Meet Charlize

Wednesday, 3/1/23

Hellllllllooooooo, readers!

I hope you enjoyed hearing from Jabesh. He’s a sort of enigmatic Yoda character in my novel, so I have a special place in my heart for him. Get ready to read about him when “Obsidian” releases one day!

Charlize is a character in “Dark Salvation” and has some unique interactions in “Obsidian,” especially with Michael. If you have any questions for my characters or myself, leave them below in the Comments section. Next time I’ll be interviewing Shataym, one of the leaders from the Jakar desert community, so be sure to come back for that.

Disclaimer: the images of the characters were generated on Canva’s Text to Image Artificial Intelligence (AI) software. They aren’t the final representation of the characters in “Dark Salvation” but, rather, visual representations of the characters so you can understand the characters better.

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JOHN: Tell us about yourself. Where you’re from, what you do for a living, for fun, etc. etc.

CHARLIZE: I’m from Camouraska and have lived here my whole life. I am one of the Honor Guards in charge of keeping order in our community. For fun, I love going to the Sky Gardens and taking care of our plants and food supply.

JOHN: Jabesh and Michael told me about his opinions about living in Camouraska. Do you like living there?

CHARLIZE: First, why are you asking Michael questions like that? He just arrived in Camouraska. Is it because he’s the Light of the Stars? I don’t know why we should trust him. We don’t know what he’s done in the past or where he came from, but I seem to be the only one with those concerns.

To answer your question, I wish I could live somewhere else outside of Camouraska, but I know that’s impossible. I’ll follow orders and support the community. That’s where I feel the most grounded.

JOHN: It sounds like you don’t believe in the prophecy about the Light of the Stars. Is that true?

CHARLIZE: I don’t. I believe in Camouraska, the Energite, and things I can see. Valdesha is the same way, and I’ll follow her advice over someone I’ve only just met.

JOHN: How long have you been an Honor Guard?

CHARLIZE: I started training when I was a child.

JOHN: Do you have family in Camouraska?

CHARLIZE: No. My mother was sent to Gardona many years ago and my father was killed in the Battle of Camouraska.

JOHN: What was the Battle of Camouraska?

CHARLIZE: It happened when I was a trainee in the Honor Guard. Some desert dwellers tried to fight their way back into Camouraska, but they were unsuccessful. Sorry…I don’t want to talk about it anymore.

JOHN: I’m sorry. What can you tell me about the Sky Gardens?

CHARLIZE: They supply most of the fruits and vegetables we eat in the community. The Gardens were built on the side of Camouraska high above the desert so some of the moisture can reach the plants. Also, putting the gardens there made sure animals didn’t eat the plants. We plant seasonally and then harvest when it gets colder. We cover the beds with Energite slabs in the winter and when there are sandstorms.

JOHN: Do you know who made the Sky Gardens?

CHARLIZE: No, but people say Camouraska created them so we could survive as a community.

JOHN: I would love to do an interview with Camouraska if that’s possible, but Jabesh said he couldn’t arrange it. Could you help me since you’re a member of the Honor Guard?

CHARLIZE: I’ve never spoken to Camouraska directly so, no, I can’t help you with that. I don’t think I’m the right person to ask. Camouraska is determined to fulfill the prophecy, which I’ve mentioned I don’t believe. I can ask Valdesha: maybe she knows how to contact Camouraska.

JOHN: That’s OK. I’m interviewing her in a while and can ask her. What do you do for the Honor Guard?

CHARLIZE: I conduct security checks of the community and make sure people are behaving appropriately. I act as security for Valdesha during Great Hall events. I help escort groups to the portal room for transport to Gardona. I have many other duties, but those are just a few of them.

JOHN: What is the portal room?

CHARLIZE: I can’t talk about that, especially if you are going to discuss our interview proceedings with others or you’re going to post this online on your website, john-walters.com. Sorry.

JOHN: That’s fine. I think I know what the portal room is. I just wanted to make sure you and the readers knew too. Do you also have duties at the entrance to Camouraska?

CHARLIZE: We don’t rotate there, no. Nobody from the outside has gotten into the community. We have deterrents.

JOHN: What sorts of deterrents?

CHARLIZE: <laughs>. Do you ask everyone these types of ridiculous questions? Did Shopnil tell you to ask me? It sounds like something he would try to get me to say.

JOHN: Is there anything dangerous that you can talk about? I mean, this is a science fiction novel series with some thrilling/suspenseful elements.

CHARLIZE: Right, you’re writing a book series about our lives. It can be dangerous on the Sky Gardens because we get sandstorms. Otherwise, I’m sorry to spoil your writing, but there isn’t anything wrong with Camouraska.

JOHN: Well, that’s boring. Camouraska sounds like a safe place. I’ll have to write in some intrigue somehow.

CHARLIZE: Please don’t. I already have enough as it is with an assignment Valdesha gave me. We’re a peaceful place. Could you leave it that way?

JOHN: I’m sorry, but no. This is my work. I can do what I want, but I’ll try to make it as interesting as possible. What assignment did Valdesha give you?

CHARLIZE: I’m supposed to attend these meetings about the prophecy. That’s all I can say, but I’m not excited.

JOHN: A few more questions. What can you tell me about the Truth?

CHARLIZE: Like I mentioned, I don’t really know a lot about the prophecy. The truth is what’s in front of our faces and how we can continue to be a peaceful and successful community. As an Honor Guard, I will try to keep order. Order is the real truth.

JOHN: I look forward to learning more about it in the story. Any parting thought for the readers?

CHARLIZE: They were right about you. Your interview style is unusual, and you ask too many questions we can’t answer. I still want to read the other interviews one day. Is that possible?

JOHN: Maybe. You are a fictional character, so it may be difficult for you to read it.

CHARLIZE: Well, good luck, and, to the readers out there learning about my flaws, remember you’re flawed as well. Just do the right thing.