Meet TL Brown’s Sebastian St. Michel

I’ve met a lot of characters over the years, but none, other than my Sam Reilly, has triggered both the hate and love that I feel for Sebastian St. Michel. I really, really want him to be good, but I just don’t know if I can trust him. He first came into my book world when I read TL Brown’s Through the Door (Door to Door Paranormal Mystery Book 2) where he emerged as powerful villain/leader of the Fringe (a domestic terrorist group in the Empire). Truthfully, he was a bit of a dick. Then I knew I disliked him intensely in Doors Wide Open (Door to Door Paranormal Mystery Book 3) when he attacked one of my all-time favorite characters. Here, he was not a bit of a dick. He was a violent villain with way more page time than he deserved. Then my foolish heart felt sorry for him in A Thin Witchline Between Love & Hate (Bellerose Witchline Book 1). He wasn’t well, walking a narrow line of psychopathy. He sort of redeemed himself in Crossing the Witchline (Bellerose Witchline Book 2), but I won’t give out any spoilers. I am anxiously awaiting his return in Walking a Fine Witchline (Bellerose Witchline Book 3—not yet released) where I am assured he has a significant role as a side character. There are rumors from a good source that he will co-star in an untitled novella (not yet released). T.L. Brown and Rose J. Fairchild have teamed up to write a dark erotic fantasy in which Sebastian is a main character alongside Fairchild’s main character, Rose E. Harper. Sounds spicy! 🌶️

Have a read of my interview with Sebastian and let me know what you think. Is he a dick or just a misunderstand guy who needs a break?

Q: What’s your full name?

A: Sebastian St. Michel.

Q: How old are you?

A: I was born in 1982. The book I’m currently in (Walking a Fine Witchline from the Bellerose Witchline Series) takes place in early fall 2022, so I’m 40.

Q: When’s your birthday?

A: July 23.

Q: Where were you born?

A: North of Matar in the Salesman Empire.

Q: Are you a main character?

A: Well, Shari, in a way, I am. 😈 I’m sort of a big deal. *laughs* Seriously, though, my role continues to grow in each one of the books T.L. Brown writes.  

Q: Do you have any nicknames?

A: I had one in the Door to Door Paranormal Mystery Series, but it’s a spoiler. Now, a certain sexy Fae calls me her Sinful Sebastian. I like it. 😈

Q: Do you have a catchphrase?

A: F*ck this shit? *shrugs* I don’t know. I F-bomb a lot.

Q: What do you do for work/career?

A: My degree is in finance, and my family owns the official bank of the Empire. My father used to require me to attend board meetings. However, family money aside, I own a high-end restaurant in Matar (spoiler: Zenith), two nightclubs, Blue Tattoo (Matar) and Petals (Vue), and a vineyard. I’ve invested well for two decades. Making money is as simple as: *snaps fingers*

Q: Without giving anything away, do you have scars? Physical or emotional?

A: Both. All have faded…Except one. *touches thin line running horizontally across his throat with an index finger* I’ve had this one since A Thin Witchline Between Love & Hate.

Q: What do you know about your backstory so far?

A: Let’s see…Some of it involves spoilers, and Brown will get ticked if I reveal too much. But like pencil dick—that’s John Templeton—I’m also a Salesman, and I can travel from place to place just by stepping through a door. Both of my parents are Salesmen.

I’m the oldest of three. I have a brother and a sister. We’re not close. Same with my mother and father. No love lost there. I miss my grandmother, though. She loved me. She had a heart attack when the Empire arrested my family for funding Fringe activities to further certain interests. Turns out people really can die from heartbreak.

What else? Never married. Was involved with a witch living in Matar…Actually, I effed up big time there. Really screwed her over. Funny thing is, I’m the one who lost. But…She’s special. We’re in a new space now. I helped her; she saved me—maybe even helped me become a better man. After Crossing the Witchline, I met someone new. Her name is Rose Harper, and she’s Fae…She’s…Everything to me. I can’t say too much because my author (Brown) and her author (the hot Rose J. Fairchild) are currently writing a novella that tells our story. As of today, I don’t know how it ends. The story is definitely adults only. 😈 Oh, the things I like to do to that Fae…One time, I stripped her naked and—

*here T.L. Brown pops into the interview to check on things, hears what Sebastian is saying, dope slaps him, and tells him to behave before leaving*

Q: Describe where you live.

A: I have a pretty massive cabin with all the luxuries you could want in the Walled Zone. Totally mine; my family can’t touch it. I do avail myself of the penthouse my family owns in downtown Matar. I have rooms at my parents’ estate. You won’t find me there.

Q: How many stories have you been in?

A: So, I first made my appearance in Through the Door. Brown originally intended to “make me morally gray” like pencil di—er, Templedork—but needed someone who could step up and be a full-on villain in the Door to Door Paranormal Mystery series. I ended up being in two books of that trilogy.

Now I’m in Lucie Bellerose’s adult dark fantasy series, the Bellerose Witchline. I’ll return in book three, Walking a Fine Witchline. A lot of big things are planned, and there is a spoiler hinted at in the Epilogue to Crossing the Witchline that comes full circle in Walking a Fine Witchline. It will have substantial ramifications.

Shari, I know you interviewed Lucie Bellerose, and she talked about the writing challenges Brown used to throw us into on Instagram. I liked being in those. I got to meet Tara Parker-Jones—aka Bookworm. Our characters never cross paths in Brown’s books, but I like Tara. She’s this super tiny little fluff of blondness that doesn’t take any crap. But we’ve had a few moments that even Brown didn’t see coming. Like this one. And, just so you know, I’m not always a total jerk.   

Q: Plans for future stories?

A: There is the untitled novella Brown and Fairchild are working on right now. It’s pretty steamy. I didn’t know Brown had it in her. 😈 Maybe she’s not such a prude after all.

Brown did promise me a standalone book someday, and that’s still a possibility. I think the working title was: Sebastian (A Half-Demon’s Tale). We’ll see. I might just want to retire by then.

Q: As a character, who is your favorite character in your stories?

A: Hands down, Lucie Bellerose. She’s…She’s really special. I can count on her. I know that now. I hope she knows she can count on me, too.

Q: Do you have superpowers or defining traits you’d like to share?

A: I have a natural talent for strategy. I’m competitive. I can get a fast and accurate read on others, which has served me well over the years. There’s not much in this world I’m afraid of. And some people might be surprised, but I’m an optimist. Always have been. That’s how you get places.

This still might be a spoiler, so if you haven’t read A Thin Witchline Between Love & Hate, you should probably skip to the next question now. Go on. I’ll wait. (Gone? Okay, so there’s this whole issue that arises in the Below, and I’m now a half-demon. My strength is through the roof, I heal quickly, I can move super fast if I want to, and I can handle high heat and even fire—doesn’t bother me. There’s a little bit more to this half-demon thing, but that’s the gist of it.) 

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

A: There are many magical practitioners in the Empire—more than just witches. Being able to work magic would be cool. Or flying. Yeah, definitely flying.

Q: Are you a good guy/gal or a bad guy/gal?

A: To quote Lucie Bellerose in the upcoming Walking a Fine Witchline: “And I know for a fact *spoiler* is a better man than he used to be.” She’s talking about me there. ME.

Q: Any archenemies you can tell us about?

A: How much time have you got? Look, I’m no fan of the Empire leadership and, frankly, would like to see that regime wiped out. Templeton and I might’ve traveled in some of the same family social circles—ironically, we both hated those social responsibilities—but he can eff off. Sanctimonious prick…There is no love lost between Emily Swift and me—that’s all I’m saying about that.

Q: How about a love interest? Do you have a significant other?

A: It’s been a weird road I’ve traveled through Brown’s books. I didn’t see it coming, but I fell in love with Lucie Bellerose. I really did. Of course, I screwed that up in the way only I can. I mean, I think about her sometimes and what might’ve been, but…It’s over.

In the summer following Crossing the Witchline, this pretty pink-haired Fae, Rose Harper, shows up on opening night of my club in Matar (Blue Tattoo). It was lust at first sight. It became something more. I can’t share anything else because there are too many spoilers, but she convinced me that I deserved to be loved—no matter my past.

Q: Do you have any phobias?

A: I hate the dark, and I’m a little OCD.

*here Brown leans back into the room and yells: a LOT OCD*

Damn, she’s annoying.

Q: Do you ever lie? Or are you always truthful?

A: Look…Yeah, I’ve lied. I’ll still lie. People lie. But now I only lie if it’s a good reason. (I’m lying to you right now.) 😈

Q: Do you have a best friend? If so, could you tell us about them? Their traits?

A: I never had a lot of “real” friends. Money and power attract all kinds of sycophants. But if there was ever a true friend, it would be Lucie. She leads with her heart. She’s kind, and Lucie doesn’t let “societal conventions” get in her way of truly caring for people. I might not like everyone she likes, but I’ve benefitted from her big heart.

And her forgiveness.

Q: Do you have a pet?

A: No.

Q: Name three things you love.

A: My nightclubs, my cabin…My Fae, Rose.

Q: Name three things you loathe.

A: The Below and everything in it. Templedork. My father.

Q: What’s your favorite food?

A: Probably sushi.

Q: What music do you like?

A: Rock, hard rock, maybe some grunge bands from when I was a young teenager. Industrial. Older metal—none of today’s crap they try to pass off as metal.

Q: If you had a theme song, what would it be?

A: Brown and I share an absolute passion need for music in our lives. She also assigns theme songs to her characters. Mine is Burden in My Hand, by Soundgarden. Yeah, it probably fits.

Q: Do you like to read? What sort of books?

A: I don’t read as much as I used to. Every now and then, I’ll go back and reread The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub. Author Rose J. Fairchild has turned me on to what she calls “Fairy Smut.” I’m actually kind of into it. Some of it is dark sh*t. That Fairchild might be pretty, but she’s not one to hold back on the grittier parts. I like that.

Q: Do you drive? If so, what type of vehicle do you have? Or do you walk? Take public transportation?

A: When you can door travel, you don’t think about driving. Still, I have a Black Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet and a Triumph Thruxton RS Café Racer. There are several SUVs that belong to my nightclubs, and sometimes I’ll use one of those.

Q: What’s the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?

A: Once, a witch glowed for me and filled me with her light. Another time, a Fae trusted me to lay her bare and gave me everything. She believed in me.

Q: What’s the most horrendous thing you have ever seen?

A: You don’t want to know the answer to this one, Shari. Things that happen in the Below make the stuff going on in this world look like child’s play.

Q: Does your author make you do stupid things? If so, would you like to share an example?

A: Brown is forever making us do dumb things. She’s being pretty good to me now, so I’ll shut up.

Q: If you could visit a fictional place, other than our own, where would you go?

A: That’s a tough one. I dunno. Into a Bond film? I liked the movies with Daniel Craig.

Q: Are there other fictional characters you would like to meet?

A: I was introduced to a slew of other characters during the old writing challenges. Someone new? Maybe Josephine Gardiner from Easy Guide to Escape Hell by Elisa Menz. Josephine knows how to deal with demons and other jerks, and she’s not afraid to go to Hell to make things right. I’d probably like her (platonically).

Q: Do you ever worry that your author will kill you off?

A: Honestly, I can’t believe I’m still alive.

Oh, was that the last question? Way to end things abruptly, Shari. 👿

Would the author like to comment on any of the character’s answers?

T.L. Brown’s answer: My apologies to anyone Sebastian will have offended with his answers. 🙄

But thank you, Shari, for letting my bad guy share his perspective here! I know for a fact he loves the hard time you often give him, and he likes you. 😉

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No worries, Tracy. He wasn’t so bad. He even brought me a lovely bottle of Pinot Noir. 🍷😉 Thanks for letting Sebastian out for a few hours and for agreeing to the interview.

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Where to Find TL Brown Online

Website: https://writertracybrown.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/T.L.-Brown/e/B08LR3T5KM
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writertracybrown/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TLBrown
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/tlbrown
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterTracyBrown/

Follow Lucie Bellerose on Instagram: @luciebellerose

Sign up for Tracy’s newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/huAsfz

In case you missed it, check out my interview with Lucie Bellerose here: https://sharitmitchell.com/2024/06/28/meet-lucie-bellerose-mc-of-tl-browns-bellerose-witchline-series/

Indie Author Chat returns on September 6th with author Rose F. Fairchild. 

And if you have just discovered the Marnie Reilly Mysteries series, click the link to be taken to my Amazon page for more information.

As always, feel free to leave comments or ask me questions. I will respond as quickly as possible.

Thanks so much for spending time with me. See you soon! 👋