Character Interview with Joshen [Witch Song Blog Tour]

Hi everyone! As part of the Witch Song Tour of Teen Book Scene, I have an important person from Witch Song who has stepped out of the story realm just to chat with us. He’s Joshen, Brusenna’s Guardian.

What's it like being Senna's Guardian?

From boyhood, I was trained to be Senna's guardian, as my father was Guardian to her mother. Protecting the women that control nature seemed like the best kind of work. It didn't hurt things when I finally met Senna. I mean, she's a pretty girl, but when you hear her sing . . . thing just stop.

Not that it's all been easy. She tends to run headlong into dangerous situations, makes my job much harder than it needs to be. She doesn't seem to think very highly of herself, which is frustrating. She’s beautiful and competent and strong, but she doesn’t see it. All she sees is her faults and shortcomings. But I think she’s starting to believe me when I tell her how irreplaceable she is.

Your journey with Senna was quite intense. How do you manage to stay strong, alert and calm?

People tend to panic easy. You just do what needs done. Although I admit I've had a few moments of desperation with Senna. Mostly when she thinks with her heart instead of her head and flies into the middle of trouble.

If Senna wasn't a witch, how would things be for the both of you?

Imagining Senna without her song is like imagining a bird that can't fly. It just makes me sad. Though in a lot of ways it would have been easier for her. She wouldn’t have grown up being ridiculed and hated because she was a witch; maybe they wouldn’t have crushed all the confidence out of her. But growing up as a witch made her who she is, so maybe it had to happen that way.

If you could do one thing for Senna (aside from protecting her and keeping her away from danger,) what would it be?

There's a stallion I've had my eye on. He's as fast a lightning strike. No one could catch her if she rode him. Knowing that makes me feel a little less worried for her. In case something happened to me, she could still get away.

And a woman like Senna deserves a horse as beautiful as she is.

What tips can you give to future (and aspiring) guardians to keep their witches safe?

Start training young and hard. When I first met Senna, I didn’t realize how much trouble one woman could get into on a consistent basis. I mean, daily. Also, you may have to follow your witch at a distance if she sings plants to wrap you up and haul you away and then forbids you to follow her.

Thank you for dropping by, Joshen!

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Witch Song comes out on September 1, 2011.

The world is changing. Once, Witch Song controlled everything from the winds to the shifting of the seasons--but not anymore. All the Witches are gone, taken captive by a traitor. All but Brusenna. As the echo of their songs fade, the traitor grows stronger. Now she is coming for Brusenna. Her guardian has sworn to protect her, but even he can't stop the Dark Witch. Somehow, Brusenna has to succeed where every other Witch has failed. Find the traitor. Fight her. Defeat her. Because if Brusenna doesn't, there won't be anything left to save.

For more info, visit Amber’s site.