DEATH:
Hey there, living people. Welcome to Post Mortem, the fake online talk-radio show where fictional characters talk to me about their books, their Authors, and basically anything they want. I’m your host, Death.

Don’t let that freak you out. I’m a decent fake radio host. At least, no one’s complained yet. (But maybe that’s because of the scythe.)

Our guest today on Post Mortem is someone I can relate to on many levels–especially because she understands the concept of patience. Me? I’m patient because, well, why wouldn’t I be? Everyone comes to me, in time. As for my guest, she’s patient due to circumstances. Three hundred years’ worth of circumstances.

Booklist calls The Dust of 100 Dogs “an undeniably original book.” And according to School Library Journal: “Pirates, reincarnation, dogs, teenage angst, a romance that spans the centuries, magic, treasure—all are wrapped up inside a fun Goth cover.”

[GRINS] I love the “fun Goth cover” comment. Everyone, say hello to the star of A.S. King’s THE DUST OF 100 DOGS…Saffron Adams!

[APPLAUSE]

Hey, Saffron! Thanks for being my guest on Post Mortem.

SAFFRON:
Uh—hi, Death. Nice to meet you.

DEATH:
Likewise. For those who haven’t read DUST yet, what’s your book about?

SAFFRON:
THE DUST OF 100 DOGS is about a notorious 17th century pirate reincarnated as a girl genius–me–who is determined to reclaim her buried treasure.

DEATH:
Nice. But what does that have to do with the dust of a hundred dogs?

SAFFRON:
When Emer was murdered, her killer cursed her with the dust of 100 dogs, dooming her to 300 years as an assortment of dogs before she could be reborn as a human again.

DEATH:
Ouch. Was that the worst thing that happened to you in the book?

SAFFRON:
The worst thing for me is that I was born with a 300-year-old brain. There are perks to this as well as troubles. Mostly, modern people piss me off, and time moves too slowly.

DEATH:
[GRINS] Yeah, I can relate to that.

SAFFRON:
[NODS] But my situation is complicated because I have my own life and memories, and I also have the memories and some leftover feelings from my former incarnation, Emer Morrisey.

DEATH:
Okay, you got me on that one. I’ve never been reincarnated. Between Emer and Saffron, which of you had a harder time of things?

SAFFRON:
[LAUGHS] Well, for one thing, my family sucks. Having to live with them until I turned 18, knowing the things I knew, was hard. But nothing as hard as what Emer had to go through. That’s the thing about being me. No matter how bad I had it, I don’t think I could ever have it as bad as she did.

DEATH:
What’s the best thing about your situation?

SAFFRON:
Funnily enough, the 300-year-old brain. Especially its mental treasure maps.

DEATH:
[LAUGHS] Not bad. If you could be anyone–and I don’t mean limiting yourself to either Emer or you, or any of your dog lives–who would it be?

SAFFRON:
There are too many people going hungry, or going without the basics in our world, and there’s no reason for it. Now that I live in Jamaica, I try to do my part locally, but I wish I had more organizational power to motivate others to help. [PAUSES] Also, more money. So, I guess I wish I could be Bono, because he’s making a huge difference in these areas.

DEATH:
To say nothing about rocking as he does so. What’s your standard outfit?

SAFFRON:
[SHRUGS] I’m casual. Depending on what climate I’m in, I’m either a jeans, t-shirt and boots kind of girl, or a sundress, surf shorts and barefoot kind of girl.

DEATH:
What wouldn’t you be caught–ha ha–dead in?

SAFFRON:
High heels.

DEATH:
What are you most afraid of?

SAFFRON:
Confrontation. I hate fighting–verbal or physical–because I know what it causes internally.

DEATH:
Not often you hear a former pirate saying she hates fighting.

SAFFRON:
Emer turned from innocent girl to evil pirate from what was done to her. It was ugly, and she felt she had to do that because life was always handing her violent challenges. I had it far easier in the 20th century, and was naturally opposed to violence after seeing what it did to Emer, and so many others I witnessed during my lives as dogs. In my experience, I believe that violence breeds more violence.

DEATH:
I can see that. So how do you move past that fear?

SAFFRON:
By being an avid pacifist. I keep my life as peaceful as it can be.

DEATH:
[NODS] All about the balance. What’s one thing about you that no one else knows? You can trust me. Really.

SAFFRON:
[PAUSES] When we had to sell our house and had the yard sale, it was too sad to see my mom sell her two framed pictures of Jesus, so I hid them in the garage.

DEATH:
Aw.

SAFFRON:
I also stole an old Swiss Army knife, which I still have, and lied to my dad and said I’d sold it.

DEATH:
Heh. A pacifist thief. I like it. In THE DUST OF 100 DOGS, were there any parts of the story where you were like, hey, A.S. King, what on earth are you making me do? Or were you and your Author in sync the entire time?

SAFRON:
I didn’t like that I had to confront Fred at the end. But I guess I knew it was coming, so I let my Emer out when it was time, and it wasn’t so bad. Outside of that, I’m glad she got me to where I wanted to go. [SMILES] Though the book spans over 300 years, it focuses mostly on Emer, and the curse we shared…but my story really starts when the book ends.

DEATH:
If you had your way, what would you change about THE DUST OF 100 DOGS?

SAFFRON:
The thing I’d change the most is a major spoiler.

DEATH:
Ah. Can’t have that. Even I have basic rules to follow.

SAFFRON:
Let’s just say I wish I could one day reclaim all of what I was looking for, and not just parts of it. [PAUSES] Then again, I feel I traded a few “valuables” for true love, which is far more valuable.

DEATH:
Ah, l’amour. If you could make your Author, A.S. King, do anything, what would it be?

SAFFRON:
Exercise more regularly. She’d feel a lot better if she just got to it, but she tends to work too much, and spend too much time in her office.

DEATH:
I think that’s an Author thing. I could tell you stuff about Jackie, but she’d probably kill me. And killing Death, well, that would lead to bad things. If THE DUST OF 100 DOGS goes Hollywood, who should play you and Emer in the movie?

SAFFRON:
I’m a few years behind when it comes to American movie stars. Last I knew Hollywood, it was the 1990s. So, I don’t think I can answer this one accurately. But if it was 1990, I’d love to see Wynona Rider play Emer.

DEATH:
If there’s one piece of advice you could give to your fans, what would it be?

SAFFRON:
Be nice. Nice matters.

DEATH:
It does indeed. Finally, who’s your favorite Horseman of the Apocalypse?

SAFFRON:
I’d have to say War. You know–the sword and all that.

DEATH:
Heh. Yeah, I do. Excellent choice.

Everyone, give another hearty round of applause for the star of A.S. King’s DUST OF 100 DOGS…Saffron Adams!

[APPLAUSE]

[No, this isn't Saffron. Or Emer. But it is their Author, A.S. King.]

You can buy DUST OF 100 DOGS at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, independent bookstores, and other fine bookstores near you.

That’s it for this episode of Post Mortem. Feel free to comment–let us know if you liked the interview, if there’s a question I should have asked…anything you’d like. Either Saffron or I will get back to you. Or possibly Amy or Jackie–our Authors get nosey sometimes. (Authors. Can’t take them anywhere.)

Until next time, go thee out unto the world. Rock on.