A Moment With Man of Mystery: Caspian

Hey Caspian! Firstly, I have to say that I love that black streak in your hair. It makes you look positively rogueish.
You do? I’m not very fond of it myself.

How are you?
Good.

Tell us more about yourself.
Well, I like to draw. I moved to Sleepy Hollow a couple years ago. …I used to work at a tattoo shop.

That must have been an interesting experience. What are your plans, now that you’re out of high school?
I’m not much of a planner, but I have a lot of time on my hands.

Snickerdoodles!
When Abbey makes them…absolutely perfect.

You're making me hungry. What’s your favourite star in the universe? Why?
Astrid. She’s the brightest star in my universe.

I heard you have a talent; can you tell us more about it?
Um, I like to work with my hands, but I don’t know if I’m really all that talented.

What’s your favourite creation?
My sketches of Abbey.

There are lots of fans out there. Would you like to say anything to them?
Fans? I have fans? I guess, tell them, “thanks for being fans.”

Cross-posted at: Name of Website on 4 September 2009.

Hanging Out With Ben

Hi there Ben! How’re you doing?
Good. You?

Great. Tell us more about yourself.
Um, I like chess and Star Trek, I guess I’m kind of a geek.

Naww, geeks are chic now. How did you meet Kristen?
We went to school together.

Do you have any favourite memories of her?
Yeah, there was this one time, during this debate, she was awesome. She was really good at that.

How are you getting along with Abbey now?
Abbey’s great. I really like spending time with her.

How’s school? Do you take part in any extracurricular activities or anything?
School is school. I probably like it more than I should. *laughs* I’m on the chess team.

Living in a small town must be pretty stifling. What are your plans after high school?
I’m checking out a couple of great colleges. I’m really into science. So I wanna see who has the best program.

Living in such an iconic place like Sleepy Hollow must be pretty cool, especially during Halloween. How is Halloween in Sleepy Hollow like?
Well, they decorate a lot and we get a whole bunch of tourists. But other than that, it’s your typical small town.

Some people think that you’re a contender for Abbey’s heart. Just kidding!
Nah, me and Abbey are just friends.

Thank you for the interview. Would you like to say anything to the readers?
Thanks, see you.

Cross-posted at: Royal Reviews on 3 September 2009.

Reminiscing With Nikolas

Hi Nikolas! How are you and Katy?
My lady love and I are doing very well, and we thank you for asking.

How is it like, living near a cemetery? Isn’t it... yknow, scary?
My tie to these grounds is strong. I’ve been a caretaker, of sorts, all my life, so, no, it’s not scary.

Snickerdoodles!
Ah yes, some of my favorites.

How did you and Katy meet?
A very long time ago, but it feels like just yesterday.

Tell us a favourite memory of you and Katy back then.
*chuckles* Although she wasn’t very happy with me at the time, I’m fond of the moment she threw her dinner at me.

Abbey comes here very often.
Yes, she is a very special girl, and I do believe our bond with her is very strong.

Do you have any hobbies?
Wood carving and doing whatever makes my lady happy.

We don’t really know a lot about you. Tell us something about yourself.
I was once a soldier.

Why did you decide to live in Sleepy Hollow?
To quote Mr. Irving himself, “If ever I should wish for a retreat whither I might steal from the world and its distractions, and dream quietly away the remnant of a troubled life, I know of none more promising than this little valley.”

How long have you lived there?
A very long time.

Do you have any hidden talents? ;)
Yes, but I fear they must remain hidden. Just don’t ask me to sing. I do not sing.

I won't then. ;) Thank you for the interview! Would you like to say anything to the readers?
You are quite welcome. I hope you enjoy the story, I feel it is a good one.

Cross-posted at: Royal Reviews on 2 September 2009.

A Trip Down A Creepy Dream With Jessica Verday

Today is the launch date of The Hollow! And who better to tell us more about it than the creator herself, Jessica Verday?

Hi Jessica!
Thanks for having me, glad to be here.

Firstly, why Sleepy Hollow?
A lifelong love of Hallow’een. I love the legend. I love fall and leaves and pumpkins. I love the atmosphere - that instant spooky feeling you get when you think of the Headless Horseman. After I visited the real town of Sleepy Hollow, I knew it was the perfect setting.

Tell us about research for the book. Did you have to do any research such as going to Washington Irving’s grave?
Yes, I visited the real town of Sleepy Hollow several times. This included visits to Washington Irving’s grave and his home, Sunnyside, in neighboring Irvington, NY. I also did a lot of research into perfume making.

Is there actually a town such as Sleepy Hollow? Did you go there?
Yes there is. It’s located just above New York City on the Hudson River and it’s gorgeous.

How was the writing process? You used 13 notebooks and 15 black pens for The Hollow. How many notebooks and black pens do you think you’ll run through for the sequel? ;)
Oh goodness, although I don’t have a definite count, I know I’ve used at least the same number of notebooks and double the pens. (For some reason, I went through a lot of extra pens for this book)

Abbey makes perfumes, which piqued my interest. Did you make perfumes as a hobby?
No. I’ve not tried my hand at making perfume yet, but I have made my own soap. It’s a fun Hobby.

What song would you attribute to each of the characters? Why?
I can’t answer this one yet, but I will be sharing the Official Playlist of THE HOLLOW soon and that will answer all.

Ooh, I can't wait to listen while re-reading The Hollow. Tell us 15 good to know facts about you.
1. My favorite color is purple
2. I was named after my grandfather
3. I like spending time in cemeteries as much as Abbey does
4. I collect old, written on postcards
5. I spend every September 12th visiting Johnny Cash at his grave in Hendersonville, TN
6. The first book I ever wrote was titled, BOBBY’S BAZILLION BANANAS
7. I love trains and snow
8. I often spend Hallow’een dressed up like KISS at Disney World
9. I love zombie movies
10. One of the people I’d love to meet is Ron Perlman
11. I love the band Tenacious D.
12. My favorite place to be as a child was the Bangor (PA.) Public Library
13. I have a snow ball in my freezer
14. Boots are my favorite type of shoes
15. When I was little, I wanted to have purple eyes.

Can you tell us what’s in store for Abbey and Caspian?
A lot. Book 2 has Abbey returning to the Hollow and facing her demons. We get to meet some fun new characters and find out the answers to a lot of our questions from Book 1.

Thank you so much for that scintillating interview, Jessica!

Cross-posted at: Royal Reviews on 1 September 2009.

Kicking It Off with Abbey

Hey there Abbey! Thanks for being our host today and kicking this week off. It’s nice to finally meet you. How are you?
I’m alright, thanks.

I heard that you like making perfumes. How did that come about? Did you have to go through any formal training or anything?
No, it just kind of started one day when I found this hand made perfume in a little store. And I just kind of got interested in the process. No formal training, just a lot of trial and error.

What’s your favourite blend of perfume, that you think suits you?
Hmmm, I haven’t made one for myself yet, but I think I’d have something with honey, maybe a bit of apple, cloves, blood orange…hmmm that’s giving me ideas. I’ll have to work on that.

How about Jessica? ;)
Who’s Jessica?

Oh, uhh.. No one! When did you first start going to the cemetery to visit Washington Irving? It must be pretty scary!
I started going when my best friend Kristen moved to town when I was seven years old. It’s not scary, it’s peaceful.

What’s your favourite memory of you and Kristen?
Every time Kristen and her mom picked me up when we’d go to the pool over the summer, she always brought and extra soda for me. She was always thoughtful like that.

So... you and Caspian huh? Was it the black streak in his blond hair that caught your attention? ;)
And the green eyes, I’m a sucker for green eyes.

If Caspian was a perfume, what type of blend would he be?
Rainy nights, snickerdoodle cookies, and fall leaves.

Did you and Kristen have any traditions for prom?
Kristen and I never got to go to a prom together.

Oh, I'm so sorry. Do you have a picture of your prom dress? It looks totally gorgeous in my mind!
It is gorgeous. I’ll have to take a picture of it.

What’s your favourite star in the universe?
I like the big dipper, I know it’s more of a constellation but I can’t pick just one.

Tell us more about Abbey’s Hollow. How is it coming along?
Well, since Kristen’s death, I haven’t decided if I’m going to continue my plans. I don’t want to give up on my shop, but it’s going be hard without her here.

I understand. You probably know that you have a lot of fans out there. Would you like to say anything to them?
I hope you enjoy my story.

Thank you so much Abbey! I hope they do, too.

Cross-posted at: Royals Reviews on 31 August 2009.