I really need to sit down now, so I take the seat facing the window directly. The bar manager stops by the table, and asks if I want a drink. I just order what Shay is drinking. He asks if we want to order food now. Evan looks at me and says, “You’ve not been here before, right?” I just nod, nervously. “Perfect. Then I think you should try the PB & J waffle panini. Shay here, is going to order that too. Right?”Shay laughs, “I guess so.” The bar manager nods in approval and leaves us.

 

Shay then introduces us formally. He shakes my hand firmly but quickly, and apologizes for ordering for me, before actually meeting me. I just giggle like an idiot, and wave my hand at him. “No worries”, I say. I then ask Shay about her family and if the weather affected her traveling here that much. She responds, and asks if I found the place OK. I tell her about the bus, and take a breath, before turning to Evan

 

I ask Evan if it would be OK to ask Shay questions first, then if he’s comfortable, I’ll ask him some questions. He’s already looking out the window, checking the street and buildings in the area. “That’s fine. But I am not much for sharing.”

 

I take a sip of water, and smile at Shay. She winks at me assuredly, because we’ve already discussed Evan’s questions beforehand. She didn’t promise me anything other than she could get him here. I know this. Talking to Shay first, buys me time to wait for my drink. I want it in my hand, when I have to talk to Evan directly.

 

“First, thank you Shay and Evan, for meeting me here. This place is exactly as you described it, Evan, in Otherwise Occupied.” I look to Evan to see if he is looking back at us. He nods. Shay says, “I am glad to be back in Chicago. This place seemed to make sense, and Evan didn’t agree to come, until I told him we were meeting here. Right, Evan?” He shakes his head and laughs, to confirm. Cool. He seems more comfortable.

 

I turn back to Shay to begin. “You have this amazing talent of writing in the male’s point of view. What inspired you to write this way?”, I ask. “I seem to identify with men a little more than women, and it just comes very naturally to me. I also think as women, we like to believe we know how men think. I’m sure I’m totally wrong, though apparently my descriptions of male orgasm (according to some men) are dead-on.” Shay says.

 

I look to Evan to see his reaction, because she’s looking at Evan across from her. His eyes are wide, but he’s smiling. He nods slightly, and looks out at the window again, sipping his drink.

Next question. “Who is your favorite male fictional character?”

 

“Drizzt Do’Urden from Salvatore’s Forgotten Realms books. Dark, tormented, and wonderful character. If they were smut books, I would consider them fiction utopia. Unfortunately, they are not and Drizzt never seems to get any.” Shay laughs.

 

“Do you have a favorite character from your own writing?” I wonder if she feels compelled to stroke Evan’s ego with her response. Shay looks again over to Evan, “He’s definitely grown on me, and I love him to death, but I think Bastian is my favorite.”

Evan’s been looking around the bar during our conversation. He smirks, but doesn’t respond to Shay’s answer regarding Bastian. I move on.

 

“I personally like the Edward in Hide and Drink, and the human Edward in Win Some, Lose Some, the most. Although the Edward inNot What She Seems, is definitely growing on me.” Shay nods, “My favorite Edward is either the one from Judging Books or the one from Win Some, Lose Some.”

 

I have not read Judging Books yet. It’s short story at 5 chapters long. I’ll be reading that soon. I didn’t even know it existed, until she mentioned it. Bad fan fic fan.

 

Now I’m wondering, “How is writing original work different from writing fan fiction for you?” Shay responds, “Not at all, really, with the exception of the more “vampire” stories like Hide and Drink andTempt My Tongue. The characters are who they are – it just gives the reader someone to think about and makes it easy for me to skimp on the physical descriptions, which aren’t my strong point.” 

 

I then ask, “Who are your favorite authors? And what about favorite books?” She says, “There are so many, it’s hard to pin them down.Salvatore (the Drizzt books), Stephen King, Anne Rice, Edger Rice Burroughs – I like a lot of different styles, and much will depend on my mood. I love a dark story with a twist.”

 

I mention that I loved Anne Rice and vampires, well before the sparkly ones showed up. I read Twilight because I thought it was a vampire story. Of course, we laugh together at that. Evan is looking down at his drink now, trying to hide his laughter. Since we notice him, we both smirk at each other.

 

I want to know about her writing process, so I ask, “What kind of research do you do for your stories, specifically Otherwise Alone/Occupied? Do you know people in the military or someone that Evan is based on?” Shay responds, “Quite a lot, really. Surviving Raine obviously had a lot on survival. Otherwise Alone not as much, but Otherwise Occupied had extensive research involved, including a trip to Chicago to figure out where Evan lives and hangs out. There was also a lot of research on Barrett sniper rifles, Chicago landmarks, and the Chicago public transportation system. I also spent a decent amount of time taking pictures in the area under the Chicago Avenue Bridge where Evan dumps the bodies. I wonder what people who saw me thought I was doing. Ha!”

 

I shake my head, and wonder what Evan is thinking, when he hears Shay talk so freely about what he does for a living. I guess, maybe he will share later. I can only hope. Finally, my drink arrives, and it’s as good as Shay said it would be. Yum.

Another question. “Where is your favorite place to write and read?” Shay says, “I write pretty much at my desktop computer, though I do have a netbook that travels with me and gets plenty of use. I read in bed.”

 

I share with her my reading habits as well. “Being a writer/published author must be so cool. What’s the best and worst thing about being an author?” Shay smiles this time and says, “The best is seeing the reactions of people reading my stories. Sometimes they’re happy, sometimes sad, sometimes pissed off at me from what I have done to their favorite character – whatever it is, it means I’ve touched them in some way, which is my goal. The worst part is not being able to do it full-time.”

 

I’m feeling good now with my martini, and think I’ve pestered her enough. “Can I ask you some ‘Rapid-Fire questions’ now, Shay?”

 

She sighs, takes a sip of her drink as says, “Go for it.”

 

“Mac or PC?” PC

 

“Music or silence when you read or write?” Silence.

 

“Dream vacation destination?” Fuji

 

“Chocolate or Vanilla?” Chocolate

 

“Coffee or Tea?” Coffee

 

A chocolate girl like me! Yay. Our food finally arrives, and smells divine. Even Evan looks like he’s happy. I stare at my waffle concoction with wonder. Can I eat and talk with Evan at the same time? I feel like it’s now or never. I look to him and see he’s already eating. “Um, Evan. Do you mind if we eat and talk?” He chews, hums with his eyes closed, like this is the best meal ever, and swallows.“Sure. I guess.”

 

I pick up my fork, and dive in. OMG. This is so amazing. I, in turn close my eyes and chew, while hearing Shay laugh at both of us.

 

“Oh Evan. You were so spot on with this.” I swallow and open my eyes. I can do this. I look to Evan and ask, “So you were a marine in the military. What made you decide to join? Have you had an education outside of the convent you were raised in?” Evan looks across to Shay, and says, “I got my GED after I went out on my own. I originally enlisted to get money for school, but it never happened. I don’t see the point now – it’s not like I need the money.”

 

I nod my head in agreement. Next question. “You have this amazing ability for detail. You notice everything. It’s like being in Sherlock Holmes’ head. Where did you get this ability?” Evan shrugs while chewing and says, “I don’t know. I guess it started when I was pretty young. I remember going to the zoo with the nuns and other kids from the convent. When I looked around at all the moms and dads showing their kids the different animals, I realized for the first time that the way I lived wasn’t like the other kids around me. That led to questions, which the nuns wouldn’t answer. I knew there was an answer somewhere, so I started to watch for it. Most of it is just a matter of observation and understanding patterns.”

 

His childhood, what little we know about as readers, makes me kind of sad, but I try to hide that emotion in my face, so he doesn’t get uncomfortable. Doubt I’m doing a good job. I look to Shay, and she’s looking out the window in thought. I look back at Evan and ask, “The first time that you see Lia, you debate on killing her on sight. Why?” He is now looking at me with an intense feeling in his eyes. “Like I just said – there shouldn’t have been anyone there.

That cabin is in the middle of fucking nowhere. There’s just a dirt road, and there aren’t any towns for miles. I was in hiding – when you’re in hiding, you watch for the people who are looking for you. I knew it was possible she was from Chicago, maybe even one of Greco’s group, and had tracked me down. After watching her for a minute…He laughs. “Well, it was obvious she wasn’t.”

 

Though we don’t get to see much of Lia in Otherwise Occupied, she does come at the best and worst time, depending on how you look at it. I feel compelled to ask him, “You seem to be able to read her fairly quickly. Why is that?” Evan is now smiling at his food. “Women are easy to read – they usually don’t even try to hide anything. When they do, they fail at it. Guys are a little harder, but most of them are easy enough to read once you get to know them. Lia was especially easy…ah, I mean to read. She was just out there, waiting for someone to give her what she needed. He is now smirking at me. “I didn’t mind being the guy to do that.”

 

I smirk back, thinking we are on the same page. “I would say the same thing about Bridgette. You take to her right away. She is just a substitute for Lia right or something more?” Uh. Oh. Evan is now glaring at me and Shay.

 

“I’m not talking about her.”

 

O.K. So much for being on the same page. I look to Shay to apologize with my eyes. I think, I’m a dog owner and lover. I’ll ask about someone he loves unconditionally. “How is Odin doing?”