| I know I have a thing about Norman Rockwell |
Someone asked me the other day who I’d invite to a dinner
party for literary characters. And this is what I said…
It’s dinner time! Since I can’t cook, I’d have to get
someone to make the meal. And who better than Swelter the drunken, bullying chef
from Gormenghast?
By the time he’s finished a barrel of Malmsey in the
kitchen, his battered minions may have got around to producing a cauldron of
gruel and perhaps an under-cooked swan. With any luck.
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| Swelter the Cook |
Never mind! Because my two main guests will solve any
deficiencies in the cuisine: Celia and Marco, the world’s most amazing
magicians from the fantastic book, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. The half raw meat will instantly transform
into the most tender of tantalizing morsels, and the soup will become a velvety
heart-warming broth that will act as an aphrodisiac and have the guests panting
for more.
The magicians will also keep the temperature in the room amenable for
everyone with sparkling iridescent snowflakes for brooding Vampire Lestat from TheVampire Chronicles and a balmy summer breeze for MacKayla
Lane (who’ll be admiring the rainbow colored table cloth and pink plates).
Kyra from Phillip
Pullman’s His Dark Materials will compare fighting techniques with MacKayla,
and when Lestat becomes too bothersome, the two feisty girls will just have to keep
him under control. In the meantime, Kyra Silvertongue’s daemon Pan will
entertain my own daemon (Oliver the Otter - didn't you know that?).
Of course if Lestat’s charm turns somewhat blood-red and his
eyes become hooded, then Sam Barrowdale, one of the main characters from my
novel, Perfect
Score, will roll up his sleeves and place himself squarely between the
vampire and the girls. Once he’s got his thoughts and tongue in order, he’ll
have some wonderful words of advice to dish out to Lestat about his appalling behavior.
In fact, Sam will be ready to take the vampire on himself so be prepared for
some action.
On the other side of the table I’ll sit the main character from my new novel Hewhay Hall, firefighter and unsung hero, Jude Elliot. When he can get a word in edgeways he’ll tell us what was on demon Slater’s menu while he was a guest at Hewhay Hall (not for the squeamish) and whether it compares favorably with Chef Swelter’s cuisine.
On the other side of the table I’ll sit the main character from my new novel Hewhay Hall, firefighter and unsung hero, Jude Elliot. When he can get a word in edgeways he’ll tell us what was on demon Slater’s menu while he was a guest at Hewhay Hall (not for the squeamish) and whether it compares favorably with Chef Swelter’s cuisine.
Finally Richard the Lionheart will head the table. Why? Simply
because he’ll be such a decorative addition. In any case, he’ll keep Sam too
occupied to take on Lestat because Sam’s eyes will be out on stalks!
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| Richard the Lionheart - added for his decorative appeal |
Who would you invite?
