Today, I get the wonderful privilege to take part in R.M. Archer’s blog tour for her short story collection! R.M. Archer has been an avid reader since the time she could first make out words, and has always been a lover of story. That interest developed into a love of writing when she was seven (though those first attempts have long-since been incinerated), and she’s been pursuing a career as an author ever since. Archer combines her love for writing with a passion for her fellow youth and aims to write YA speculative fiction that shows teens that even their deepest-seated struggles can be overcome.
Caithan/Rahim Character Interview
Hello, Caithan! So nice to meet you.
It’s nice to meet you, too.
Let’s start with an easy, get to know you, question. What’s your favorite season and why?
Teraco doesn’t have much by way of seasons; at least not near Pruyid. Toward the beginning of dry season, though, there’s an international festival hosted in central Teraco that my meuma allows me to attend, so I suppose that would be my favorite time of year.
You visit Tramat quite often. What is your favorite thing to do there?
I love the music. *grins* There’s a group that plays just off the main street, and often I’ll sit and listen to them, or even dance.
Now, I know you’re not big on tradition, but there must be some you enjoy. Which Virilen tradition is your favorite and why?
Hm… Around the seventh full moon of the year, there’s a three-day festival to celebrate the introduction of music into the world. It’s taught that the world was originally lacking in any sound but speech, but the gods could hear the music of the stars, so the god Amak took compassion on man and introduced birdsong, waves crashing, wind through the trees… all the natural music of the world, which man adapted into music. The celebration isn’t as widespread in Pruyid as Meuma tells me it is in Virilia, but those of us who celebrate make music with whatever we can and appreciate the natural music of the world.
Ok, now I’ll give you a chance to rant. 😉 Which is your least favorite tradition?
*rolls eyes* Ugh. The coming-of-age ceremony. There’s no purpose to it, unless you buy into the myth that Virilen adults are granted gifts–gifts I’ve never seen in any of my Virilen neighbors–and I have no interest in all of my relatives coming to see me just because I’m now an adult according to Virilen standards. Those standards are arbitrary, anyway; in Virilia you only have to be seventeen to be considered an adult, but the Virilens brought to Teraco had to be better than everyone else and raise it to twenty-five just to seem wiser. *snorts* Instead, it just makes those of us born in Teraco more miserable.
Your turn, Rahim! You know how this goes.
What is your favorite color and why?
Blue. Everything in Tramat is warm-toned and blends together, but blue stands out, and all you have to do is look up at the sky to see it. *smiles*
I take it you are a bit of a foodie. What is your favorite dish?
Hm… There are so many choices. *chuckles* But, if I had to choose… Naan topped with spicy sauce, chickpeas, onions, tomatoes, olives… I could go on. You can pile a lot on naan, and it’s delicious.
What did you like best about your visit to Pruyid? Do you think you’ll visit again?
*looks up thoughtfully* Though I wouldn’t have guessed it… the people. I had meaningful conversations with many of the Virilen I met, and they were surprisingly welcoming of me. I learned a lot from my visit. I’d love to go back. *smiles*
And finally, as I asked Caithan this, I find it only fair to ask you. What is your favorite Tramati tradition and why?
I grew up not keeping a lot of traditions, though my friends did, so my favorite that I was able to participate in is the annual Dujalemin festival in central Teraco. People come from all over the continent to compete in athletic competitions, to show their wares, to simply see Teraco… If you enjoy crowds and excitement, it’s the place to be. My favorite of those I simply heard about was the tradition of children pooling their money to gift their mami a new dress on her birthday. I never had the money to carry on the tradition–and I had no siblings–but every year I wished I could.
That’s all we’ve got time for today. Are there any parting remarks you’d like to make?
Caithan: *shakes her head*
Rahim: Thank you for having us. *smiles*
Thank you so much for coming, it was a great pleasure to host you!
Want More?
The Book:
This collection features four stories from a range of select genres. Including Contemporary, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy. Here’s a little info on each:
Silence:
Fiona Wildman was born with powers she doesn’t understand. Powers a scientific mega-corporation will stop at nothing to exploit.
Carnival Hearts:
Ethan is amazed when his withdrawn friend Jasmine invites him to the abandoned amusement park for fun, but instead of the slightly-wacky tour he expects, he finds the opportunity to see a different side of Jas.
Escape Room:
Four teens wake in a dark room. Faced with puzzles they must solve to escape, they uncover a sinister secret.
Caithan:
Caithan is tired of her mother’s strict traditionalism, but when she runs away from her own coming-of-age party, she runs into someone who teaches her to appreciate what she’s been given.
The new edition e-book is now open for pre-order here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083H33Y5C While the paperback will roll out tomorrow!
The Author
Not only is R.M. Archer a teen writer of fiction, she also keeps up a non-fiction blog of writing tips and book reviews. Find her online here:
Blog: https://rmarcher.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RysaArcher
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rysaarcher/
Writer Rae Graham 