As part of this tour, I was given the opportunity to post a quick Q&A with the Dark Queen herself, Jane Yellowrock. I also snuck in one with her brother, Eli Younger.
I would love to ask Eli… How did you hear about the “gig” with Jane. What were you told? What thought process and research did you (and Alex) do before showing up for the interview. Did you decide before showing up what your “minimum” compensation needed to be to take it?
Eli: I worked with crack team in the military. Afterward I worked alone. The solo money was okay, but not worth the danger I exposed my kid brother to, and I wasn’t still a hundred percent after the injury that ended my Army Ranger career. And though we weren’t going hungry, we weren’t rolling in the hundreds either. Then, in a dark-web former-military chat room that Alex was monitoring, people were talking. He heard about Jane Yellowrock. The money? Yeah, I had a bottom line in mind. But in all honestly once I met her that didn’t matter. I never expected to like working with a non-military chick, but she was okay. The attraction was instantaneous, but in about two days solidified into friendship. Then into family. Worth everything.
How tempting are Beast’s pleas to have “kits” for you, Jane? Do you feel sympathy or does the concept not appeal, despite Beast’s longing for a mate and kits?
Jane: My life has never been a safe place. Deliberately bringing children into this killing scene seems foolish. On top of the danger, I have questions I have to consider (in no particular order): Children with Bruiser would be what? 1/4th Skinwalker, 1/4th human, 1/2 Onorio? Can Onorios even have “children of the body?” And if I abandoned Bruiser and found a mountain lion to mate with, what would those children be? Skinwalker? Mountain lion? Mountain lions keep their kts with them for years to teach them to hunt. In those years, would I forget about being Jane at all? How would Bruiser feel about being abandoned?
You file away a lot of questions or things you need to analyze on some future time. Do you take the time to do it? When? I hope you do!
Jane: Hmmm. Life’s been kinda busy. Sometimes answers pop up and I know my subconscious has figured out things as life pushed me along. But maybe I’ll have time for reflection when everything is done, and the world is at peace. If that ever happens.
How do you feel about all the changes in your life? Does having a family and friends make you feel stronger or more vulnerable? You can now be attacked through them.
Jane: Life was easier without anyone. Way easier. In the beginning, I never got lonely. Even now I don’t feel abused or crash and burn when I’m by myself for too long. But now I have all these people! I mean, allll these people. And I love them. And while it’s freaking hard to keep them all safe, they are all here, and that’s my job, and … and I not only love them, I like most of them. Yeah, I’m vulnerable in my heart, but they are vulnerable in their hearts, their minds, their bodies, and their souls because of me. And yet they stay.
How do you think you’re going to handle a precocious and snoopy Angie Baby as she tries to see how you bubble time? Do tell!
Jane: I am fully aware that Angie will discover all my secrets and all her mom’s and all her dad’s. And I shudder with terror at the thought. She is a sweetheart right now, but eventually she will be hunted by the military, the dark-government, billionaires, cartels, and anyone who thinks humans are dispensable. Then she will need all her power, all her family’s teachings, and all the restraint she can muster to stay alive and safe and keep her loved ones alive and safe too. Because there are people in this world who will use others to get what they want, and they might take Angie’s family to force her to work with and for them. I wouldn’t want to be that person, mind you, because I already see a spark of vengeance in her eyes. But I fear for the person she might have to become to keep them all safe.
Thank you both for your time, I easily could’ve asked a dozen more questions. I’ll let you get back to your duties.
My thanks to Let’s Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.
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