Paula Weston Talks To Bookbag About Her Dream Dinner Party

Paula Weston Talks To Bookbag About Her Dream Dinner Party

Summary: We were very impressed by Shadows by Paula Weston, a book that promises thrilling plots, chemistry between the sassy lead characters and action and delivers. When she mentioned her dinner party we had to know who's been invited.

Date: 22 January 2013

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External links: Author's website

The Bookbag Dream Dinner Party

Book characters – angelic and not-so-angelic

It's surprisingly tough coming up with a dream dinner party guest list. So, to keep things simple, I'm going with a theme of angelic and not-so-angelic characters from fantasy/paranormal/dystopian novels and graphic novels. (Okay, some of those graphic novels also happen to be TV series.)

For the sake of being able to have people on both sides of the table, I'm going to define 'angelic' and 'non-angelic' as personality traits.

And yes, it's a big table. Think Tuscan-style banquet (though not out in the sun, obviously, as that would end badly for a few of our guests).

Angelic

• Sam Roth (from Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy): Every dinner party needs a poetic soul, and guys don't come much sweeter or poetic than Sam. He'll be great company as long as the temperature doesn't drop. (I'll keep a bowl in the corner, just in case it does and he turns wolf.)

• Finnikin of the Rock: I love so many characters from Melina Marchetta's Lumatere Chronicles trilogy, but Finnikin remains my favourite. He's loving and loyal, but still up for a fight when it's called for. Which may happen during dinner, given the guest list.

• Aragorn, King of Gondor (JRR Tolkein's The Lord of the Rings): For me, Aragorn is the most noble of all literary heroes. He'll be well*mannered at the table, will keep the louts in line (see below), and can offer Finnikin advice about leading people who have known little but war and suffering.

• Amy Harper Bellafonte (from Justin Cronin's The Passage trilogy): Here's a girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Okay, she's infected with a mutant virus, but she hasn't turned into a vicious blood sucker like the other test subjects. Technically, she's not a child but I'll still keep the wine out of her reach.

• Karou (from Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone): Karou has gone from art student to chimaera warrior, so she'd probably appreciate a time-out. I think I'd seat her next to Sam: he'll be a calming presence and they can carry the obligatory art and music discussion.

• Hermione Granger (from JK Rowling's Harry Potter series): What's a dinner party without a guest who's well read and likes a good debate? She'll probably spend much of the meal arguing with the boys across the table. My money's on Hermione (even without using magic).

'Not-so angelic

• Adrian Ivashkov (from Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series): Yes, the Moroi vampire is on the path to redemption, but he'll still feel more comfortable on this side of the table. Obviously I'll keep an ashtray for him outside – there's no way he's smoking near the food.

• Cam (from Lauren Kate's Fallen series): I've always thought he's had a bad rap, and it will be interesting to see how he behaves without good guy Daniel around pointing out his flaws.

• Quintana of Charyn (Melina Marchetta's Chronicles of Lumatere): The wild and unpredictable Charynite will keep everyone on their toes, especially if she takes food from other people's plates. Still, nobody will be bored. And I do love a woman who speaks her mind.

• Dean Winchester (Supernatural): It's Dean Winchester. Do I need to explain?

• Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel): His palate may be a tad one-dimensional, but who doesn't want a sexy, wise-cracking vampire making inappropriate observations throughout dinner? Plus, he and Adrian can vent about unrequited love with vampire slayers.

• Tris Prior (from Veronica Roth's Divergent series): She could sit on either side of the table, but at the end of the day she's Dauntless – hardly an angelic faction. Plus, it might do her good to be around people with a truckload more guilt than her.

• Daryl Dixon (The Walking Dead): He'll be happy with whatever I serve (it has to be better than road kill or tinned food) and he'll be handy if the zombie apocalypse starts during dinner.

That's going to be quite some dinner party, Paula!

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