CHARACTER Q & A

Featuring Liam & Holly

A while ago, I posted a note asking for any questions y’all wanted to ask my characters. Y’all had some really good ones. I don’t know who asked what, but thank you guys!

LIAM: *rolls eyes* I’m busy… *starts to leave*

HOLLY: *drags him back in* *glares at him* STAY. This will be fun, don’t you want to do something fun??

ME: I’m with Holly, I think this is going to be a lot of fun! So here’s how this is going to work. Some of these will be for Holly, some for Liam, some for both of them, and some I, the author, will answer. Let’s get started!

Liam, if you got your own dog, what would it be?

Liam: I don’t want something that sheds a lot like…someone I know. I’d get something smaller, too. Maybe a beagle?

Does Holly have any family? If so, where are they and what do they think of Liam? (This was three questions, but I combined them 🙂)

Holly: Yeah, so I have my lovely mom and dad and then I have one older sister. My dad’s in the Army, so he and my mom live on a base. I don’t know if I can say where *glances at me* but we moved around a lot when I was growing up. My sister married three years ago and lives out in Oregon. I don’t get to see her a lot, but we keep in touch. She kinda teased me about Liam a lot *turns pink* *Liam snickers* What do my parents think about him? Honestly, they think he’s wonderful so… <3

Holly, what do you actually write & DOES LIAM READ YOUR WRITING (this question was asked in all caps, so it’s very important)

Holly: I write his-fic set in 19th century London, I’ve tried to do fantasy before, but the worldbuilding honestly scares me haha

Liam: Okay, since she’s not going to say it - Holly writes amazing stories, honestly. *to Holly* No, you do. Seriously. Shh. I’m advertising for you, okay? Anyway. Yes, I’ve read the books she’s written - and I think she needs to write more.

Holly: ……are you gonna tell them?

Liam: About what? Your dedication for your next book?

Holly: *blushes* no, not that. I mean the copy you gave back to me.

*Liam’s turn to blush*

Holly: So I gave him a copy of my first book because he mentioned he like reading and he’d love to read one of mine…and this man returns it with a note on the front page and the inside all underlined and marked up and annotated. <3 I want to send it off to a bookbinder and get it rebound as a hardcover, so I can keep it forever.

That’s so sweet!!! Holly, the next one is for you as well. What’s the ONE thing that Liam does that always makes you happy and feel special? <33

Holly: Honestly, annotating my book is up there on that list. But umm, I guess that he always makes me feel safe. Like I don’t like crowds…because of stuff. But anyway. When I’m in a crowded place, he’s always holding my hand, and then I don’t care anymore. Also he never cares when I’m being too imaginative or chatty or crazy. He never puts me in a box and makes me feel like I have to be this kind of put-together, sensible, serious person for him *waves hand* And whenever I’m having a bad day, he’ll text and be like, check outside your front door in 15 minutes and I do and he’s DoorDashed me this super sugary, amazing Starbucks coffee with my name on it :)

Okay, next question - this one’s for Liam. Actually, several for Liam :) what was the MAIN thing. The big, loud *ding ding ding* that made you fall in love with Holly???

Liam: *rubs back of his neck* Honestly…it was her joy, her bubbly spirit, and just her love of life and all the little things. I think that’s what I fell in love with first. I had a pretty…well, I guess you could say serious childhood…so just seeing her smile and the light in her eyes - I was like….man. MAN.

Holly: LIAM

Liam: What? That’s what I said inside my head. Then the more I got to know her - her quiet courage and sweet spirit…and I was like, God, don’t let me mess this up, please. And, of course, after I learned she made tea in the microwave, I knew I had to rescue her from that.

XD Have you considered any other career other than being an agent?

Liam: Honestly…no. My father was an agent and he, well, [me cutting out spoilers] yeah, so I always felt I wanted to serve God and my country in that way. Don’t get me wrong, there’s times when I’m like, you could have had another job, man - mostly when it’s like 2:30 in the morning and I’m on a case and Mark drinks the last of the coffee. But, no, for the most part - I feel like this is what God made me to do, and I enjoy my work.

How do you not freak out when everything is falling apart and dangerous and yet you STILL wanna go back and do the agent jobs?

Liam: Three reasons - my friends, my family, and God. If I didn’t have one of those lifelines, I don’t know if I could be where I am today. I remember when I told my mom I was going to become an agent…and she told me, no matter where I was - her prayers would always be with me and God would always uphold me. I guess when you’re in the middle of a mess, a dangerous case, you have to train the emotional part of your brain to turn off, and just focus on the next thing, the next step, the next clue. And honestly, when Sam got Holly…I did freak out, to be honest. Because I’ve really never worked alongside civilians on a case. I can trust my fellow agents to handle themselves, but seeing Holly in that position…is not something I ever want to happen again.

*shuffles papers* okay, do you want to live in America or London?

Liam: *looks at Holly* Where would you want to live?

Holly: *turns pink* ….London?

Liam: Okay, London.

Will there be further cases for Holly and Liam to solve? 🤔😏

[Okay. I am taking this one as the author…potentially…I can’t say too much, but I do have some plans…]

This one’s for Holly. Has anything this exciting ever happened to you? If so, what was it & if not, what is the runner up?

Holly: I don’t know that I’d put it at this same level of excitement, but when I was 18, my sister and I went skydiving.

Liam: Wait, you what?

Holly: Skydiving. You know, where you go up in a plane and jump out?

Liam: I know what it is. How is that not the same level of excitement??

Holly: Well, like same level, different kind. It’s safer.

Liam: *startled silence* …okay.

Umm, that’s…okay, anyway, another Holly question, have you ever had any other pets?

Holly: I had a German Shepherd named Knox when I was a kid. He was my best friend. I also had a goldfish for, like, a month, until it died. RIP Fozzie.

Okay, second verse, same as the first. Liam, have you ever had a pet?

Liam: My sisters were always bringing home stray cats *rolls eyes and grins* They all ignored me, so *shrugs* The cats, I mean, not the sisters.

Holly: No, like pet pet. Like Merlin.

Liam: I had a hamster named Himari when I was, like, 9. Does that count?

Holly: Wait what’s Himari from?

Liam: It’s not from anything. It means “sun” in Japanese because she was golden. I had a friend who knew Japanese, that’s where I got it from.

Liam, do you have siblings?

Liam: 3 sisters. All older than me. That was…interesting growing up. But I had a bunch of boy cousins, so that worked out.

Will they ever show up in the story?

[Author intervention! As of right now, no. But a relative of his will…]

Me: *shuffles papers* MOVING ON…

Holly, will you ever go to England with Liam?

Holly: *glances at me* Wait, can I say? *I nod* Okay, Liam’s taking me over to England this winter. Which I am SO FREAKIN’ EXCITED about! I mean, I love England and English people and Pemberley and vintage shops and London and old towns and tea & scones and rolling hills… *blissful sigh*

Liam, people want to know if there is anything that makes you visibly happy? *Holly and I both dissolve into giggles*

Liam: I mean, Holly, obviously, and seeing her get happy and excited over things. A good cup of proper English tea. Hanging out with Mark, who’s one of my closest friends, off-work hours.

Holly, who is your favorite LOTR character?

Holly: EASY PEASY! Faramir. *winks at Liam* *Liam blushes*

Is Liam going to teach Holly how to make a proper cup of tea? *has cute scene idea*

Holly: That’s not even a question. I can make a very good cup of tea.

Liam: Holly, you used the MICROWAVE.

Holly: *shrugs* So?

Liam: *British panic* So? So? You can’t…never mind. The answer is yes, I will make sure she learns that important skill.

Liam, what is one food you would never under any circumstances eat?

Liam: Durim. You can kill me first. I’m never eating it.

*Holly and I shrug*

Okay, this wasn’t on there, but Holly, what’s one food you would never eat?

Holly: Anything seafood. Fish. Shrimp. Octopus. Never ever ever.

*I nod in agreement* 100%! Another for you - what was one of your favorite memories growing up?

Holly: Anytime my dad came back home after being deployed overseas. I know that’s cheating a bit because it’s not ONE memory.

Me: Not cheating! I love that. I guess if you had to pick one time he came back, what would it be?

Holly: Probably when I was like 8 or 9. It was snowing on Christmas Eve, and I just remember asking God to bring my dad home for Christmas and I wouldn’t ask for anything else. His plane was late, so he showed up right before dinner. That was probably the best Christmas of my life to date.

Oh my word, that’s so sweet! I love that! Liam, same question for you 🙂

Liam: When I was 18, my family went on a trip to different parts of Europe. That was probably the best summer of my life. I think we got lost like 6 different times because half of my family is directionally challenged and the other half thought adventures were fun, but it was worth it, and we all survived and got where we needed to go in the end.

Holly, what is one experience you can’t wait to have with Liam? Baking? Sledding? Sharing favorite books, etc?

Holly: READING Lord of the Rings because he’s only seen the movies so far. We need to read them together or something. Oh, oh, also - would you rather go horseback trail-riding with me or go up in a hot air balloon?

Liam: Horseback riding. Easy choice.

Holly: Wait, do you ride horses?

Liam: No, but I hate heights, so horses.

Holly: I didn’t know you were scared of heights.

Liam: I’m not. I just have a healthy respect for gravity.

Okay, last one, and then I’ll let y’all go (for now) - how did both of you come to find Jesus or was it Jesus that found you? <333

Liam: Ladies first.

Holly: Mine’s so long though. So pinch me if I start rambling.

Liam: I don’t mind rambling :)

Holly: Okay *deep breath* so I was raised in a Christian home. My dad was away a lot because he was in the military, but my mom always took us to church on Sunday and raised me and my older sister to know about Jesus. I was saved when I was a little girl and I waited to get baptized for a month so I could do it on my dad’s leave. Then fast-forward a few years: I graduated college - I was an English major and I got my first job writing content for a company who helped design business websites. Their main office was in New York. I didn’t have to move there because my work was all remote on my laptop, but I wanted to move there. I’d grown up going from one base to another, my dad overseas a lot…I just wanted something in life that could be predictable day in and day out. My mom let me go, but before I left, she took me out to lunch at Panera and said, “Holly, before you go, I just want you to pray about it first. Ask God if this is the best plan and the best place.” Part of me was scared to pray because I knew deep down *another deep breath* I was just running away. I was just trying to find somewhere where I could have my own life that always stayed on schedule. I moved to the city. Got my own cute apartment, had a studio where I wrote content for the company, had a little Beetlebug car, and a high-profile accountant boyfriend who took me on expensive dates and sent me flowers all the time. I had it all - but I didn’t really have anything. Sometimes it all just felt so…empty. Things came to a head with my boyfriend - I’d accidentally discovered some of his family were involved in some shady financial…dealings. He told me not to tell the police. I told him I had to. We had a big fight and broke up. I remember driving back home and sitting on my bed and thinking, what am I doing here? Is this my life? It had been a while since I talked to God, but I poured my heart out that night. It’s hard to explain what happened that night…but He showed me that everything I was chasing after, everything I wanted to satisfy me…that could only be found in Him. After that, I waited until my lease ran out, didn’t renew it, left my job, and came to a small town down south where one of my long-distance besties lived, started working in a little bookstore and became an editor for a Christian publishing house while writing books in my free time :) That was…really rambly. Sorry XD

Liam: No, no, it was great *smiles at her*

Holly: Okay, okay, it’s your turn *smiles back*

Liam: ….okay. Like Holly, my parents were both Christians. I struggled a lot with my faith after [don’t mind me cutting out spoilers again]. Seeing my mother’s faith, her trust in God, and the way she lived out her faith serving others…that always stayed with me. But it just seemed to come so naturally to her. I struggled so much with doubt that I thought I couldn’t be a good enough Christian to be a real Christian. But one Sunday, I think I was like 12 or 13, and there was a visiting pastor at our church. He was talking about fruit and bearing fruit, and…oh yeah, it was a sermon on Jesus turning water into wine. And his point was how even the drops of water obeyed Him. And I just kept sitting in that pew, thinking about I didn’t have enough fruit to prove I was saved and that I wasn’t even worthy like those water drops. After that, I talked to the pastor alone and told him I’d been convicted by his words and how I didn’t think I was…good enough. I’ll never forget that conversation we had afterward. He reminded me of the mustard seed…God isn’t looking at us and going, okay you have this much fruit and so you’re good. You over there don’t have enough fruit, so keep trying. He just asks - do you have fruit? Any fruit? And if you think that you’re not good enough, you’re saying Jesus’ work wasn’t enough. But if He loved you enough to die for you and you believe that, just keep following Him, and the more you walk with Him, the more the fruit will come. But keep your eyes on Him - He doesn’t say “are you good enough?” but “do you believe me?” And He loves you the same, no matter where you’ve been. So yeah. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs since then, but that’s the moment I’ll always look back to as God showing me His love…with no conditions. And now I guess I rambled as much as Holly :)

Me: No, I love it :) And, on that note, we’re going to wrap up! Let me know if you liked this kind of post, and I may use these questions on some of my other characters! If you have any other questions, just drop them in the comments - I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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