Authors Interviewing Characters: Alexandria Rizik

August 4, 2021 | By | Reply More

For today’s interview, I will be interviewing Brock and Kendra from my novel 21 Questions. The story is told from alternating perspectives between the two of them and although they have two strongly different voices, they prove opposites attract. Their storytelling is proof of that as it flows between them like poetry.

The story follows these two teenagers as they begin a game of 21 Questions and start to learn more about each other, but the game begins to unravel some unspoken truths about themselves as well. Kendra lost her brother to an overdose and is competing in the upcoming surf competition to honor him while Brock on the other hand is the new school bad boy whose parents are using him to deal drugs to the high school clientele. They couldn’t be any different from each other, but somehow by an aligning of the stars, they’re a perfect match. 

Alexandria: I’m going to start with my favorite question to ask people. What are your zodiac signs?

Kendra: I’m a Libra but I identify more with Virgos. 

Brock: Capricorn. I don’t know what any of it means though. Do I seem like one? 

Kendra: I think you do. When I think of Capricorns I think of CEOs. 

Brock: I’ll take it.

Alexandria: How did you two meet?

Kendra: Our homecoming dance—

Brock: Technically I met you the night before. At the football game.

Kendra: (Giggling) Please don’t remind me. I was mid-anxiety attack. 

Alexandria: Do you consistently deal with anxiety? 

Kendra: (Sighs) Unfortunately. I’ve learned to manage it with yoga and meditation but it’s something I was diagnosed with after the death of my brother.

Alexandria: I’m so sorry. 

Kendra: He overdosed when I was young. 

Brock: I have a friend that recently passed from an overdose as well. 

Alexandria: Wow. It seems like a lot of young people are experimenting with hard drugs these days.

Kendra: It has skyrocketed. Over half of teenagers have abused a drug at least one time.

Alexandria: You are quite educated on addiction. 

Kendra: It has consumed a good portion of my life. Everyone has been affected by it, whether it be directly or indirectly.

Brock: But you have to admit, you enjoy a drink once in a while.

Kendra: We’re not getting into this right now. 

Alexandria: On a lighter note, you two are dating?

Brock: Are we? 

Kendra: You tell me.

Brock: It’s complicated.

Alexandria: I heard you recently competed in a surfing competition, Kendra. How was that?

Kendra: It was great. Brock helped me prepare for it, since my leg was injured. I didn’t place but I still feel like a winner.

Brock: (Lighting a cigarette) She killed it.

Kendra: You can’t smoke in here.

Brock: I don’t do rules.

Kendra: (rolling her eyes) I’m aware. 

Alexandria: And Brock, you’re a musician? 

Brock: Yeah, I play multiple instruments. 

Alexandria: Is the piano your favorite? I see the tattoo on the your forearm looks like a heartbeat fading into piano keys?

Brock: Yes, the piano is probably my favorite. I love it all though—drums, guitar, even just messing around with beats on my computer. Music is my escape. It’s my meditation. 

Kendra: He’s so talented. 

Alexandria: Okay, one last question for both of you. If you had to choose a song to describe your relationship, what would it be? 

Brock: Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard. 

Kendra: I was going more for Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex. 

Brock: I love them. Especially after smoking a joint, with a coffee in hand, gazing out at the ocean. 

Kendra: Please stop smoking weed. And I’d do a Sweet Tooth Slammer instead of a black coffee.

Brock: I love Sweet Tooth Slammers. 

Kendra: That’s a drink Brock made up and totally got me hooked on. It’s a coffee with a tablespoon of cinnamon, four sugars, and a quarter cup of cream. 

Alexandria: That sounds sweet.

Brock: It is.

Alexandria: Thank you guys for hanging out with me today and agreeing to an interview! I’m excited to see what is next for you both. You’re both so well spoken for two teenagers. 

Kendra: Thank you.

Brock: *Exhales smoke from his cigarette* 

Alexandria Rizik is an award-winning filmmaker and the author of two books, the poetry collection Words Written in the Dark and the children’s book Chocolate Milk. She was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she was brought up by a large Armenian family. She received her bachelor of arts in English literature from Arizona State University. Alexandria’s love for writing began when she was a young child: her aunt bought her a journal and told her to write her a story, and the rest is history. Her favorite part about writing is being able to write the happily ever after that doesn’t always happen in real life. Besides writing, Alexandria loves yoga, wine, and family time. She lives in Scottsdale, AZ.

21 QUESTIONS

In Laguna Beach, California, sixteen-year-old Kendra Dimes is preparing for the 2010 USA Surfing Prime West. She’ll be competing this year in honor of her brother, who was a surfer too, but who died from a drug overdose. Kendra has suffered anxiety attacks ever since her brother’s death, and surfing is what’s been helping her heal.

Brock Parker is the new bad boy at school; he deals drugs to the high school clientele for his parents, who work for a Mexican drug lord. Though Brock and Kendra come from two different worlds, sparks fly when they meet at the homecoming dance—their attraction is magnetic.

When they start a game of 21 Questions one night, they begin to learn more about each other—and, surprisingly, about themselves too. But some questions aren’t answered with the whole truth; after all, Brock can’t tell Kendra what his parents do for a living.
As Kendra and Brock experience all of life’s most exciting firsts, they prove that even when life throws you the perfect storm, you can make it through and come out stronger than before. 21 Questions is a coming-of-age journey packed with passion and heartbreak, risk and romance.

BUY HERE

Tags: ,

Category: Interviews, On Writing

Leave a Reply