Today I have the utmost pleasure in welcoming one of my favorite fictional characters ever, and since the latest book he is starring in just got released on Monday, October, 8th, what better time could there possibly be than now. The book I'm talking about is, of course,
Demon Eyes by
Scott Tracey, and visiting my blog today is none other than the
incredible
Drew Armstrong!
Before we get started with the interview, here is a little bit more information about the author.
About the Author
Scott Tracey lived on a Greyhound for a month, wrote his illustrated autobiography at the age of six, and barely survived Catholic school (and definitely not for the reasons you might think).
His career highlights include: accidentally tripping a panic alarm and nearly being shot by the police, being attacked in a drive-thru window by a woman wielding a baked potato, and sending the health department after his (very brief) place of employment.
His gifts can be used for good or evil, but rather than picking a side, he strives for BOTH (in alternating capacity) for his own amusement.
Where to find him:
*****
Demon Eyes is the sequel to
Witch Eyes which was released on September 8th, 2011 by Flux. You can find my review for it right
here. I should also mention that you can get
Witch Eyes FREE for both Kindle and Nook for a limited time only! You can find the links on where to get both books after the interview.
Now, without further ado, I give you Drew Armstrong!
1. Hello Drew, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by my blog today. On the off chance there are still clueless people out there who don't know who you are, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself and the story you're a part of?
Ugh, seriously? Fine, whatever. Drew Armstrong, 6’1”, dark hair, athletic build, Scorpio. I like hiking in the woods and the systematic annoyance of my enemies. I come from a town called Belle Dam, population: who the hell cares because everyone’s brainwashed anyway.
The basic gist is this: I come from a town where witches are real, and they’ve been fighting since this side of forever. You’ve got the Lansing side of town, and the Thorpe side of town, but they’re both sociopaths, so it doesn’t matter which side you join up with.
Before my mom had her breakdown, she used to say that the feud had been really bad once upon a time: tidal waves attacking the town, earthquakes, the whole nine yards. So after a summer spent on the road after a few misunderstandings back home, I come back to town just as everything goes all insane once again. Only this time, there’s this kid caught up in the middle, and he’s basically an idiot.
[smiling_ina: Best introduction ever! :)]
2. What were your thoughts when you first found out about your heritage? What did it feel like the very first time you shape-shifted?
Oh right. That. For those who don’t know, I’m a shapeshifter. Do you have any idea what it’s like to be seven years old and on the first day of school you can’t hold a shape for more than a few minutes? It sucks, and then you get home schooled for the next three years because your mother doesn’t trust you, and you have to get rid of your dog because he suddenly hates you.
I hated it for a long time. When things get stressful, or I get really pissed, the animal part of my brain starts taking over, and it sucks. But it comes with some other perks. I’ve learned how to make other animals do what I want, which is always nice any time I need a flock of birds to leave a deposit on Gentry’s new car.
[smiling_ina: Haha, I can just imagine what Gentry's face must look like when he sees that. I'm sorry you had to give away your dog. That must have been so hard. :(]
3. Do you prefer one form over the other? I'm sure both human and wolf form have their perks.
You’ve been talking to Braden, haven’t you? I told you, that kid’s an idiot. You want to be a real predator, you become an elephant and just sit on whatever’s coming at you. The problem with Belle Dam is that you’ve got to learn to adapt. Every form has its perks, and you have to adapt quickly. Otherwise the demons win.
[smiling_ina: Yes, I admit I just pictured you as an elephant. Don't blame me, you're the one who said it! LOL]
4. So, what do you think of Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe? How does it affect your opinion about Braden?
Nothing Jason and Catherine do in this town is for anyone’s benefit other than their own. Braden’s a bit of an idiot, but he’s caught up in a bad way. Both sides are pushing to claim him, and either way he’s screwed. It’s all a chess game to them, and what do they care if they lose a pawn or two? So someone needs to watch out for him, because he’s clearly not doing a good enough job of that on his own.
[smiling_ina: I sense you have taken it upon yourself to do that job for him - watching out for him, I mean. It's not an easy job to do.]
5. Do you think Braden is in over his head, that he doesn't know what he has gotten himself into? Do you trust him at all? Also, do you think it's a good or bad thing he has come to Belle Dame?
Just because I think Braden is a bit of an idiot doesn’t mean I think he’s stupid. He knows what he’s getting himself into, at least he thinks he does. That’s the problem with this town. You always think you know what you’re up against, and then at the last minute things change. They did for me. They will for Braden.
Do I think it’s a good thing that he’s come to Belle Dam? I guess that would depend on the part of the question you forgot to mention. ‘For who?’ I know Braden must have eaten all his spinach growing up, big and strong in all the ways that Catherine and Jason would like. But it’s not like there’s a lot of people who are really looking out for him. They want the weapon, no one really cares about the kid. I get that.
[smiling_ina: You keep calling him an idiot, but deep down I think you really care for him, don't you?! You can tell me. I can keep a secret, I promise! ;)]
6. Speaking of coming to Belle Dame, was it a very difficult decision for you to come back? How did you cope with what happened to your parents?
My mom always used to say “there must always be an Armstrong in Belle Dam,” like it was some kind of magic spell that could ward away evil. Maybe she was just crazy, or maybe there was something to it. All I know is that ever since I left, all I could think about was how I was going to come back and make them pay. It was like this tug in my chest, a feeling that didn’t go away until the bus pulled into the station outside of town.
How do I cope with what happened to my parents? How does anyone? It taught me to be strong, to be independent. I don’t like owing anyone anything. I’d rather they owe me something.
[smiling_ina: I completely understand. I definitely think it's a very good thing you came back.]
7. There is one question I've been dying to ask you. I know she is your friend and all, but what is the deal with Riley? I am getting a weird vibe of off her, and am wondering if we can really trust her. Do you trust her or do you also believe she has her own agenda of some sort?
Riley’s a good kid, but she’s kind of an idiot, too. Too smart and too curious for her own good. She’s one of the few people who knows about me, and I wish she didn’t. Because that led her down the path to investigating all sorts of things in Belle Dam’s history, and why the town has grown the way it has. She mistakes tenacity for invulnerability - one day soon she’s going to ask the wrong person the wrong question, and she’s not going to be able to defend herself. So I try to keep her out of it as much as possible.
[smiling_ina: Idiot really seems to be one your favorite words, isn't it?! So, but you're saying she is just being too curious and nosy. I have to say I'm a little bit relieved now, because I really wasn't sure what to make of her.]
8. I don't know if Scott will allow you to talk about this, but whatever did happen with Jade? (I'm not nosy at all!)
I was a perfect young gentleman who happened to turn into a were-lemur at an inopportune time, there were pitchforks and torches, and I was politely asked to leave and never come back.
[smiling_ina: I see...speak about bad timing, huh?]
9. If you could ask Scott to write in a scene with you in it, what kind of scene would it be? Who else would be in it?
It would be a napping scene. I would be alone, taking a nap, in a quiet room with no doors or windows.
Seriously, are you insane? Do you not know what happens to people in these novels? The less I have to participate, the better.
[smiling_ina: LOL After the interview I just read with Scott over on fiktshun, I truly believe where you're coming from. You wouldn't want to mess with him. :D]
10. If the books were to be made into movies, who do you think should be cast to portray your character? I do realize it would be a tough job for anyone to live up to your awesomeness, but who do you think would have the best shot at it?
Oh please, like anyone could live up to my hotness. It’s just depressing how much uglier they’d have to make me in the movie. I’d probably ending up looking like Trey or something.
I’ve been told that Michael Trevino from the Vampire Diaries is a less hot version of me, but I’m partial to Tyler Hoechlin from Teen Wolf. He looks like he could beat the crap out of a Lansing.
[smiling_ina: LOL I had a feeling you'd have a hard time accepting the fact nobody could ever properly betray your hotness and uniqueness.]
11. OK, one final question, just for fun. If you were to get caught in a Zombie Apocalypse, how would you fight them? Who would you like as your allies?
Can I use my abs as a weapon? Because they’re effective at distracting Braden all the time…
[smiling_ina: Oh, I don't doubt their effect for one second! LOL]
Lastly, some quickie "Favorite" questions:
Favorite food:
You probably expect me to say something like “bunnies” don’t you? But I’m going to do you one better. Those onion blossom things, the fried ones with the dressing. Amazing.
[smiling_ina: I am so glad you didn't go for the bunnies!]
Favorite movie:
Anything James Bond.
Favorite book:
Maxim magazine….what?
Favorite band:
Linkin Park. Their older stuff, at least.
[smiling_ina: I LOVE their older stuff!!!]
Favorite song:
You’re assuming I’m going to pick something like “Hungry Like the Wolf” don’t you? But I’d much rather go with “I’m Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO.
[smiling_ina: Actually, I was thinking of "I'm Sexy and I know It" for you myself. It's just too fitting, isn't it?!]
Favorite past-time:
Annoying the Lansing family.
Favorite thing about Belle Dame:
Annoying the Lansing family.
Least favorite thing about Belle Dame:
Gentry Lansing. The fact that everyone kisses his ass. The smug look on his face.
[smiling_ina: Oh dear, unresolved issues, anyone? ;)]
Thank you again so, so much for answering all my questions, Drew! You can come back anytime! You are always welcome here! I cannot wait to read about what you and "the gang" are up to in
Demon Eyes.
*****
About the books
Goodreads description:
Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.
After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. [...]
To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.
Witch Eyes is FREE for Kindle and Nook right now, so don't wait another second, go get it!!!
*****
Demon Eyes description is spoiler-y for Witch Eyes!!!
Goodreads description:
Demons don't die without a fight...
After destroying the demon Lucien, Braden—son of Belle Dam’s most powerful warlock, Jason Thorpe—doesn’t need the power of his witch eyes to see that everything in his life is turning against him: friends, family, and even his visions. When disturbing nightmares of Lucien’s return haunt him, Braden discovers that the simmering feud between the city’s two witch dynasties is fast approaching its explosive boiling point.
While struggling to come to terms with his attraction to Trey, Catherine Lansing’s son who should be his mortal enemy, a diabolical plan starts to unveil before Braden’s eyes. Young women are disappearing from Belle Dam, and as he investigates, Braden is forced to explore the dangerous unknown power within himself. But when the truth about his family is revealed, Braden must pay a terrible price.
