Indie author Jennifer Brasington-Crowely was kind enough to coax Raven Xerces, the frontman and lead guitarist 🎸 of rock band Black Talons, to do an interview with me. If you haven’t met Raven, he’s the main character in romance novels, Raven Song and Hell’s Bells, and the coming-of-age book, Bird Song. When I first met him, I thought he was an arrogant jerk. But he changed my mind once I got to know him and found out we have a few things in common: he’s an animal lover and rescuer, too. Without further ado, here’s what the soulful rock god had to say.👇
Q: What’s your full name?
A: Readers know me as Raven Jay Xerces.
Q: How old are you?
A: In Raven Song, I am 38, and Hell’s Bells I am 39. But time waits for no man, as they say, so today in 2024, holy sh*t, I would be 44.
Q: When’s your birthday?
A: June 13, 1980
Q: Where were you born?
A: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Q: Are you a main character?
A: I am a secondary main character in my debut Raven Song, but then I pretty much stole the show and took over my other books. Some may say I’m a diva, but I like to think I’m just interesting.
Q: Do you have any nicknames?
A: My sister used to call me Jaybird. Other than that, it’s the usual: pretty boy, assh*le, dumbf*ck, moron, you know.
Q: Do you have a catchphrase?
A: I’ll give you a hint. It starts with a F and end with uck
Q: What do you do for work/career?
A: I am the frontman and lead guitar for Black Talons.
Q: Without giving anything away, do you have scars? Physical or emotional?
A: Are you kidding me? I have ‘em all! Fuck, have you seen that artwork on my back? That ain’t an original; that’s a paint by numbers.
Q: What do you know about your backstory so far?
A: Too much. Next question.
Q: Describe where you live?
A: Pretzel calls it a dump, but I love my place. It’s a ranch near Laguna Beach. Just a couple bedrooms, a screen porch, a big yard for my rescue horses, a custom recording studio. Best of all, though, is my own private beach where I can surf and forget about everything except controlling the waves under my board. It’s paradise.
Q: How many stories have you been in?
A: Five where I am a main character, and one where I make a pretty big cameo (Nightingale).
Q: Plans for future stories?
A: God, I hope not!
Q: As a character, who is your favorite character in your stories?
A: Since I looked ahead at your other questions, I am going with Sadie on this one. She’s my best friend Mike’s wife and she’s just fantastic. She’s a straight shooter, but she’s empathetic as hell. She always knows just how you’re feeling. Mike’s a lucky guy, but they’re perfect for each other. You know that couples goals thing? That’s them.
Q: Do you have superpowers or defining traits you’d like to share?
A: Ask my wife.
Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
A: Teleportation! Fucking panic attacks breed like rabbits when I travel!
Q: Are you a good guy/gal or a bad guy/gal?
A: That’s open for debate.
Q: Any archenemies you can tell us about?
A: Sure can. He’s about my height, my weight, has a sprawling raven tattoo across his chest and answers to the name Raven Xerces.
Q: How about a love interest? Do you have a significant other?
A: My wife, Stanzie Butler. Man, she’s incredible. She’s a brilliant biologist, and right now she’s spearheading this addax conservation project in Mauritania. She’s got the biggest heart for animals, and for some reason, she likes me, too. I don’t know how I got so lucky.
Q: Do you have any phobias?
A: Large spaces, small spaces, heights, depths, flying, driving, more flying, elevators, too much sky, high ceilings, flying some more.
Q: Do you ever lie? Or are you always truthful?
A: I know this may come as a shock, but I’m pretty honest. Sure, I may fib a little to save my skin, but for the most part, I tell the truth.
Q: Do you have a best friend? If so, could you tell us about them? Their traits?
A: Gretel “Pretzel” Freudenberg. She’s a complete enigma. Fucking trust fund kid with a heart of goddamn gold. She is the only reason my heart is beating today. I came out to L.A. with nothing but a pack of smokes and a drug habit, and she took me in. She believed in me when no one else did and has been with me every step of the way. She’s my fucking guardian angel. Oh, and she’d kick my ass if I didn’t tell you she’s a phenomenal hairdresser and owner of The Razor’s Edge salon in West Hollywood.
Q: Do you have a pet?
A: I take care of a feral cat colony a few miles away, and I take in foster horses from time to time when my schedule allows. There’s a damn raven that won’t leave my yard, Blackjack Davy. And I finally have a cat again, Joe Scratchriani, who I picked up off the streets in Chattanooga.
Q: Name three things you love.
A: Booze, cigarettes and cocaine.
Q: Name three things you loathe.
A: Posers, my dad, and fucking paparazzi.
Q: What’s your favorite food?
A: Anything out of the kitchen at Sal and Sally’s.
Q: What music do you like?
A: Is it egotistical to say my own? Other than that, definitely Eddie Van Halen, Maiden, Bowie, Aretha Franklin, and yes, Sal, I gotta say Sinatra.
Q: If you had a theme song, what would it be?
A: I have a theme song. Sister Cherry written about my own sister who ran away. Our breakout hit from our debut album Cherrybomb. Listen to it on Soundcloud: Stream Sister Cherry by Black Talons | Listen online for free on SoundCloud
Q: Do you like to read? What sort of books?
A: I don’t read much of anything.
Q: Do you drive? If so, what type of vehicle do you have? Or do you walk? Take public transportation?
A: I have two Indian motorcycles and a silver Oldsmobile. I used to have a black Trans Am with a gold eagle painted on this hood like Smoky and the Bandit, but the cops liked to target me, so I traded it in for the Olds. Now I just blend in with all the senior citizens and that suits me just fine.
Q: What’s the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?
A: The elusive dimple on my wife’s cheek that no one knew existed until the day we got married.
Q: What’s the most horrendous thing you have ever seen?
A: My dad.
Q: Does your author make you do stupid things? If so, would you like to share an example?
A: She would argue that I do all the stupid things on my own. (**Author’s note: He does.)
Q: If you could visit a fictional place, other than our own, where would you go?
A: I can’t think of anywhere fictional I’d like to visit. Definitely not your books – ghosts and murders and Kate? No thanks!!
Q: Are there other fictional characters you would like to meet?
A: Walter White. He could hook me up.
Q: Do you ever worry that your author will kill you off?
A: There was a time when I prayed she would. Now, though, it scares the shit out of me.
Would the author like to comment on any of the character’s answers?
A: Yes. The 3 things Raven loves are his wife and two children! Gosh, he’s impossible. And he does NOT want to meet Walter White! Raven has been clean since rehab six months prior to Raven Song. Though I wouldn’t put meeting the hookah smoking caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland past him.
Jennifer Brasington-Crowley Interview Linke
Want to know more about Raven’s boss 😉, Jennifer Brasington-Crowley? You can check it out here: https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/07/05/indie-author-chat-with-jennifer-brasington-crowley/
My Review of Raven Song
My five star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review of Raven Song is below. Something you should know about me—I won’t review a book unless I loved it. Why? Because I don’t ever want to negatively impact another author. My opinion is my own and not everyone loves the same books. BUT … If you love a good meet-cute, this could be a must-read for you.👏
In case you missed it…
Check out my interviews with TL Brown’s Lucie Bellerose from the Bellerose Witchline series and my dear friend, Marnie Reilly, from my very own the Marnie Reilly Mysteries series.
As always, thanks so much for sharing your time with me. I’ll be back on August 2nd with a new Indie Author Chat.
See you soon!👋
I am loving these character interviews, Shari! Raven is one of my favorite “oh-lord-what-he-doing-now?” characters. Author Brasington-Crowley is an amazing writer and character creator!
Thanks, Tracy. And I agree. Jennifer is wonderful and the mischievous Raven is great fun to hang out with.