Introducing Jag Barque

Okay, people, this is a character interview. Jag is the kewlest guy on the planet...in about 200 hundred years. He's the male MC in Control Issues. And he's taking over all the space in my head. So I'm letting him out...now. Maybe then he'll shut up and leave me alone. Not likely, though.

He might look something like Mark Ballas, although it's been incredibly hard to find a picture of Jag. But Mark's hair here is the closest I can find even though Jag's would be way spikier and more wickedly cool.

EJ: So tell us a bit about yourself.

JB: Silence. Icy glare from his blue eyes.

EJ: *clears throat* Okay, what's your name?

JB: Jag Barque.

EJ: No middle name?

JB: Not one I'm aware of.

EJ: Does Jag stand for something?

JB: Stand for something? Like world peace and all that?

EJ: *blushing* No, like is it a nickname?

JB: No.

EJ: *nervously scanning notes that blur together* Um, where are you from?

JB: The Badlands.

EJ: Is it nice there?

JB: Nice? Yeah, sure, it's Nice there.

EJ: What's your favorite food?

JB: Favorite? That really makes no sense. I eat to stay alive. And I'll eat anything I can find.

EJ: So no chocolate chip ice cream for you, then?

JB: Nope. Ice cream tends to melt in the desert.

EJ: That it does. What do you like to do for fun?

JB: Fun? Besides trying to stay alive, I don't have much time for fun. But if you're going to badger me about it, I like to plan for my next mission. That's always fun.

EJ: Do you answer every question with a question of your own?

JB: *sighing* No.

EJ: You're right, only about half. Ahem. How do you get your hair to stick up like that?

JB: It's called gel. You do have gel in the past, right?

EJ: I'm asking the questions here. And for the record, yes, we have gel. Why won't you tell Vi anything?

JB: Eveyone's gotta learn for themselves.

EJ: *scoffs* Right. Like you did.

JB: Is that a question?

EJ: How about I kill you off at the beginning of book 2? Answer that question tough guy.

JB: You do what you have to do.

EJ: *sighs knowing she can't kill him off* Fine. Can you say what's going to happen next?

JB: *smirking* You're the author. I have no idea what tomorrow brings. Maybe you should write it.

EJ: Maybe you should stop harping on me about it.

JB: Maybe you need to stop thinking about those goth ghosts and focus.

EJ: *stands up* Leave Penelope out of this!

JB: *fists clenched, he stands too, and he's much taller than EJ* She's crowding me in here. I feel like I can't breathe. I'm choking.

EJ: *laughs* That's because you left--

JB: Shut up. Don't say it. Don't you dare say it.

EJ: *clamps mouth shut because the stupid boy has used his Voice power on her and she can't talk even if she wanted to*

JB: *glaring, arms folded, amusement in his icy eyes*

-------

And before this gets too embarrassing for all involved, that's where the interview ends. As you can see, I'm being nagged from all sides. Inside and out. Le sigh. Maybe he's right. Maybe I should just write it.

So here's the question. Do you ever battle with your characters? Do you write down their favorite foods, their birthday, the type of music they listen to? Do you know how they would react to every situation, every conversation? Do you know how they talk, what they would and wouldn't say? What they would do with their hands during a confrontation? What's in your character bible? (I totally stole this term from the ladies in my crit group. I can take no credit.)

And can you tell what kind of guy Jag is from the interview, which really reveals no information about him, other than he doesn't have a middle name. Oh, and a snarky streak that can only be matched by his female counterpart in the book. No wonder they're--oops, can't tell you that!

*snarfage*