Character Interview: Voice of the Ashes

I thought I’d do something different today for those of you who want to know more about my novel, Voice of the Ashes.

Rather than interviewing my main character, Laurence, I’ve brought together four side characters who can tell you something about him. There’s bound to be some disagreement, though …

Hello, everyone! Are you all ready for this?

Michael Miller: I suppose. (sullen stare)

Roger Elyot: Absolutely.

Andrew Claybrook : Yes.

James Carlyll: Mm-hmm.

Good. My first question is rather broad … basically, how would you describe Laurence to someone who has never met him?

Andrew: I would tell them that he’s a young man with a passion for truth. That’s how he met me in the first place—he was seeking truth, and God led him here so he could hear the truth from the Bible—

James: Are you saying you have an English Bible in your house?

Look, James, we aren’t here to discuss issues like that. We’re here to discuss something you all have in common, which is a relationship with Laurence. So how would you describe him?

James: He’s a turncoat. Intensely loyal to his beliefs and his friends. Except that now in thinking he found the truth, he’s turned his back on it—and me.

Michael: Turncoat—ha! At least he turned from all that ticket-to-heaven, pray-to-dead-people stuff. You—

Michael, calm down a little. Pretend the others aren’t here and tell us about Laurence.

Michael: (shifting uncomfortably) He’s not a turncoat. He’s reminds me of … someone I used to know. He isn’t heroic in any way. He isn’t courageous in the normal sense of the word, and he’s uncomfortable and quiet and afraid. But he’s a friend.

Roger?

Roger: Laurence is a good man gone wrong. I took a fancy to him when he first showed up on the farm because of his … his … I don’t know. He’s just different. And he didn’t belong here at all.

What would you say are Laurence’s strengths?

James: Loyalty.

Roger: Absolutely.

Michael: He spent a lot of time trying to find me to see how I was doing. Crazy fool, to search London’s streets for one person, but he did it.

Andrew: His passion for the things of God. He hasn’t found it an easy life living for Christ—many of us don’t. But that hasn’t stopped him, and it hasn’t stopped him wanting to change others’ lives.

Please, James, stay in your seat. All right … What do you know of Laurence’s family?

Andrew: I think that question goes over to James.

James: His father is a priest at St. Martin’s Church on St. Martin’s Street, and his mother is the daughter of the late George FitzWilliam, Bishop of Oxford. He has two living siblings, a brother and a sister.

Can you explain a little bit about Mr. Weston’s position vs. his family life? I think some people might be confused.

James: Well, it has been a plague to them many times. Mr. Weston married quite young and gained the priesthood afterward. Long story there. But over the years and under different monarchs he’s had difficulty keeping his place in the church. Sometimes it meant his family members hiding, in a sense. Really, God has kept Mr. Weston where he is. There’s no other explanation.

Michael: There is another explanation.

James was giving his opinion, Michael.

Michael: So was I.

Anyway, moving on. What is life like since the new queen was crowned almost two years ago?

Michael: Terrible. She’s ruined everything. If it weren’t for her …

Roger: Queen Mary has put everything back the way it should be.

James: She’s in process, anyway. Once we can get the small groups of protesters dealt with, things will be even better. The only thing I disagree with is the dismissing of married clergy. Mr. Weston is right that marriage is a gift from God for all people.

Andrew: I wouldn’t say life is terrible, because God is still good. But it’s been really, really hard. We’ve lost one close friend, and these times aren’t over yet.

Yes, it’s certainly been a tough time, and I feel for you all.

Let’s get a little more light-hearted! Can each of you tell me what makes Laurence laugh?

James: (chuckling) Our mutual friend Arthur. He gets interesting ideas into his head—like the time he thought Laurence should buy a cow because it ‘suited him.’

Michael: I certainly don’t make him laugh.

Andrew: Laurence doesn’t laugh a lot, but it’s always a gift when he does.

Roger: Yes, he’s a serious type—but he’s got a lot going on and always has, so I’m sure that has shaped him.

One more question for today: who is—or was—Laurence’s hero?

James: His father always was—and in a sense might still be. I have to say that Father Weston falls into the hero category for me, too.

Michael: Yeah. He doesn’t like my view of priests and stuff, and he certainly lets me know it. It isn’t often I see how stern he can be.

Roger: I’m still figuring that out. He’s a difficult person to get to know.

Andrew?

Andrew: I agree his father was. And …

Yes?

Andrew: Oh, I hate to say this, but I think I might be now.

James: Of course. You’ve ‘enlightened’ him and thrown him completely off course, and you’re the only person he can turn to now—

James, please hold your peace. Let’s end this session on a good note. Thank you.

And thank you all for being willing to answer my questions!

Michael: (slipping away) Who was willing …?

And thank you for reading! Do you have any questions you’d like to ask my characters? If so, put them in the comments or send me an email! I’ll see if I can gather the four of them for another round—without stirring up too many problems or hard feelings.

If this piqued your interest in Laurence’s story, you can find info and purchase options here.

Blessings,

TRQT