Today, we are conducting a character interview with author Paul Rushworth Brown, who writes historical fiction, and we wanted to get to know more about one of his main characters, Tommy. Tommy is a rough-around-the-edges character, so hold onto your seat. Remember, he is from the past, so his language and mannerisms may be different from those of people in the 20th century.
Paul Rushworth-Brown was born in Maidstone, Kent, England, in 1962. He spent time in a foster home in Manchester before emigrating to Canada with his mother in 1972. He spent his teenage years living and attending school in Toronto, Ontario, where he also played professional soccer in the Canadian National Soccer League. In 1982, he emigrated to Australia to spend time with his father, Jimmy Brown, who moved there from Yorkshire in the mid-fifties. Paul was educated at Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia, and became a writer in 2015 after his self-published novel ‘Skulduggery’ was picked up by Shawline Publishing. Paul’s novels are authentic and gritty, with twists and turns the reader won’t see coming. He paints a realistic image of how peasants would have lived in the 16th and 17th centuries. However, that is only the backdrop to suspenseful and mysterious stories with romantic tones. His novel ‘Red Winter Journey’ has been nominated for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards (Christina Stead Prize for fiction). His new novel ‘Dream of Courage’ will be released in November 2023. Paul has been a guest on ABC, BBC, America Tonight with Kate Delaney and regularly features on the Witty Writers Show in the US. The US Times said, ‘Modern writers usually don’t know what it was like to live in the past, but Rushworth-Brown does this with great skill in his accomplished, atmospheric and thoughtful novels.’
Character Interview
What is your full name? Do you have a nickname (if so, who calls you this)?
Tommy Rushworth
Where were you born?
Haworth, Yorkshire
Where do you live?
In a one-room cruck cottage. On the moors of Yorkshire just outside the village of Haworth. A cold desolate place.
What do you do for a living?
Weaver and spinner of wool/Farmer fer Lord Birkhead
What is your most outstanding achievement?
Gettin’ married to Isabel and havin’ Will, me son.
What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you? Don’t be shy. We love the inside scoop.
I had dysentery and shit meself then tried to escape.
If we searched your name on Google, would we find any dirty laundry? Do you have hidden secrets?
Broke into a house and stole a cow and some food. It was my fault the reeve’s brother died
What is your biggest secret? Can you tell us?
All is not as it seems
Do they have any bad habits? Everyone has them. You can share with us. We’ll still love you.
I stutter a little bit when I’m nervous
What’s your educational background, if you had any formal training?
Only what me Da’ and Uncle William showed me
What’s your favorite movie? If you watch movies in your world, if not? What’s your favorite thing to do?
Go into Haworth to the Kings Arms with Uncle William and Da. Ma doesn’t like me goin’, though.
What’s your favorite food?
Ma’s bread
What is their most treasured possession?
A musket ball that a musketeer gave me. Sill got it.
Which living person would you most want to meet? Which dead person?
Oliver Cromwell to tell him he’s a bastard, good Queen Bess
Who do you consider your closest friend or best friend?
James we went through a lot together
Do you have a romantic partner? Spill the beans.
Isabel, me wife I feel sorry fer what I put her through
Which family members are you close with? And why
Uncle William and me grand pa John Hargreaves
Who do you trust?
James, with me life
Who would you turn to for help if you were in trouble?
Me Da, Uncle William, John Pigshells
What is the relationship like with your parents?
Very good ‘cept they still treat me like a child especially Ma
If you had to pick one, what would your spirit animal be and why?
English Mastiff ’cause they’re loyal and fearless
What are your biggest pet peeves?
Bloody guard duty and slops in the ale
Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?
Introvert was always taught when I was younger, that children should be seen and not ‘eard
What is your greatest fear? What keeps them up at night?
Bein’ arrested by Sergeant Walker again, bein’ arrested by Sergeant Walker again. I still ‘ave nightmares.
Are you a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty kind of person?
Glass half full I had to be.
How do you usually style your hair?
It style’s itself
What kind of clothing do you wear on a casual day?
Only got two sets a’ clothin’ one I wear all the time and one fer church on Sunday. Dark brown sleeveless jerkin with a hood, dirty grey tunic, dark brown hose, wollen foot coverings tied around the lower leg with leather strappin’
What’s your nationality?
I was born and bred on the moors, that’s all I know
Do you have any birthmarks?
No, got a scar on my forehead from playin’ ball fer West’ards
What are you obsessed with?
Isabel and me son Will
What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
Marryin’ Isabel and me son Will bein’ born
How have Past/ present relationships affected you?
Had to grow up fast
What is the one word you would use to define yourself and why?
Stubborn like me Da’
Do you have any siblings? If you do, what are/were they like?
Two sisters Morwen and Mirth. A couple of other siblings died of whooping cough when they were babies.
To which social class do you belong, if there are social classes in your world?
They call us ‘copyholders’ because we ‘ave to turn land fer Lord Birkhead
Do you have a motto? If so, what is it?
Chin up
What kind of distinguishing facial features do you have?
Told ya’ before, a bloody scar
Do you have any physical traits that stand out (such as scars, birthmarks, tattoos, etc.)? If you have scars, how did you get them? If you have tattoos, why did you get them, and what meaning do they have to you?
I’m growin’ so me Jerkin is gettin’ too tight fer me
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Bloody
Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?
From me Da’ and as a Pikeman in the Parliamentary Army
Did you have any role models? If so, describe them and why they were your role models.
Me Da Thomas ’cause he’s well respected here abouts
What is the evilest thing you have ever done so far?
Broke into a cottage and pinched a cow
Do you have a criminal record?
No, but there are two Royalist spies still lookin fer me.
If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?
Not bein’ kidnapped into the Parliamentary army…Bastards!
What is your best memory so far? Why is it so powerful and lasting?
Birth of me son Will cause me Ma and Da was still alive to see him born
Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why?
Me Da, Uncle William and Grandpa Hargreaves. They risked their own lives fer me.
Who is the person you despise the most, and why?
The Steward of the manor ’cause John Pigshells says he’s a bastard, whorin’ thief!
Do you tend to argue with people or avoid conflict?
I stick up fer meslf and mine
Do you tend to take on leadership roles in social situations?
Didn’t ‘ave a choice
Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not?
Never used to, but goin’ through what I went through toughened me up
If you knew you would die in 24 hours, name three things you would do in the time you had left.
I’ve been in that situation. Spend it with me family, if Will was older take ‘im fishin’
Do you believe in heaven or hell?
I’ve been ta hell believe me
Are you superstitious?
Always
What is your zodiac sign?
What the bloody ‘ell is that?
Your friends are speaking unfairly about a mutual friend. Do you speak up?
Bloody oath
What childhood memory still makes your toes curl?
Fallin through the ice on the Bridgehouse Beck
What’s something you quit that you now regret giving up on?
Don’t play ball anymore cause Ma worries too much
What was the best party you ever went to?
Me weddin’ to Isabel
Do you stay up late or wake up early?
Wake up early ‘ave to scare the birds away, get water from the beck two miles away and get the bugs off the barley
What do you do if you can’t sleep?
Never ‘ave problems sleepin’ but still ‘ave nightmares ’bout what ‘appened
Who or what do you turn to when you’re upset?
Just get on with it
Can you lie easily?
In a pickle
Do you handle rejection well?
Dunno, suppose so.
Have you ever done something illegal?
Yes, hasn’t everybody? Sometimes you gotta do somethin’ you’re not proud of.
Are you more likely to ask for permission or forgiveness?
Probably forgiveness at least with Isabel
What terrible thing have you done that you never thought you would do?
Wait and see
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