Hello there. Welcome and thank you for this interview.
Ahem . . . Hi and you’re most welcome. (He wildly glances around, perhaps assessing where all the exits are).
Shall we begin? (I awkwardly laugh and shimmy to the front of my chair).
(He raises an eyebrow) Of course, go ahead.
I’ll just fire away, then. (I nervously fiddle with my crinkled-up paper, filled with scratchy interview questions). So, can you tell us what species you are? Because, we both know you aren’t human.
Well if you've read the book, you already know all about my magic. (He crosses his arms tightly against his chest and taps his foot).
(Giving me nothing) Moving on. I think it's safe to say that you show some pretty strong favoritism towards Ommily. What's that all about? (I discretely hop my chair forward).
I'm very fond of Ommily. She’s my girlfriend . . . and my soulmate. We’re the only two left of our kind. (He tries to disguise his love-stricken smile).
So, you're actually in love with her? (I try to hide my girlish giddiness).
Absolutely. Falling for her, was the closest thing to love-at-first-sight that I’ve ever experienced.
(Well that was easier than expected) What can you tell me about The Soppranaturale? Some say it isn’t just an old hotel. Some say that it’s a front for something else. Something big.
(He cocks his head to the side) Well you’ll have to book a night to find out.
And what about the Gantlet? The Gauntlet? (I mispronounce it the first time).
Ha ha. (He giggles, amused). I don’t know where you humans get these stories. (He abruptly leans forward, with only his eyes scrutinizing me). If there were such a thing as The Gauntlet, it probably isn’t wise for someone like you to talk about it.
(I uncomfortably loosen my collar around my neck). Changing the subject, can you tell me what other species are living at The Soppranaturale?
I’ll tell you this. If you’ve dreamt about it, if you’ve read a fairytale about it, or if you’ve heard it go bump in the night, then it’s probably been through The Soppranaturale, at one time or another.
(I gulp loudly). So, it’s best for someone like me to steer clear of it, huh?
(He doesn’t answer, he just gives me a chilly once-over).
Ommily has quite a fan base too. Do you ever get jealous of that attention?
(The muscles in his neck and jaw tighten and he clenches his hands into fists) Ommily is mine. No number of doting fans will ever change that.
(I’m not so convinced) Okay. On to the more relaxed questions. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Ha. Ha. It's too long a list for this interview. (He wilts over, relieved, with his elbows on his knees).
Name an item that you like to carry around at all times?
You can’t exactly see it, but it’s with me. And it protects me . . . from everything except these questions.
Oh, ha. What is your job at The Soppranaturale? (I’ve completely deviated from my paper)
I help manage it. I run the front desk, operations, and concierge. The owner is, ‘like a father’ to me so he trusts me to look after things.
If you had to switch jobs with anyone there, who would it be?
I don't trust anyone else to do my job. (He huffs) But if I had to, I guess I’d switch with Phoenix.
He’s my best friend. Although, he would probably run the hotel into the ground. But I can certainly tend bar and run the restaurant, like he does.
What is the most beautiful thing about The Soppranaturale?
Its extensive gardens and its mysterious art gallery. You should check it out some time. It may answer some of your questions, all on its own. (He sends me a lopsided grin).
If you could tell your fans one thing what would it be?
(He slits his eyes at me) Things are never what they seem.
Okay, quick before Ashley Pagano catches on. Is it true that Ommily actually saves your life in the book? (I rub my hands together in anticipation)
If we're keeping tally, I think we’ve both saved each other’s lives, more times than I can count. (He holds up a few fingers)
Well it looks like our time is up. Thank you, Link. This has been a very intriguing interview.
The Gauntlet
The Soppranaturale Series
Book One
Ashley Pagano
Genre: YA Fiction, YA Romance, Supernatural, Fantasy
Publisher: Inskpell Publishing
Date of Publication: June 20th, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-949931-15-0
ISBN: 978-1-949931-16-7
Number of pages: 171
Word Count: 40,109
Cover Artist: Najla Qamber
Tagline: Vampires exist. Werewolves exist. Witches exist. Shape Shifters exist. And now . . . Faeries exist.
Book Description:
Hidden in plain sight, is a mysterious hotel that doubles as a supernatural refugee: The Soppronaturale.
Each supernatural inhabitant has a specific purpose, job, and destiny.
All to keep the hotel running and its secrets safe.
Vampires exist. Werewolves exist. Witches exist. Shape Shifters exist. And now Faeries exist.
The last two Faeries, once unified, could be the most powerful forces on Earth.
Ommily, newcomer to the Soppronaturale, offensively controls and manipulates the four elements; Fire, Earth, Wind and Water. While Link defensively uses their energy to shield Ommily and himself from even the darkest magic.
They could protect all others. But first, they have to defeat the Gauntlet.
Excerpt:
When she walks into the hotel lobby, my world stands still. As if the earth suddenly stops rotating for a brief, suffocating second. Not just for me, but other men and women seem to pause just to stare at her, too. Huddled businessmen stumble over their words as they cut off their conversations in order to gawk at her. Their gazes follow her curves, from her forehead down to her heels. Their mouths hang open with no regard to impending drool. Wide-eyed women follow her path also, turning their heads just enough to hide their judgmental expressions. Even the teenage bellboy nearly trips over his luggage cart as he catches sight of her. For me, I have to grip the counter to stop myself from swaying and my knees from buckling, fighting the breath that’s caught in my windpipe.
Her hair, like fire, consumes her shoulders in perfect, flowing ringlets. Her eyes are like protuberant green emeralds that capture your soul, if ever your gaze aligns with hers. Her skin is as if it were painted on her face, pulling in the bronze summer highlights from outside. Her smile is one luminous hue of ivory, matching the sagging tissues directly in front of me. Her body is thin yet slightly muscular, bulging or pinching inward in all the right places. Her clothes even look as though they were made specifically for her, hugging her body seamlessly.
About the Author:
Ashley Pagano has always dreamed of being an artist both figuratively and literally. Her love of art was instilled by her mother who always inspired her to be creative either with a paintbrush or with a pen and paper. As far back as she can remember her life was always centered around introspection, storytelling, and imagination.
Because she is so artistic, she took to the idea of creative writing very passionately. Her ability to describe a scene, person, or place, she compares to painting a picture, where she can describe every detail vividly in order to make the reader feel like they’re truly living in the story. Her works of writing usually center around a powerhouse female protagonist (which reflect her own personality), who progresses through many wild and extreme obstacles. Ashley loves to write stories that end with a cliffhanger, that have the reader begging for more and questioning what happens next.
Her most recent novel sets the stage for the paranormal romance of the century and includes ghosts, poltergeists, and demons who just love to get in the way of true love. Ashley has won awards for her design, art, and writing.
Ashley doesn’t believe in down time whatsoever and actually loves having a full “To-Do”list. Ashley is a wife to her wonderful husband, Eric and a mother to a beautiful baby girl named Dakota. She is also a Graphic Designer and a health and fitness coach. Her husband and daughter inspire her to be the best person she can be and encourage her to pursue any of her dreams (no matter how extravagant they may be).
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