Guest Post and Giveaway: Don’t Feed the Trolls by Erica Kudisch

We’re so pleased to welcome author Erica Kudisch and the Don’t Feed the Trolls blog tour to TNA today. We’ve got the lowdown on three of the book’s characters, and don’t forget to check out the details on how to enter for the chance to win a couple of great prizes.

Welcome, Erica!

Hey nerds! Erica Kudisch here promoting my novel DON’T FEED THE TROLLS, a genderqueer romp through internet drama. And if you keep up with the blog tour and its bonus DLC, there’s a $50 prize package achievement for you to unlock. Have fun!

Meet the Three Musketqueers

In an earlier post on this blog tour, I talked about the physical description questionnaire I use to help with character development. Here it is, questions answered, for the trio of friends at the heart of DON’T FEED THE TROLLS: Daphne/Daphnis Benoit, Alain Berger, and Jackie Riviere.

Character Name: Daphne/Daphnis Benoit

Without giving precise measurements, how would you describe or draw this character’s height and build? Daphne is sturdy and a little top-heavy, the type who always checks “column” on those Cosmo quizzes that want everyone to be an hourglass. Too tall for ingenue roles but too short to be a glamazon, too thick for ballet but built just right for jazz and modern dance, and constantly evaluating every aspect of her body because, hey, actresses get judged for everything. Definitely in shape despite his propensity for microbrews.

How does this character’s shape compare to other members of the cast? Right in the middle: taller than the women, shorter than the men except for Neal, of a height and weight with Harding.

How would you describe or draw this character’s coloration? Would have been boring brown-on-brown-on-white if she hadn’t taken matters into her own hands. Straight bleached-blond hair with occasionally exposed roots, biggish brown eyes, a smattering of freckles.

How does this character’s coloration compare to other members of the cast? When Alain isn’t in drag, these two often get asked if they’re related, but no, they’re not. Daphne is probably the palest in the cast except for Jackie.

How about your character’s style? As Daphne, she tends to gravitate toward workout or casual clothes with a bit of a nerdy edge. Geeky T-shirts and skinny jeans, most of the time, and tends to lounge around the apartment in yoga pants and a sports bra. Is more likely to wear character shoes than regular heels. Piercings by necessity, occasional wrist cuff or bandana or tactical-marker necklace. She jokes that she only dresses nice for auditions. She has two tattoos: the musketqueers’ three crossed rapiers on her left bicep, and the words “I war not with the dead” in stylized text on her right hip.

As Daphnis, he shaves both sides of his head and trims the rest, which lends itself to a more spiky-floppy style in both modes. The T-shirts and jeans carry over easily and fit well with a binder, and he tends to wear more hoodies in this mode since he’s not comfortable carrying a purse.

What does the rest of your cast think of this character’s style? She got laughed out of the French-American school on more than one occasion for having no style, and his parents (and sisters) despaired of her at family gatherings since they’re all social-climbers. But the musketqueers love him, even if Alain thinks she’s much hotter and more comfortable as Daphnis.

What actors, living or dead, past or present, could play this character in the live-action version of your story? The way Kristen Stewart seems to be developing is AMAZING for Daphnis, but I don’t know, can she dance?

What are your favorite details about this character’s appearance? How do I love that undercut, let me count the ways.

Character Name: Alain Berger / Ivy LeVine

Without giving precise measurements, how would you describe or draw this character’s height and build? Alain doesn’t think of himself as tall, but other people do. He does consider himself thin, and he’s right on that count, but he thinks it’s better to pad for Ivy than smoosh his junk around. Kind of bird-boned and weak-shouldered, which is especially at odds with his rather distinctive nose, but my god does this man have a killer pair of legs.

How does this character’s shape compare to other members of the cast? Taller than the other musketqueers, especially in heels. Can’t look Orin in the eye without ‘em though, and likes it that way.

How would you describe or draw this character’s coloration? Distinctive and smooth-looking all over. Nearly-black hair and watery blue eyes (when he isn’t wearing wigs and contacts), a little on the sallow side. Berber.

How does this character’s coloration compare to other members of the cast? The darkest of the musketqueers, but not as dark as Orin.

How about your character’s style? Swishy Punk. As close as a middle-eastern boy gets to looking like a J-rocker. His hair is longer than both Daphne’s and Jackie’s, to his shoulders at least, usually streaked with something (these days, it’s electric blue at the bangs, sometimes more with clip-ins) and spiked. He wears leggings and oversized T-shirts and too many belts, weird contact lenses, and patches on his man purse. Basically, Tetsuya Nomura designed him. His musketqueer tattoo is on his lower back, like a tramp stamp.

Ivy LeVine, his principal drag character, is Drunk Punk. She’s a card-carrying member of Starfuckers Inc. and looks it too.

What does the rest of your cast think of this character’s style? Well, he’s definitely got it.

What actors, living or dead, past or present, could play this character in the live-action version of your story? Tahar Rahim.

What are your favorite details about this character’s appearance? You are seriously asking me this question. Nomura designed my wardrobe too.

Character Name: Jacqueline “Jackie” Riviere / Lady Francois

Without giving precise measurements, how would you describe or draw this character’s height and build? Jackie’s arms are too short to box with God. She’s short enough to shop in the boys’ section of the department store and frankly prefers it that way.

How does this character’s shape compare to other members of the cast? Peanut.

How would you describe or draw this character’s coloration? The day star is her enemy. Naturally curly auburn hair, hikikomori pale, largeish hazel eyes that are probably her best feature.

How does this character’s coloration compare to other members of the cast? Palest peanut indeed.

How about your character’s style? Palest peanut Prince. When she leaves the apartment at all, Jackie is a dandy. Buttoned shirts and waistcoats and ties, lots of little military touches like wallet chains or epaulets. Creases in her trousers. Boots with wedges or lifts. She keeps her hair just short enough that gel is a necessity and has piercings only on the left side, plus a nose stud. Her musketqueer tattoo is over her heart, and she is halfway through a left sleeve of climbing black-outlined Utena roses in every color of the rainbow.

But if she’s not going out of the house, she wears an oversized T-shirt and tightie-whities. If you’re lucky. Naked Jackie Watching Anime is a thing.

What does the rest of your cast think of this character’s style? Some think it’s adorable that she’s looking so butch and so fine in such a compact package. Others just think it’s hot. Alain likes to take her out while in drag and fuck with people’s heads.

What actors, living or dead, past or present, could play this character in the live-action version of your story? Actual gay peanut Ellen Paige.

What are your favorite details about this character’s appearance? The half-finished sleeve. It’s going to be great watching it grow in potential future books.

About Don’t Feed the Trolls

Gaming while female is enough to incur the wrath of the dude-bros, and they’ve come for me. Instead of fighting back, I’ve created an alternate account. Male name, male pronouns. And I’ve met this girl. I’ve always liked girls, and Laura’s adorable and smart and never gives up, and she likes me back. Or rather, she likes the man I’m pretending to be. But I can’t tell her I’m a woman without the mob coming after her too.

And besides: I might not be a woman, not really.

The truth is, I don’t know what I am anymore. I’ve spent my whole life being told how I’m supposed to act and what I’m supposed to be, but none of it feels right. And my lie is starting to feel truer than anything I’ve ever been.

There’s a convention coming up, but the closer it gets, the more I have to choose: lie or fight. But if I don’t stand my ground as a girl, am I letting the haters win?

Then again, those aren’t the only two ways to live.

[zilla_button url=”http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/dont-feed-the-trolls” style=”blue” size=”medium” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Available From Riptide Publishing [/zilla_button]

About the Author

Erica Kudisch lives, writes, sings, and often trips over things in New York City. When not in pursuit of about five different creative vocations, none of which pay her nearly enough, you can usually find her pontificating about dead gay video games, shopping for thigh-high socks, and making her beleaguered characters wait forty thousand words before they get in the sack.

In addition to publishing novellas and short stories as fantastika-focused alter-ego Kaye Chazan (What Aelister Found Here and The Ashkenazi Candidate, both available at Candlemark & Gleam) Erica is responsible for the BDSM musical Dogboy & Justine, and serves as creative director and co-founder of Treble Entendre Productions.

She also has issues with authority. And curses too fucking much.

Connect with Erica: Facebook || Instagram || Tumblr || Twitter: @EricaKudisch

The Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Don’t Feed the Trolls, one lucky winner will receive a $30 Riptide credit and a $20 Steam gift card! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on April 8, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!