Insider Insights

A Palindrome Character Interview
Originally featured as a guest post on Ian Richard's website

Ideally we’d like to be interviewing Robert right now, but if you've read Six Dead Men you'll be well aware, he’s solitary, preferring the worlds tucked between the covers of a good book. So we’ll leave him be and turn instead to someone who knew him well while he was living in Haddington: Gabriel Haskey, school librarian at Knox Academy, now retired and living in Crete.

Interview

Mr Haskey – it wasn’t so long ago that you knew Robert fairly well. What was he like when he was at Knox Academy?

Robert hasn’t changed all that much. I haven’t seen him since his 15th birthday. But he writes me long thought provoking letters. Always been a deep thinker. Likes his own company. Reads voraciously.

What’s the first thing you notice about Robert?

His nose is always stuck in a book.

What was his relationship like with his classmates?

Never quite one of them you know. Always stood apart even when he was part of the crowd. Quite good at Rugby but preferred to be off somewhere reading. Academically he was superior. At first I wondered if they would bully him because of this but it never seems to have been the case.

Were his psychic abilities very evident when you were around him?

I always thought there was something special about him. His mother’s very gifted you know. So it’s not altogether a huge surprise.

Do you know the full extent of his powers?

Heavens no! Robert never discussed the matter with me. He always did have some amazing insights and ideas on why certain themes and motifs were present in writer’s work. I imagine that is part of his gift. Though the fact he didn’t see fit to share it with anyone makes me think he wasn’t sure if it was a gift or a curse. Rowena Deed was all but shunned for her obvious talents by much of the community you know.

What was Robert’s relationship like with his parents?

His father Arthur was very strict. He’d had a strict upbringing himself so I suppose he felt that was what it was to be a father. There was no real communication between father and son until after they moved to London.

Rowena now, she was different. Her approach was much more holistic, I’d say. While it was obvious Robert’s respect for his father superseded any other familial feeling, there was no doubt of Robert's love for his mother. Some would even say he was a bit of a mummy’s boy.

Palindrome is available to buy through Amazon.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Kindle

When Rainbows Cry is currently part of a 5 day Kindle count down offer starting at 99p & 99cents. Don't miss out. Click below to buy it now!

Kindle Count Down Offer

An e-book of the first book in the series, Six Dead Men, is currently available FREE exclusively through Instafreebie.

Faetaera: A Triumvirate

A Triumvirate Brairton’s minions slipped through a barely noticeable fissure. The tear would close shortly. Despite the increase in their regularity the breaches rarely stayed open very long. To the three insidious spies, the stink of the new world was almost unbearable. But in time the triumvirate would each become so used to it they would scarcely notice it at all. That it poisoned them they did not know. Brairton was not in the habit of informing his operatives of fatal consequences. Their programming precluded any thought beyond the mission they must complete. In this Brairton had been exact and had performed the necessary rituals himself. Each had their mission branded into their being. They would travel together for some time but then slip off to their secret destinations one by one, never to see each other again. The threesome latched on to their individual targets and began their particular brand of individual mis...

#Review: A Storm of Swords II

A Storm of Swords II by George R R Martin After starting on the set in September last year, I’m getting through the Game of Thrones series at quite a clip now. This is no doubt due to their intriguing nature and Martin’s writing style which makes reading this collection of books so easy. So far, my favourite character in every one of the books in this series is Tyrion Lannister. I find myself rooting for him at every step on his life journey. He works so hard to be a better man despite people’s preconceptions. When he was made The Hand in the previous book I was not at all surprised that he did a good job of it. Tyrion reminds me of some of the talented yet underrated children I’ve taught in the past. Once they were given a task which excited and involved them they relished the challenge and surpassed all expectations. Unlike my students though, Tyrion receives no praise for his efforts and achievements. Perhaps I like him so much because he almost always has his now...

Faetaera: Through The Rabbit Hole

Larell’s heart was full to the brim. His audience with Aurelia had been unexpected and full of wonder. He was not surprised she was aware of his plans to send a force through to the other side. Aurelia always knew everything going on in her world. At times he thought he saw the weight of it bearing down upon her. Then he wished to take her in his arms and carry her as well as the burdens she bore. But of course he would never do this, merely imagine it. It made him love her all the more. She thought he did not know how she came by her information and he planned on keeping it that way. It was the only way he knew to express his love for her without feeling foolish. In the crystal lined chamber he felt her load more palpably than usual. He knew it was simply his foolish love-sickness for his Queen but he let the feeling soak through him regardless. Aurelia's lips twitched briefly as though she was...

Rae of Light

Search This Blog