Character Interviews

 

Today we join Chelsea Bingham from the Independent Internet News Network as she interviews the characters from Nero's Fiddle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IINN: This is Chelsea Bingham coming to you from Independent Internet News Network. We’re here today with Captain Beverly Mossberg, USMC to ask her about her experience in Nero’s Fiddle. Good morning, Captain Mossberg. How are you today?

 

CM: Fine.

 

IINN:  How did you feel about your role as Captain Mossberg?

 

CM: To be perfectly honest, I was reluctant at first. I’d put my military days behind me and moved on with my life. I’d hoped my kids would never know about my military duty.

 

IINN: Why is that?

 

CM: Well, mostly because it’s not something I wanted to remember. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, really.

 

IINN: Yes, I understand you suffer from PTSD due to an incident during the Gulf War.

 

CM: (silence)

 

IINN: Captain Mossberg?

CM: That’s not something I care to discuss.

 

IINN: Oh, uh, well, I’m afraid my boss insisted I pose the question. Do you feel the author Pen portrayed you in an accurate light?

 

CM: Yes. Sometimes maybe a little too accurate. She really got inside my head. That usually irritates the devil outta me, but Pen and I go back a long, long way. I can find it in myself to forgive her. Eventually.

 

IINN: How did you feel when you were told the United States had been hit with an electromagnetic pulse?

 

CM: I was shocked. (chuckles) Bad word choice. I was appalled that anyone would instigate such a brutal attack.

 

IINN: No one dies outright from an EMP, unless they’re on a plane or on life support. Why would you consider such an attack brutal?

 

CM: Everyone is so dependent upon electricity for everything. Daily life doesn’t happen without it. Take it away and no one can cook food or even get food since food won’t be distributed. Without electricity, people can’t even take a bath. Take away their transportation and communication no one can get help. Not even medicine. Over time, people die from starvation, dehydration, lack of medical attention. I call that pretty brutal.

 

IINN: Good point. When you were given the assignment of assassinating the terrorist, did you consider turning down the assignment?

 

CM: (silence) It probably crossed my mind but it wasn’t on a conscious level. I knew I had to do this if for no other reason than to protect my kids.

IINN: How did you feel when Sedona Armstrong joined her fate with yours?

 

CM: Oh, I was mad as hell. How dare this woman – this stranger – decide to tag along without my even knowing who she was!

 

IINN: Thank you, Captain Mossberg. Your tireless efforts will not be in vain. This is Chelsea Bingham reporting from Independent Internet News Network.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IINN: This is Chelsea Bingham coming to you from Independent Internet News Network. We’re here today with Sergeant Lyman Colter, USMC to ask him about his experience in Nero’s Fiddle. Good morning, Sergeant Colter. How are you today?

 

Colt: Name’s Colt.

 

IINN: Okay, Colt. How are you?

 

Colt: Can we get on with this? I got some beef jerky in the smokehouse I need to check on.

 

IINN: Right. How did you feel when Captain Mossberg asked you to accompany her to DC?

 

Colt: I was pissed as hell!

 

IINN: Why?

 

Colt: First of all, to be perfectly honest, I don’t much care for people. I live alone and that’s the way I like it. Normally, I couldn’t care less about what happens in the world. But I didn’t like the fact that some idiot unleashed an EMP attack on America.

 

IINN: Okay –

 

Colt: And second, I could not believe that Cap’n Mossy trusted Major Turd.

 

IINN: Well, I believe he’s General Terberon now.

 

Colt: Yeah, General, my ass.

 

IINN: Why wouldn’t Captain Mossberg trust Major Tur-em-Terberon?

 

Colt: Look. It was a long time ago but I’m sure not gonna sit here and discuss that.

 

IINN: Okay, um, I understand you’re a survivalist. Is that right?

 

Colt: Yeah, that’s right. I don’t rely on nobody and nobody relies on me.

 

IINN: Captain Mossberg obviously can.

 

Colt: (silence)

 

IINN: Colt? (no response) Sergeant Colter?

 

Colt? We’re done here.

 

IINN: Oookay. That was Sergeant Lyman Colter, USMC. And I’m Chelsea Bingham coming to you from Independent Internet News Network.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IINN: This is Chelsea Bingham coming to you from Independent Internet News Network. We’re here today with Sedona Armstrong to ask her about her experience in Nero’s Fiddle. Good morning, Sedona. How are you today?

 

SA: Fine.

 

IINN: Would you describe Nero’s Fiddle as a “buddy” type of book?

 

SA: Oh, no. No. Not in the least. Bev and I didn’t hit it off at first at all. She hated the fact that I was there.

 

IINN: So when did the two of you start getting along?

 

SA: (thinks) Hmm. Maybe it was when I asked her to teach me how to shoot a gun. Or maybe it was the time I shot a guy when he was trying to rape her.

 

IINN: You shot someone?

 

SA: Yeah. Well, in the foot. That way he couldn’t follow us but he’d live.

 

IINN: Wow. Sounds like things got pretty rough out there.

 

SA: Oh, yeah. The longer people were without electricity, the more desperate they got.

 

IINN: Why did you decide to join Captain Mossberg?

 

SA: Well, when I saw how she took the gun away from that Lieutenant, I knew she was a woman who wouldn’t take crap from anybody. I knew if I wanted to get back to DC I’d need to tag along with someone like her.

 

IINN: Why was it so important that you get back to DC?

 

SA: Well, that’s my home, for one thing. I have a career there and I wanted to get back to see where things stood.

 

IINN: You said –

 

SA: And there’s this cute little cat I call Elmo who hangs around my brownstone. I feed him and I was worried about him.

 

IINN: Would you do it the same if you had to do it over again?

 

SA: Absolutely.

 

IINN: How did it feel thrusting yourself in the midst of a group of people who were strangers to you?

 

SA: Well, it was definitely awkward at first. I mean, these people were already connected. Bev and the kids were family and Bev and Colt were old Marine buddies. I felt like an outsider. But then I realized: They weren’t treating me as an outsider, I was thinking of myself as an outsider. Once I realized that, I had no problem feeling like I belonged.

 

IINN: Okay. So how do you feel about the author Pen’s portrayal of you?

 

SA: Oh, I loved it. I love the changes she brought about in me. I mean, I thought I was a strong black woman from the beginning. But by the end, I was this take-charge, self-sufficient woman capable of using a gun when necessary.

 

IINN: Thank you, Sedona. This is Chelsea Bingham coming to you from Independent Internet News Network.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IINN: This is Chelsea Bingham coming to you from Independent Internet News Network. I’m here with Jazmine Mossberg, daughter of Captain Beverly Mossberg. How are you, Jaz?

 

JM: Okay.

 

IINN: You and your brother, Michael, stowed away in a Humvee –

 

JM: It was Michael’s idea!

 

IINN: Okay, okay. I’m not pointing any fingers. I just wanted to ask why you felt compelled to accompany your Mom.

 

JM: Well, it was better than staying at that Fort Dixon place. It was like a prison! So many rules and regulations. I just couldn’t stay there.

 

IINN: Didn’t you think your Mom would be upset?

 

JM: (grunts) Of course I knew Mom would be upset. But I also knew there wasn’t much she could do about it.

 

IINN: I take it you and your Mom don’t always get along?

 

JM: Puh-leeze. Mom’s crazy, it’s that simple.

 

IINN: Okay, let’s change the subject. Do you feel the author Pen portrayed your character accurately?

 

JM: No way! She made me look like a spoiled brat!

 

IINN: And you don’t think you are?

 

JM: Of course not! I just have a very clear vision of the way things should be and when they’re not the way they’re supposed to be, I have the mind to say so.

 

IINN: I see. Have you ever met the author Pen?

 

JM: Yeah. She’s okay.

 

IINN: Just okay?

 

JM: Well, she is a grown-up.

 

IINN: Okay, thanks, Jaz! Really appreciate your time. This is Chelsea Bingham coming to you from Independent Internet News Network.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IINN: This is Chelsea Bingham coming to you from Independent Internet News Network. I’m here with Michael Mossberg, Captain Mossberg’s son. How are you, Michael?

 

MM: Great! How are you, Miss Bingham.

 

IINN: I’m fine, Michael. Thank you for asking. So, according to your sister, it was your idea to stow away in the Humvee.

 

MM: No. That was her idea.

 

IINN: Your sister seems to have quite the attitude.

 

MM: She’s twelve. She’s going through that pre-teen age where she’s not considered a teenager by her peers but she’s no longer considered a child by adult standards. So there’s the peer pressure of acting like a teenager which conflicts with her innate desire to remain a child for as long as possible. Plus, well, I kinda hate to say it, but I know she started her cycle just last year. I’m sure that has something to do with it.

 

IINN: Oh. Well, uh, okay. You seem very mature for your age there, Michael.

 

MM: I am.

 

IINN: (laughs) Okay. Um, do you and your sister get along?

 

MM: Sometimes. We fight a lot more lately because of Jaz’s pre-teen angst.

 

IINN: I take it you both agreed to stow away in the Humvee, no matter whose idea it was?

 

MM: Oh, yeah. Anything that has to do with subverting Mom, Jaz is all for it.

 

IINN: How do you feel about author Pen’s portrayal of you?

 

MM: She was right on. Pen’s really cool. She gets me, I mean, she really gets me. I can’t say that about a lot of adults.

 

IINN: Okay, Michael. I really appreciate your time and your honesty. This is Chelsea Bingham coming to you from Independent Internet News Network.