Character Interview: Wesley Harrison and Alex Murdock

Happy Tuesday, Reader Friends!

Today we have an awesome character interview! I’m sure you’re going to love it. Pepper Basham’s characters have decided to sit down and talk about Ms. Basham’s upcoming novel, Charming the Troublemaker, which releases November 1st!

Let’s get started!

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About the Book

The Blurb: “Rainey Mitchell is doing just fine. She has a great job helping children in need, her family is around her, she is mother to a fabulous little girl, and is getting over the betrayal of her ex-husband.

Dr. Alex Murdock is not doing so well, as he is forced to work at a rural university, his life is full of secrets surrounding his family, and he has to start over in a new town. Luckily, Rainey, the daughter of his landlord, is there to get him settled.

Rainey just wants to stay away from the new professor, who has the same charm as her ex. Unfortunately, they seem to need each other. Rainey needs his grant-writing ability to save her program, and Alex is terrible at the lecturing at which Rainey excels. The two must work together to fulfill their goals, but will they be able to do it? Rainey’s insecurities and Alex’s obsession with protecting his family could be their undoing. ”

Links: Amazon, Goodreads

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Interview

Toni:  Y’all, I have a special treat for you. Wesley Harrison from Pepper Basham’s Just the Way You Are is here to interview Dr. Alex Murdock, troublemaker turned hero in her upcoming novel, Charming the Troublemaker. Could anything be better? So, Wes go head and take it over.

Wes: Thank you, Toni. I appreciate your invitation to bait the old chap a bit. Let’s see how he does. Dr. Murdock, thank you for allowing me to interview you. These questions are pooled from a collection of curious readers. Are you ready?

Alex: Sure thing, Wes. Love the accent, by the way. I bet it works great with the ladies.

Wes: *Wes clearing his throat* It certainly garners attention, but I’ve heard you are an expert at getting attention too. In fact, you’ve been coined a troublemaker. Enquiring minds want to know just how much trouble are you?

Alex: I’m not one bit of trouble.

*Wes brows rise in doubt*

Alex: Okay, okay. If we’re talking mano-a-mano here, I’m a mess, but I feel pretty good about the place God’s got me right now. I mean, with my past, things can only look up, you know what I mean?

Wes: Quite well, I’m afraid to say.

Alex: Ransom may be small, but it has a few gems that are worth a lifetime.

Wes: My Little Pony. Was that a ploy or completely genuine?

Alex: Are you kidding me? What kind of question is that? Who would EVER mess with a little girl’s heart and her ponies! I get a lot of things wrong, but no way am I using a little girl as a game changer.

Wes: Women. When you find the right one it does something to you. Changes you. How did Rainey make you a better man?

Alex: She saw something in me that I didn’t see. It made me want to live up to that view of myself. Faith does a whole lot for a wounded heart. *he laughs* Well, that sounds like a line out of a movie.

Wes: Let’s talk about meeting your lady love’s family. I had quite the experience. There were pluses and negatives. Share one plus and one negative to meeting the Mitchells.

Alex: Ma Mitchell was both. *lowers his voice* But don’t you dare tell her I’d ever consider her a negative. Ever.

Here’s the thing – she has this whole voodoo thing going on where she can almost read your mind. Or get you to confess to things you had no intention of talking about. It’s scary, man. A mama-superpower or something like that.

The positives are huge. She’s a great cook! Okay, okay, that’s not the best thing about her, but I’m not going to deny that this guy likes some homecookin’, but the best thing about her is her wisdom and compassion. She was willing to offer kindness to me, a stranger, and I’m really sure that kindness rubbed off on her daughter.

Wes: Readers first met you in A Twist of Faith and many have an unfavorable impression of you. What would you tell them?

Alex: I did say I have a past and I’m a mess, right? So, I’ve been working through a lot of stuff in my life and the whole situation with Dee and the pressures I’d put on myself to be a Rockstar professor came to a not-so-beautiful combination around that time. But, just so you know, I had the best intentions for Dee…they just didn’t turn out as well as I’d hoped at first.

Wes: Let’s break guy code a bit and talk about fears. What was your greatest one prior to meeting Rainey and your greatest one once you realized your feelings were deeper than you wanted to admit.

Alex: Failure. For both. In fact, I’d probably say that’s been one of my biggest fears since childhood. Meet my dad. You’ll understand.

Wes: How would you describe our fearless writer, Pepper Basham?

Alex: Aww man, she’s great! She totally redeemed my messed-up history with some fantastic opportunities to show off my S.K.I.L.L.S. *wiggles brows* if you know what I mean. Closets. I hear you can understand that one.

Wes: *Wes clears throat again and offers a small smile* I have developed a particular fondness for closets since meeting Eisley.

Alex: Right? But Pepper’s also given me a solid story arc and a lady who rocks my world. I’ll let you find out if it’s a happy ending or not, but the journey has certainly been…unexpected.

Wes: That’s all I’ve got for you, mate. Readers, do you have any questions for the good doc?

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About the Author

Taking the story elements of her Blue Ridge Mountains’ heritage, Pepper Basham writes a variety of fiction seasoned with grace and humor. From contemporary romance to historical, Pepper likes to dip her creative interests in and weave stories to touch the heart and funny bone. She’s a pastor’s wife, mom of five, and speech-language pathologist. Connect with her on her website/blog at www.pepperbasham.wordpress.com, on Facebook or Instagram. Her sixth novel, Charming the Troublemaker releases in November 2017.