Lifethread by L. J. Charles

McKenna Fin (the main character in Lifethread by L.j. Charles) offered to meet me for an interview anywhere I chose. I’ve picked a crowded bookstore so that I have some sort of assurance of being able to walk out of it … alive. Yes, I value my lifethread just that much.

She’s come today dressed in her favorite outfit: blue jeans, a long-sleeved black t-shirt, and her Doc Martens, and is sitting across from me, poised on the edge of the couch, a book titled Knife Skills, Illustrated in her hand. I’m already starting to wonder if I should hold this interview at all! Think young and dangerous. What if I ask the wrong question?

Well … here goes.

Aimee: So—coughs into hand—MacKenna Fin. Fifty years in high school. That must hurt. I kind of liked high school, but 50 years is a bit much. Or do you just love it?

MacKenna: The thing is, Ms. Laine, I’m not allowed to talk about my life, or you know, I’ll never actually have one. She points the edge of the book at me and eyes the distance between us. It’s odd that you know about my 50-year history in high school. No one knows that except…oh, no. Who’ve you been talking to?

Aimee: I hear … stuff … wherever. Rumor has it, you’re kinda in love with this Nathan Quinn guy. Don’t you think that’s a little—taps temple— stupid?

McKenna: She jumps off the couch, towering over me. You know, not a smart thing to refer to a Fated priestess as stupid. Just sayin’.

Aimee: Okay, you’re right. My apologies. Let’s get back to Nathan. No, let’s talk about Fate. The Fates, in particular … your ‘Fate’. You work for one of them. Do you have to get her coffee? Take notes for her? How does that work for you?

McKenna: It’s nothing like that. She shrugs before settling back on the edge of the couch. You’re really not supposed to know about us priestess types. The Fates, yes. Everyone knows about them, and, well, I shouldn’t say anything, but since you’re not asking about Nathan…no coffee, no notes. It’s more like a save the world kind of job. Coffee would be good though. Smells like hazelnut cream in here.

Aimee: I sniff the room. I’d say it smells more like burnt coffee. Too bad we didn’t pick a Starbucks—Insert self-conscious laugh—So, what can you tell me about the Fates? If I’m not supposed to know about you, nor ask about you, let’s go up a level in the mythological hierarchy of life. Give me one good thing about the fates. Yours in particular.

McKenna: My Fate is Atropos. She’s responsible for cutting lifethreads—ending human life. Scary, but not really. Atropos is all about balance and keeping things orderly. Thing is, she’s the most…ah, intimidating of the Fates. Probably has to do with the scissors, but she’s almost always the spokes-fate when us priestess types are called before the tribunal. Huh. Shouldn’t have mentioned that. She takes out her blade and caresses the flat, glowing surface.

Aimee: See why we’re in this coffee shop? Luckily people are milling about so I’m hoping if this chick across from me gets any fiestier, I can run. Uh, okay. No more mention of … your role. C’mon though, you gotta tell me why after all this time you’d fall in love with a human. I mean, aren’t there thousands of other fish in the sea? Or does that show my age?

McKenna: She twirls hair around finger. Yeah. Your age is definitely showing, but seriously, Nathan is…different. And humanity is priceless. There just isn’t anything more special than humanity, well, other than my sisters and Nathan, and stuff. She curls back corner of the couch. Nathan is awesome. He gets me. Enough said.

Aimee: I lean forward all serious like. If humanity is the most special thing around, why do you let anyone snip lifethreads at all?

McKenna: Balance. You’re a grown up. You should know this. Life is a circle and the severing of lifethreads allows the circle to flow. Really, if you don’t get it by now, you may never understand. Even the energy from demon lifethreads is necessary to maintain the balance. I just learned that, though, so I don’t expect you to know about it. Oh, and another thing. She scoots to edge of couch. No one let’s Atropos do anything. Not even Zeus is crazy enough to challenge…oops. Probably it’s time for me to go.

Aimee: I wave my hands in the air. Fine, fine. Mums the word on the whole Atropos, priestess, Zeus, life snipper gig you got goin’ on. I personally think Zeus is a bit of a jokster myself. Why else would he create so many contradictions? But I digress …

McKenna: Hmmm. She leans forward to whisper. You’re right, but I wouldn’t say that where people can hear you. You never know who’s listening.

Aimee: So … leave us with one piece of advice on cross-species relationships. Give us something good we can chew on.

McKenna: She’s got a big grin now. I’m going to earn my humanity, so Nathan and I will have a normal, human relationship. Sort of. There will always be the…odd twists, but you asked for something to chew on. Respect. For the whole cross species thing to work, you really need to respect each other. Like with me and my sisters. We all have different, um, gifts, but we love each other so we’re tolerant of the stuff we don’t understand. Mostly. I really gotta go.

Aimee: She stands and leaves before I can get another word in. I watch her saunter out and think, oh to be that young again … then again, she’s technically older than me. Ha! I’d stick out my tongue at her, but … well … she’s probably see it and I’d be doomed.

I hope you enjoyed this little character interview. Want to know more about Lifethread? Here’s what you’ll find on the back cover:

McKenna Fin is armed, dangerous, and in love for the first time. She’ll do anything to earn her humanity… except the one thing the Fate’s require.

Stuck in her senior year of high school until she earns her humanity, McKenna Fin is responsible for cutting the lifethread of demons, and protecting teens from being possessed. To celebrate her fiftieth year of apprenticeship to the Fate Atropos, McKenna is given a new responsibility, and possibly a quick way to earn her humanity—severing the lifethread of deserving humans. Her first assignment:  Nathan Quinn.

When Nathan becomes a primary demon target and gets sucked into Tartania, McKenna’s duty as a Fated priestess demands she follow. McKenna can rescue him, no problem, but then she’d have to cut his lifethread. And he’s the one and only guy she’s been attracted to since forever.

The demons consider Nathan one of their own and fight to keep him. The time limit on Nathan’s life is about to run out, and McKenna has to make the decision: sever his lifethread, or battle demons, defy the Fates, and keep him for her own.

And about the author, L.J. Charles:

I wrote my first book when I was eight…on pink construction paper with a purple crayon. It was a romance that involved a princess, and although I remember very few details about the plot, I do remember that it was illustrated and there was music and dancing involved.

At about the same time I penned my first story, I discovered Nancy Drew and my love for reading was born. It has only grown over the years, and I am rarely without a huge to-be-read stack, and a book within easy reach.

Now days I write women’s fiction and young adult novels. All of my stories combine romance, mystery, and paranormal elements. Guess I haven’t ever outgrown my early reading adventures with Nancy, Ned, Bess and George.

I live in the frozen north with my husband, whose TBR stack is taller than mine, and two felines who have been known to add entire pages to a manuscript without telling me.

Have you read the novel? If so, what did you think? If not, has our little interview encouraged you to do so? Share in the comments!