Sinister Stitches Interview Stephanie Beck’s Scott from Unraveling Midnight

There is a boutique hiding out between the fractured, narrow storefronts lining New Gotham’s foggy docks. The shingles are ribbed and black. Washed, peeling paint and displays offering views into wicked leather and lace studded glam. The mannequins are ghoulish beauties stitched together from whatever was left from the last fool to cross one of the sinister witches.

Welcome to Sinister Stitches

“…apparel for a wicked fairy tale.”

A spicy trinity of black magic sisters breathe star-dusted dreams to life with their gothic apparel boutique. They are schooled in the old ways of “fabric-bending” by the Needlewitches of old. With this knowledge, they’ve created an entire line of clothing that all share the same basic design element: one-size fits all. Each garment will magically tailor itself to its wearer once worn. Last time the Witches-Who-Stitch, hosted a literary catwalk, heroines were called from all walks of life and genres to challenge their seamstress skills. This time, their men have joined the fun—apparently, they’ve been sent to the boutique. (Whether they like it, or not.)

The witches were NOT expecting men. Their expertise is usually limited to DEMANDING their husbands NOT wear that in public, and, of course, the fashioning of fantastic clothing for all of literature’s heroines. (New Gotham’s men usually get their goods from Rumpel’s Twisted Threads, BUT that’s beyond the point, the girls put a quill to their interview, changed some bits, and rose to the occasion.)

To enjoy the hilarity, please check out some of the questionnaire Stephanie Beck’s Scott from Unraveling Midnight lifted from Gillian’s hand with a smile after he swaggered into Sinister Stitches. 

THE WITCHES WHO STITCH QUESTIONNAIRE

Please provide the witches with your name: Scott Terwolf

Please provide the witches with the following:

Hair Color:  brown

Hair Length: [x] Short and Sharp (I keep my hair buzzed. Does this count), [ ] Shaggy and Sexy, [ ] Lush and Long 

Eye Color:  Brown

Skin Tone: [ ] Ghoulish, [x] Snow White, [ ] Cina-baby, [ ] Mochalicious, [ ] Dark Chocolate, [X]  Other: I’ve been in the sun a lot, and I’m not the color of the princess (I know, I just watched the movie with my daughter, and that princess needs a little time outside)

Please provide the witches with your measurements and body-type.

a.) Height:  6.3

b.) Body Type: [ ] Skeletal, [ ] Lean and Tender, [ ] Lean and Tough, [x] Ripe and Edible

Do you have any extra extremities? Place an “X” to all that apply.

[ ] Horns or [ ] Halo

[ ] 20 ft. of Hair or More

[ ] Gills and Fins or [ ] Hooves

[ ] Wings (Span:   )

[ ] Tail (How many:  )

How many heads do you have? (Your boy bit doesn’t count!)  

Just one. Thanks for asking. What kind of shop is this anyway?

Do you have arms and legs? If so, how many?

Only 2 arms and 2 legs for when I need clothes.

How dead are you? [X] Living, [ ] Undead, [ ] Astral Form

What are you? (Species/Breed)

Werewolf

What is the occasion? (Ideas include: Wedding, Funeral, Sabbath, etc. Oh, and seduction is a valid occasion. The more details, the better.)

Grand opening for a yarn shop.

What’s the occasion setting? (Beach, haunted castle, grand ball, etc.)

My mate’s new yarn shop. She said she was going for a homey, exciting space for people to be comfortable. We painted a few walls orange. Does that help?

Will you be fighting for your life at some point in the evening? 

Probably not, but it has happened in a yarn shop before, so I guess I can’t put a hard ‘no’ on this.

Will you be set on fire? Better yet, will you be setting other people on fire?

No. Lucy would hate that.

Will you be grave-robbing? (Dirt is a tailor’s tedium.)

Hard no on this one.

What are you wearing right now? Who picked that outfit out? (Basically, who let you leave the crypt in those?)

I’m wearing dark jeans, a white button shirt, and a green sweater vest Lucy knit me. She

thinks I look nice in green and specially designed the vest to fit me and my personality (that’s what she said).

Do you hope to be naked at some point in the evening? (All right, dirty birds. Such questions are actually intended toward the weres and shifters in regards to their transformations.)

Hey, you can work around shifting? I would like to see how you do that, so yes, I’ll probably shift at some point.

Describe your last brush with Death in two sentences. (Helps us plan for the unexpected.)

My first mate and her lover ambushed me at our home. We fought, they died, but I had to have bolts put in my back to avoid being paralyzed.

Do you need a secret compartment for gigantic swords? Guns and condoms? Eyeliner, maybe?

A knitting needle compartment in the jacket maybe. My mate would dig that. I don’t need a gun or sword to take care of business.

What are your three favorite colors?

Black, gray, and green. I guess.

What two colors ninja your brain, sweetie?

Ninja my brain? Um. Well. Black and gray, maybe? If this means bad, I don’t care for red or pink—seriously don’t put me in pink, even my daughter knows to hand me the blue hat if I get suckered into a tea party.

Please pick a style that you feel embodies you the best. If none apply, feel free to surprise us by providing your own brilliant description in the “other” slot.

[ ] Dark Angel: This is for the spoonfuls of charming. The good-natured and naughty boys next door types. Thoughtful and sensual. Loyal and intelligent. More often than not, his head is in the clouds, but those dreams and that smile holds hope for all of us. Our philosophers.

[ ] Beast King: This is for the warlords and alphas. The type of men who walk into a room and their presence hushes out the sun.  They live in their bodies, but their minds are searching for the next challenge. Hands for fighting and these boots for ass-kickings. Our protectors.

[ ] Smooth Criminal: This is for the bad boys. You know, the types---mother’s worse nightmares. The kind of man that makes your skin itch every time he devours you with that hundred yard stare. Chances are his senses of humor is as wicked as his tongue. To hold him, isn’t to catch him. Our scheming rogues.

[ ] Black Knight: This for the mysteries. The ones no one can quite make heads or tails out off. He’s a mixture, a melting pot of strong, sinister, and sweet. He might be Dark Angel one day, and a Smooth Criminal other days. Our brothers.

[x] Other: Working Werewolf: For the guy who rolls around with his kids and puts up shelves for his mate. He likes to drink beer on Sundays and buys the wrong kind of tea to make iced tea (tastes like crap), but his mate still loves him. Fiercely protective, and likes to win after losing so many times in the past. Knows better than to look for fights, but is ready and willing to do what it takes to keep everyone safe.

Who is your favorite comic/storybook villain?

Who likes villains? I have no answer on this one.

If you could be any comic/storybook book hero, who would it be?

The obvious choice would be someone furry, but honestly I like Captain America or Iron Man. One’s such a good guy, the other’s such a smart ass. And flies. Okay, I’d be Iron Man.

Now, tell us who you love the most.

I love my kids most. Ross, Greg, and Jessie are my world. When my mate, Lucy, came into my life last year, I found someone to love and someone who will love and protect my kids with me. It’s pretty great.

                                               

Anything else you’d like to add…

Nothing itchy, all right?

After many barrels of chocolate, a dash of magic, and furious sewing…

Sinister Stitches’ Rockabilly Starlet

Gillian Dweyer presents Scott’s

Completed Threads

“Needle Knight”

The witch that greets you is by far the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. Oil back curls frame her sweet moon-face, little button nose between two lush black suns for eyes. The poet’s shirt hanging off her dainty snow-white shoulders is of pale mauve crepe de Chine, rounded neckline with frill and long full sleeves cut by narrow bands around the wrists. Otherwise, everything else is pink. Pink, pink, pink. The close fitting, long skirt flaring gradually from her hips to the floor, the pink ballerina six-inch stilettos—everything about this woman is princess pink. Her small, pouty mouth curves in a flash of cute, somewhat crooked teeth:

Hi, babycakes, I’m Gillian. You can call me, Gillybean. My goodness, you’re adorable. Shame, we’re both married or a witch could see herself having a bite of you. Welcome to Sinister Stitches. You’re very welcome here, but you’re completely in the wrong place. Twisted Threads usually handles the hero department, but you’re about the same build as my husband, so I’ve taken my cues from what Rumpel normally whips up from him. Well, only in terms of cut. Not colors or anything. You’re too bright for black, sugar.

We’ve whipped up something Contemporary for you. It will minimize the torso and give you some height. Slightly tapered at the sides, but will fall drape nicely. Simple and very flattering for larger, wider build. You’ve got wonderfully, strong shoulders, so we’ve only padded you a little bit—just enough to give you a sleek silhouette. It will be very comfortable to wear.

Otherwise, we just had a little bit of fun. Frankly, you’re a rare one for us. We don’t normally get such a sugar gem. So, we’ve hemmed your jacket with some he fun “festive” dotted stitch, and we did take your colors into consideration and spun you a special double-collared, long sleeve of Sherwood Forest green, dotted with white snow wraith blood speckles. And you can blame the splash of purple on me.

Something to make you “pop” a little bit. Just because you’re a daddy, doesn’t mean you can’t get on the floor and do it doggy with the best of them. Fatherhood IS the new sexy. (Remember that girls…) Oh, and speaking of fatherhood, we did what we could with your trousers and ironed a wave pattern into the grey tweed, cashmere mix. Nothing itchy as promised. And you’ll be happy to know everything is absolutely stain resistant. In terms of how we work “around” shifting, it usually depends on the creature. For you, we’ve sewn all your clothing with “Ripper Thread” purchased right here in New Gotham. If you rip the clothes, it won’t matter—the textile is magnetized to “seek” and “heal” itself.

Secondly, we always take care to capture, kill, and grind a will ‘o’ wisp, and then, press their remains via iron into shifter clothing. That is why your clothes have that extra gloss. Call your suit by its name “Needle Knight” and it will hurry along…

Why are you laughing? I sure did come up with that. *smacks his nose like a pup* Now, I also cut you a midnight blue pocket square. No need for the children to use the hem of your jacket to wipe their sweet little noses on. You came prepared. By the way, the threads are on the house. You’ve made a naughty witch laugh, and that’s worth the world to a girl like me. Have a wonderful time at the opening, dear. And shit, wait, wait---before you go, Astrid, wanted me to ask you…exactly what matter of twine and thread do you guys carry? You wouldn’t happen to have buttons, would you? What about lace? Come here, honeybunches, and use the crystal ball to call your wife—we need to talk business.

IMPORTANT BULLETINS from THE PIXIES:

For more information about Stephanie Beck and Scott’s adventures in Unraveling Midnight, please check out her author website.

Care to check out the last round of Sinister Stitches interviews? Check out Sophie Avett and Jennifer Blackstream’s paranormal den, the Brimstone Pub. All SS interviews are retired there after their tour until the release of the SS e-book.

Fancy a tour of New Gotham? Check out New Gotham’s Survival Guide! It might save your life! 

For more information about Sophie Avett’s New Gotham Fairy Tales, the Sinister Stitches series, and recent releases, please check out her website.

Image Credit(s): GooDAura

Image Editing Credit(s): Elaina, For the Muse Design

Cry Wolf

A New Gotham Fairy Tale

Sophie Avett

Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance (MM/New Adult)

Publisher: Skeleton Key Publishing

Date of Publication:  May 1, 2014

Number of pages: est. 22 pages

Word Count:  est. 10, 000

Cover Artist: Elaina, For the Muse Design

Amazon   BN   ARe    Kobo    Smashwords

Book Description:

There’s a wild animal on the loose in the black forests surrounding New Gotham...

Not that anyone cares.

Well, Peter doesn't care.

Peter Ume is more interested in finding a way to alleviate the skull-numbing boredom of a city wide shut down. So far his ideas for excitement hover between stealing an unwary idiot’s underwear (soul works, too), setting someone’s eyebrows on fire, or stabbing the next person he meets in the eye with a hot French fry.

It turns out, he’ll be able to save assault and theft for a rainy day. As luck would have it, this naughty kitsune is about to meet the big bad wolf.

And man, is the wolf in for a surprise...

Warning: This story can be read as a standalone, but you will want to smack Sophie for it. (Or so the ravens have said.) So, do keep in mind that there is a part two. (And it will be a freebie. Sophie’s Pixies will carrier pigeon everyone more information soon.)

About the Author:

Sophie Avett is kind of a nerd. Like not even one of the cute, hip ones everyone brags about nowadays. More like the socially awkward hippie who eats way too much bread and dreams about being a dragon from behind towers of mythology books. Um...yeah. Picture old, tattered paperbacks and comic books--mostly Batman and Wonder Woman--dwarfing a tiny desk, with just barely enough room for the troll who writes there and the 70 pound hell-hound that insists on laying it's wet nose on top of her bare foot.

Granted not the most exciting existence, but she tries to make up for it by writing romances populated with her own peculiar ilk of paranormal beasties.  Trolls, wyverns, the obscure Nordic brownie--she likes to keep things interesting. And bloody. (And mostly naked--but, we'll keep that bit between us.)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SophieAvett

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7779293.Sophie_Avett

Sinister Stitches Boutique Blog: http://sophieavettsinisterstitches.blogspot.com/

Newsletter Post-Its, the Blog: http://sophieavett.weebly.com/post-its-the-blog.html

Brimstone Pub, the Blog: http://thebrimstonepub.com/