I belong to a wonderful writers' group by the name of The Pocket Watch, and we decided this week would be character week for our blog hop. I've decided to focus on La Shaliyah, one of the central characters in my first novel Spinning Out, and also one of my favourites. I also hope you'll enjoy the posts of the other authors, links down the bottom.
La Shaliyah isn’t your typical fantasy maiden. In fact, she’d probably fit better in a metal video. There’s no poofy dresses, no feminine wiles. Oh no, she’s hardcore, and will as soon kick your butt as bake you cookies. See, she’s spent much of her post-teenage years running away from her aristocratic roots, deliberately choosing a life where she relied on no-one else. When she looked at that silver spoon, she saw poison dripping off it.
It wasn’t that she wouldn’t miss her family, but La Shaliyah objected to being married off. In her world, young ladies married, and became eye candy with ridiculous clothes and hair styles. One day she wasn’t allowed to climb trees, and gallop fast on thoroughbreds, and it felt like an invisible straitjacket had wrapped itself around her. Her mother lamented that she should never have let her daughter roam around so freely, but it was too late. Her wild child daughter refused to be caged like some pretty bird to be gawped at. So she ran, vaulting the estate walls like a pro thief.
Mind you, it wasn’t easy disappearing so completely. When everyone knows your face, where do you go? La Shaliyah hated being from a family of prominent land owners with the politics of a sarcastic snake. The answer arrived unexpectedly in the form of man who told her about portals to other worlds. This dark-skinned stranger showed her worlds more bizarre than she could have imagined - worlds with multiple suns, red skies, and animals that breathed fire.
Confronted with the reality of leaving, La Shaliyah almost turned around to return to the life of being an object. Something in the stranger’s smile captured her imagination, though, and when he asked her to come with, she agreed immediately. As they dashed through one land after another, a heady whirlwind romance wrapped them up in its satin caress.
Sadly, stormy days were to follow as circumstance ripped the two of them apart. Yet again, the tidal wave of reality came crashing down when La Shaliyah’s exotic lover was called back to his home world to fulfil family obligations. She kicked and screamed against it, but it didn’t do any good, and soon she was left alone.
Angry and bitter at the world, she joined a mercenary group fighting again the Authorities, the overarching power ruining the lives of billions across the universe. She blazed a path of destruction that made even the most hardened guerrilla fighter shiver. La Shaliyah didn’t care about shitty conditions, or lack of food, as long as she could take her rage out on the enemy. There was always the enemy.
All things must end, though, and eventually she ran out of anger. All that was left was an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach. When the time came to move on, she jumped without looking. And that’s when her life took a surprising turn. Whilst wandering idly along one night along a dark, deserted street, she found a shop blaring loud, heavy music and selling black leather clothing.
She found a place to belong in that shop among a bunch of outcasts. Inside, it was almost pitch black, and couples lounged on black velvet sofas. Clothes, all of it black leather, some with chains, was displayed at random. The music spoke to something within her, and she found herself spending the last of her money on a jacket and pants with chains. She then proceeded to get shitfaced.
Somehow, during the night, La Shaliyah had agreed to a proposition she’d never have considered while sober. She’d agreed to become the Gatekeeper, a job that meant seeing people every day. It also meant a house at the Crossroads, a place where many of the worlds met. And so, to this day, she has been a gatekeeper, treating visitors rich and poor alike to her acerbic, sarcastic wit.
Blog hop
Tune in again for more insights for characters from Spinning Out. In the meantime, there's plenty more to keep you entertained from my fellow authors.
Jeanne Marcella takes us on a journey into the clans that are so central to her gripping, dark, transgressive series Seasons of the Phoenix. She gives us a peek into her beautifully created fantasy world, with its rich colours and fascinating characters. https://aforgeofphoenix.wordpress.com/?p=391
Sarah Kay Moll gives us a vignette from her series about Jude, who rises to become the city's criminal overlord, a man no-one crosses. It's just after he's killed for the first time, and he's not entirely sure how to feel. Months of training led up to that point, and it's over so soon. https://sarahkaymoll.wordpress.com/?p=308
Meanwhile, Amelia Bishop interviews the stars of her just published novel Water Witch, Vinny and his gorgeous Fae lover Salil. There's no mistaking the chemistry between these guys - it'd make lightning pale in comparison. https://ameliabishop.wordpress.com/?p=2340
Hector Kopczynski lets us into the world of the aloof and mysterious Agent Gray, a spy full of too many secrets on the downhill slope of his career. They're in the middle of a cold war, however, and retirement isn't an option he's willing to consider. https://bindinghex.wordpress.com/?p=88
And last, but definitely not least, Kate Whitaker gives us some insight into Rick, demon hunter and all round nice guy. She talks about the inspiration behind his character, and how he fits into the dark underground of Pittsburgh's demon hunters. If you love Joss Whedon, you'll love her stuff.
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