Interview With Eric

It's party time!

My good friend Kendra E. Ardnek is having a blog party to celebrate five years of The Bookania Quests! It's a series full of fun fairy tale retellings you won't want to miss. And for the party, a bunch of Bookania characters are visiting blogs for interviews. Hop over to Kendra's blog to find all the rest!

I got to interview my favorite Bookania character, Eric. It was a ton of fun. Enjoy!

    I’m hiking along a trail in Bookania, when I see a man walking up ahead. He's tall and muscular, with black hair and he's wearing green. Something about him seems awfully familiar.  I squint at him. Is that who I think it is? I hesitantly approach him. “Eric?” I ask.

    “Hello fair damsel. Are you lost? Do you need any aid? I don’t believe that I’ve met you before.”

    “I...well...I’m not exactly lost. I know where I am. But you are Eric? I’m very pleased to meet you. I’m a fan of yours.” I extend my hand for him to shake.

    “A fan?” said Eric, accepting the offered hand, though he kisses it instead of shaking it. “I suppose you’ve heard of my exploits and adventures? People do love to talk.”

    “They do that,” I admit, trying not to grin at his reaction to my intended handshake. “Eric--you don’t mind if I call you by your first name, do you?--would you mind terribly if I asked you a few questions? I’d love to get to know you better, and I have friends on my...on a writing platform I have who would as well.”

    “I don’t mind,” said Eric. “Titles grow pretentious. Are you with one of those newspapers that I’ve heard rumors about?”

    “Thanks. I don’t like titles much either.” I hesitate, not sure how to explain to him about my blog. “No, I’m not with a newspaper. I’m actually from another world. I have a thing called a blog that I post on the internet for people to read.”

    “Ah, another world? Most intriguing. I’ve read books that speak of one, where this world is but a story, but I’ve never met anyone to speak of it as fact before. So what questions do you have for me? Perhaps we should find a place to sit, however?”

    “Your world is a story where I come from. I very much enjoyed reading about your adventures. But yes, a place to sit sounds very nice.” Eric leads me to a fallen tree and we both take a seat. “I’m intrigued by your quests to rescue enchanted princesses. How many have you tried to rescue?”

    “A number of them,” Eric answers. “A a good number more that I heard rumors of but could never find.”

    “You didn’t count then?”

    “Oh, I did, but the number no longer matters now that I’ve found my Robin.”

    “I see.” I’m sure I’m grinning like a silly idiot after that comment. “You knew her growing up, though. When did you realize you loved her?”

    “Five seconds after she accepted the proposal I still don’t remember giving,” Eric answers, grinning.

    I laugh. “Robin’s quite a character. What was going through your head when Robin said you needed to marry someone like her? I mean, she essentially proposed, even though you sorta kinda did without meaning to.”

    “That she is.” Eric shakes his head. “I was focusing on the battle at hand, for she’s a very fierce fighter. I was speaking without thinking, really. I don’t usually let myself do that...”

    “Well, I’m glad you did, since I doubt any other method would have worked out in an engagement.” I study the trees as I try to decide what to ask Eric next. They’re so different from Rizkaland’s trees... “Have you ever met the Doorkeeper Laura? I don’t know if she comes to Bookania much...”

    “No, the name is quite unfamiliar to me.”

    “Ah, well, it was worth asking. I suppose that means people don’t generally world travel here.” Which makes me question how I got here--but no matter. Getting to talk to Eric is worth it. “One of my favorite things about you and Robin was your collections. I think it’s kind of romantic you kept so much of each others’ stuff, though I doubt you were thinking that way then. Why did you actually keep all the stuff Robin threw at you when you were kids?”

    “She, uh, told me to.”

    “That’s the only reason?” If someone threw stuff at me and told me to keep it, I doubt that I would, but I’m not Eric.

    “Well, what else was I supposed to do with it? At least I wasn’t sneaking into her room with malicious intentions of sabotage.”

    I burst out laughing. “You two have the craziest beginning to your relationship. She picked on you mercilessly when you were kids. You don’t hold any of it against her?”

    “Well, perhaps a little,” Eric admits, leaning back. “But now that I understand what she was going through...” He shakes his head. “Besides, there were times when she was nice.”

    “Times.” I turn to look straight at Eric. “Be honest, does she ever get on your nerves? And if not, you must be a super easy going guy.”

    “Well, there are times...” he admits. “She doesn’t see the importance of always being on time - or even early - and that can be frustrating. Also, right now...” he trails off.

    “Yes?” I prompt.

    “The woman doesn’t know how to take it easy and take care of herself!” he exclaims with sudden ferocity.

    “The baby on the way.” I smile at the thought of a cute, sweet little baby. I love babies. “I suppose that even though she has frustrating faults, she wouldn’t be Robin without them, and you wouldn’t like that. I understand.” I finish off my previous thought and launch into the idea of the royal baby. “Are you excited to be a father?”

    “I don’t know,” he admits. “I really wasn’t expecting to face it quite so soon. We were going to do some adventuring first. Now ... I’m really not sure how parenthood will factor into that. And Robin ... I found her climbing a tree yesterday! The day before that ... I understand her need for freedom, I really do, but she needs to take care of herself. If something were to happen to her or the child…”

    “Wow, I didn’t think even Robin would climb a tree while pregnant! That could be a problem. But this baby, it’s Alphego...um, I mean the Author’s will, so it’ll work out, I’m sure. I suppose that means you don’t feel prepared for fatherhood?”

    “She’s only in her fifth month, and she’s such an energetic person,” Eric admits. “But no, I don’t feel ready. How can anyone be ready for parenthood?”

    “True,” I agree. “I’m certainly not ready for parenthood, but I’m not even in a relationship yet, so I don’t have to worry about it.” Robin, though.... I stand up and brush off my skirt. “I probably ought to let you go find Robin; make sure she’s not doing something crazy like standing on her head or running down halls like a maniac or something. But before you go, since you’re a story in my world, what’s the thing you most want readers to know about you?”

    “About myself? Hmm, I don’t know,” Eric admits. “I’m just a man, after all. I may wear the title of prince, but I’m a man all the same. And yes, I really should get back...” At that moment, there is the thunder of horse’s hooves, and the moment after that, Robin appears around the corner on the trail, riding Snow bareback. “Ah, there you are, Eric!” she exclaims. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”

    My eyes widen. Of course Robin’s doing something ridiculous that she really shouldn’t be doing.

    “They wouldn’t saddle Snow for me,” she continues, “and you’ve forbidden me to saddle her myself. Who’s your friend?”

    “I’m just a friend of the Arista. Don’t worry, I’ll let Eric get back to you.” My gaze lowers to the horse, then comes to rest back on her. “You need it. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, Eric. I really appreciate it.”

    “No problem at all,” said Eric. “Will you be able to find your way back to your own world?”

    “I hope so.” I shrug. “And if not, there are worse places to be stuck.”

    “You could always stay for supper!” Robin hastily adds.

    “I think I’ll do that.” I grin. “Especially if it means you’ll take it easy for a little while.”

Journey Into Bookania

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My Kingdom For a Quest

The Prior Quest Free Today!

The Woodcutter Quince