Character Interview: Cora
Welcome Cora From Where the Veil Thins. Let's get to know you.
Character Interview: Cora From Where the Veil Thins by Jasmine Sears.
In a fantasy version of the late 1800s, a boy helps souls get a second chance at life.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Kenji's earliest memories are of accompanying his father on annual trips to the veil, where families have the chance to bring home a loved one lost too soon. Each year, he speaks to his mother, but each year, his parents help a stranger cross the veil instead.
Returning is just the beginning: to stay for good, souls must understand what caused their death and prevent others from meeting the same fate. Kenji eagerly helps soul after soul fulfill their purpose and go back to their old lives, learning about new cultures, places, and skills along the way. But a nagging question starts to threaten his family's routine: Why won't his mother come home?
Let's get to know Cora - welcome to this interview.
Can you start by telling me a little bit about yourself?
I live in Philadelphia with my aunt, uncle, and four cousins. Now that I've finished grade school, I spend most of my time helping out around the house and tutoring the neighborhood kids in math.
What is your favorite childhood memory?
I was 8, and my aunt had just given birth to surprise twins (we thought there was a single very large baby on the way). My aunt was fretting over how to make enough baby clothes out of the fabric she'd bought. I looked at the pattern and realized I could tessellate it by just adding a couple more seams. My aunt was thrilled, and it was the first time I felt my math skills were useful instead of just a novelty.
What bad habits do you struggle to overcome?
My sharp tongue! I tend to blurt out my first reaction instead of taking the time to find a more diplomatic phrasing. And even though I have a lot of practice, I also need to work on better apologies.
Is there a secret spot you like to retreat to? Where is it?
There's a vent cover along the roof that's loose enough for me to pop out. On bright afternoons, I can sneak up to the attic, open the vent, and read in a sunbeam for hours.
Great to know I’m not the only one who loves to curl up with a book in the sunlight. Only one more question for you: Is there anything you'd like to say to your author?
Did you really need to send me across the entire continent? Couldn't my part of the story have taken place somewhere sophisticated, like New York?
As someone from New York believe me it has its ups and downs just like everywhere else. Let’s wrap it up there. Make sure you check out Where the Veil Thins!
About the author: I've been writing short stories since middle school, but Where the Veil Thins is the first time I've managed to finish writing an entire book. In my day job, I'm an engineer working on making Augmented Reality hardware more accessible.