Octavia is the enrichment student at the Academy who represents Cordelia at the Student Council trial. Like all my characters, she was born in my imagination, this time inspired by my awesome friend and editor, Sue Bernstein, who is also a lawyer. During the editing process, something odd happened. Sue adopted Octavia into her own imagination, and Octavia seemed to become a manifestation of Sue’s personality. It was a weird, but wonderful thing, and a total hoot. For the first time, my story had a character who seemed to have taken over a life of her own outside my own imagination. So it was only natural to ask Sue my questions for Octavia.
Where did you attend to law school?
From the time I was a kid growing up in the mid-western US, I always wanted to live in New York. So I applied to only one law school - a prestigious school in Manhattan that shall remain nameless - and got in! I spent three blissful years in Manhattan before being turned.
When were you turned into a vampire? How old were you?
That’s a day I'll never forget - I was turned on graduation day. What began as the happiest day of my life, graduation from law school, ended with fangs in my neck and me undead forever. I was… am twenty-six years old.
I am guessing you were turned by someone eminent, hence you being sent here to the Academy. Are you able to share who that was?
While I am not at liberty to divulge the name, suffice it to say that he was one of my law professors, who told me he had very big plans for me. No kidding big plans! When not teaching evening classes in New York, he teaches an introduction to paranormal jurisprudence class at Bonfire Academy.
What were the circumstances in which you were turned?
The professor who turned me was my mentor. I trusted him and worked side-by-side with him for three years. At least he waited for me to graduate before he turned me but studying for the NY Bar Exam while trying to control my brand-new powers was a bit hairy!
What will you do once your time at the Academy is over?
My mentor/professor/attacker still has big plans for me. Once my enrichment year is over, I am going to go into practice with him and will also teach part time at the Academy.
What do you think of Jagger?
For a winter, that faery is definitely H-O-T!
How close to you feel to him after letting him drink your blood? Do you feel he belongs to you in any way?
As trite as this sounds, faeries belong to no one. That said, however, Jagger and I have a very close bond. Mmmmm.
Do you like Cordelia?
Like is such an odd word for a vampire to use. Cordelia was my client, and I respect her. You didn't think you'd pin down a lawyer, did you?
What do you think is up between her and Jagger?
Oh, goodness! Something for sure. I can sense it in my blood.
Are you coming back to school next year, during Faustine’s Integration year?
Yes! But on the teaching staff.
Finally, my friend Allirea wants to know if you can make her into a faery, or does she have to be born as one?
Allirea, dear one, I can turn you into a vampire. So why would you want to be a faery? Yum!
Thanks so much, Octavia and Sue!
