Helena Fairfax

Today I’m excited to have not one but two authors visiting: brother and sister writing partnership David Fraser and Heather Fraser Brainerd.  I baked an extra large chocolate cake especially!

Unlike me and my brothers Heather and David are very polite when answering and there’s no trying to get the last word in.  They are delightful to interview.  (Although I did have to make sure to give them each an equal size piece of cake :) )

So, I’ll just say a warm welcome to you both …and then let’s get started with the questions!

Where do you live, Heather and David?

Heather: I live in a rural area outside Rochester, NY. It’s a beautiful place, though a little too snowy for me!

Dave: I live in an even more rural area outside Watertown, NY. We get even more snow, but I’m okay with that. It makes for great sledding.

Where is your favourite place in the world?

Heather: That’s an easy one: Disney World! Fortunately, my family loves it there, too.

Dave: Currently, I have to say that it’s my house. My family just returned from a week’s vacation (at Disney World, coincidentally) and settling back into our regular routine feels so comfortable. Ask me again in a month and I’ll probably answer with something more exciting.

Being a writer is a great job.  What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

Heather: Worker’s compensation claims examiner. As our main character Josie says, it’s the most boring job in the world.

Dave: I had a job (the company will remain nameless) where I was severely underutilized. My prior group had been broken up into two pieces, and our part was transferred to an area that was severely overstaffed. Previously, we were always facing deadlines and smothered with work, and I loved it. Not having enough work to do made the day stretch out forever.

What book do you wish you’d written?

Heather: My absolute favorite book is Mystery by Peter Straub. I re-read that book, along with the other two in the Blue Rose trilogy, at least once every other year. I don’t necessarily wish I’d written Mystery, but I would like to some day write a book that inspires that level of enjoyment.

Dave: Dave Barry’s Dave Barry Slept Here, A Sort of History of the United States. I remember repeatedly laughing so hard I cried the first time I read it. I’ve had to buy it three times, as I have loaned it out and never gotten it back.

Heather: Oh, yeah. Remind me to return that to you.

What’s your happiest memory?

Heather: Holding my son for the first time.

Dave: I have to steal the general sentiment of Heather’s answer and say the births of my two daughters. I could change anything else about my life except those two days. A very, very close third would be the first time I saw Star Wars. I remember being terrified of Darth Vader. So I guess that would be one of my happiest/scariest memories.

If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you say to them?

Heather: Walt Disney. I’d thank him for the joy he’s brought to the world, and ask him for any advice he would care to give.

Dave: Ian McKellan. I would invite him over to play the Lego Lord of the Rings video game and make him do all the Gandalf lines live.

What would your superpower be, if you could choose one?

Heather: Telekinesis. I could totally clean the house without lifting a finger.

Dave: Without a doubt, I would fly. I love to fly, but at the same time, I hate flying. Every little bump and shudder sends a shiver down my spine. Maybe if I didn’t have to depend on a plane or pilot, it would be better.

If you won twenty million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?

Heather: After taking my entire family on a lavish trip to Disney World and giving a huge donation to our local animal shelter, I’d put it away for future generations (keeping out enough for modest living expenses and frequent travel).

Dave: First, I’d take care of the most important thing: Syracuse University basketball season tickets. Then I’d make my wife retire. Then I’d do something fun, like start an animation company. The rest would go in the bank. Oh, yeah, I’d do the animal shelter donation, too, so I didn’t look like a greedy bastard.

What’s the most important lesson life has taught you?

Heather: Have faith that things will work out the way they are supposed to.

Dave: Don’t forget your turn to clean the cats’ litter boxes or you’ll get yelled at.

And finally, please tell us about your latest book, where we can find it, and where we can find your blog/website!

José Picada, P.I.: Deception Al Dente is the first in a series about new detective Josie Cates. We refer to the book as a paranormal cozy mystery. You can find it at the Muse bookstore.

You can also find us on our blog, Driving Blind  or on our Facebook author page BrainerdFraser.

Thanks so much for coming all this way, Heather and David.  It’s been brilliant to meet you and to find we share the same love for Walt Disney.  And thanks for lending me your copy of Dave Barry, David! :)

If you enjoyed David and Heather’s interview, or if you have any questions for them, please let us know in the comments.  They’d love to hear from you!