Below you can find answers to various questions that were asked about
the Dyeland characters. Our hopes are that they'll help anyone
who may want to write a Dyeland story, either for the newsletter or
Author's Cut, in the future.
God bless,
Jenni
These are the questions that were
asked. If you write for a Dyeland character and have not yet
answered or if you would like to edit something previously submitted,
please contact me.
1. What is your character's family history?
2. Where are they originally from?
3. Describe a few of your character's favorite outfits.
4. Does your character have any particular mannerisms they adopt
during certain moods? (i.e. Vincent paces when upset, Andrew runs
his hand through his hair when stressed/concerned)
5. Why did your character come to Dyeland?
6. What are some of your character's deepest fears?
7. What are their dreams?
8. What are their hobbies?
9. What would an ideal day be like for your character?
10. Does your character have any regrets?
11. If your character were to be completely honest, what would
they say they are most proud of themselves for?
12. And what would they say they were least proud of?

1. What is your character's family history?
Same as any angel. He is an Angel of Death since the days of the
Salem Witch Hunts of the late 1600’s.
2. Where are they originally from?
Heaven, although he is quite fond of Dyeland.
3. Describe a few of your character's favorite outfits.
He loves his beige sweater, but also loves to go casual with jeans and
his AoD band jacket. His suit of choice is a bit more casual than
the look from TBAA. He also still has his auto repair
overalls. Not too many people know that, but he loves those
overalls and wears them when he is working on Tourkia.
4. Does your character have any particular mannerisms they adopt
during certain moods? (i.e. Vincent paces when upset, Andrew runs
his hand through his hair when stressed/concerned)
None, but he tends to withdraw from people when he is deeply
concentrated. He gets nervous around Tess and sometimes stammers.
5. Why did your character come to Dyeland?
Andrew invited him. Said it would be a nice place to unwind, and
he could have his turkeys without having other angels give him a hard
time.
6. What are some of your character's deepest fears?
Perhaps having the turkeys run rampant when he is not home or Tess
showing up there around Thanksgiving making selections for the
celebratory dinner.
7. What are their dreams?
Adam dreams of being successful at case working like he was before
promoted to AoD.
8. What are their hobbies?
Adam enjoys working outside on Tourkia, hosting parties, and playing
music with Andrew and Henry.
9. What would an ideal day be like for your character?
No case, just spending time outside working in the yard.
10. Does your character have any regrets?
None.
11. If your character were to be completely honest, what would
they say they are most proud of themselves for?
He is most proud of himself for standing up to Tess and protecting
Alexander during that Thanksgiving weekend.
12. And what would they say they were least proud of?
Bending the truth about the Thanksgiving turkey incident, even if it
was to protect his feathered friend.
1. What is your character's family history?
God created him, enough said. Several of these will be quite
short as most everyone knows the answers.
2. Where are they originally from?
Heaven
3. Describe a few of your character's favorite outfits.
Apparently his leather jacket, jeans, slacks, flannel shirts with
T-shirts under them, etc.
4. Does your character have any particular mannerisms they adopt
during certain moods? (i.e. Vincent paces when upset, Andrew runs
his hand through his hair when stressed/concerned)
The hand through hair thing. Looks heavenward when upset or just
contemplative. Touches people's hands or shoulders when
comforting them. Pretty much a touchy-feely sorta person... if
given the chance.
5. Why did your character come to Dyeland?
At some indeterminate time in the past Andrew had been in Dyeland and
noted its beauty and peacefulness. So when a lil low after some
difficult assignments on March 17, 2000 he was walking there in the
Glen of Goodness. And he followed a song he heard to the Fields
of Gold and there met the Dyelanders who he grew quite fond of.
So he stayed.
6. What are some of your character's deepest fears?
As an angel he probly doesn't want to confess to fears much. But
he does have concerns. He doesn't want to fail ever. And I
think he really is concerned about the potential of one day having to
take one of his human friends Home after less than ideal
circumstances. And maybe he's a touch nervous about opening up to
people. Maybe more than a touch.
7. What are their dreams?
Continue to serve God, be a good friend, give his assignments all the
love and comfort he can.
8. What are their hobbies?
He seems to enjoy dancing. Building things. Cooking
(now). Playing with Lulu. Visiting with friends is a big
deal to him. Football.
9. What would an ideal day be like for your character?
A day where his only assignments are the "excited to go Home and
reunite with loved ones and see God" type. Ample time with
friends. Being able to sense and feel the Father's love the whole
day, each and every moment.
10. Does your character have any regrets?
There are things he wishes he'd done differently. His emotional
breakdown in Dyeland isn't exactly a high point in his memory.
While he doesn't blame himself for Eben's fall, I'm sure he wishes he
could have done or said more to stop him.
11. If your character were to be completely honest, what would
they say they are most proud of themselves for?
Serving God and humanity as an AOD. Being a good, loyal, and
compassionate friend.
12. And what would they say they were least proud of?
His pride. If the whole thing with Adam in "Sign of the Dove"
came up, Andrew would probly apologize for that.
1. What is your character's family history?
It's only recently occurred to me that I never gave any thought to
whether she had siblings! At this point it would be awkward to
bring them in so I guess she's an only child. There's nothing
particularly astounding about her parents. As part of an old
storyline it was said that she was raised by Kiwi's parents. As
Kiwi is no longer active my only nod to that is that at some point baby
JenniAnn was either lost or kidnapped and briefly raised by them in
Dyeland (then Asteriana). As a toddler she found the portal that
led to the Tunnels and was nearly adopted by Vincent who named her
Psyche since her real name was unknown. Catherine, however,
located her real parents and from then on JA divided her time between
her parents in Nebraska and Vincent in New York. She loves her
parents and them her but I think Vincent, cousin (via Catherine) and
godfather, is the parental figure probly the most attuned to her life
now.
2. Where are they originally from?
Omaha, Nebraska.
3. Describe a few of your character's favorite outfits.
I think she just wakes up and wears whatever strikes her fancy that
day. Monday she might stroll around in some sorta princess
dress. Tuesday she could end up in bell bottoms and a tie dye
tunic. The next day could be a tight fitting T-shirt and a
broomstick skirt. In general very feminine, floaty clothing and
usually colorful. Of course, sometimes she would need to wear
Tunnel garb, especially in the winter when Below. But it's not
really to her taste. Too heavy.
4. Does your character have any particular mannerisms they adopt
during certain moods? (i.e. Vincent paces when upset, Andrew runs
his hand through his hair when stressed/concerned)
One thing she used to do all the time that I keep meaning to bring back
is whenever Andrew was troubled or she was troubled about him, she'd
twist her signet ring around her finger. She also paces.
And runs when really upset. Or cleans.
5. Why did your character come to Dyeland?
Despite not being happy with Kiwi and family, she had fond if faint
memories of the land and the other people (i.e. Cliff, Daisy, the
Storyteller, the people of Idlewild). So when the jokes began
about "Dyeland" among the JABBers, she eventually confessed to
knowledge of the place and thus Asteriana became Dyeland.
I've always been a lil concerned about how the "native Asterians" felt
about that. I concluded that LJA and Princess Audrey probly spoke
with them before moving there with the JABBers and established that the
Asterians were actually concerned about depopulation so this was a
mutually agreeable plan.
6. What are some of your character's deepest fears?
People leaving. Since she's been in Dyeland since Day 1 she's
very aware of how many people have come and gone. She's also
fearful of being psychologically isolated from Andrew. I don't
think she's as concerned anymore about him simply picking up and
leaving. I think this fear probly ended up being behind her
break-up with Eliot. She felt herself drifting from Andrew and so
Eliot had to go.
7. What are their dreams?
That everyone in Dyeland and the sibling cities live happily ever
after... however they choose to interpret that.
8. What are their hobbies?
Documentary film-making, scrapbooking, enjoying theatre particularly
musicals, catching up with friends, Andrew ;-)
9. What would an ideal day be like for your character?
Wake up, have coffee and breakfast, teach the kids, lunch Below, go for
a walk with Andrew in Dyeland, meet up with everyone at the Cafe for
dinner, walk home with Andrew, fall asleep easily with Fawn curled up
beside her and dream something happy concerning Andrew.
10. Does your character have any regrets?
Eliot. While she philosophically realizes that without that
relationship she wouldn't have realized how happy she was before, I
think she still regrets dragging him along.
11. If your character were to be completely honest, what would
they say they are most proud of themselves for?
Helping to pull Dyeland together when she was only 17 or thereabouts
and working with others to keep it going through all the trouble.
12. And what would they say they were least proud of?
I think she's aware that sometimes she'll put Andrew above everyone
else and she's not proud of that. But I don't think she knows how
to stop that or even if she should.
1. What is your character's family history?
First, all of this is subject to change if ML gets a 2nd season that
can fill in the blanks. But with out that my guesswork (and
Nicole thought so, too, if memory serves) is that Mick was an only
child. No doubt his parents are now deceased. We know his
dad is and unless his mom has amazing longevity, she likely is,
too. He has an ex-wife: Coraline. Otherwise it's just Beth
and Josef, his brother of sorts. Barring an act of God, Mick
can't have kids.
2. Where are they originally from?
Los Angeles. Born November 1922 or thereabouts.
3. Describe a few of your character's favorite outfits.
Long coats. The latest styles, I guess. Designer jeans or
dark pants. Beige Henleys seem to pop up often. He seems to
layer a lot. Like a light fabric shirt and then a coat or
jacket. Otherwise mostly dark colors. Platinum Celtic-y
fleur de lis cross necklace. Platinum ring, too. Sunglasses
and hat as necessary.
4. Does your character have any particular mannerisms they adopt
during certain moods? (i.e. Vincent paces when upset, Andrew runs
his hand through his hair when stressed/concerned)
Hmmm... Has anyone noticed anything? Obviously he vamps out
when really angry. But as for more subtle things, I dunno.
5. Why did your character come to Dyeland?
He literally dropped into it last... December I think it was. So
it wasn't intentional but he stayed because the people were
accepting. And he thinks it's the closest he'll get to Heaven for
a very long time.
6. What are some of your character's deepest fears?
That he'll hurt Beth once they finally... ya know. And he's
afraid that he'll get hurt emotionally by pursuing that
relationship. Probly not gonna be thrilled if you come at him
with a torch, silver, or a sword-like weapon.
7. What are their dreams?
Make things work with Beth somehow. Make up for the things he's
done that he regrets. Make the best of a situation he's not
really happy with. Find the cure.
8. What are their hobbies?
Apparently reading. We've never seen him do it but he sure has a
lotta books. Cards with Josef. Starting to get back into
guitar playing. Dancing with and watching Beth eat.
;-) Apparently he also does RPG online but since nothing much has
been said about that since early on and I just plain don't know much
about "World of Warcraft" we might just let that slide...
9. What would an ideal day be like for your character?
He'd be human again and eating doughnuts and walking in the sun and
spending the night with Beth... not in a freezer. But barring
that I guess that'd be any day where he feels like his job is
worthwhile and ends with a date with Beth.
10. Does your character have any regrets?
Uh, yeah. While he knows that good has come out of it
(meeting/saving Beth), I'm thinking he wishes he'd not married
Coraline. Also wishes he'd not taken part in killing that girl
right after he'd been sired. I've latched onto that as Mick's one
HUGE regret. It's the reason for the scholarship he set up for
the Tunnel kids, why he'll do whatever he can for the young ladies of
Dyeland, etc.
11. If your character were to be completely honest, what would
they say they are most proud of themselves for?
Probly getting to the point he has with Beth. I'm sure there are
cases he's immensely proud of.
12. And what would they say they were least proud of?
Living off other people. Literally.
1. What is your character's family history?
Nigel has always been an angel, but is currently a Caseworker.
2. Where are they originally from?
Heaven, but his other home is 1870’s London, thus is sometimes not
always understanding the issues of the modern day.
3. Describe a few of your character's favorite outfits.
Nigel dresses in a Victorian style, and he loves the clothing of that
time period. He has yet to grow accustomed to jeans and modern
day men’s clothing. He still is trying to figure out why people
are so fascinated with tool belts.
4. Does your character have any particular mannerisms they adopt
during certain moods? (i.e. Vincent paces when upset, Andrew runs
his hand through his hair when stressed/concerned)
None that he knows of, although when he gets nervous, he starts eating
hard candies. When exasperated, he starts talking like an Oxford
graduate.
5. Why did your character come to Dyeland?
The young woman he is the guardian angel for resided there and she
invited him to come and visit. He liked it so much that he stayed.
6. What are some of your character's deepest fears?
Nigel is not afraid of very much, but he is concerned about not ever
understanding the modern day.
7. What are their dreams?
Just to be the most gracious angel that he can be, and to adapt to the
environment of the modern day.
8. What are their hobbies?
Nigel enjoys chess, reading, and dancing. He also plays a wooden
flute and sometimes makes an appearance with the AoD band.
9. What would an ideal day be like for your character?
A sunny day, when he can spend the time out of doors in the sunshine.
10. Does your character have any regrets?
None.
11. If your character were to be completely honest, what would
they say they are most proud of themselves for?
For being able to protect Yva and be there for her.
12. And what would they say they were least proud of?
Nigel feels as though he did not always handle the situation with Andi
as well as he could have, so perhaps that.
1. What is your character's family history?
Biological parents unknown, raised by Father. If he had to name a
mother figure it's probly Mary. Likely considers all the Tunnel
dwellers of his age to be surrogate siblings but Devin is his true
brother. Father figure to many of the Tunnel children.
Godfather to
LJA. Brother to Yva and Willy. Husband to Catherine.
Father to
Jacob. Very happy with his family life but, I'm sure, still would
like
to know from whence he came.
2. Where are they originally from?
Found behind St. Vincent's Hospital in NYC, raised in the
Tunnels.
Beyond that we don't know. I like to think Ireland but that's
just
me. ;-)
3. Describe a few of your character's favorite outfits.
Tight fitting jeans, bulky sweaters, sometimes a vest, long black
patchwork cloak. For special occasions he wears a frilly beige
shirt.
People can look through here for examples:
http://www.classicalliance.net/photogallery/episodegalleries/episodes.html
4. Does your character have any particular mannerisms they adopt
during certain moods? (i.e. Vincent paces when upset, Andrew runs
his
hand through his hair when stressed/concerned)
The pacing. If he gets really upset he will growl and throw
things but
never if there's a risk of hurting someone. I've also noticed
that,
not unlike Andrew, he will sometimes look upwards when sad.
5. Why did your character come to Dyeland?
LJA's parents asked him to check in on her circa February 2001.
He
loved being able to be in the sunlight and so has maintained a presence
there ever since.
6. What are some of your character's deepest fears?
Losing someone he loves. Losing control of himself although I
think
this fear has lessened significantly in recent years to the point of
almost having evaporated now.
Yikes, gotta go. Well, at least it was only ugly for a few
mins. Now it's beautiful outside!
7. What are their dreams?
Help his children to fulfill their dreams. Be a good leader to
the
Tunnels, son to Father, husband to Catherine, father to Jacob,
godfather to Psyche, brother to Devin and Yva and Willy, and friend to
all.
8. What are their hobbies?
Lots and lots of reading. Exploring. Spending time with
family and
friends. Visiting with Helpers. Enjoying time in Dyeland,
walking in
the sunlight with his family.
9. What would an ideal day be like for your character?
Wake up, sneak a few moments with Catherine before Jacob wakes up,
breakfast as a family, divide time between teaching and visiting with
people and his more physical labor type work which I think he probly
enjoys. Alone time with Jacob before Catherine gets home from
work.
Plays chess with Father during afternoon naptime. Family
dinner. Take
in a concert or something with Catherine (and Jacob sometimes,
too).
More alone time with Catherine. Go to bed and not have any
troubling
psychic dreams.
He probly makes a point of getting to Dyeland at least once a week with
the weather being fair, most often on weekends.
10. Does your character have any regrets?
Maybe that he didn't get married sooner. Or at least that he held
the
relationship with Catherine back for so long. And that he was
stand-offish with Andrew for quite a while in the beginning of that
relationship. Also any of the anger he felt towards Father during
the
start of his relationship with Catherine. Cause via Portia,
Psyche,
Brittony and Eliot he probly has sympathy now for watching your child
fall for someone and the resulting pain when that doesn't work
out.
But he doesn't get bogged down with these regrets often.
11. If your character were to be completely honest, what would
they say they are most proud of themselves for?
Getting past his fears and embracing life with Catherine. The
accomplishments of the children he helped teach and nurture.
Building
bonds with people in Dyeland which, no doubt, took a great deal of
trust.
12. And what would they say they were least proud of?
I think he's probly still troubled by the memories of the people he
hurt or killed. Even if he did it in protection of his loved
ones,
Vincent was never really at peace with that and, I think, felt guilt
related to it.
1. What is your character's family history?
Willy’s mother died when he was young and he was raised by his father,
Wilbur, a rather hard-headed dentist. He aspired for his son to
grow and become a dentist like him, but that did not happen and Willy,
instead went into confection. His uncle inspired him to use his
name and create a line of candy. The rest is history, but he has
a close friend, Thomas Wilkenson, as well as his apprentice, Charlie
Bucket, who have become like his extended family. He also has an
adopted daughter, Yva, whom he met when coming to Dyeland.
2. Where are they originally from?
London, although he moved around a great deal. He does not talk
about his original home very much.
3. Describe a few of your character's favorite outfits.
Willy goes for the eccentric styles, large bow ties, waistcoats, vests
and shirts. He loves his hat, which had once belonged to his
grandfather, and which has been copied a number of times so that he
could have his own unique style.
4. Does your character have any particular mannerisms they adopt
during certain moods? (i.e. Vincent paces when upset, Andrew runs
his hand through his hair when stressed/concerned)
Willy has a temperament and sometimes when he gets upset, he
yells. He is trying to curb this, but it becomes difficult for
him.
5. Why did your character come to Dyeland?
Adam invited him to come and after he did, he met Yva and the other
inhabitants and decided to stay and build a factory there.
6. What are some of your character's deepest fears?
Hurting the people he loves or feels close to. This goes back to
his feelings about his temperament.
7. What are their dreams?
He has already achieved what he sat out to do, and is very proud of the
things he has done. His dreams are now centered on those of his
daughter, whom he loves very much.
8. What are their hobbies?
Reading classic literature and linguistics. Willy is proficient
in English, French, German, Spanish, and Latin.
9. What would an ideal day be like for your character?
Ideally, a day when he invents a new confection, or time spent with
those he cares for. He has grown rather fond of the days he can
spend with Yva or Rose as their company makes him feel young.
10. Does your character have any regrets?
The only regret was getting upset with Charlie the day they first met.
11. If your character were to be completely honest, what would
they say they are most proud of themselves for?
Perhaps for following through with his hopes and dreams of opening a
factory, contrary to his father not wanting it.
12. And what would they say they were least proud of?
His tendency to be angry about things that he cannot control.
1. What is your character's family history?
Yva was born Yva Cantrell in 1970 and lived in the southern USA for a
number of years before meeting Sir Sven Michaels in 1994 and getting
married to him a year later. They moved from the US to Germany
and then settled in Dyeland several years ago. When not in
Dyeland the Michaels family is in Germany. Yva does not speak
much about her birth family because it is too much like her real life
family and that tends to bring about frustration and stress.
2. Where are they originally from?
Originally Yva hails from Texas, but she lived a time in Georgia.
Today, she is happy to be away from both those areas.
3. Describe a few of your character's favorite outfits.
Yva loves t-shirt dresses, that is shapeless dresses that she wears
during the summer months. She loves the Victorian look and will
wear the dresses of that time period gladly. In the winter
months, she is fond of dressing in jeans and thick (not wool because it
itches her skin) sweatshirts and sweaters.
4. Does your character have any particular mannerisms they adopt
during certain moods? (i.e. Vincent paces when upset, Andrew runs
his hand through his hair when stressed/concerned)
Yva tends to bite her nails when nervous, and she says she has the
ugliest hands on the planet. She also can’t sit still when upset.
5. Why did your character come to Dyeland?
Uncertain. She wanted to come because of what she had heard about
it, but there was no real rock solid thing that brought her there.
6. What are some of your character's deepest fears?
Yva’s greatest fears are disappointing or letting down the people she
loves. She is also afraid to fail when she tries to do something.
7. What are their dreams?
Yva aspires to be a writer.
8. What are their hobbies?
Bear making, writing, singing, reading.
9. What would an ideal day be like for your character?
The morning she would wake up and have breakfast with Sir Sven.
They would in turn spend the day together. If they could not,
then Yva would set off for Pure Imagination and see if Willy was
there. She would also not mind a day in London with Nigel to do
some shopping during his time, or going to the Tunnels and visiting
with Vincent and Father. To her there is no defining aspect as to
what she would prefer to do. But, time spent with friends is at
the top of her list.
10. Does your character have any regrets?
No, to Yva she has no reason to regret, because she did what needed to
be done when it needed to happen.
11. If your character were to be completely honest, what would
they say they are most proud of themselves for?
For having found closure with her father is perhaps the greatest thing
she could imagine about herself.
12. And what would they say they were least proud of?
Not always having the courage to go for something when she could have.
JABB TOC