Ms. White AKA Susan Grün
Ms. White is a former CIA field agent. Recruited out of college when attending University of Texas at Austin, Go Longhorns, she has subsequently lived the majority of her adult life in the shadows. Always going by a pseudonym, she has fought to keep her personal life, personal. Even some of her team members do not know the full story behind her motivation to dethrone the King. Her closest companion and most loyal friend would be the Commander, another who likes to keep his past in the past. The two work in perfect unison to run the Elysian Fields Agency. Proficient in the art of killing as well as deception, Ms. White has learned that to gain victory, some sacrifices must be made. Though some might argue otherwise, she does have a heart and does know how to love. It is that love, for freedom and revenge, that has driven her to be at the top of her field. She has the looks of a model but the skills of a lioness, and she will not rest until either she or the King is dead.
Author Notes:
Writing the character of Ms. White was a lot of fun. I admit, like most men, I have a thing for stunningly beautiful women in stories, I blame it on Princess Leia and Alice from Resident Evil. However even if you go back further, to such great movies as Gone With the Wind or even further back still to Much Ado About Nothing, strong women have always made stories better. Ms. White’s character, though, is one who uses her brain more than her weapons, she know the importance of not only attacking, but attacking wisely. She has the body and looks of a high fashion model, but the brains of a neurosurgeon and the skills of a top assassin. The best way to describe her is if you combined James Bond with any one of the many Bond girls.
(model: @stephanieannlouse Photographer: @robertposs, Follow on Instagram at @stephanieannlouse
Robert "Butch" Parker III
Butch is a direct descendent of Robert L. Parker, aka Butch Cassidy, however this Butch chose to uphold the law rather then break it. Prior to the lights going out, Butch was the Sheriff of Beaver Ut, where the biggest issues he had to deal with was drag racing and the town drunk. Now he has found himself as the Voice and the unofficial Mayor of Camp Zion. He has the look of your kind Uncle, however under that soft smile and white beard is a man who knows what evil lurks just beyond the Camp Zion walls. His years in law enforcement has taught him how to recognize when something isn’t right, and more importantly how to handle it when it confronts him. He does have his soft side, and is willing to help those in need. It is upon this soft side, that Butch has been able to build and maintain such an eclectic group of survivors. So if you can find it, and arrive safely to Camp Zion, Butch will offer a helping hand. But make no mistake, if you bite that hand, he will use it to end you.
Author Note:
I was 16 years old, when my family and I were traveling back home to AZ from Salt Lake City, UT. On our way home we spent the night at Beaver UT and it was then that I learned that Butch Cassidy had lived around there. I had already seen the movie about 20 times, with Paul Newman and Robert Redford, and I instantly wanted to learn more. So when I was writing book twoForbearance, and started to research around Zion National Park, I knew I needed someone from Beaver Ut with some type of ties to Butch Cassidy, and thus “Butch” was born. This character is based off of one of my Uncles, who had spent majority of his life as a Sheriff Deputy and later would become Chief of Police in Charleston South Carolina. My Uncle was always kind and had a big smile, but he was not one to cross.
(model & photographer: @ruiner_ar15, Follow on Instagram @dangerclosedigital
The Mexican Gnome:
The Mexican Gnome, a nickname given to him due to a dark blue hoodie which he would ware. With the hood pulled up, it gave him a pointy head, and resembled a very large, very menacing gnome. He has no formal training, never served in any elite fighting force, but what he lacks in such formal training he makes up for with loyalty and shear hatred of the Russians and Regionals. His life before the blackout is unknown and what he lost during the months to fallow has also remained a mystery. All that is really known is that he is fierce loyal, and possess unflinching courage. His willingness to destroy anything or anyone who might get in his way of freedom and restoring America is what makes him vital to the survival of Camp Zion. With his AK-47 and his signature three pound spikes, he is more than a force to recon with.
Author Note:
“No better friend, no worse enemy” General “Mad Dog” Mattis. This quote from General Mattis, describing the United States Marines, is what I was thinking of when writing the character of The Mexican Gnome. I have to give all the credit of this character to a friend of mine, the REAL Mexican Gnome @kazukamax. We first meet you might say a few years ago on Instagram, and instantly hit it off. It was during the process of writing Forbearance that he had sent me a video of him throwing 3 pound spikes in his back yard. It was then that I was inspired to add him and his spikes into the story line. In my continual effort to add a bit of reality to my stories, I often try to pull ideas and storylines from personal interactions with other, this character is a perfect example of just that. I had a lot of fun writing this character and what originally was going to be just a small bit part, turned into a key factor in the whole book.
(modle: @kazukamax, photo credit: @_.xmintyoreosx._)
The Ravens:
The Ravens live by a simple code, survive! They are a group of siblings who lost more than most during the blackout, their innocents. They are named after a bird known for its scavenging abilities, and often seen as a harbinger of death. In this new world, they ONLY have one another, and they will do anything to protect what is theirs. Don't let their age fool you, they have survived this long because they know that taking lives, will help ensure theirs.
Author Note:
The Ravens was a very personal adventure for me. All three (or four in the picture above) are my own children. The charters are based 100% on my own kids, including their personalities. My oldest two, whom I jokingly refer to as my twins are only 18 months apart in age and exactly like the characters in the book. They have all been trained since they were young, how to handle all sorts of firearms and how to survive. They, thankfully, are not as cold blooded as the characters in the book, but I have no doubt of their capabilities.
Ariella
A former Mossad agent, Ariella is one of the most adaptable members of the Elysium Fields team. She developed her skills as soldier in the Kfir Brigade, within the Israeli Defense Force. A natural dancer from a young age, she transferred her elegance in movement to a more deadly passion, that of fixed edged weapons and the hand to hand tactics of Krav Maga. It was these new found attributes, along with her natural beauty that made her stand out to Ms. White and became a necessity at Elysium Fields. By time Ariella left Mossad and joined Ms. White she was fluent in five different languages and possessed the ability to portray everything from an office secretary to a Royal Duchess. Her ability with a blade and her skills at Krav Maga os what makes her dangerous, but it is her ability to adapt to any situation flawlessly that makes her deadly!
Author Notes:
The character of Ariella was one that developed over time. Most authors will tell you thata great character will take on a life of their own, and grow on their own, that was the case of Ariella. Originally she was just going to be another layer of security, some noise in the background of the Elysium Fields storyline. But the more I learned about Ariella the more I wanted her upfront, making an impact. She is one of those characters that are a treat to have, because of their adaptability there is no limit to what type of situations you can put them in. Basically it is like having a James Bond in your story line, where they can get out of any predicament that might arise. In book one she was restricted to the office, in book two you start seeing her out in the filed, and finally in book three you will see her true abilities come to fruition.
(model: @jamie_k_larsen, Follow on Instagram @jamie_k_larsen check out more AMAZING photos at www.istockphoto.com/portolio/dreamerjl83
Stonewall
Stonewall made a name for himself during the Fox Wars, as a commanded a mounted force of a few thousand. During the infamous battle at Bismarck, that his name because immortalized. During the battle, one which cost hundreds of lives, he suffered a broken ankle and had a mount shot out from under him, but still managed to control the battlefield and win the day. Outnumber and outgunned, he and his band of mounted soldiers showed that the fighting American spirit still existed.
Since the end of the Fox War, he has been managing his remaining troops upon his family land, as they tentatively hold on to some sort of normality. But sooner or later, the past seems to find its way back home.
Author Notes:
This was a unique situation where when I saw this picture on Instagram, posted by user @dsnow556, I knew I need to have a character like this in my book. I reached out to him and asked permission to use the photo and then with his help, I was able to create an iconic figure, reminiscent of the American spirit of independence and survival.