your mother has always done?
I’m happy being human. I don’t need to be royal. I can see the downside of being on call all the time and very much on display. I concede there might be some advantages I could use but there are disadvantages in being compared to Mother. She’s a killer for one thing, yes I know in defence, but all the same. I would rather be left alone to live my life in peace with my loved ones. I thought it was what Mother wanted too when she defected. I don’t need status.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... JENNY - PART 9

13/12/2014

Given you have magical skills, why not use them as widely as possible to make life easier for yourself?
Because I’m wary of unleashing forces I know I’m not in control of and where I suspect those forces could turn on me and control yours truly! Also I have had it drummed into me by the Queen and Mother the Kingdom’s existence must not be exposed to humanity. I figure the less I use magic the risk of accidental exposure is reduced. I do use some magic to make life easier for myself but limit its uses as I don’t want Edward going through life thinking the answer to all his problems is to blast them away with a wand or a spell. And I would point out your own Queen doesn’t think all problems should be solved that way either. It tends to lead to being overthrown!

Paul has come to terms with what you are, mainly thanks to blaming your mother. Yet your mother married for love and gave up a luxurious life for it. What would you give up for Paul?
Mother also decided to please herself, Roherum. She could have made a decent match with someone of her ilk in your world. She was expected to do so. There is a very strong argument Mother did let your world down. She has also unwittingly put my Dad and I at risk and now Edward too. Mother admits there are nasty creatures out there drawn to those with magical blood. I’m not thrilled at that. As for Paul, yes I’d defend him to the death, magically if necessary. Though also certainly magic would be the cause of my having to defend him to the death in the first place!

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... JENNY = PART 8

12/12/2014

What would you say was your finest achievement?
Surviving the ogre of despair and the dragon that decided I would make a fine mate for it! There is something truly scary about encountering a creature known for killing and finding it doesn’t want to kill you, it has sex on its mind! I hope I never face anything as horrid as that again!

Have you ever misused magic?
No! It’s fairer to say magic is guilty of misusing me given all it’s ever done is endanger me! I wouldn’t dream of misusing magic by the way. It’d be like trying to meddle with a bomb. You just know there’s going to be trouble of the nasty kind.

Will you be upfront with Edward, when he is older, about his magical heritage? Or will you try to suppress his instinctive skills as Eileen did with you? Now you’re a mother, do you have more sympathy with what Eileen tried to do here?
It’s not for you to tell me how to bring up my own son but I will say I will always act in his best interests. I can understand now why Mother did what she did but I’m still not convinced it was the best thing to do. Mother shouldn’t have defected or made absolutely sure she did such a good job of it, there would be no chance of her past catching up with her. I haven’t decided how to broach this with Edward when he is a suitable age but I do know I must decide.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... JENNY = PART 7

11/12/2014

If you could interview anyone in history who would it be?
Lazarus! From the magical world and given what Mother’s dropped me in, I’d like to interview Queen Gwendolyn and ask her why she was an idiot bringing humans into her world because she set the precedent her dodgy descendant is following now. The difference is Roxannadrell uses kidnapping instead. Had Gwendolyn any idea of what she might be unleashing?

What is the single thing you regret most?
Ever discovering Wes and Stan in my loft! Ever listening to that bloody pigeon telling me to look in my loft. When I first heard odd things talking to me, I should’ve suggested to Paul we move right away at once. And possibly gone and saw my doctor.

What would you say was your greatest strength?
The ability to face up to things without becoming hysterical, which is just as well given what Mother came out with! I have a strong sense of justice and fair play too. I know Mother would say she has that too but unlike her I go out of my way not to drop people in it. And before you ask me, Roherum, if I’m feeling a bit miffed with Mother still, well too right I am!

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?
I admit I do have a tendency to whinge (I’m usually stressed out when I do) so that could go. I’d really love to just be an ordinary human being. I can live without the magical world and I know damn well they can equally live just as well without me. I’d like more time as I always seem to be rushing around. I’d like to slow down a bit, without using magic.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... JENNY - PART 5

8/12/2014

You said you liked flying but is there any other magic you like?
The ability to vanish is lovely. When life gets a bit much to literally vanish into thin air for a brief period of respite is really refreshing. After all who can bother me while in an “invisible” state? Certainly not Paul or any other human. Mother made it clear when training me a magical being has to be looking for someone in an invisible state to be able to spot them, assuming there are no protection spells on. I always wear loads of those. It is so nice knowing when I want to make sure I’m not disturbed by anything or anyone that I can do so. The Queen informed me that lots of magical beings take “mini breaks” this way.

How do you keep your magical urges suppressed? Don’t deny you have them. Every magical being does. Anyway the Queen has informed the Kingdom via my broadcasting company you are often seen struggling to control magic. She does not understand why you bother.
Your broadcasting company, Roherum? I understood FNN is run by a Board of Directors and you are only one of them. You turn a lovely shade of red, did you realise? No? I admit I can feel magic fighting to get out of me sometimes and I resist it by reminding myself I am human, it is safer for me and my loved ones to not make it clear I am anything else and by believing I’ll endanger myself by making my magic obvious, it makes it easier to resist showing them! I don’t fancy dying before my time! As for your last comment, trust me, Roherum, there is a lot your Queen doesn’t understand and that includes decent standards of behaviour. Don’t look like that. She kidnapped me and my child, remember. I’m not forgetting that in a hurry!

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS...JENNY - PART 6

7/12/2014

You’re so vehemently anti-magic it is whispered in the realm you are racially bias against any species you cannot understand. Is there any truth in that?
Of course not! I’m against magic, not those who have to live with it and use it. I’m against magic because all it has ever done for me is endanger me and/or my loved ones. Trust me, that’s enough to get anyone’s goat and no, Roherum, you can look up the meaning of that phrase for yourself. I’m not telling you everything. I would remind you also that the Kingdom has been vehemently anti-human, which Mother tells me has a lot to do with your past and which funnily enough I can understand, but as you can see it’s not one-way traffic here, is it?

What hobbies do you enjoy on Earth? Are there any hobbies you think you could take up were you to live permanently in the magical world?
I love reading, photography (digital), visiting historic buildings and humorous fantasy. I only wish I had more time to enjoy these things but know full well the one wish no magical being can grant themselves is to tamper with the nature of time. I can see the point of that, it means history cannot be rewritten, but it can be frustrating that I can’t even use my magic to give me a bit of extra free time. Sure I can blast dragons and foul fiends to the next world but that’s not really what I want to be doing! There’s no way I’d live permanently in your world, Roherum, but had I no choice, I think I would focus on becoming a top notch flyer.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... JENNY - PART 4

7/12/2014

From the Kingdom’s viewpoint you come across as a whinger. Even the Queen doesn’t blame Eileen for giving birth to you. Will you ever use your magic uncomplainingly?
I resent the implication I’m lazy and moan a lot. Mother should have been upfront about what she is and what that makes me. Having time to get used to the idea would have been enormously helpful. And I have had my life turned upside down and shaken up. Mother would’ve known I needed time to adjust. She should’ve anticipated my reaction. I do use magic as I see fit uncomplainingly now but it is to help and protect Eddie and I mainly.

Do you plan to tell your child, Edward, about the magical world? Have you found out what his skills are yet?
At some stage I will tell Eddie all I found out. He won’t find out the way I did. But I am going to put this off until he’s been in school for a couple of years. He should have every opportunity to do well with and without magic. I know Eddie can obliterate daisies just by pointing his finger at them. He has not produced much magic and since the daisy episode none at all. That kind of incident is a bit hard to explain away at playgroup. Eddie will be encouraged to use his magic wisely once he’s old enough to understand he must be really, really careful with it. Oh and that it doesn't really matter what world you're on but it's always a good idea to be discreet with special powers. It never pays to show them off. People get twitchy (and violent) about that kind of thing. There's always someone out there keen to take those powers away from you or neutralize them and you. I don't want that happening to my son or myself. My mother has proven well capable of fending for herself.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... JENNY - PART 3

6/12/2014

Would you consider living in the Kingdom if it were to save those you love on Earth from harm?
Yes, obviously, on the grounds this is a situation where there is no choice. But I would deeply resent the Queen for putting me in this position. As the most powerful magical being, it is her responsibility to defend her own world and do so well. There is something wrong if she cannot or, worse, will not do this. She should not be trying to force Mother and I to obey her. It will only cause trouble, because we will make sure that it does. We would both more willingly come to the Kingdom’s aid if we didn’t feel the Queen was being devious.

Would you be prepared to serve the Kingdom on a part time basis or at least swear you will not put your magical skills to use for evil either by yourself or by someone who can exploit you for their own ends?
Yes, reluctantly, as Mother is the full blood fairy godmother who knew what she was doing when she lived in the magical realm and even more so when she left it. I see serving the Kingdom from Earth as her responsibility first and foremost. Of course I won’t use my magic for evil. What kind of being do you think I am? On second thoughts, don’t answer that but do you realise how insulting you are being in asking this? Nor will I let anyone exploit me and this shouldn’t worry you. I’m telling Mother and the Queen where they can get off on a regular basis after all!

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS ... JENNY

4/12/2014

Your mother went through much to marry your father and give birth to you. Your attitude to her has been hostile. Do you think this attitude justified?
Yes! Mother must have known or had a good guess at what the consequences of her defection would be. While I am grateful she fell for Dad leading to my existence, she should have planned her defection better and made absolutely sure the Queen could not come after her. I know Mother will argue that she did plan the defection (we have had this quarrel many times) but she would have known the Queen’s capabilities and taken extra precautions against them. Mother simply wasn’t through enough. Mother is used to being a magical being but I have to come to terms with being neither one thing fully nor the other. I am a compromised being in every sense. It does not make me feel good.

Are you using your magic, save in self defence? If you are, should you not be kinder to Eileen given you owe her skills to her?
I limit my use of magic. I was happy when I thought I was just a human being. All I’ve seen of magic is the trouble it causes so I use what skills I have sparingly. I don’t want to attract those creatures who feed on magic. You can’t imagine the horror I felt at having a dragon turn up in my garden. It did nothing for the wildlife who live here either. I really don’t want to face that again. I am not deliberately unkind to Mother but she has dropped me in it and I fail to see how it is wrong she is reminded of that fact. She owes me!

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS... JENNY - PART 2

2/12/2014

Do you think you will ever come to terms with being half-magical?
Probably not. It’s such a bizarre idea to get used to and nobody would expect their parent to come out with such a crazy tale. As far as I’m concerned, I am me. I have an odd ancestry and the less said about it the better.

You used some magic. Did you enjoy this? Will you continue to use magic?
I like flying. While it still feels strange having wings sprout out of my back when I touch behind my right knee, being in flight is wonderful and when I really need to relax I use an invisibility spell and take to the skies! It doesn’t fool the birds though. They get out of my way when I’m up there. I guess you can’t fool animal senses. I’ll continue to use what magic I find it best to use and primarily for my benefit. I’ll use magic defensively if I have to but I do expect Mother to do the bulk of this. It is her stock in trade after all. It isn’t mine.

Like Eileen, you tried to hide what you are from your husband but failed. Has Paul accepted what you are? How has it affected your marriage?
Paul blames Mother, rightly so. It was difficult for a while. He was livid I kept my magical blood hidden from him but can see now I was trying to shield him. Had the Queen not spoken out, there would have been no need for him to know and he accepts that. I’ve promised him I’ll never use magic in a way that will draw attention to it. As far as he and the world are concerned, we are an ordinary couple. Our marriage will be and is just fine. I hope I must never use magic defensively in front of Paul. I don’t know how that would effect him or me.

INTERVIEWS WITH MY CHARACTERS...EILEEN - PART 7

2/12/2014

Never one to miss the chance to explain the universe from her way of thinking, Eileen continues...

Were you too harsh on Wes and Stan? Wes even became a hero.
To begin with, no as the pair of them were rogues. They fought like wildcats and caused mayhem wherever they went. They needed to be reined in and that’s one of my jobs as fairy godmother. I am very glad both went on to become finer characters and I particularly wish Wes well as he tries to pursue his relationship with the Lady Isabel.

Jennifer is still not that happy about magic and keeps threatening to turn her back on it all. Do you think she means it? If she does carry this threat out, what will you do?
Yes, she always means what she says, I know exactly where she gets that trait from, but this is a threat she can’t carry out. She will always have magic in her blood, which will make its presence felt. So she’d have to cope with that even if she didn’t bother with the rest. And she knows this. I will continue to do what I’ve always done – support Jennifer to the best of my ability (whether she likes it or not!)

The Queen keeps you dangling on her string by making it clear she would use magic against Derek if she needed to. Would it be fairer to your husband if you just went back to your old world and have done with it?
No. Why should he have his heart broken because of her selfishness? Derek does love me you know. I’ve made every effort to help the Kingdom and live my life on Earth peacefully. I’m literally trying to make the best of both worlds. It is the Queen who has the problem. Indeed she is the bloody problem!