Killraven by Arline Chase

Book: KILLRAVEN
Author: Arline Chase

What's his name?

DeCoursey Rogers.

Why did you pick that name?

Roger is my husband's name and DeCoursey Bridge (near my home) is reputed to be the hang-out of our local headless ghost, Big Liz.

Give us a brief description of how he looks.

Coursey is tall, lean, dark, and could pass for handsome in poor light. His skin is tan and weathered from seven years at sea aboard a whaler, and there are lines around his eyes, from squinting in the sun.His laughter is a joyful sound and rings out often in good times, but never with cruelty.

Is there anything unusual about his appearance?

Not really.

Who does he love? Why?

He loves his grandmother, who raised ihm. Loves her enough to come home and care for her when he learns she is ill, even though the secrets in the past that drove him away have not changed. He is mighty attracted to Hope Voeschell, who was raised in a kind of pacifist cult that took all the fun out of fundamentalism. They shunned her for wanting to be a teacher.

Does this person love him?

Gran loves Coursey and doesn't want to be a "burden" to him. Hope, jobless, homeless, and living on the charity of her best friend, is too worried about how to earn a living to admit how she feels about Coursey.

Tell us about his family. Are they important to him?

Coursey's parents ran a mill in Ohio. They were murdered there by raiders following the Civil War. He was sent back to the island to live with his grandmother.

Where is he from?

Killraven Island, a small Chesapeake Bay Island peopled by farmers and commercial fishermen.

Does his hometown affect his behavior, thoughts and attitude?

Always.

What does he want out of life?

A family to love and care for, safety for the people of the island, a peaceful way of life. But because of incidents in the past Coursey has given up on that dream.

What's his biggest secret? (Only share if it isn't a spoiler in the story.)

Can't share it here.

Did you write more than one story about him?

Well KILLRAVEN started as a story in a collection of short stories based in family history. That book was called THE DROWNED LAND, and was an Eppie finalist in 1998/ Then several of those stories entwined themselves and grew into the novel KILLRAVEN.

How would he describe you?

As his great-great-great-grand neice.

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