Authors Interviewing Characters Series: Jaye Viner

Character Interview with Jane Dalton, wife of the Vanguard terrorist known as Bones, from JANE OF BATTERY PARK by Jaye Viner

About JANE OF BATTERY PARK

Jane is a Los Angeles nurse who grew up in a Christian cult that puts celebrities on trial for their sins. Daniel is a has-been actor whose career ended when the cult family members nearly killed him for flirting with her.

Eight years after a romantic meet-cute in Battery Park, both search for someone to fill the gap they imagine the other could’ve filled if given the chance. Jane compulsively goes on dates with every self-professed expert in art, music, and food hoping they will teach her the nuances of the culture she couldn’t access in her youth. Daniel looks for a girlfriend who will accept the disabilities left from the cult attack.

A loving woman will prove to Daniel’s blockbuster star brother, Steve, that he’s capable of a supporting role in Steve’s upcoming movie and relaunching Daniel’s career. When a chance encounter unexpectedly reunites them, Jane and Daniel not only see another chance at the love they lost, but an opportunity to create the lives they’ve always wanted. The only question is whether their families will let them.

Hi Jane, so good to see you. You’re a hard woman to track down. You’ve lived in Nebraska and New York and LA. Where do you call home these days?

Jane: I don’t see how that’s relevant to this interview. 

Readers like knowing where people are at. It makes them feel more connected.

Jane: I’m not here to be connected to people. 

Okay…so, in your words, why did you agree to this interview?

Jane: I want people to understand I’m not a bad person.

You come from a complicated family. Tell us about them. 

Jane: When I was in middle school, my oldest brother, Aaron and his friends created this group to try and fix America. They thought that if celebrities were shamed for their behaviors that we kids could have better role models, and the movies would be better, and basically everything would be better. 

‘Better’ is subjective. I wonder if the word you mean is ‘wholesome’ or ‘moral’?

Jane: [Shrugs] Aaron had served in the army so he knew things, had special skills. His group went to a couple foundations and got funds to support their mission. When I was just starting high school, they began putting celebrities on show trials. 

You’re talking about Liberties on Trial. Your brother started The Vanguard?

Jane: [Hesitant nod] You have to understand. When you’re a kid, things are different. Aaron was the wisest person I knew. He took care of us. The news talks about the Vanguard as extremists, but it isn’t like that. They really believe in helping America be a better place. 

You decided to marry one of your brother’s friends who was also part of the Vanguard. So, as an adult you chose to be part of that community?

Jane: [Bitter laughter] Yes, technically I chose to marry Seth and be a wife that supported his work. But there are choices and then there are choices. I tried to get out. I went to college out of state, but it was so exhausting. I was alone. No one made sense to me. And then I met someone who did make sense, but my family came in and completely ruined that for me, so when Seth proposed, it felt like my only option. Maybe if I’d been stronger, braver—. I didn’t know how to belong anywhere else. And I’d been taught that all of my desires to be out in the world, to know about music and art were wrong. So even though I wanted those things, I was always at war with that desire. After trying to be part of that world for two years of college, marrying Seth felt like redemption. 

Jane: What would you have done? On one side, you can be alone at school in a state where no cares about you, but they all think it’s strange you don’t know any Britney Spears songs. It’s a life where you have freedom, but you hate yourself for wanting it. You’re completely lost. On the other side, you have a man who loves you, who has known you and your family for years. At first, he didn’t seem to care that I wanted to know about forbidden things. I thought we would be able to explore together. 

You aren’t with Seth anymore. What happened?

Jane: He betrayed me. Or I guess we betrayed each other. My mother was involved. Actually, they all were. My whole family lying to me to make sure I did my wifely duty even though I wasn’t ready. 

You mean having children?

Jane: What else? I couldn’t stay with him. I went out to LA and tried to start over.

Not long ago, your picture was printed in a tabloid with the actor Daniel Fletcher, seems like starting over worked out. 

Jane: He was the one I met when I was in college. He wasn’t famous then, but we had a connection. And God brought us together in LA. 

So, even though Seth betrayed you and you ran away from your family, you still believe in God? You believe God wants you to be with Daniel even though you’re technically married to Seth?

Jane: Its complicated. [Shifting her weight] 

I’ve heard Daniel had a run-in with the Vanguard that was pretty violent. Wasn’t it about the time you two met in New York?

Jane: That was a mistake. They—I need to go.

I’ve also heard, it’s possible the Vanguard has killed someone. If that’s true, is that enough for you to go to the FBI with what you know?

Jane: [Gathering belongings] This was a mistake. Please don’t post this. 

Jane, your family is dangerous. 

Jane: When you decide to ruin the lives of everyone you’ve ever loved, call me. Until then, just stop. You have no idea about my life. 

How do you know they won’t come after you next?

Jane [runs out the door]

—

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born a missionary kid in Kobe, Japan, and homeschooled on the American Great Plains as part of an evangelical community, Jaye Viner straddles many worlds and too many personal interests. As an “EXvangical,” she now worships her cats and spends a great deal of time at the salon maintaining her blue hair. She holds an MFA and MA from the University of Nebraska.

Her debut thriller, JANE OF BATTERY PARK, explores what it means to come from one place and want to learn how to be from somewhere else. She lives in Omaha, Nebraska. For more information on Jaye Viner and her writing, visit: https://jayeviner.com.

 

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Interviews, On Writing