Ron Rash
Author Chat

Ron Rash: No, I try as a writer to be a witness, not a side taker. I allow the reader to decide who he or she thinks is right.

BCQ: Serena is one of the most complex female characters I've met. Can you tell us more of her childhood or is it just another one of the many mysteries surrounding her life?

Ron Rash: I wanted her to be mysterious, but, obviously, the death of her family has shaped her view of life.

BCQ: Pemberton and Serena create a monstrous opponent to anyone who stands in their way. It is said early on in the story that neither had been able to meet a mate they considered an equal. What changed when they met each other?

Ron Rash: They both recognized their "superiority" to other people. Pemberton, however, underestimates Serena's strength.

BCQ: There is a turning point in the story where Serena's plans seem to continue forward without Pemberton. He does not necessarily recognize this right away. Does she?

Ron Rash: You're right. He slowly, almost subconsciously, realizes it before he can acknowledge the gap.

BCQ: The most interesting thing about Serena is the absolute indifference she shows for all things that come to pass. The only time she is visibly shaken is during the training of her Eagle. Why does it have such an effect on her?

Ron Rash: Because she is attempting to become like the eagle, living only for the present, to become less human.

BCQ: Are Rachel and Jacob's place in the story to show Pemeberton's weakness? Or perhaps to show that Serena is less sure of herself than she behaves?

Ron: For me Rachel and Jacob are a counter to the Pembertons. Rachel chooses love, not power, when she dedicates herself to his safety.

BCQ: Does Serena really love Pemberton?

Ron: Yes, she does. Her tragedy is that her design for the way she lives her life makes her unable to accept Pemberton's caring for Jacob.

BCQ: The men are in awe of Serena and seem to believe that she has otherworldly powers. Is this because of the way women were "supposed" to act in 1929 as well as the area the story takes place? Or would Serena seem just as formidable and mysterious in today's world?

Ron: Certainly the time period makes her more amazing, but I suspect Serena would be equally formidable today.

BCQ: I have thought long and hard about this and can't find any quality I consider redeeming in Serena's character. How do you feel about her?

Ron: She may not be redeemable, but I do feel she is tragic. Like Jay Gatsby and Ahab, she is so consumed with her goal that she loses part of her humanity.