The Spring at Moss Hill Character Q & A

THE SPRING AT MOSS HILL  Character Q&A

Here’s a fun Q&A with Kylie Shaw and Russ Colton, the two main characters in my latest Swift River Valley novel. Enjoy! ~Carla

What brought you to Knights Bridge?

Kylie: A friend of mine got a job in Iowa and offered me the use of her country home in Knights Bridge. It was furnished, quiet and I didn’t know anyone and figured I wouldn’t have any distractions. I’m an illustrator, and my career has taken off with the success of a series of children’s books about badgers. I needed and wanted to focus on my work for a few months. Knights Bridge seemed like the perfect choice for an artistic retreat.

Russ: Work. When I got out of the navy, I became a licensed private investigator. I expected to stay in San Diego, but my brother had moved to Hollywood to pursue his dreams. I owe Marty. Long story. He works at a bar, making ends meet, and he introduced me to one of his regulars, a costume designer named Daphne Stewart. Not her real name. That’s Debbie Sanderson. She changed it

after she left Knights Bridge as a young woman. Now she’s going back to give a master class in costume design—another long story—and I’m indulging her sense of drama and checking out the place for security risks.

What’s your favorite book?

Kylie: Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. I’ve read it so many times!

Russ: I learned to enjoy reading while I was in the navy. I can’t say I have a favorite. I read a lot of nonfiction. I started The Three Musketeers on my flight east from LA. Can’t go wrong with a sword fight.

How would you describe a perfect first date?

Kylie: I’ve had some terrible first dates. Only dates, as it turned out. A Red Sox game, for instance. I left early! I enjoy baseball, but for a first date, I prefer a candlelit dinner, champagne and a quiet, romantic setting.

Russ: One that leads to a second date. I guess that’s not a great answer. I like to do something that suits the woman I’m seeing but doesn’t make me squirm. I probably wouldn’t do well at a harpsichord concert. A picnic and a walk on the beach would be good. No pressure, just a fun time.

Where were you on your 18th birthday?

Kylie: My younger sister, Lila, and I spent the day in Boston at the Museum of Fine Arts. Lila already knew she would follow in our father’s footsteps and become a veterinarian, but she also knew I wanted to be an artist and indulged me. She loved any painting depicting animals. I think that visit helped inspire my badger family.

Russ: My father took me on a scenic helicopter ride over Sedona. He loved flying. Afterward Marty, my older brother, took me out for burritos at this dive he knew in Phoenix. He had all these plans even then. It was a good day.

For more details about The Spring at Moss Hill , please click here. Thanks!