Interview with the hero:
(From Brenda Coulter, AT HIS COMMAND)
1. Jake Hopkins, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
Well, my mama would chew my hide if she heard me bragging, but I'm a Texan. Born and bred in Austin.
2. What do you do for fun?
I'm a huge Texas Longhorns fan, and I live just half an hour from Austin, so I make it to almost every home game. And I like listening to George Strait CDs while I work out on my rowing machine.
3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
Grocery shopping. I'm all in favor of eating, but shopping for food is annoying. Why do the grocery stores always put the milk so far away from the bread? That's just stupid.
4. What are you afraid of most in life?
Sorry. I'm not into self-analysis and "sharing" and all that touchy-feely stuff. Could we move on to another question?
5. What do you want out of life?
What does any man want? To do good, honest work and to make a difference in the world.
6. What is the most important thing to you?
As I said, making a difference in the world. That's what my dad did, and I'm trying to follow his example. For the past year I've been very involved with a nonprofit organization that aids innocent war victims, especially kids. When I saw the good work being done by Children of the Day, I wanted to be a part of that effort.
7. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?
I like courtroom thrillers. Even before I left the Army to go to law school, I was reading those. I used to swap paperbacks with two of the other Apache pilots.
8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I believe explained just a minute ago that I'm not into navel-gazing. I just take life as it comes, and do my best to deal with it.
9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
I have a cat. Or rather, a cat has me. He's the ugliest thing you ever saw, a huge orange and brown cross-eyed beast with just three legs, but people are mysteriously drawn to him. He just sauntered into the office one day and curled up in a leather wing chair in front of my desk and made it clear he wasn't leaving. I despise cats, but my law partner and our office manager said having an office cat would be good for business, so I was outvoted on getting rid of him. Trouble is, my apartment is on the floor above the law offices, so Tripod and I are stuck with each other. But I guess he's not too bad.
10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
You're really determined to get me to spill my guts, aren't you? All right. I've never told anyone this, but if there was a Rewind button I could hit, I'd go back to the night five years ago when my Apache was shot down in the middle east. I'd do a few things differently. Then maybe my best friend would still be alive and Maddie, his baby sister, wouldn't have suffered the way she-- Well, never mind the details. Let's just say I'd do a few things differently.
Yeah. I sure would.
Margaret Daley
Forsaken Canyon, Love Inspired Suspense, October 2008
The Power of Love/The Courage to Dream, Love Inspired Classic, July 2008
Family Ever After, Love Inspired, May 2008
http://www.margaretdaley.com
http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com
