STEPH: I’d like to thank Jillian for having Count Anton Varga and I here today in support of my blog tour for “The Count’s Lair.”
Just a little about me: I was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. After graduating from Central High, I joined the US Army. I spent 11 years in the military, 7 in Germany. While in the military, I earned a BS in Political Science from California Baptist University in Riverside, CA in 1995. I left the Army in 1997 and settled in California, but my favorite football team is still the New England Patriots. I work for LAPD as a 911 dispatcher. I’ve been married for 19 years. I have two boys, Andrew, 8, and Joseph, 4.
JILLIAN: I’d like to welcome author Stephanie Burkhart who is here “in character” today as Count Anton Varga, the moody, brooding hero from her novel, “The Count’s Lair,” Book 2 in the Budapest Moon series.
JILLIAN: Count Varga, you handsome devil you, your story is set in Hungary where you were born. I’m very intrigued by the food you ate in the story. Can you explain what a pogácsa is? It seems you ate this both at dinner and breakfast. Would the breakfast one be the same as the dinner one?
ANTON: A pogácsa is a Hungarian scone. Esmé makes cheese, poppy seed, and paprika ones. I’m really rather fond of her poppy seed one. I adore eating these simple biscuits and since Esmé agrees it’s good for my diet, I eat them often.
JILLIAN: Tell us what goulash is? Isn’t it a soup? What’s your favorite?
ANTON: It’s hearty beef soup with onions, carrots, peppers and paprika. I suppose you could use different meats, but I prefer beef.
JILLIAN: Your Amelia plays the piano. Who’s your favorite composer? Beethoven, Mozart, or Liszt? Why?
ANTON: Well, every Hungarian enjoys Liszt. He’s Hungarian himself and plays very complicated, yet emotional pieces. My favorite composer, however, is Beethoven. The Moonlight Sonata means a lot to me. Amelia plays it with such passion, it reminds me of her.
JILLIAN: Who is your favorite painter? Why?
ANTON: Manet. He’s an impressionist from Paris. I believe he painted alongside the likes of Monet and Renoir, but I enjoy Manet for his portraits. He’s a very masculine painter for an impressionist.
JILLIAN: This story takes place around Christmas. We learn you bought two ornaments for your tree when you took Amelia shopping at the Christmas markets. What other ornaments would we find on your tree?
ANTON: Well, this is the first time I celebrated Christmas, but I liked the crystal ornaments Georg and Esmé bought because they reflect light. I like bows – and angels. Angels remind me of Amelia.
JILLIAN: What are some other Hungarian Christmas traditions?
ANTON: Amelia tells me Mikolas visits children on December 6th. I hope that next year he has a reason to visit Ravenwind. It seems Amelia and I missed Midnight Mass and Holy Evening, Szent-Este, because we were…ah, engaged in other things, but next year, I’m looking forward to that.
JILLIAN: Which side of the river do prefer? Buda or Pest? Why?
ANTON: Buda. I love the view of the Danube and the Széchenyi Bridge.
JILLIAN: Georg, your servant, speaks to you as an equal. Why do you tolerate that?
ANTON: Georg is a bit gruff, I admit, but he’s the closest to a father I’ve ever had so I allow him his liberties.
JILLIAN: Do you think there’s a new love in Esmé’s future?
ANTON: Interesting you should ask. I believe János from the Duma household has taken her to the farmer’s markets in downtown Pest a couple of times. I do believe she’s smitten with him.
JILLIAN: Amelia loves flowers. Which ones do you think are her favorites?
ANTON: Roses by far! She also likes flowers that are white – edelweiss, white lilacs, and lilies.
JILLIAN: Amelia has to chew on peppermint in the story a few times. Do you like peppermint? If not, what’s your favorite flavor?
ANTON: Peppermint is very soothing for an upset stomach, and thankfully, I rarely have one – unless I accidently ingest some garlic. I prefer peppers and paprika.
JILLIAN: Here’s some random questions. Answer the first thing that comes to mind. Boy or girl?
ANTON: Boy.
JILLIAN: gin or whiskey?
ANTON: whiskey.
JILLIAN: shoes or boots?
ANTON: shoes for comfort, boots for style.
JILLIAN: coat or sweater?
ANTON: neither – I sweat something unnatural in both.
JILLIAN: car or horses?
ANTON: car
JILLIAN: gold or silver?
ANTON: gold!
JILLIAN: steak or pork chop?
ANTON: pork chop
JILLIAN: milk or wine?
ANTON: milk. Esmé says it’s good for me.
JILLIAN: Thanks for being a good sport and answering these questions, Count Varga.
ANTON: You’re welcome.
JILLIAN: You can get to know the Count better by reading his story, The Count’s Lair, available at Desert Breeze Publishing.
BLURB:
Count Anton Varga is haunted by the curse of the moon. It tugs on his emotions, ravishing his soul. Anton abhors the beast he must learn to tame if he is to find peace.
Lady Amelia Andrássy is an accomplished pianist, but her life in Budapest had been filled with heartache. When Amelia faints in the Duma’s bookstore, it’s Anton’s strong arms that cradle her fall. His unusual indigo eyes spark with hers, replacing their individual loneliness with the promise of feral passion.
After a two month separation, Anton is ready to walk into Amelia’s life again, but is Amelia ready to fan the spark they shared into a flame?
YOU TUBE BOOK TRAILER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaiYNNpETok
The Count’s Lair is avail as ebook for Kindle, B&N Nook, Sony Ereader, and Kobo. You can also download a copy from the Publisher’s Website at:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-142/Stephanie-Burkhart-Budapest-Moon/Detail.bok
You can find Stephanie Burkhart, the author on the web at:
BLOG:
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com
WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com/
FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1357922219
Smiles
Steph
Jillian Chantal 