As you know from my last post, the third novel in my Star Kingdom series (Hero Code) is out. To help get you excited for the adventure, I’ve located a special, if somewhat dubious, journalist willing to interview one of my more eccentric main characters, the genetically engineered warrior cat-woman Qin Liangyu Three.
She goes by Qin in the stories. I wish I had some artwork for her! The picture included here isn’t quite right as this cat seems to be lacking a human half… but it is cute!
Interview with Qin
Beautiful cat in outer space. Elements of this image furnished by NASA.
Journalist: Greetings, Qin! I’m very excited to speak with you.
Qin: *blinks and swivels her pointed ears*
You are? But you’re… We’re in the Kingdom for this story, and the people here don’t like genetically modified tomatoes, much less lab-born creations such as… me.
Journalist: That’s the official policy, yes, but I’m a member of GESS, and I do interviews for our underground news feed. We do our best to stay out of the public eye, since some of our opinions are not popular, but we have monthly meetings where we toss back GMO tomatoes like popcorn.
Qin: …GESS?
Journalist: Genetically Engineered Secret Support. You’ve been here on Odin for a couple of days, and we heard you’re having adventures. What brought you here?
Qin: My captain. She’s a bounty hunter, though right now, she’s trying to get paid for a patent on some kind of bandage-dispensing robot vending machine.
Journalist: Er, bandages? I suppose a bounty hunter would have need of such things.
Qin: It’s a long story. For myself, I’m here to help out. My new friend Casmir is in trouble with some terrorists. If they go after him while I’m around, I’ll show them how my retractable claws work. *she demonstrates for the journalist*
Journalist: Those are indeed impressive. And also, er, is that nail polish? And… sequins?
Qin: *grins* I found a bedazzling gun. I’m having fun. And the captain does a lovely job with nail polish.
Journalist: I see. You’re not quite what I expected from a genetically engineered super warrior.
Qin: I’ve fought lots of battles, first when I was owned by the Drucker-family pirates, and now as Captain Lopez’s assistant, but I’m happiest when I get to hang out with friends or read magazines and listen to music in my cabin. Or shop! Do you want to see my candle collection?
Journalist: Uhm.
Qin: I didn’t get a chance to do any of those things with the Druckers, and they didn’t pay us, so I’m enjoying being able to buy things and decorate my cabin now that I earn money.
Journalist: Of course. What do you plan to do here on Odin while you’re visiting? Aside from showing your claws to dastardly enemies.
Qin: I do more than show my claws to my enemies.
But I do enjoy doing other things. I can smell the ocean and a park with lots of trees from the ship here. I hope to get to visit them. I’ve spent most of my life on space stations and spaceships. Sometimes, stations have trees, but they’re not the same.
I also wouldn’t mind meeting some knights. Some nice knights. Noble and chivalrous ones who don’t mind that a girl… doesn’t look quite like a girl. I’ve met Sir Asger, but he tried to kill me the first time he saw me. *wrinkles nose*
Journalist: Ah, yes. Sir Asger. I’ve seen his calendars.
Qin: We get along a little better now, but I’d still like to meet a knight who’s truly chivalrous. Like Casmir but with more muscles. Someone I can spar with!
Journalist: Casmir Dabrowski, the roboticist?
Qin: Yes, he’s a nice man. He’s never called me a freak.
Journalist: But he doesn’t have enough muscles?
Qin: Not for sparring with me. Or… anyone. But I have sparred with his bodyguard robot, Zee. He’s all right, but not really equipped for anything other than fighting. It’s also really hard to get a hold on him. Literally. He’s all smooth, and he can turn into liquid metal if you do manage to grab him.
Journalist: It sounds like you have an eclectic group of… friends. What did you say your goals here on Odin are? Something about battling terrorists? Do you know where their base is? How many allies do you have?
Qin: I just looked up GESS on the network here, and there aren’t any mentions of it. Are you sure you’re here to interview me for a news article? You sound suspicious.
Journalist: Me?
Qin: You’re not working for the terrorists, are you?
Journalist: No, no, certainly not. But I think I’ve got enough for my piece so I’ll…
*Qin flashes claws*
Journalist: See myself out. Bye!
~
See for yourself what Qin is up to in Hero Code: https://amzn.to/2WrRVFs
If you haven’t started the series yet, Book 1 is Shockwave: https://amzn.to/2K58KUY
The books will be out in stores other than Amazon in 2020. Thanks for reading!
Love it! Qin is a fave, I can just imagine her slicing a robot with her claws and then complaining that she broke a nail… I was a fan of the Thundercats growing up, and I imagine her as a more muscular version of Wilykit. Loving ‘Hero Code’ so far 😉
Tony
Thanks for reading, Tony! I have a friend who complains that I don’t have enough girlie characters. Who knew the 6’2″ genetically engineered cat woman would become the one? 😛
Ha! I have the opposite problem! I seem to have ended up with a cast of lethal ladies, and am in sore need of a few good men 😉 Still, they’re easy to find, right?
Meh…I hear the Marines are still looking for a few, so perhaps they’re not that easy to find. 🙂
How does Qin feel about dogs? Chickens? Who taught her to read? Is she able to write with those claws? I think they are retractable, so maybe it’s not a problem for her. Are there males like herself or only females? Does she like to garden? Paint? Play poker? Study astronomy? What’s her favorite type of humor? How does she feel about oceans and swimming pools? Does she have a favorite color? What’s one happy memory? Do you think she will have her own calendar in the future? I bet it would sell like hotcakes.
If she has her own calendar one day, it will definitely be more tasteful than Asger’s. 😉 I can tell I will need to give her an entire book to herself to answer all of these questions!
Yes I concur i would like to see a ‘book of Qin’ I love Qin too your writing of her has established her firmly in my imagination
Yes to the Qin book..Also I think everyone would love to know more about Rache(David??) a whole series could be done on him I’ll bet…
Thanx as usual for another great series.. I didn’t think you could top Fallen Empire and Alisa and Leonidas but……..Maybe Ruby could take a peek at this series as well?? We haven’t heard from her in a while…
Qin likes Lindsay Buroker humor, sometimes aimed at herself but not mean, other times kid level, and often ridiculing mean persons.
No male versions of Qin, because females of her kind are far tougher, and better at almost everything.
Don’t kow about swimming because she has not had a chance to swim, but she would probably like it a lot.
Happy memory is always either being accepted and liked or climbing the trees on Odin. She may feel to shy at this point to have her own calendar, but I will look into it and suggest it to her.
Hi. Loving Hero Code. Perhaps a prequel about Quin and Bonita and also how they met?
Awesome mini story, thanks! Qin would have to be one of my favourite characters and I’m particularly intrigued about her history with the Druckers… The primary character in the book I’m writing is an ex-slave also. It has been a tricky but fun subject to approach, especially around addressing the mental health effects and personality impact a person coming from that background would suffer, while making sure they remain a fun and capable person in the story.
Loving Hero Code so far!
Thanks for reading, Tim! I think your character could go a lot of ways–whatever seems most authentic to you. Different people react so differently to the exact same stressors.
And what’s her attitude to hot tin roofs?
No worries as long as she’s in her combat boots. 😉
If you’d truly like to have some picture of Qin I could try my hand on a little sketch of her…
Yay, Bentje!!!
Nice little interview. I really like Qin!
Funny interview, Thanks Lindsay! I am a long time fan and will be for life. I love the Star Kingdom series so far and look forward to the next release in July. I’ve read several of your series and find all of your characters real enough through your writing and descriptions. I wish you a long and prolific career!
Thank you, Karen! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
I too like Qin, and hope people will stop calling her a freak. It is lovely to have another series from Lindsay, I like her quirky sense of humor. I am curious though why this Web page uses English date formatting, when Lindsay comes from Seattle and lives in Arizona. Are there no U.S. sites that could House the site?
Hi Lindsay,
Just read the first in the new series and the Inviews too, and loved them all. I also signed up for the newsletter to stay tuned. I was searching for the “Robots and Roommates” backstory.
Could you send me a link, would love to read while I’m diving head first into book 2&3 (and I pre-ordered 4 too of course:)
You have OH so many great books, I’ll be busy for awhile!
Thanks John
Hi Lindsay,
Just had to add to my last post. I’m two paragraph into book 2 Ship of Ruin and I love it already. I bought this set of books for something to read while i am in flight to Peru. To go… you guessed it Machu Picchu! Ok no spoilers, but what a PERFECT book for my trip.
Thanks John.
Hi Lindsay,
Love your books!
I’ve just started the Star Kingdom series, in a break from The Emperor’s Edge, which I’m adoring! I’ve only 2 books to go in that series, so decided to read something else in the meantime, because I can’t bear the thought of no more Amaranthe, Sicarius & co! Was up til 5am to finish Book 7!
It didn’t take long to get back into the space genre, and to enjoy all the new characters in the Star Kingdom.
Now my only problem is which book in the two series to read next!
Please keep writing & I’ll be very happy!
Thanks,
Jen
Oh, this is fun. Did you have a brilliant time writing this? Because I can imagine grinning at the keyboard.
I’ll have to look up your work!
Really no matter if someone doesn’t know after that its up to other people
that they will help, so here it takes place.
Can I just say what a relief to find an individual who really knows what they’re talking about on the
internet. You actually know how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
A lot more people have to check this out and understand this side
of the story. It’s surprising you are not
more popular given that you surely have the gift.
Hi. Loving Hero Code. Perhaps a prequel about Quin and Bonita and also how they met?
There’s actually a short story of how they met, Tahi! https://lindsayburoker.com/free-fiction/free-fiction-cultured-and-clawed/