Today, I have a special treat with another Fireside Chat. Our favourite fictional interviewer, Richard Dale, sits down with Lizzie Borden (from
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter), to talk monsters and murder. Plus, there's a quick peek at the book,
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C.A. Verstraete. Enjoy.
Fireside
Chat with Lizzie Borden
"Welcome
everyone, to another Fireside Chat. I’m Richard Dale, your host. Today, we have
a most special and infamous guest, none other than Lizzie Borden."
Richard grins with obvious excitement and delight. “It is a most delightful pleasure and honour to have you here, Miss
Borden.”
"Thank you. I am
pleased to be here."
“Your
story is been told many times and, dare I say, even become part of American
folklore. Yet, the dark truth of the matter has remained shrouded over the
years. I think our audience would like to hear your version, about who you are.
Would you care to a bit about this tale of tragedy?”
(Sighs.) "I still
find it difficult to talk about, as you may understand. That August 4th was a
terrible day. You see, people have it all wrong." (Sniffs and wipes her eyes.) "I-I had no choice! I didn’t want to do it. I didn’t! But when Mrs. Borden came
at me so… (Shudders.) It was ghastly. I’ve never seen anything like that
before—and I hope I never do again."
“Before
this unnatural event, did you believe in paranormal forces, Miss Borden?”
"I never believed in
such things before. I had sneakily read a copy of Miss Shelley’s Frankenstein.
It is not my reading taste, but I had heard others speak of it. It’s pretty
gruesome. But you never expect such things to be real. Not at all. Not ever."
“Has
it been hard, living with secrets?”
(Sighs again.) "I
have been a private person, but with the attacks and murder of my father and
stepmother, and then the trial, of course, I was thrust into the center of
something I never dreamed would happen. The hardest part was not telling anyone
the whole truth, the real truth, of what happened that day for fear of
compromising the Society’s work in stopping this terrible scourge. All I wanted
was for it to go away and never threaten my family again."
Richard leans forward
the look on his face intense. “Tell us
about John, Miss Borden.”
(Her face turns
red.) "John? Mr. Fremont was a big help as part of my legal team and a good
friend. He introduced me to the St Alphonsus Society. I don’t know what else I
can really say."
Any further discussion
is interrupted by the arrival of a gentleman carrying a tea tray. “Is
it time for tea, Jenkins?”
“Indeed,
sir. I have a lovely Earl Grey today.” The
butler turns to Lizzie. “Would you care
for a cup, Miss Borden? We have milk and lemon for the tea, and sugar should
you take your tea that way. And some
lovely cinnamon tea cakes as well.”
"Thank you. Yes, I
believe I will have a cup. I’m feeling rather parched."
Jenkins pours two
cups, and discreetly withdraws, leaving the tray.
“Shall
we return to the interview?” Richard smiles
softly and sips his tea, not waiting for her answer. “What would you consider your greatest character flaw?”
"That’s a rather
personal question." (Clears throat.) "We all have our flaws, don’t we?"
(She looks to the side
and then dabs her eyes.) "My one flaw, my greatest regret, may be in not being
firmer that my sister, Emma, not be so involved in fighting off those monsters.
She just isn’t as strong as I am. I should’ve insisted she stay inside and let
me or our instructor Pierre handle things."
“Much of the world regards you as a bit of a villain, but your story is
more complicated now isn’t it? So I ask, do you consider your actions heroic?”
"I’m neither a
villain nor a hero. I’m simply someone who wanted to protect her family and her
hometown from the horrors unleashed on us. I wanted the scourge to end and see
our family name cleared. I’m not sure I succeeded in that."
“What
one word best describes you, Miss Borden?”
"Determined."
“How
do you think your life would have turned out, under more normal circumstance?”
"Emma and I had
plans. Once we moved into my beloved Maplecroft, we felt comfortable and almost
free of the spirits of the past. We wanted to travel more. We both enjoy the
theater. But life doesn’t always turn out as you expect, does it?"
“Any
violent actions aside, what is your biggest regret?”
"I think I’ve
addressed that already. I really don’t have much else to say on the subject."
Well
thank you Miss Borden, for agreeing to this interview. It has been
illuminating.
~*~
Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter by C.A.
Verstraete:
Every family has its
secrets…
One hot August morning
in 1892, Lizzie Borden picked up an axe and murdered her father and stepmother.
Newspapers claim she did it for the oldest of reasons: family conflicts,
jealousy and greed. But what if her parents were already dead? What if Lizzie
slaughtered them because they’d become... zombies?
Available on:
For more about the author, C. A. Verstraete, check out these sites:
