Tomasz Wawrzyniec Szczepan Maurcjusz Bankowski
- Linnae Klutchko
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
August Character Interview
Patricia Parrington ~ August 1, 2026
Hello my lovely readers and fellow booklovers! For those of you new here, I, your sleuth-tastic host Patricia Parrington, have the pleasure of interviewing characters from books all over the world.
Today, Tomasz Wawrzyniec Szczepan Maurycjusz Bankowski is here with us from the adult dark comedy mystery In the Shadow of Beauty by Edd Ahearn. Edd is a semi-retired medic-cum-artist-cum-all sorts. These days he works occasionally doing graffiti removal. When he’s not writing, he’s cover designing or carrying out Mrs. Edd's tasks.
Meet Tomasz
Welcome to Fable Features!
Thanks. It’s nice to be here.
[Patricia gestures for her guest to sit and they settle on a pair of orange suede couches.]
Tell me a little bit about where you’re from. Do you have many good memories from there?
I’m originally from Hampshire in southern England, though these days I live in the village of Norton, in South Yorkshire. I have mixed memories of growing up in Hampshire because when I was eight, my parents and siblings were killed in a car crash caused by a drunk driver. I survived. I was brought up by my grandparents, helped by my parents’ friends Ron and Scarlett Garner-Henderson. They were terrific.
I’m so sorry to hear about the car crash. That must’ve been such a difficult time for you. I’m glad you had your grandparents and parents’ friends!
On a less heavy topic, what do you do when you’re bored?
I generally go for a run. Living in the country, it’s always pleasant, although with it being the northern part of England, it does tend to rain quite a lot. Even so, the beauty of the countryside makes it worthwhile.
Oh that sounds like a wonderful place to go for a run. How far do you normally run?
It depends on how much time I have. Many years ago, before being forced to leave the army due to injuries I sustained on patrol, I was in training for SAS selection and would run anything between five and fifteen miles, often with a heavy backpack. These days it tends to be five to ten, and definitely without the backpack. Five is a comfortable number.
[Patricia’s green eyes widen as she listens.]
Well I’m impressed. Even without a backpack, that’s a decent workout!
If you were a superhero, what would your name and superpower be?
With my problem-solving prowess, people say I can see around corners, but it would be so much better to see through walls, so for me, X-ray vision would be my superpower of choice. It might save me from walking into trouble, which I sometimes do.
That certainly would be helpful! Imagine, being able to stare through walls and see if there’s trouble nearby.
[Patricia stares intently at the studio wall then laughs and returns her focus to Tomasz.]
I’d love to hear more about your problem-solving prowess. Are these skills you find yourself using often?
I tend to look at problems differently than others, considering what is possible rather than what is probable. I look at things as individuals, each with their own story through time. Even a stone on a country path has many stories to tell; it may even have had a king or queen step on it at some point throughout the millennia. It may have been used as a weapon. It may have had someone trip on it and cause injury. Everything has a countless number of stories and possibilities, all of which require looking at.
[Patricia nods as she listens, fascinated.]
Every little thing does tell a story, doesn’t it? You strike me as someone who is very observant, someone who notices these stories others miss.
[She plays with a lock of her green hair.]
I’d like to change gears a bit. What’s a problem you’re struggling with right now?
Getting drawn into mysteries that I really should leave alone. The trouble is that I just can’t resist looking into things, and I simply cannot resist a challenge, regardless of any potential danger. For me, it’s a calling, because I loathe injustice. There’s too much of the stuff around, so I feel that I have to do my bit.
That’s a fair struggle. There is a lot of injustice out there, and I think it’s great that you refuse to turn a blind eye to it.
Let’s change topics for a moment to something a bit more . . . random.
[Patricia grins.]
What mythical creature would improve the world most if it existed?
A dragon. They always seem so cumbersome, so as a former soldier, I would make them more nimble and agile.
That would be interesting! Can you imagine—a world filled with nimble, agile dragons?
[Patricia cocks her head a bit, contemplating.]
Oh I like this next question. What’s a hobby you used to have that you miss?
Painting. I used to paint landscapes in oils but haven’t done it for quite a few years. I stopped when I joined the army and gave my kit away to a friend who was taking it up. I keep saying that I’ll start it up again, but I never get around to it, in spite of Tilly—my other half—constantly telling me to buy a kit and get going. One day, I will.
I used to paint a lot too! Tilly sounds very wise.
[Patricia leans forward slightly.]
You mentioned Tilly is your other half. How’d you two meet?
We met purely by accident. I was sitting in a pub with my friends, on a table next to Tilly and her then boyfriend. He, not a nice person, suggested an open relationship, which she took exception to, and furious, threw her keys at him. She missed him and hit me, the shock knocking me off my chair whereupon I banged my head and was knocked out. Due to a head injury that forced me to leave the army, I was hospitalized. The next day, fraught with worry (Tilly is a doctor) and racked with guilt, she visited me in the ward and explained. She then asked if there was anything she could do and, if so, she would do it. Having heard her story, I was incensed at hearing of his indecent proposal and simply said, “You can let me take you out for dinner one night, if you like.” She accepted, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Wow, what a story! Tilly seems so sweet and I’m glad she agreed to let you take her out for dinner.
[Patricia smiles warmly, thinking of Tilly.]
What is something new you tried recently?
Learning to cook. I’ve always been a liability in the kitchen and can burn water. Tilly is an incredible cook and has taken to teaching me the basics. She’s started by getting me to cut things up, doing prep, which saves her work . . . provided I get it right, that is. So far, I haven’t destroyed anything, but there’s plenty of time.
[Patricia laughs.]
Oh, give it time. I’m sure with Tilly by your side, the kitchen won’t sustain too much damage.
[Patricia checks her wrist.]
Oh wow! Are we really at the end of our time already? I do have one more question I’d like to ask, so let’s end with this: If you could change one thing about your current life, what would that be?
That’s a tricky one, because for the first time in a long time, I’m settled and happy with what I’m doing and where I am. That said, although I love living in Yorkshire, I do have a secret yearning to return to my native Hampshire. If I did, though, it would feel wrong, because although I still know a few people down there, my main friends are up here. It’s a major dilemma.
That does sound like a dilemma! And I understand longing to return to your first home.
[Patricia stands.]
Thank you so much for coming here and chatting with me today, Tomasz. I wish the best for you and Tilly and hope you stay safe in any future sleuthing!
End of interview.
Want to Read More?
Support Tomasz’s author, Edd Ahearn, and read more about Tomasz’s story here!
See Ya Next Time
Aaand that's all the time we have today. Thank you, readers, for coming. And thank you, Tomasz, for letting us get to know you! See y'all next time.
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.