January 22, 2016

Emma and Mrs. Perkins Character Interview / White Light by Anna Simpson


For today I have a very entertaining character interview with Emma and Mrs. Perkins from Anna Simpson’s book, WHITE LIGHT. These two made my rather bland questions hilarious. Check it out:



Hi, Emma and Mrs. Perkins! Can you tell us about White Light?


Mrs. Perkins: I’ll read the blurb. *clears her throat*

Emma never dreamed of being a super-sleuth. In her mind, she’s more Scooby Doo than Nancy Drew and when her nosy neighbor, Mrs. Perkins, drags her to an anniversary party to solve a mystery, she rolls her eyes, buys a box of chocolates and hops in the car. 

What’s a party without an attack on its host—or more accurately on the host’s grandson, sparking an allergic reaction and moving the party to the hospital waiting room. Suddenly, everyone is a suspect. Emma and Mrs. Perkins, along with Great Aunt Alice (a spirit with boundary issues who keeps stepping into Emma’s body like a new dress and playing matchmaker), dive into an investigation that almost gets Emma killed along with the man they are trying to protect. With so many reasons to kill him and so much to be gained if he died, Emma and Mrs. Perkins must unravel the tenuous ties that point to every member of his family as potential killers.

Even if it means going back to the psych ward, Emma will protect her friend and this innocent man. What good is freedom if it's haunted with guilt? 

1.    Who would play the two of you in a movie?

Emma: *glances over at Mrs. Perkins and shrugs* I don’t know. She’d have to be young but tough, and like, understand that hanging with older folks has its quirks. The food’s great. Know anyone like that?

Mrs. Perkins: *facepalm* Well for me it would be Cybill Shepherd.

Emma: *mouth drops open* She’s tall… and blonde…and beaut—

Mrs. Perkins: *smoothes her grey sausage curls* I suppose I could dye my hair for our headshots.

2. What are your jobs?

Mrs. Perkins: Retired

Emma: I read tea leaves at the Pie ‘n’ All. At first I was so freaked out. Me read leaves? I can barely read the Tarot. But it worked out okay. Aunt Alice, my great-aunt, she’s dead you know. Oh, and a psychic. Anyway, Aunt Alice is always ready to pop in and give me a hand when I get stuck.

Mrs. Perkins: It’s all true. She is really, really bad at reading anything. Not a psychic bone in her body. *wipes her nose with a hanky* We are so blessed that Alice still has time for us.

3. What do you do for fun?

Emma: Fun? Mrs. Perkins and I play bridge. I’m getting pretty good too.

Mrs. Perkins: *opens her mouth*

Emma: *hand swings up and an open palm pushes in Mrs. Perkins’ direction* Galdy says I’m getting better every game.

Mrs. Perkins: Sure she does. Her and Jay have been beating us at every tournie. You might as well be on their team.

4. What’s your biggest pet peeve?       

Emma: Peeve? *Emma’s eyes cut to Mrs. Perkins* Besides nurses, I don’t have any. I mean who likes those pajama clad, needle wielding sadist anyway? Nobody I know. And I know people.

Mrs. Perkins: Maybe we should move on to the next question.

5. How did you meet Mrs. Perkins?

Emma: Old family friend.

Mrs. Perkins: Old? More like lifelong. Really, Emma. If your aunt could hear you right now---

Emma: Okay, Okay. I give. She’s a lifelong friend of Great-Aunt Alice. We are quite the threesome.

6. What was your first impression?

Emma: *burst out laughing*

Mrs. Perkins: Well, tell her.

Emma: *straightens face* Never a dull moment…Not even if I’m ready to sell my soul for one. We’re neighbors you see.

Mrs. Perkins: True. You should see her lawn. It’s a disgrace. And in regards to dull moments. Emma acts older than I do.

Emma: *clenches teeth*

Mrs. Perkins: Let me just say on my behalf, I’m very supportive. Without me the girl would starve. And without Alice, well, we’d have to go look for cases. Overall, we make an excellent team.

Emma: Exactly what I would have said.

7. What kind of trouble do the two of you get into?

Mrs. Perkins: So far we haven’t landed in jail. Okay I’m speaking for myself. Emma on the—

Emma: Hey. It was only a conference room.

Mrs. Perkins: Were you locked in? Did Tom have to bail you out? Well…

Emma: Benny the bully locked me in. So what? *exhales a long breath* I try to stay out of trouble. *swings a thumb toward the older woman* Not easy if you get my drift.

Mrs. Perkins: You’d think being a small town not much would happen. It’s just ridiculous how busy we are.

Emma: Too ridiculous. I’m used to a quieter life.

Mrs. Perkins: *takes Emma’s hand* No worries. Crime will never be the same now that we are on the job.

8. What moment of White Light was your favorite?

Emma: When Tom picked me up for my first date in years.

Mrs. Perkins: When Emma finally agreed to help me solve our mystery.

Emma: Sorry, but my moment is with Tom.

Mrs. Perkins: What can you do?

9. What moment of White Light caused you the most fear?

Emma: When I knew Mrs. Perkins went off on her own. I just felt she was in trouble. It was horrible.

10. Is there anything you did in White Light that you would change if you could?

Emma: *raised a forefinger to her chin as she thought.*

Mrs. Perkins: I would have told Emma the truth a lot sooner.

Emma: Nope, not a thing.

Mrs. Perkins: *glares*



BIO:

Anna Simpson lives near the Canadian-US border with her family. Even though she's lived in several places in British Columbia, her free spirit wasn't able to settle down until she moved back to her hometown.

The woman is easy to find though, if you know the magic word -- emaginette. Do an internet search using it and you'll see what I mean. :-)

Author Links: 


Thank you for chatting with me, ladies. And I have to say, Mrs. Perkins, you’re a hoot!

Please leave a comment for Anna Simpson. :)


37 comments:

  1. Hi Chrys, Anna and I guess Emma and Mrs Perkins, and almost certainly Aunt Alice ... lots of characters. Fun twists to the story line ... lots of snarky digs .. cheers Hilary

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  2. Those two are quite the characters. Bridge playing and psychic readings - what a combination.

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  3. I love Mrs Perkins. That opening scene where Emma finds her in a pickle...I could picture it and couldn't help but laugh. :-) Keep up the great work, Anna.

    sherry @ fundinmental

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  4. Ha! Fabulous interview with the characters. I loved this, Anna. I definitely want to read this book. I'm a fellow B.C.er so we're practically neighbors :)

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    1. Thanks so much. The world seems smaller and smaller. So glad to find someone in my neighborhood. :-)

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  5. I enjoyed reading this interview with such vibrant characters. It's great seeing this book around.

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  6. Oh my gosh I got thrown by the bridge bit haha .. A few weeks ago I finished reading a book where the main element was bridge. I learned so much about the game, it was insane. Like, I think I could actually play it now. I'd be terrible, but still :)

    Cool interview. I really like the idea of interviewing characters. Maybe I should give that a try with one of mine..

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  7. Such a cute interview :) I think it would be fun as a writer to try to figure out who would be good to play their characters on screen :)

    betty

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  8. Emma may not be psychic, but having a source on the other side isn't too shabby.

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  9. I like the way the characters interact. I bet the book is filled with fun banter. :-)

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  10. haha they play well off of one another. I wish I could say my career was retired haha

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  11. It sounds like both characters are very interesting, and it's obvious they have a good friendship (and detective partnership, if that's the right phrase). I've always liked stories with mysteries that need to be solved. And I've always been curious about psychics and whether they really can see into the future.

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    1. I'm not sure you'll find psychic answers in the book, but hopefully you find more laughs.

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  12. Thanks for having the Emma and Mrs. Perkins. Its been fun :-)

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  13. What a fun interview. The characters have a lot of voice! :)
    ~Jess

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  14. Great interview!! Wishing you lots of well-deserved success!

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  15. Hello, Ladies! What a delightful and captivating interview:-) Public appearances such as this can only enhance the treasure sure to be found within the pages of White Light!

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  16. Really cute interview! Great insight into the characters and their dynamic. I'm looking forward to getting this book when it's out in paper!

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  17. Wonderful interview Chrys. Enjoyed reading.
    Yvonne.

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