Building Character with Frank from Beware of the White

Welcome to my blog feature, Building Character in which you get to meet a character from a book. Talking to a character outside of their book is fun! Huge. Amounts. Of fun. 

This week Strands of Thought is host to Frank from Beware of the White. Welcome to Strands of Thought, Frank. Tell us a little about yourself and what your life is like.

Hello. My name is Frank. I’m eighteen years old. I graduated from high school last June. I was working for my dad until I got assigned to protect Terra. Oh, I didn’t mention that I’m also a Spirit of Security in the Underworld, did I? I can’t usually talk about that to people from the Outerworld, so I tend to forget.

Tell us more about your assignment to protect, who was it…Terra?

Yes, Terra is a new Nature’s Spirit. Spirits are the offspring of Peacekeepers and humans. They learn they are Spirits when they turn twelve and go to the Underworld for training. Unfortunately for Terra, on her very first night in Concord, she learned the leader of the Trepidus, (the death janitors of the Underworld) wants to eliminate her because she was named in a prophecy as the only one who can stop him from taking over Concord. So I was assigned as her guard whenever she’s in the Underworld for training.

What are some of the biggest stumbling blocks you’ve encountered trying to keep Terra safe?

We really don’t know a lot about the Trepidus. They are an arrogant species. Loners. They just do their jobs and don’t interact with others much. The lack of information has made it difficult to know how to protect Terra and also how to help her resolve the issue. I try to react quickly though. For example, when we learned that the Trepidus could come above ground, I packed up my dog and my car and drove out to Wisconsin to move in with Terra and her mom until the danger passes. I’d rather be on the offense, but sometimes a good defense is all you have.

Let’s learn more about you. What is your strongest personality trait?

I’m very level headed, which helps when I’m called on to break up a tussle between a couple of hot-headed Cobrazards or resolve a dispute between my sisters.

What are your three favorite leisure activities?

Mountain biking, reading and going to the movies.

If you could change one thing in this world, what would you change?

Could I get a do-over?

Sure, what would you do differently?

I wouldn’t confront the Slipt in the alley. I’d just let it go.

Would you like to explain that further?

Not really.

Fair enough. We’ll read your book to learn more about that. Any words of wisdom to share with our readers before you go?

Up here in the Outerworld we are taught to suppress our instincts. I’m telling you to learn to trust them. Develop a one on one relationship with them so that you know when best to listen and when they might be influenced by circumstances. In other words, get to know yourself and trust yourself.

Thank you, Frank for visiting with us and sharing your story. Readers, here is more about Frank’s story:

As is tradition, Terra learns on the Saturday past her twelfth birthday that she is a Natures Spirit. It is her legacy to serve in the peaceful underground city of Concord. Learning she is named in a prophecy and being threatened by the leader of the death tribe…that part breaks tradition.

The Trepidus are the death janitors of the Underworld, responsible for delivering fatalities with a smile and cleaning up after themselves until Blanco, recent leader of the Trepidus, decides the day of reckoning for his species is coming. He begins organizing the creatures and leads them toward an uprising. The prophecy says there is one person who can stop him. Terra.

With Spirit of Security, Frank, protecting her, Terra attempts to complete her training and discover her Spirit talents. Together, they go on a rogue investigation to learn how to defeat Blanco. In the end, it comes down to a battle of the minds. The future of Concord is at stake. Will Blanco, the older, more experienced being win? Or will Terra, the young, new Spirit earn back the peace of the city?

Buy It:

MuseItUp

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Or look for it on iTunes

  

About the author

Kai Strand writes fiction for kids and teens. Her debut novel, The Weaver, was a finalist in the 2012 EPIC eBook Awards. She is a (very lucky) wife and the mother of four amazing kids. The most common sound in her household is laughter. The second most common is, "Do your dishes!" She and her family hike, geocache, and canoe in beautiful Central Oregon, where they call home.

To find out more about Kai’s books, download companion documents, find links to her published short stories and discover all the places to find Kai both virtually and in person, visit her website: www.kaistrand.com. She loves to hear from readers, so feel free to send her an email or visit her facebook page, Kai Strand, Author.

Enter to win one of three BEWARE OF THE WHITE related prize packages: a Rafflecopter giveaway

***

If you have a character from a children’s, tween or young adult book that you’d like to see interviewed on Building Character, please contact kaistrand at yahoo dot com.