Authors Interviewing Characters: Heather Ogden

The Betrayal

Angelette Arabella has spent her life in the shadow of the man the nation calls a hero—her father, Valerius, the revered leader of Libertis. To the world, he’s a savior. To her, he’s simply “Dad.” But when a staged kidnapping spirals into something far more dangerous, Angelette is forced to face the truth: her life, her family, and the world she’s always known are carefully crafted illusions. And the man who built them is hiding more than secrets—he’s hiding control.

As betrayal bleeds from every corner of her life—her brothers vanished, her mother silenced, and her only friend not who she seems—Angelette must decide: remain the obedient daughter, or become the threat her father fears most.

Because the truth isn’t just dangerous in Libertis, it’s treason.

The Betrayal, book 1 in the Lies We Fear series, is a gripping dystopian fantasy about power, loyalty, and what happens when love is weaponized.

Heather Ogden Interviews Angelette Arabella

The room is quiet at first. At Angelette’s request, we tucked ourselves into a small table at the far end of the library, its tall windows drawn against the afternoon sun. The scent of old books lingers in the air, grounding the space in hushed reverence. Across from me, Angelette Arabella sits with her posture as straight as a blade, her gaze steady yet cautious. There’s a weight to her presence—centuries of power pressed into youth. For now, it’s just the two of us, and she seems grateful for that.

“Thank you for doing this,” I say, clicking my pen.

She nods once, polite but cautious.

“Let’s start simple,” I begin. “How would you describe yourself to someone who’s just met you?”

Angelette tilts her head, considering. “Describe myself? That’s difficult. People tend to decide who I am before I even speak, mostly because of who my father is. To them, I’m Valerius Arabella’s daughter first, a person second. But if you asked me, I’d say I’m… searching. I want to be more than his shadow, more than a pawn in his plans.”

Her words linger, pressing against the quiet of the library, sharp and heavy.

“You mentioned your father,” I say gently. “What is it like growing up under his rule?”

“Like living in a house with walls made of glass. Everyone can see in, but I can’t escape without shattering something. My every step is observed, every word weighed. If I obey, I’m invisible. If I resist, I’m dangerous. Imagine being told who you are so many times that you almost forget to ask yourself.”

There’s a raw honesty in her voice, but her gaze never wavers. I scribble a note, feeling a shiver at her choice of words.

“That sounds like an impossible position,” I say. “Who in your life do you feel you can trust?”

Angelette’s lips press together. “That word… trust… It’s slippery. I barely know where my brothers are, or even if my mother is truly safe. There’s no one I can rely on fully—except…” She falters, a flash of something unspoken crossing her eyes. “…but some things aren’t meant to be said aloud.”

Her voice softens on that last word, as if hope is the one thing she’s not ready to relinquish.

“What keeps you going when everything feels stacked against you?” I ask.

“The hope that one day, I will live a life of my own choosing. Even if it costs me everything, I want to stand in the truth of who I am, not the lies I was born into.”

For the first time, her expression shifts—a flash of steel, the faintest spark of rebellion.

“If you could speak directly to readers picking up The Betrayal, what would you tell them?” I lean forward.

“Don’t assume you know me from the first page. People look at me and see power, privilege, perfection. But nothing in my life is as it seems. Read closely—every smile has a shadow, every loyalty a crack. And maybe, in my struggle, you’ll find something of your own.”

I pause before my final question. “What’s the one thing you wish people understood about you?”

“That I am not my father’s daughter,” she says firmly. “Not in the way he wants me to be.”

The moment feels final, like she’s closed a door. I’m about to thank her when a second chair scrapes against the floor. Hunter slides into it, leaning back with a grin that makes it clear this wasn’t part of my plan—but then again, Hunter never listens to anyone besides Angelette. She stiffens slightly, just enough to show she’s caught off guard, though her expression quickly masks it.

Heather Ogden Interviews Angelette AND Hunter

I take a deep breath and offer a small, cautious smile at Hunter. “Hunter, I thought you were going to wait in the back?”

“Well, that was the plan,” he says, leaning back in his chair, hands clasped behind his head, a sly grin tugging at his lips. “But then I thought… why let Angelette have all the fun?”

He tilts his head toward her, eyes twinkling. “Besides, she gave me the signal to come rescue her. So, here I am.”

Angelette shoots him a quick, sharp glance, her tone flat but amused. “Did you really need to say that last part?”

Hunter chuckles. “Had to make my entrance memorable.”

I shift slightly in my chair, letting the air between them settle for a moment. “Well… since you’re both here now,” I say, “let’s start easy. Hunter, how would you describe Angelette in three words?”

Hunter leans forward, elbows on his knees, smirking. “Three words? Easy—brilliant, stubborn, breathtaking.”

Angelette’s lips press together, a faint blush rising in her cheeks. “That’s hardly fair,” she murmurs, eyes flicking to mine for support.

“Not fair?” Hunter laughs softly. “Oh, I can do fair. How about ruthless, guarded, and impossible? Fits her perfectly.”

She rolls her eyes but doesn’t deny it. “I think you enjoy making me sound worse than I am.”

“Guilty,” he admits, grinning. “But admit it—you’d be bored without me.”

Her jaw tightens, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Only when you refuse to take anything seriously.”

“And only when she refuses to admit she likes having me around,” Hunter shoots back.

I can’t help but chuckle. “Do you two always spar like this?”

“Only when he thinks he’s clever,” Angelette says.

“And only when she thinks she’s cleverer,” Hunter counters, mock-offended.

I lean forward, trying to bring the focus back. “Okay… serious question. If you had to trust each other with your life… could you?”

Angelette’s eyes lock on Hunter’s, unflinching. “Yes. Without hesitation… it would have to be you.”

Hunter grins, leaning back a little. “Glad to hear it. For a second there, I thought you’d try to trust someone else just to keep me on my toes.”

Angelette rolls her eyes but the corner of her mouth quirks upward. “And you’d let me survive by myself? Hardly.”

“Exactly,” Hunter says, mock-saluting. “That’s why it’s perfect. We’re the only ones we can count on.”

Angelette shakes her head, a small smirk breaking through her usual seriousness. “Don’t let that go to your head.”

Hunter leans closer, voice low and teasing. “Too late. But I’ll admit, knowing you’ve got my back… it makes life a lot easier.”

“Just remember,” she warns, “this doesn’t mean I like every choice you make.”

“Of course not,” he says, smirking. “But it does mean I know you’ll always make the right ones when it counts.”

They share a brief, quiet glance—half challenge, half acknowledgment. The kind of look that says: we trust no one else, but each other. Always.

I scribble a quick note, trying to capture their dynamic. “One last question for both of you: if you had to sum up your relationship in one word, what would it be?”

Hunter’s grin widens, confidence radiating off him. “Complicated.”

Angelette’s lips curve in the tiniest smile. “I was going to say dangerous. But I suppose complicated works too.”

Hunter laughs, shaking his head. “Dangerous, complicated… what’s the difference, really?”

I let the laughter linger, knowing I’ve just glimpsed the heart of their story: tension, trust, and a spark that neither will admit fully—but both feel deeply.

I let the tape recorder click off and take a breath, giving both of them a moment to relax. Angelette leans back, arms crossed, but there’s a trace of a smile lingering at the corner of her mouth. Hunter stretches, still grinning, clearly pleased with himself.

“Thank you,” I say softly, “for letting me in, for sharing all of this.”

Angelette inclines her head, her voice quieter now. “It’s not easy… letting someone see who I really am. But I suppose you’ve earned a glimpse.”

Hunter nudges her lightly with his shoulder, smirk softening into something more genuine. “And you’ve earned knowing you’re not facing this world alone.”

There’s a quiet understanding between them—a bond forged in secrecy, in shared danger, in trust that doesn’t need to be explained. They might spar, they might argue, but they protect each other, and in that, they are unstoppable.

As I pack up my notebook, I realize that for all the shadows and secrets surrounding them, there is this: a connection unshakable, a loyalty unspoken yet absolute, and a story still unfolding.

Outside, the afternoon sun has softened, casting warm light across the library’s quiet corners. For now, Angelette and Hunter sit together, the chaos of their world held at bay by a fragile but undeniable trust. And I know the readers who meet them will feel it too.

As our conversation winds down, Angelette leans back slightly, the weight in her posture easing just enough to suggest relief at having shared a fragment of herself. The library remains quiet, save for the soft rustle of pages from distant shelves. In her words, I hear both the burden of her lineage and the glimmer of her determination—a young woman learning to define herself beyond the shadows cast by power and expectation.

For a moment, it’s just her and the space around us, and I realize that this glimpse, fleeting as it is, reveals the heart of who Angelette truly is: resilient, searching, and quietly defiant. Readers may see the privileges her name affords, but beneath that, there is a struggle, a hope, and a resolve that will shape every choice she makes. And in that, I think, lies the story worth following.

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Heather Ogden is a novelist with a passion for fantasy and magical realism. Her debut novel, The Betrayal, combines her fascination with mysterious magic and her love of storytelling.

A lifelong reader and storyteller, Heather spent years crafting this book to take readers on a journey through twists, secrets, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Heather resides in Tennessee, where she can often be found exploring local bookstores, gathering inspiration for her next story.

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Category: Interviews, On Writing