Character Interview: Raphyel M. Jordan & Catty from “Prossia”

As promised on Monday, here is Catty – or Cattalice – from Raphyel M. Jordan’s Prossia. Watch out, this one’s a talker!

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Mia: What is the name of the book where we’ll find you? Can you tell us a little about it?

Catty: Helloooo! I’m in Raphyel M. Jordan’s sci-fi novel, “Prossia.” Hmm, okay, what it’s about. . .

“Prossia’s” a– what do you Earthlings call it– oh yeah! It’s a ‘coming-of-age’ story. Did I say that right? Sorry. Your various Planet Earth dialects are weird! And I think this is where I’m supposed to insert LOL

Anyway, “Prossia” follows the story of my best friend, Aly. Our tribe got drafted into a galactic war to fight off this ancient enemy called the Cyogen. That’s pronounced “Sy-o-jen,” in case you people can’t say it right. Wait, that didn’t come out as offensive, did it? Sorry. I’m not too familiar with Earthling culture.

Oh. But “Prossia” is more of a character-driven story than situational-driven. It’s a lesson about the unknown strength and potential that young people can have if they’re just given a chance.

Mia: Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you fit into the story? What should we know about you?

Catty: My name is Cattalice the Younger of the Kutenbriun Tribe. Thus the reason why I just go by Catty. I’m a– how do you say– supporting character in “Prossia.” I’m a ten-and-seven . . . oops. I mean, I’m a seventeen-year-old Goolian from Planet Gooliun. I live in a southern tribe called Kutenbrya, only a couple of days away from our planetary capital.

My pappai–I mean father– is the field lord of my tribe, so I can’t deny the fact that I’ve had a more fortunate upbringing than most. I know I’m spoiled, and I’ve had it a little easier than most of my friends, like Aly. So, I try extra hard to help my tribe in any way I can. We Goolians believe in the bettering of the collective whole, not the individual.

I like to gossip, listen to music, and I LOVE to dance. Love it love it love it! I hate homework, but what teenager doesn’t? I’m sure that’s a universal thing with all sentient beings.

Oh. . . and I hate secrecy, especially the type I have to keep from the ones I love. :/ It’s a horrible feeling to have, especially when you think a person has a right to know that they. . . maybe I said too much on that subject. Um, next question?

Mia: Sure. What do you think of the author? Be honest. We won’t tell.

Catty: Promise? Okay. For an Earthling. . . I think he’s pretty cute. LOL! I know, I’m so weird for thinking that about an alien! Then again, I guess I’m the alien to you folks, right?

Besides, I was told by one of your kind that I’m kinda like a. . . darn it, what’s that word again? A humanoid? I take it that meant my species has similar physical-looking attributes to Earthlings.

Anyways, coming back to topic: Raphyel can be so serious at times, but so bubbly the next! He’s very passionate about making sure the Prossial experience is written correctly. He likes to draw too, and I think that’s pretty cool. He even did a drawing of me one time, and it looked so much like me that it was scary!

And I just love his hair! It’s so unique! Locks are so fancy looking. And he has such a cute laugh. . . Whenever you hear it, you know he’s nearby. Please make sure he doesn’t read this. LOL!

Mia: How do you feel about the story you’re in?

Catty: Oh. Well, I really can’t call it a story since I’m living it. I know other people are going to enjoy all of the action and stuff, especially since Earthlings don’t see very agile creatures taking on bad guys with advanced technologies that often. Oh, that and the fact that my people can combust enough energy out of our hands to form of a ball of plasma.

But honestly, there’s nothing fun about being in a war. I have no idea if my friends and I are going to make it to see the next day. And when you’re fighting for your life on the battlefield, I think you tend to forget about the huge perspective in trying to protect the entire galaxy. I honestly just want to make sure that the person beside me makes it out with me in one piece. :/

And being a soldier changes your perspective of the world. I can especially see that in Aly. She’s always been proper and respectful of our elders, just as we were raised to be. But now I see her speaking out more than she should. She questions ideas, and even her own pappai. I’m thinking that not knowing if we’re going to see tomorrow is giving her a drive to know as much as possible before. . . well. . . before it might be too late.

That’s good and all, but I think she’s getting a little obsessive about it. It’s like she’ll go by any means, even if it’s the wrong means, to get more knowledge since she knows we may not make it to our parents’ ages anymore. I worry about her a lot. The Cyogen. . . they’re ruining everything. . .

Mia: Do you like being a character in the book?

Catty: It’s. . . interesting, I guess. Ralphie–oops– I mean Raphyel told me that he thinks the situation Aly and I are in would be beneficial to people, especially your Young Ones. Oh, Young Ones are people that are transitioning to adulthood, by the way. Sorry!

There’s a lot being put on the line in “Prossia,” so if the situations my comrades and I find ourselves in inspire one single person, then I think that’s enough. It is for me, at least.

Mia: How do you see your future? Without giving anything away about the story, naturally.

Catty: I see Aly and our fathers going back home together, champions of a saved world. I know it sounds a little naive, but sometimes keeping such thoughts is the only thing that keeps me from going insane. I mean, Aly and I have never been away from home before, and now we’re on an entirely different planet! She doesn’t say it, but I know she’s just as homesick as I am, if not more. I just have to believe that we’re all going to make it back alive. I just have too.

. . .

Excuse me. These questions have gotten a little more personal. Can I have a tissue please? Sorry.

Mia: It’s alright. How about we change the subject? What do you know about your author’s plans? Can we expect to see you in any future stories?

Catty: You betchya! ^_^ I agreed to let Raphyel document whatever happens after “Prossia.” In the meantime, he had Aly and I talk about our childhood back home. He says he wanted to give his readers something to read while they’re waiting on the sequel to “Prossia.” I think he also mentioned something about it being free due to the prolonged wait for the sequel, but if you ask me, I think he’s crazy! LOL!

Anyways. Talking about our upbringing was a lot of fun! Still, it was kind of hard for me to do because I had to do some of my explanations to Jordan in private. Um, there’s a couple of items I had to discuss that Aly isn’t supposed to hear.

. . .

Did I just say too– I really hate secrecy. Next question, please.

Mia: No problem. Let’s say they make a movie about this book. Who do you want to play you, and why?

. . .

What’s a—ohhhh, right! A movie! LOL! I’m so sorry. Isn’t a movie that item you Earthlings go to watch pictures in motion? I apologize for my ignorance. Goolians aren’t familiar with that sort of entertainment because our technology is behind the times, compared to most known sentient people. Why, we don’t even have light bulbs yet! So, I bet you can only imagine the shock my people had when we saw hundreds of Allied spaceships entering Gooliun’s atmosphere! I thought the world was coming to an end!

Since I don’t know enough about “movies,” I’m afraid I really can’t say who I think could “play” me. And that alone is a silly thought, if you ask me. Why can’t I just play as myself? Earthlings are an interesting bunch, but you’re a lot of fun!

Actually, your kind reminds me of a race in our galaxy called Ufrians. Hmm, must be the fur on the top of your heads, I guess. But then their skin is rougher and orange, and their eyes and forearms are bigger. Hmm, and then there’s the nose, and you guys have four fingers and a thumb, and they only have two fingers and a. . . you know what? Forget I said anything. Your race doesn’t look anything like them!

Anyway, it was fun talking with you! Thank you so much! Bye!

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Author Bio: Raphyel Montez Jordan, born February 10th, 1985, grew up in a Franklin, Tennessee household sensitive to the creative arts. As a child, his hobbies were drawing favorite cartoon and video game characters while making illustrated stories. This passion for art never left and followed him all the way up to his high school and college years.

It wasn’t until college when he underwent a personal “renaissance” of sorts that Jordan took his interest in writing to another level. When he was 19, he started writing a novel for fun, taking inspiration from the constant exposure of different ideas and cultures that college showed him while staying true to the values he grew up to embrace. However, when the “signs of the times” influenced the story and the characters to spawn into universes of their own, he figured he might possibly be on to something.

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