So Anton had a release yesterday, book three in his urban fantasy series. When I first heard about his book coming out, I was like, DAMMIT, he’s doing psychometry! Why couldn’t I be first with this? And I was quite annoyed that I had near two-year wait before my book came out, because it meant he got the jump on me. But then I came to realize there’s plenty of room for all because look how many dang vampires there are running around book world. We’re fine with two psychometrists. Maybe I’ll even write some cross-world fan fic about Corine making out with Simon, but I won’t show anyone because that would be dirty and wrong.
To prove my good will, I’m pimping his hero, Simon Canderous (being partly named after the best KotOR character, he had to be awesome. And he is!) Without futher ado, here are his sexy books.
Don’t you want them? Yes, you do! But first, enjoy this quickie interview with Anton himself.
1) If you had only bacon, bread and peanut butter in the house, what would you make for dinner?
My love of bacon is well evidenced by my fantasy writer physique. For my recipe, I would roll the bread to form a ball around a core of peanut butter. I would then wrap a slice of bacon around it and fry the whole thing. The fat of the bacon would help crisp up the bread and it would be delicious. In theory, anyway. I might also just eat bacon out of a weaved bowl of bacon that I make.
2) If Simon Canderous were a pair of shoes, what would they be, and why?
Doc Marten’s, the mid height ones. Dependable, utilitarian, and great for kicking ass. Also, resistant to lycanthrope fur and brains wipe off them without discoloring the leather.
3) Do you ever dream about zombies? Why or why not?
As a long time fan of the Resident Evil games (hence using the last name Wesker in my series), I’ve been plagued by them. Lately I’ve been having more of them, but that’s due to sitting down with my friends for some co-op in Left 4 Dead, which mixes up slow and fast zombies, which adds a whole new level of terror. For the record, I am a bigger fan of slow zombies. They seem comical at first, all slow and shambling, but they never tire and eventually they WILL get you. Zombies represent the slow march of the inevitability towards death. Fun right? Remind me why I play these games. Whee!
4) How did you get to be so awesome? Was it a gradual development or did you come into your awesomeness all at once?
I’m like one of the X-Men when it comes to my mutant awesome powers. Like many of the students at Xavier’s, my powers awakened once I hit puberty, and after a quick but awkward phase, I blossomed into the awesomeness that is Anton. Anyone who knew me from my childhood and disputes this, is full of lies! Lies, I tell you! Please note that it is no coincidence that you too are awesome. There may be a correlation that involves the fact that both our names start with ‘An”…. [Interviewer's note: I think he's onto something here.]
5) What do you want readers to glean from your books, if anything?
There are hidden messages in the book that I desperately want people to tune into. Unfortunately, they are subliminal messages, instructing readers to run out to the stores with an insatiable desire to buy all three books, a set a week, over and over.
Actually, the real message is to have fun. I want people to be entertained. If there is a message, though, it probably is that it’s much harder to be good than evil. I find writing about characters who struggle to do good fascinating. Plus, it’s delicious fun torturing those goodie-two-shoes.
So now you know Anton a little better. Actually, probably not, since my interview questions are dumb, but I never claimed to be Barbara Walters. Hopefully you laughed a little, and even if you didn’t, you’ll never get those two minutes back. I’m so sorry.
Moving on! I know you’re really about the loot, so I’ll be giving away TWO FULL SETS of the Simon Canderous books. That’s two lucky winners who can glom Anton in one long, sweaty orgy of weekend reading. (You did process the last part of that sentence, right? I am in no shape or form promising Anton’s services in any capacity.)
To enter, you post a comment answering this question:
If someone with the gift of psychometry read your most cherished belonging through psychometry (that’s getting information by touching an object), what would they learn about you? And game on!
Contest ends Friday. Void where prohibited. Open to people who live in any country Book Depository ships to. Yes, I like you and think you’re pretty. Do not taunt happy fun ball.
ETA: WINNERS! Jackie U & Theresa! Email ann.aguirre at gmail.com with your full names & addresses to collect your prizes.
February 24th, 2010 at 1:03 am
Oh man, if all people whose names start with “An” turn out to be awesome, I am set.
As for psychometry, my most prized possession would have to be my engagement ring. My husband and I spent a long time looking for the right one (and trying to find a salesperson who didn’t overlook us; we were pretty young and I guess didn’t look like a valid sale). Hopefully Corine and Simon would learn how much laughter has been involved in my marriage.
I was going to taunt the happy fun ball, but I guess now I can’t, having read the fine print. Boo.
February 24th, 2010 at 1:22 am
Hmm . . . the thing I love most that isn’t a human would be my cat. If a psychometric (psychometricist?) touched her, about all they’d pick up on is adorable, furry cuteness, which doesn’t describe me at all.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:00 am
An unfortunately HUGE number of years ago I bought a silk tapestry bookmark while travelling in Kashmir. I’ve kept this with me through a lot of travel, heartache, joy, work, play … you name it. And somehow I’ve never lost this little bookmark. As a book addict I I use it constantly.
Rub the soft textured surface and you’d get an insight into a remarkably clumbsy person who has fallen into and out of scrapes in countries all over the world, and quite remarkably, still survived! You name an embarassing situation - well I’ve been right there at the centre!
February 24th, 2010 at 3:28 am
Hey, nice interview! If someone touched the ring I wear on my left hand he would find out that the same ring (it’s actually three rings interloped, one is white gold, the other red and the third yellow gold) wear my other two sisters and that it represents our sisterly connection. Also he would find out that its owner is obsessed with clean hands (but then he wouldn’t have to be psychic to see all the damage all the cleaning has done to it :)) and also that I enjoy spending my nights reading.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:50 am
My most cherished possession… my promise ring. Sappy, I know. Especially since I am now married… you would get feelings of confusion and lust, temptation and stubborness, along with guilt… ’cause I certainly didn’t stay true to the inscription “True Love Waits” HA, once again that brings us back to horney.
BTW - The questions are awesome! Just needed to reassure you of your super snarky wonderfulness.
February 24th, 2010 at 6:51 am
That I’m a worry wart. I worry about everything. When I click return will it let me finish my thought. Once I click it will I remember to come back to see if I won. What if I forget, ok write it down, ok don’t forget where I wrote it down. You get the drift, but to look at me you would NEVER know, but than i do carry around a journal to remember those notes. LOL
February 24th, 2010 at 7:32 am
If someone were to touch the partial set of the ole Encyclopedia Brown books I’ve got, they would probably pick up on a number of pleasant memories, a general love of reading, and the occasional worry about whether or not to let my cousin borrow them. They might also pick up on the previous owners as well.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:49 am
Any one thing touched would zap the person with intense emotion. But should that person touch my cat, they would see the last 17 years of my life, affairs and heartbreak, self-doubt and loss, passion and longing, and love, they would see how much and how thoroughly I love, especially that old cat.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:36 am
I would say my wedding ring since I always have it on - I think they would learn I love dark chocolate (who doesn’t), have a refined taste for beer and wine (hehe..), and love books, hubby, family, and dog.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:39 am
Fun interview!
I don’t invest in objects. I enjoy cleaning things out to make room for the new. I always look to the future (but I do at least LEARN from the past). So I guess someone touching my things would sense that about me. I’m more into people than things. Things don’t hold meaning for me.
(Disclaimer: I’m sure there are some exceptions, my wedding ring, probably, but even then, it’s only symbolic.)
February 24th, 2010 at 8:44 am
My most prized possessions are my wedding rings. If they touched them, they would see how much I cherish the life I have with my husband.
February 24th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Probably that I’m a big baby, LOL. I cuddle with my son’s stuffed elephant when he’s with his dad.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Ann, funny lady! Without taunting the happy fun ball in the least, I’ll just say that probably one only needs to SEE my house full of books and the dust bunnies to know that I’m a writer and love reading! Like Jess, I’m a big tosser-outer, but one object dear to my heart is my Golden retriever, Bailey. If someone with psychometry touched Bailey, they would know I’m a fan of big smushy dogs who run my house. Can a pet be an “object?”
February 24th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Actually, pets don’t quality cos they’re alive. Psychometry works on inanimate objects. Bones or body parts might qualify, if a crazy killer kept them and fondled them while reliving his dark deeds. That’d be creepy as shit to “read”, wouldn’t it? *scribbles idea*
February 24th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Maybe that Im not as innocent as I look? lol
February 24th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Hey Ann & Anton,
I loved the cheeky and cheerful interview very much…Anton…much luck to you in your subliminal msgs to all readers…
As for an object of mine, I would have to go with a whitecoral ring that my Mum gave me when I was about 7 years old…through psychometry (by the way, the geek in me loooves that term…I’m weird I know
) would pick up first the energy of the shaman like guy who initially gave the stone to my Mum when she was preggers with me…he wanted her to pass it to me as a source for calmness (he must’ve known I was going to be an Aries) and strength. So whoever was doing the reading would definitely get that bit of info plus all the growing pains I went through not to mention my anxiety and depression in growing up in an abusive home BUT not just that…I think they would also pick up the fact that despite all adversities I am a strong and stubborn individual determined to make sure that people that I love are kept out of harm’s way. By the way, just to complete off the home situation…my Mum finally left the abusive marriage after 24 years and I was with her every step of the way…She did me proud. 
Happy Reading
February 24th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I think if they touched my ‘Box of Secret Letters’ (yeah I was a teenager when i chose that name), they’d discover that I’m very nostalgic of the past and that i wish i could go back to being a teenager, when my biggest problem was knowing the latest big of gossip
February 24th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
my stove, would tell you stories of children learning the military crawl to get out of the house because its a hot head and sometimes shoots fire out of the oven ( its a top oven stove) it could tell you amazing stories of how its owner exploded corn chowder in a crock pot near it, and how its owner has learn to cook on one burner cause the others dont work…. then it could tell stories of how the grand mother used to do the same things on it when she owned it…
February 24th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
Damn! No pets, then! Okay, an object–my writing desk. If someone touched my desk they would instantly realize I’m a dreamer, a procrastinator and converseley an organization freak, and that I’m never happier than when I’m creating. Pfew!!! Now can I play, Ann?
February 24th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Oh, crap. I CAN spell *conversely*–I promise.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
My most prized possession is the teddy bear I’ve had since my first birthday (I’ve had it for 21 years). Considering this teddy bear has been with me all of my life, I’d say whoever touched it would learn about all of the major events in my life.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
I have a LOT of cherished items so it’s difficult to pick just one! I’m not a doll type person, but, many years ago, my mom asked me to look through several catalogs and chose a few favorites from hundreds of porcelain doll molds. I found one called “Willow” that, if it was a boy, would be the spitting image of my nephew. She made the doll, dressed it in my nephew’s clothes and gave it to me for Christmas. The likeness was uncanny. A psychometrist would learn the history of three people from this doll: My mom’s creativity and skill as an award winning doll maker and her love for family, where my talent as a woodcrafter originated, and the goofy antics of a four year old boy who spent two weeks on all fours pretending to be a puppy. He never uttered a word. He barked, wagged his “tail” and even pretended to hike his leg! I suppose there would be much more info to glean from this item about my mom and nephew than me, but, I kinda like it that way.
I don’t usually enter contests, but this one sure brought back some great memories, Thank you!
February 24th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
If a psychometrist read my camera - they would learn that taking pictures at amusement parks, and other sites of interest is a joy for me, along with taking pics of my family and pets. And that I love and appreciate my son who gave me the camera.
February 24th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
If there was a reading done on my favorite item–my Sony e-book reader–it would say wow, is this girl man-crazy or what. All there is here are men, men, and more men. Since I’m currently on a m/m genre reading binge, that would be pretty accurate.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:06 pm
now it would be my laptop. Has all my ebooks and photos and other important stuff for my life. lol. they’d know I love my kiddos, hubby, family, books, scrapbooking, traveling and that I need desperately to win the lottery.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:34 pm
My most treasured posession apart from my engagement ring would probably be my camera. If someone did a reading of that they would discover that I take far too many photos - of friends, family, animals, buildings & everything else I come across LOL. They’d be able to tell that my family & friends are the most important things to me but that I also love to travel
February 24th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
My most treasured posession would be my mother/daughter ring that my daughter’s gave me about 10 years ago. A reading from that would show all the love and pride that I have in my daughters, and how they scrimped and saved to buy it for me.
February 25th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
If someone did a reading of my favourite object they would find out that I’m a dreamer, love sports and that I’m a private person.