Character Interview #1: Reclaiming Wonderland

Welcome Readers! Author Taila stopping by for a quick introduction. The characters of Reclaiming Wonderland have been begging to answer some questions for y’all. Only Alice, Caterpillar, Cheshire, Hatter, and March made time for us today. But I’ve been told any of the other characters will appear if they’re asked a direct question. Enjoy!

 

Question: Can you start by introducing yourself today?

 

Alice: Alice Young. Not a code name. I’m twenty-five, living in Wonderland. Is there really anything else they need to know?

Cheshire: Cheshire Cat, happy to meet all my fangirls. I’m twenty-six.

Hatter: I’m Hatter. I do all the groundwork for the Resistance. I’m twenty-seven.

March: H-hi, March here. Not really sure why I was invited. I’m twenty-seven.

Caterpillar: *silent staring* (Alice: That Caterpillar. He's an old man.) I’m only thirty-five.

 

Question: What or Who is the greatest love of your life.

Alice: Chocolate cake or mac and cheese.

Cheshire: Don’t get in the way of her eating. I’m pretty sure Caterpillar still has a limp. The greatest love of my life is sleep.

Hatter: Alice and March.

March: Hatter and Ali.

Caterpillar: Alice. (Alice: Are you sure it isn’t brooding?)

 

Question: Who is your best friend?

Alice: Dina

Cheshire: These idiots.

Hatter: March.

March: I guess since they’re more my partners my best friend would be TweedleDee.

Caterpillar: I don’t have friends. (Cheshire: I’ll remember that.)

Question: What is your favorite weapon?

Alice: A dagger.

Cheshire: My perfect pearl handle pistols. My precious, deadly weapons. (Author Taila: Yes he has pulled them out and is petting them. It’s only slightly disturbing.)

Hatter: I can work with anything.

March: I prefer not to use weapons at all.

Caterpillar: My fists. (Alice: Big guy, are you good? You’re gonna creep out the audience.)

 

Questions: What is the first thing you noticed about your partner(s)?

Alice: With Hatter, it was his eyes, the green is just so vivid. March’s lips, they’re so full. I was honestly jealous at first. Obviously, for Cheshire, his hair. I was too pissed off at Caterpillar to notice much about him, so I guess his douchebag personality.

Cheshire: Those pretty blue eyes.

Hatter: With March, we were just kids, but it’s just his energy. It's soft but so strong. Alice... you can’t help but notice her. I was like a moth to a flame. Couldn’t even focus on the job I was sent to do.

March: Hatter’s h-hair. It’s always been so thick and beautiful. Ali, her hair, it shone like spun gold in the light.

Caterpillar: Her fist hitting my face.

 

Question: What is your favorite color?

Alice: Blue

Cheshire: Violet.

Hatter: Orange, like a sunset.

March: Light green, it reminds me of spring.

Caterpillar: Red (Alice: Like blood?) Yeah.

 

Question: Have you ever questioned your sexuality?

Alice: One time Dina and I kissed to see if we liked women. I don’t.

Cheshire: I’m down for whatever is fun.

Hatter: I struggled with it for a long time, but I’m bisexual.

March: I just like people for who they are. Whatever they have in their pants doesn’t matter to me.

Caterpillar: Straight as a rod, but comfortable. (Author Taila: With what?)

 

Question: Do you have any living relatives?

Alice: Obviously Lily, but I think anything else would be a spoiler. (Author Taila: Saying it’s a spoiler, spoils the spoiler.)

Cheshire: Not that I know of.

Hatter: I was an only child. Mom died when I was a kid, Dad disappeared years ago.

March: Unfortunately yes.

Caterpillar: No.

 

Question: Are you a dog or cat person?

Alice: Both. I like animals.

Cheshire: Ah, I actually prefer dogs, but I like cats too.

Hatter: Dogs.

March: I’m allergic to dogs, so I prefer cats.

Caterpillar: A big dog is useful for guarding.

 

Question: What is your full name? Do you have any nicknames?

Alice: Alice Evangeline Young. Ali and Al are my main ones. But these four call me all sorts of things.

Cheshire: I hate you for this question. Sinclair Eugene Malone. If anyone calls me by that name I’m getting the pistols back out. Ches or Cheshire only.

Hatter: Hayden O’Hare. I don’t really have any nicknames.

March: Maxton Danara. A few people will call me Max or Marchie.

Caterpillar: Roman Ainsworth. Alice calls me Cater but what she should really call me (Author Taila: Woah woah woah, take it down a notch sir. That’s not safe for work.)

Question: If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?

Alice: Chocolate chips cookies fresh out of the oven.

Cheshire: Flowers. Can’t tell what which ones, but my mom this floral perfume. The whole house always smelled like it.

Hatter: Sandalwood and aftershave.

March: Tobacco and rubbing alcohol.

Caterpillar: Motor oil. I liked working with my dad on his bikes.

 

Question: Is Wonderland a real place?

Alice: Well I’m standing right here talking to you aren’t I? Wonderland is just a nickname, we’ve forgotten what the city was called before the world ended.

Cheshire: Only as real as you believe it to be.

Hatter: I wish it wasn’t sometimes.

March: Far too real.

Caterpillar: That’s a stupid question. 

That is the end of today's interview. Please feel free to drop any questions you might like to ask in the comments or reach out directly to Author Taila on any of her social media. 

Writing #16: Updates!

 So you have to forgive me for a prolonged absence. As y'all know from my last post 2024 was kicking my ass. Well not long after that I quit my job. I've started something new now, but no one cares about that. Y'all want an update on my writing. 

First update, Blue Dreams (Reclaiming Wonderland #2) is finished! This one took a little longer than Code Red when it comes to finishing the first draft, but I have high hopes we are on track for an April 2025 release. My beta readers have a deadline of September 30th. I'm hoping to have the biggest of the edits done by January. No more seven years of editing lol. 

Second, I will be announcing the title of my next project very soon. I'm currently sitting just under seven thousand words on it. Once it's gotten to ten, I'll announce the title. I plan to have this finished before Blue Dreams releases, so hopefully this book will be done and released in the Fall of 2025. 

Third, the title of the third Reclaiming Wonderland novel is decided. I have begun plotting, but I don't intend to start really focusing on it until spring of 2025. Obviously aiming for a spring 2026 release. 

Fourth, I can't say much more than I have another project that will be released next year. I've just started on it, but I'm extremely excited to get this one out. 

Four books in one year is the goal from now until next year. I expect Reclaiming Wonderland #3 will still be in the works at that point, but we shall see! Ultimately, I am loosely following the idea of 20 books to 50k. I'll be testing all sorts of ways to publish on this journey. Writing is my passion and finally getting to share that with the world has been such a joy. This week I'll be attending TBR Con, my first time with my own booth. If you're located in East Tennessee and can make it on September 6-7th to the Knoxville Expo Center come out and see me!

Taila Out. 

What I'm Listening To #2

 I think this is going to be a series now. As much as I love music, I want to share my current rotation. I almost always listen to music when I write. For that reason, I do have playlists for many of my wips. You can find Reclaiming Wonderland's on my author links (yes I'm making you scroll for it). I'm only going to share my current top ten, let's get into it. 

1. Take Me Back to Eden by Sleep Token (this has been added to the Reclaiming Wonderland playlist for reasons). 
2. Rule #34 by Fish in a Birdcage (Just listen to it. If you're a dark romance girlie you'll love it). 
3. Empire Now by Hozier (Also on the Reclaiming Wonderland playlist. It was hard to pick if I wanted to put this or Too Sweet, but this song needs more attention). 
4. Matte Black by $uicideboy$ (it's the vibe bro). 
5. Just Pretend by Bad Omens (Let's be real I'm a lil emo at heart). 
6. Mic Check by Sophie Hunter (An absolute bop). 
7. High on My Lows by Sawyer Hill
8. The Red Means I Love You by Madds Buckley
9. Heaven Written by Soldana
10. Afrad of the Quiet by Lydia the Bard 

And you get the link that can lead you to the Reclaiming Wonderland playlist: https://msha.ke/tcantrellauthor

Taila Out.