Character Interview with Rafael Bishop Soto

Welcome to DAY 5 of my 10-day Count Down to the Release of The Un-Familiar: A Tale of Cats and Gods.  On each day for days 1-9, I'm posting an interview with one of the characters. For the listing of when and who will be in each interview, check HERE.

I'm also giving away one FREE BOOK each day until the July 1 release. To win, you have to enter the drawing. To enter, you have to go to my website and send me a message via the CONTACT page.

REMEMBER: Each day is a new contest, so you have to stop by and enter for a chance to win every day.

Congratulations to the winners to date: Connie Denison, Bob Sanchez, Jennifer Killby, and Pat Burke.

The Hubby drawing the name of today's winner from the hat.
Congratulations, Pat!

 

Introducing Rafael Bishop Soto

Rafael Bishop Soto is a newcomer to the trilogy's cast. He was mentioned as Eddie's "other partner" (non-work) in Ye Gods!, but we never met him. Rafi is an incredibly talented artist whose work has been shown in all the best galleries in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, LA, and, of course, Puerto Rico. Rafi has emerged from a tragic and traumatic past, to become a compassionate and caring man. In Ye Gods!, Señora Milagros explained that the god of Mercy takes the form of  a dog "because dogs represent the best of what humans could be...[showing] loyalty, love, perfect forgiveness." Rafi comes the closest of anyone I know to embodying those divine dogly qualities. Here he comes now...

LMH: Welcome, Rafi, it's a pleasure to have you here. Readers following these interviews have already heard quite a bit about you from Kiki. She's smitten.

Rafi: I just adore Kiki. Isn't she a hoot? Some crazy mix of Albert Einstein meets Dora the Explorer meets Elle Woods.

 

LMH: Now that's funny. I'd never thought of her that way, but it fits. I love that you two become such good friends, but let's talk about you. Yesterday, when I spoke with Eddie, he was reluctant to talk about your relationship.

Rafi: Oh, that's Eddie playing macho-cop. He really does do that whole man's-man thing well, doesn't he? You can understand why he has to, right? I mean, a gay guy, and a cop? In Puerto Rico? To get any respect, just to survive, he's always had to prove that he's tough enough. As a kid, and even at the police academy, the other kids would try to beat up on him. But Eddie's a big fella. His father was intent on toughening him up, so Eddie became a great boxer. You should see him. Talk about float like a butterfly! But he doesn't so much sting like a bee, it's more like knock you over like a bulldozer. Anyway, now, as an adult, it's the media and the politicians like former-Mayor Reyes that pick on him. He's had to grow a thick skin and set some firm boundaries between his personal and professional life. Really, a lot of that machismo is to keep everyone from finding out he's a big old softie.

 

LMH: You had a hard time growing up, too. Care to tell us about it? About your parents?

Rafi (He holds turns his arms palms up in front of me. White welts rise up across the wrists): It was hard enough having to retell all that in the book, so I'd rather not go through it again. I can tell you a bit about my parents and that might help you to understand why they did what they did. My father was a good ole boy from Mississippi, stationed here at Ramey Air Force Base, that's where he met my mother. He was southern Baptist and she was, of course, Catholic. That led to a stormy enough marriage. Both families opposed it---his because he was marrying a "brown-skinned foreign heathen" and hers because she was marrying a non-Catholic gringo. When it became clear that, as my father put it, there was something "funny" about me, his parents--I've never met that set of grands. They refused to have anything to do with me or my mother--said that I was God's revenge for the marriage. I was their worst nightmare come true, a gay, raised-Catholic, Latino in the family. Now, my mother's mother, mi abuelita--I called her Yaya--she came around. She did her best to take care of me and protect me. She was as pious as they come, mind you. Going to church every day, twice on Sunday, but she believed whatever God made, however he made it, was perfect, including me, just the way I am.

 

LMH: Have you reconciled with your parents?

Rafi: Yes. Maybe. No, not really. I've seen them and spoken with them, but I won't reconcile with them. I'm still working on the forgiveness part. I have a hard time with that because I know forgiveness doesn't mean accepting or condoning, but sometimes it feels that way. But, that's my issue to deal with, not yours. Let's talk about something a bit more cheerful, shall we?

 

LMH: OK, how about animals? You have quite a way with them, don't you?

Rafi:  I do! No one was more surprised by that than me. The only pet I ever had growing up was a goldfish. They inspired me. I was never more prolific than when they were all in the house. I've got a show coming up soon with my post-hurricane paintings of all the animals. I call it, "They Came Two-by-Two." They didn't, really. They came in droves.

 

LMH: Congratulations! Our time is up now. I know everyone will love meeting you in The Un-Familiar, and look forward to seeing even more of you ahead.  

Rafi: I'm so excited to see what's in store for me in the final book of the trilogy: Ye Goddess: A Tale of Girls and Gods so you had better go get writing!


LMH: Thank you all for stopping by! Now head over to my website to enter for your chance to win a FREE BOOK! You have your choice of books (Marina Melee, Ye Gods! or The Un-Familiar) in print or electronic versions. But you have to register each day to be entered anew each day!

OK, folks! You know the drill: head on over to my website and send me a message via the Contacts page to be entered into today's drawing for a free book! Today's winner will be announced tomorrow morning.

Welcome back! Today, I continue with interview number 4 of our nine character interviews, one each day leading up to the day 10 (July 1) release of The Un-Familiar: A Tale of Cats and Gods. After you get to know a little bit about Captain Eddie Corredor (very little, actually!) be sure to head over to the contact page on my website. Send a message to enter for today's drawing for a free book. No worries about privacy: the message comes directly to me, so no one else sees your name or contact information, and I don't share the info with anyone. Do be sure to stop back every day since you have to register each day for that day's drawing.

The Un-Familiar: A Tale of Cats and Gods
Coming July 1
from Casperian Books

Introducing Captain Eddie Corredor

Eddie Corredor has been with the Puerto Rico Police Department for over twenty years. He'd just started on the force when the chupacabra appeared for the first time back in the mid-90s. Twenty years later, he and his (work) partner, Hector Ruiz, discovered the truth behind the reported chupacabra sightings and mayhem those caused: the mayor had been donning a costume to instill fear into his constituents as a means to drum up votes and customers for his business, Monster Safaris, Inc. Their work earned Eddie and Ruiz promotions, and a bit of notoriety.

LMH: Welcome, Captain Corredor and congratulations on the promotion. It must be very difficult being an openly gay police officer in Puerto Rico, so I'd imagine the recognition for your good work is appreciated.

Eddie: Why is that? Shouldn't good work be rewarded and the recognition appreciated, regardless of race, age, creed, or sexual orientation? Good work is good work.

LMH: I just meant, well, not to offend you, but given the reputation of the PRPD? Not known for their honesty and trustworthiness, you know. They have a pretty bad and well-earned reputation for corruption and abuse of authority. It seems such an odd fit--everything about you contradicts what the force has come to represent on the island.

Eddie (shaking his head): A few bad apples, and they're the ones who make the news. That makes it tough for the rest of us. There are so many good, hardworking, and honest cops on the force. Guys who are there to fight against that reputation and the tide of corruption. Don't let the bad press fool you. Most of us are caring, compassionate, and take the public's trust seriously.

LMH: Good to know. Now, about that job. Law enforcement is dangerous work. It has to be awfully stressful on your loved ones. How does Rafi deal with the constant worry?

Eddie: My personal life is off limits for interviews.

LMH: What? Why?

Eddie: I've been burned more than once before. Reporters like Miguel Graciento over at that gossip rag, En Otras Noticias, twist the truth and use innuendo and hearsay to sensationalize their stories--and that's all they are, stories. Make believe. Not information. People think the police are corrupt? Graciento was involved up to his eyeballs in that Monster Safaris business. It's unconscionable that he'd be back reporting the "news" and that they'd let him write another story about the chupacabra after that.

LMH: OK, I can understand your reluctance, but I'm not a reporter. I'm an author. You do know that people will read all about you and Rafi in The Un-Familiar, right?

Eddie: I know. Sorry. The media is just a touchy subject for me. The fourth estate. Ha! You know what Oscar Wilde wrote about the fourth estate, don't you? That it may have been the fourth estate when that term was coined, the other three being branches of government, but now it's the only one--it ate the other three.

LMH: Interesting. Can we get back to the interview?

Eddie (His phone vibrates): Sorry...I have a call. It's work. I have to run. Thank you for your time.

LMH: Thank--  (door slams) And there he goes. The work of a police officer is never done, I suppose. Tune in tomorrow when we'll meet with Rafi. And hopefully, he won't be quite as reluctant to talk with us!

Interview with Captain Eddie Corredor

Welcome back! Today, I continue with interview number 4 of our nine character interviews, one each day leading up to the day 10 (July 1) release of The Un-Familiar: A Tale of Cats and Gods. After you get to know a little bit about Captain Eddie Corredor (very little, actually!) be sure to head over to the contact page on my website. Send a message to enter for today's drawing for a free book. No worries about privacy: the message comes directly to me, so no one else sees your name or contact information, and I don't share the info with anyone. Do be sure to stop back every day since you have to register each day for that day's drawing.

The Un-Familiar: A Tale of Cats and Gods
Coming July 1
from Casperian Books

Introducing Captain Eddie Corredor

Eddie Corredor has been with the Puerto Rico Police Department for over twenty years. He'd just started on the force when the chupacabra appeared for the first time back in the mid-90s. Twenty years later, he and his (work) partner, Hector Ruiz, discovered the truth behind the reported chupacabra sightings and mayhem those caused: the mayor had been donning a costume to instill fear into his constituents as a means to drum up votes and customers for his business, Monster Safaris, Inc. Their work earned Eddie and Ruiz promotions, and a bit of notoriety.

 

LMH: Welcome, Captain Corredor and congratulations on the promotion. It must be very difficult being an openly gay police officer in Puerto Rico, so I'd imagine the recognition for your good work is appreciated.

Eddie: Why is that? Shouldn't good work be rewarded and the recognition appreciated, regardless of race, age, creed, or sexual orientation? Good work is good work.

 

LMH: I just meant, well, not to offend you, but given the reputation of the PRPD? Not known for their honesty and trustworthiness, you know. They have a pretty bad and well-earned reputation for corruption and abuse of authority. It seems such an odd fit--everything about you contradicts what the force has come to represent on the island.

Eddie (shaking his head): A few bad apples, and they're the ones who make the news. That makes it tough for the rest of us. There are so many good, hardworking, and honest cops on the force. Guys who are there to fight against that reputation and the tide of corruption. Don't let the bad press fool you. Most of us are caring, compassionate, and take the public's trust seriously.

 

LMH: Good to know. Now, about that job. Law enforcement is dangerous work. It has to be awfully stressful on your loved ones. How does Rafi deal with the constant worry?

Eddie: My personal life is off limits for interviews.

LMH: What? Why?

Eddie: I've been burned more than once before. Reporters like Miguel Graciento over at that gossip rag, En Otras Noticias, twist the truth and use innuendo and hearsay to sensationalize their stories--and that's all they are, stories. Make believe. Not information. People think the police are corrupt? Graciento was involved up to his eyeballs in that Monster Safaris business. It's unconscionable that he'd be back reporting the "news" and that they'd let him write another story about the chupacabra after that.

LMH: OK, I can understand your reluctance, but I'm not a reporter. I'm an author. You do know that people will read all about you and Rafi in The Un-Familiar, right?

Eddie: I know. Sorry. The media is just a touchy subject for me. The fourth estate. Ha! You know what Oscar Wilde wrote about the fourth estate, don't you? That it may have been the fourth estate when that term was coined, the other three being branches of government, but now it's the only one--it ate the other three.

 

LMH: Interesting. Can we get back to the interview?

Eddie (His phone vibrates): Sorry...I have a call. It's work. I have to run. Thank you for your time.

 

LMH: Thank--  (door slams) And there he goes. The work of a police officer is never done, I suppose. Tune in tomorrow when we'll meet with Rafi. And hopefully, he won't be quite as reluctant to talk with us!

Now it's time for you to head over the contact page on my website to enter for your chance to WIN a book! Just send a message to me to enter. Congratulations to yesterday's winner, Jennifer Killby!