Quill

March Character Interview

Patricia Parrington ~ March 22, 2026

Hello my lovely readers and fellow book-lovers! For those of you new here, I, your chatty host Patricia Parrington, have the pleasure of interviewing characters from books all over the world.

Today, Quill is here with us from the adult epic fantasy book Killer Quill by Shida Ketzer. Besides creating the Wisteraverse fantasy book series, Shida is a polyglot, scientist, informatics Ph.D., freelance English teacher, and the emotional support human to fluffy cats. She resides at the borders of Germany, France, and Luxembourge. Her Wiseteraverse series is the fruit of endless writing, revising, existential crisis, and a million cups of bergamot black tea.

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Meet Quill

[Patricia leans back against a checkered pillow and pulls her braided green hair over one shoulder.]

Welcome to Fable Features! I’m so glad you could make it out today. I know the weather hasn’t been too friendly lately.

[Patricia makes a face at the studio window where rain is pouring down in droves.]

Anyhoo! Let’s get to know you. Do you have any family? What are they like?

Thanks for having me! I’m usually not a sharing and talking type. But my author made it crystal clear that I need to do my best, as in my life literally depends on it kind of way!

[Patricia chuckles.]

Oh, authors. They tend to do that.

Anyway, my family situation is a tad complicated since The Archduke, aka the big bad villain, has been hunting down my kind for the past few decades. It’s a long story, a mix of colonialism and his bruised, fragile ego. I never knew my dad, don’t have any siblings, and my mom was murdered in front of me when I was 8.

[Quill holds up her index finger, preemptively cutting off any possible jibes and eye-rolls.]

I know that sounds too typical for fantasy heroes. But I’m an anti-heroine and kill the “chosen one” at the beginning of the book. So, I hope that can endear me to your readers a little bit. I do have a found family. There’s Zaal—a non-binary shifter (only human forms)—and their niece, Irel. They both share some ancestry with me and carry our forbidden blood. Oh, and I almost forgot Freddy—Sir Frederlind Trost, better known in the slums as The Gentleman. He was just a kid when I dragged his half-dead body out of some mad-scientist lab. But he has moved up in the world and is the self-appointed head of the Silt heist crew to which Zaal and Irel belong. They consider me their unofficial 8th member.

[Quill shrugs.]

It sounds like you’ve found a wonderful family!

I’d like to hear more about this big bad villain. Why is the Archduke hunting down your kind? You mentioned he has a fragile ego. Did your people insult him or something?

It’s a long story, involving unrequited desire, and I don’t wish to spoil the book. But basically, my clan, Rojaraucha, was in possession of rich mines the colonizers coveted. The colonizers occupying our lands murdered any locals who bled an “unholy bistre color,” claiming my clan was evil incarnate. Just a tiny cut was enough to sentence any adult or child to death. Much easier to use some religious dogma to justify genocide than the truth of how vital the Rojaraucha lands, rich in gems and precious metals, were to keep the gears of their industrial revolution turning. Of course, Rojaraucha are the holiest of people, favored by the gods, making them the only humans capable of perceiving red hues, as it’s also the color of our blood. If only the rest of the planet could see.

I’m so sorry to hear your people have had to go through that. That’s truly terrible.

[Patricia shakes her head with a scowl.]

Moving on to our next question, if you had to name one thing about you that stands out from others, what would that be?

This question hit with an acute sense of insignificance in the grand scope of the Wisteraverse. You’re not pulling any punches!

[Quill chuckles.]

Well, I suppose if I had to name one thing, it would be that any job I accept should be considered done perfectly. What a bleak world it would be if an assassin could not be trusted to fulfill her mission.

[She shudders.]

[Patricia gazes at Quill, impressed.]

You must be very skilled then! Where did you learn these assassin skills?

I’m self-trained. Before I was murdered on my sixteenth birthday, I was a simple palace maid. Sure, hauling buckets of steaming water to the Empress’s bathing chamber strengthened my muscles, balancing too many crystal goblets brimming with wine whilst climbing winding staircase improved my posture, and the regular beatings increased my pain tolerance. But running for my life with no material possessions besides bloodied rags and hiding in the woods for months with nothing on my mind besides vengeance allowed me to concentrate on honing the abilities my bond with the mythical quill granted me.

While entire days spent on trial and error could get tedious, they were a luxury I couldn’t afford during my life as a palace serf. Most assume being an assassin is all about stabbing people.

[She rolls her eyes, huffing an exasperated breath.]

I assure you, that’s the easy part. Aspiring assassins’ deadliest yet most common mistake is underestimating the copious amount of research that goes into preparing for a successful mission. And more than anything, keeping a cool head is vital in this profession. Emotions could get one killed. I should know; I’ve already died once!

[She chuckles.]

Wow, what a dangerous profession! And I hadn’t realized how much of it included research.

Given the nature of your job, I’m curious: What makes you feel safe?

The press of the silver quill I wear in my braid against the skin at the nape of my neck. It keeps me alive, healing my wounds, and is the source of my color-weaving powers, allowing me to siphon any colored dye into inanimate objects, usually ropes and chains. Beyond that, I often take comfort in the cool touch of steel against my fingertips when I reach for a blade among the assortment of daggers at my belt.

That’s so cool! I’d feel safe too if I had a powerful item like that. I have a magical quill of my own, but it just writes things down.

[Patricia flicks her wrist and a floating golden quill appears.]

What would you say you struggle with the most?

[She purses her lips for a minute in deep contemplation, opens her mouth, shuts it again, screws up her face, and sighs.]

It’s a tie between my untimely, unbidden flashes of traumatic past and the cursed empathy for those who don’t deserve it. These are the issues that are holding me back, interfering with my job at the least opportune moments. I really need to work on them. When you’re out there on a mission, even a single blink could get you killed. I’ve been doing this for a long time, thanks to my early start into the profession. And all that experience helps, the muscle memory and instinct, as well as meticulous research and planning. Nevertheless, fighting these two issues costs me extra energy and concentration.

That does make your job hard.

[Patricia swats her golden quill as it floats in front of her face.]

What’s invisible but you wish people could see?

Honesty. I don’t wish to sound corny. It’s not at all about morality and doing what’s right. It’s about being straightforward about what one does and their true reasons. I never claim to be a good person, nor to serve any higher purpose. I just wish everything was out in the open, without any pretense of righteousness.

[Patricia nods emphatically.]

I can agree with that. Sometimes I just wish people would give a straight answer and not dance around the topic or attempt to lie!

Speaking of irritating things, what irritates you the most?

Honestly? The fact that some just do whatever they want and get away with it. The blatant lack of responsibility, respect, and consequences. I make no claims of righteousness or moral high ground. I’m not a vigilante. I kill because it’s my job, and I’m good at it. But I’d be lying if I denied the little satisfaction at putting some things to right. It vexes me how some are never punished for committing the most egregious cruelties, while a maid gets flogged and fired if she so much as spills a single drop of wine when filling a glass. This world could use a bit more justice and order if you'd ask me.

[Quill huffs an exasperated breath.]

I hear you. This world feels very unfair sometimes.

[Patricia cocks her head.]

Is there someone in particular you’d love to see justice served to?

As I already mentioned, it’s never personal for me. Killing is my profession, what I do best. But of course, there are always those too powerful to get punished by human laws. The Archduke, for example, has too much innocent blood on his hands, not just my people’s crimson blood, but also blue, green, and violet. He has even locked away his own niece in an asylum to take the power for himself as Regent. No doubt some of his closest allies want him dead. He has gotten away with beguiling the entire world and even lying to the gods. It’s about damn time he pays for his sins.

[Quill’s fingers reach for the empty sheath at her belt. Remembering she had checked her weapons at the entrance, she heaves a deep sigh, schooling her features into a veneer of insouciance.]

It definitely sounds like he needs a platter of justice served to him! What an evil man.

[Patricia lets out a huff, a frown crinkling her brow at the thought of the Archduke.]

I hope he does pay for what he’s done.

Moving on to a more-lighthearted question, if someone handed you a hedgehog and walked away, what would you do?

Good question!

[She chuckles.]

I suppose, judging by my encounter with Freddy, I’d pretend not to care about it at first. But within seconds, I’d (grudgingly) decide to help it, especially if it’s in distress or looks sick. I’ll take it to Zaal, who’d grumble, but will nurse it back to health. They have a good heart to go with their flesh-weaving, healing powers, even if they’d never tried it on animals before. I likely disappear at first and let Zaal deal with it. But unable to stay away, I’d end up providing and caring for the poor animal. I don’t have permanent, safe lodging. So Zaal would be the one who’ll have to make room for the hedgehog. Gods, Irel is going to love it! She’d probably name it on the spot, vowing to never part with it.

Zaal sounds like a very dependable friend! And I love that you’d end up coming back to help provide and care for the animal.

[Patricia’s golden quill bats her on the head and she waves it away.]

Yes, yes, I know we’re almost out of time.

[She returns her attention to Quill.]

I have one more question for you! What do you feel like is your life’s purpose?

I’d be lying if I pretended to have figured it all out. But I believe the world needs a consummate assassin as much as a master cobbler. Anyone can kill, given the right motive and opportunity. Being the world’s best assassin is not just about killing, but killing to perfection. That’s my calling. My reason for accepting only high-profile missions isn’t that the targets usually deserved to die, or that my mysterious patrons pay me a fortune. I craved the racing of my pulse at the kiss of danger, the brush with death, the intoxicating thrill that makes me feel alive.

Sounds like you know exactly what your purpose and goals are!

[Patricia smiles at her guest.]

Thank you for not fighting your author and coming to see me today, Quill. I enjoyed getting to know you and I hope you’re able to serve out more justice to those who need it!

End of interview.

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Want to Read More?

Quill’s author, Shida Ketzer, can be found on social media and you can purchase Killer Quill and explore maps, samples, audio, and other fun items here.

Front cover art by artist Cassie.

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See Ya Next Time

Aaand that's all the time we have today. Thank you, readers, for coming. And thank you, Quill, for letting us get to know you! See y'all next time.

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If you would like to submit a character to be interviewed for a future issue of Fable Features, please send an email to linnae.writer@gmail.com with the subject line: Fable Features.

Please note that erotica and content with excessive vulgar language will not be accepted.

If you have questions you'd like Patricia Parrington to ask in a future interview, please submit them to linnae.writer@gmail.com with the subject line: Interview Questions.