Character Reading: Mick Burns

Today I want to celebrate the release of a new book in a promising new Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy series by Allyson James. I’ve read a lot of her books. One of my favorites is Howlin’ . Because of that and other books by her like the fabulous Dragon Series, she’s become one of my automatic buys. But don’t tell her that! Grin!

A bit about Allyson from her own bio:

Allyson writes paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and erotic romance for Berkeley and Ellora’s Cave. She published her first book as Jennifer Ashley in 2002, and since then has published about thirty novels and a dozen novellas under several pseudonyms. Her Jennifer Ashley novels have hit the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Allyson lives with her soul mate, an avid reader himself, in the beautiful Southwest in a houseful of books.

Do visit Allyson’s web site.

Now come meet Mick Burns. He’s got a bit of a problem that maybe you can help him out with? And don’t miss the contest for a signed copy of one of Allyson’s books! Dang it. I can’t put my own name in the hat.

1. How do you see the people around you?

Well, the 8 of Swords is an interesting card. You see those around you as being blind to the dangers around them. You have seen so much that you may be a bit cynical about the world in general.

This card shows a woman who’s been blindfolded and forced to walk in a dark woods over bare swords while barefooted. Not the most pleasant of images, is it, Mick?

But what you may be missing here is that she’s nearly at the end of her journey. At that time, she’s going to have to make a choice. Each one comes with a pretty serious drawback. Potentially venomous snake on one side or potentially dangerous “all-knowing” owl on the other.

Your view of this situation may be overly protective. Is it?

Mick’s Response:
Yeah, the cards are pretty perceptive. My girlfriend, Janet Begay, she’s this powerful Stormwalker, but she’s headed straight for trouble. No wait, she’s already in trouble—from skinwalkers, bloodsuckers, whack-job goddesses… I try so hard to keep her safe, but I can’t seem to get it right. I know I need to let her face what she needs to, but I’m all twisted up about her, you know? And what’s coming for her is going to be bad….

2. How are you seen by the people around you?

They see you as an outsider. There is a sense of loss that they see in you. It may come across as harshness or being overly critical. The fact that you lost your home once may make them see you as someone not to be fully trusted.

That’s because you’ve loved very deeply in the past. And it wasn’t just one person. This was more than that. It was a family, a community, a village, a group of people that were so close it was hard to tell where one left off and the other began. Losing that changed you. In ways you may not realize.

Now you fight to make sure it never happens again. Your battle may make you seem lost to others. There is also a sense from those around you that you could lose them THEIR homes as well.

Mick’s Response:

I am an outsider. I don’t really fit in with the people I live with now—I’m a dragon who’s been around a long time, and the humans I’m with now are incredibly young and incredibly vulnerable. Here I am in this small desert town, when I used to be with my own kind. I couldn’t protect people in the past, and now I’m trying to protect Janet and her friends. It’s hard. I need a break.

3. What is your most important goal?

This is a sweet card as your goal card, Mick. It is the card of nightmares and anxieties. In this position, it tells me that you have set yourself up to rid the world—or at least one person—of what scares them.

Seems your goal is to rid the world of the bogeyman. That’s simplistic of course, but you are a guardian of some sort. A warrior who has take up the sword, albeit reluctantly.

Because you are a Cancer, it may be hard for you to take on this role simply because home is so very important to you. Or is that what makes it easy? A Cancer male battling to save his territory is a fearsome creature.

Mick’s Response:

Dragons are all about territory. My territory now is Janet, wherever she is. I’ll defend her to the death, and I might just have to. Sure, I’d like to rid the world of everything that scares her, particularly one evil being that we might have suppressed, but who knows? I don’t like to hurt people—life’s rough for everyone, right? But I’ll do anything to keep her safe.

4. Where do you get your strength from?

Community. Family. Friends. This is the 10 of Pentacles which is about having what you need in terms of resources. Those are provided by the earth. This card represents those around you who are your chosen family.

You also see what can be lost. The vision of what and who would be lost drives you like nothing else, doesn’t it? Your ferocity is fed by the knowledge of what the world would be like if you lost your fight.

Mick’s Response:

Hell, yes. If I lose, so many people could be hurt, especially Janet. I know I talk about her a lot, but really, since I met her, I know she’d have been dead if I hadn’t stuck around and helped her. I helped her even when she didn’t know it. I do have resources now I never thought I would: Powerful allies like Coyote and a witch and a Navajo shifter. Not to mention this smart-ass magic mirror. We’d have more peace and quiet without the mirror, but I can’t deny it’s saved our butts a couple of times.

5. Why do you want to be remembered?

The 8 of Wands tells me a secret about you. You don’t necessarily want to be remembered. This is the card of rapid changes. It signifies travel to exotic locales, but it also stands for extremely fast movement.

You may be a bit of a “have gun, will travel” type who just wants to be remembered as that “masked man” who saved the day. Anonymity is important, it seems.

Mick’s Response:

I have to be that way. I’m going to live a long time while others I care about will die and vanish. I want to take care of Janet while I can; I want her safe, no matter what. She’s powerfully kick-ass magical, but that doesn’t mean she’s invincible. Like I said, I took care of her even when she didn’t know I was around. I don’t need the glory. I just need her to be OK. Because, what’s coming—hell, what’s already in her life—is going to kill her. But I won’t let it, I swear to all the gods.

Want to read a bit more? Check out this excerpt from STORMWALKER by Allyson James.Allyson is giving away a signed copy of Stormwalker (book 1) Or backlist book of choice if winner already has it.

Don’t wait! Firewalker (Stormwalker)Buy the book now. Trust me. You will love Allyson’s writing. I know I do.