Jason Cordova's Website

(I was tagged in this by Amanda S. Green. She introduced her favorite character, Ashlyn Shaw, star of Vengeance From Ashes, here.)

As I walked into the bar, I began to wonder just what the hell I was getting myself into this time. Sure, I’m the author, and I create these people, but some of them seem to be able to slip the reins and run around without proper supervision. Vincente Huerta, the main character from Murder World: Kaiju Dawn, ship captain, smuggler, and all around pain in the ass, was one of those characters. He was brash, arrogant, and really needed to be smacked in the mouth. Unfortunately, this interview called for just one character, so there was no Jasmine to help me keep him in check. Which was a shame, really. I could use some backup when dealing with guys like him. It keeps me from killing them.

I spotted him fairly easily. He looks just as I figured he would: slightly overweight, thinning hair, in dire need of a shave. Taller than I expected, though, and much bluer eyes than any man with that Hispanic-sounding of a name should have. Contacts, perhaps? I wouldn’t put it past him.

He looked up as I approached. I almost grabbed a nearby bar stool and hit him right there. I have no idea why, I just did. He had this… smugness about him that I desperately wanted to beat out of him. I mean, seriously. He gives off that “I’m an ass, beat me with a baseball bat” vibe. For once I understand what a Charisma roll of 8 is really like.

“You’re late,” he told me. I looked at my phone, confused.

“No, I’m right on time,” I countered.

“In my line of work, if you’re on time, then Customs gets you. Always be early.”

What a load of crap. I’m being lectured to by my own creation. I seriously need to kill this asshole off.

I joined him in the booth and watched him pound back a shot of bourbon. Cheap bourbon, I’ll add. The man hasn’t found much work lately, and times were lean, even for the most effusive of alcoholics. I ordered water from the passing waitress, who nodded in my direction before sending a scalding look at Vincente. I smiled. Nice to know that I wasn’t the only one who wanted to smash his face in.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” he asked.

“Well, for starters, tell me about your past.”

“Nothing interesting there.”

I pull out my notepad and look it over. “Considering I have your life story right here, I’d say that you were lying.”

“If you have everything, then why are you bugging me about this stupid interview?”

I swear to God I’m going to break his nose.

“Look, Vincente… I just want to hear it from you. For instance, I have you being married twice. That caused some consternation with me, since I don’t think that was meant to be.”

“Tell me about it. We managed to null that marriage less than ten hours after it happened. Glad that woman agreed.”

“Which woman?” I asked. “Mooney?”

“No, not her,” he growled. “The other.”

“Come on Vincente,” I prodded. “What’s her name?”

“You’re the damned writer, you spoil the sequel.”

He had me there. I hated spoilers. Especially when they were my fault.

“Okay fine. We’ll try talking about something else then. Tell me about your ship.”

For the first time, he takes an extreme interest in the interview. “My ship? She’s beautiful. I converted the interior holds into airtight, individual storage bays and added an armored personnel carrier for those smuggling rendezvous where I might get shot at. She’s got the best communications ‘net on the market, and that includes the black market, and my engineer can get her into skip space with hardly a bump. She’s the real deal. You looking to rent her out?”

“No, not really.” I was sort of confused by his response though. I was pretty sure that he no longer had the Fancy and was, in fact, in the market. But then again, the guy is a born liar.

“A shame. I need the money,” he said as he began to slide out of the booth. I looked at him, surprised.

“Where are you going? I have a few more questions to ask you.”

“Sorry chief, gotta run. My permit’s about to expire and this here rock doesn’t do credit the way they used to. Plus, I think I owe the dockmaster money.”

I watched him walk away and I couldn’t help feeling that I’d gotten the shaft. Sure, he answered a few questions, but this wasn’t what I had been hoping for. I wanted to have my readers get to know him, and instead–

“Here’s his tab, sir,” the waitress slipped me Vincente’s bill as she passed by. “He said you’d take care of it.”

Son of a bitch. I hate that guy.