ALETHEA KONTIS is a geek, a princess, and a fairy-godmotherin-training—not necessarily in that order. She is a big fan of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and believes that everyone has the right to be awesome. (Yes, everyone.) Princess Alethea recently escaped her own life of tyranny being held captive in an Ivory Tower. She now lives Somewhere Over the Rainbow, in the land of butterflies and fairies. She is still searching for the perfect magic wand, and she writes better than your grandma.
Alethea co-wrote the Dark Hunter Compendium with Sherrilyn Kenyon, released a children’s picture book (AlphaOops published by Candlewick), and has appeared in professional short fiction venues such as Realms of Fantasy, IGMS, and Apex Magazine. For more information visit AletheaKontis.com.
Who are you?
In the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions: I am The Princess. (I used to be The Brain. I traded it in.)
What is your story about?
Max — my most unlikeable main character to date — receives a message from his dead mother in the form of a hair necklace. It triggers within him the ability to relive people’s last moments if he touches something they had on their person when they died. Each experience draws him closer and closer to divinity.
Where is your story set?
Any House in Any Town, though when Max and Rose take the winding road into the hills at the end I imagine something like Mulholland Drive.
When does your story take place?
Oh, sometime around nowish.
Why does Maurice Broaddus throw a convention in honor of himself(Mo*Con)?
As an excuse to show off his mad cooking skillz.
How does your story tie into the concept of faith?
I believe that faith starts from within — what kind of people are we really, deep down inside? “The God of Last Moments” is about angels and demons — not ones that might already exist, but ones created from souls on this mortal plane.
Excerpt from “The God of Last Moments”:
“Yay! I’m glad you got home before the storm. Did you pick up rags and polish? You did, you wonderful man.” Rose often posed and answered such rhetorical questions. She had adopted this style of soliloquy so that the passengers on her train of thought would always know which station they were approaching, and which they had just left.
Max was not a wonderful man. But he didn’t mind donning the clothes of the fairytale prince Rose decided he was, so he
squeezed into those shoes every morning.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for our next devotion with Mary Robinette Kowal!
Want to pre-order DARK FAITH? Then click this handy link.
Related posts:
- DARK FAITH Devotion: Lavie Tidhar
- DARK FAITH Devotion: Richard Wright
- DARK FAITH Devotion: Ekaterina Sedia
APEXOLOGY: Horror
Ok my first question would be, “Why a hair necklace?”
I suspect that shouldn’t be asked. I will settle for, “What is the best dish Maurice has cooked for you?”
I thought everybody owned a hair necklace from their mother?
Um. I need to talk to my mom. I think I am missing out. Did your mom give you one? Are there pictures?
[...] Interview: Apex interviews Dark Faith author Alethea Kontis. [...]
[...] Interview: Apex interviews Dark Faith author Alethea Kontis. [...]
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[...] the reins are handed off to my dear friend Mary Robinette Kowal. So keep checking back!In addition, Jason has also posted my bio from the book, which I also had a bit of fun with. It seems lately that I’ve had to write an incredible [...]