Wednesday, 28 October 2009

• INTERVIEW with Alex and Lisa Mendez

  Recently, I had the distinct pleasure to sit down with police detectives Alex and Lisa Mendez to discuss the latest chapter in their story, called Mourning Reign. I have to say I was excited to hear what they had to say and I believe the readers of In The Breath of God will be just as excited when they see, “first-hand” just what Lisa and Alex really think about their lives so far and where their story might lead.

   

  Edward Hancock II: I want to thank you both for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down and chat with me. I know it must be a huge sacrifice, trying to balance careers, family and, now, sudden stardom. I guess that leads me directly into my first question. How do you handle it all?

  ALEX MENDEZ:  *Looks at Lisa, who nods, speaking in some mental language apparently only they can understand* “For me I have to say it’s a lot easier thanks to Lisa. She’s the strong one. I couldn’t do this alone. Granted we have help from plenty of people. Danny, Alyson, my mother, just to name three. But Lisa is my rock. She is my partner. No matter who I’m in the field with… *Places his arm around Lisa* I only have one true partner.

  LISA MENDEZ: *Blushes slightly, fights an embarrassed grin before composing herself* “I would have to disagree. I think we make a great team. Period. Where I am weak, Alex is strong and, I guess, vice versa.  We work because we want to, plain and simple. Most people in our world are quick to turn and run to divorce court when things get hard. With Alex and Me – well with me anyway – it never crossed my mind. *she winks at Alex* And if I’m going to be honest, I don’t see us as stars. If anyone’s interested in our story, I’ll tell it. But I’m more interested in living than I am storytelling. I’m a storyteller when it’s Christina’s bedtime. That’s about it.

  Edward Hancock II: Speaking of the Munchkin, how is she doing? Where is she today?

  LM: She’s fine. She’s in school this morning. We dropped her off on our way to the interview.

  EH: Must be hard to have a school age child in the house, huh?

  AM: not as hard as having a baby in the house. Harder emotionally having a kindergartener I guess. My “baby girl” has grown up.

  LM: Watch it, Pal! She ain’t grown up yet!  *she nudges him with an elbow*

  *laughter*

  EH: Next question. What makes you two work? How did you know you were “the one”? Not many people know you were partners before you were married. What made you decide to take that next step?

  LM: I guess it’s true. When you know, you just know.

  AM: she drugged me. I swear, man. She drugged me *Lisa jabs him with an elbow* OW!  *laughs* Look, it’s not difficult. We work because we love one another. We have our priorities straight. We both know on which side our bread is buttered.

  LM: Okay, Dr. Phil.

  AM: *Laughs* That’s Danny, not me. My point is that it’s really not a big secret. The day we got married, I ceased being Alex Mendez entirely. I surrendered “me” to “we”. And Lisa did the same. The key to a happy marriage? Recognize first and foremost it’s not about you. It’s about “us”. You can’t always get your way and if all you want is your way, do us all a favor. Stay single.

  EH: So, I guess we should talk about Mourning Reign. Great title if I do say so myself. What can you tell me about this particular part of your story?

  LM: Well, I can tell you I don’t want to re-live it. But, at the same time, I’d do it all over again.

  EH: Care to give our readers a preview? A little taste of the plot maybe?

  AM: Well, in short, some terrorists decided to come to Texas to try and start a fight. I had to send ‘em packin’

  LM: You did, eh? All by your lonesome, Big Guy? *winks*

  AM: Okay, so I had a little help.  *smiles playfully*

  LM: *coughs*

  AM: Okay, so I helped a little.

  LM *whispers* better

  AM: *ignoring her* Come to find out, small towns all across America are hit simultaneously by similar attacks. The game changer.

  EH: Kind of like September 11, 2001, then?

  LM: Sort of, yes. But very different in some ways. For one, they used third world tactics, not airplanes. For another, well, it just became more personal. I wasn’t in New York when the towers fell. I felt a somber sense of fear as an American, knowing I’d just watched my fellow Americans die, but honestly, it was a different feeling this time. This wasn’t some far off portion of the Mendez Kingdom. This was my home. They made it personal for me…for all of us. *pulls Lisa close*

  EH: Sounds horrible!

  LM: Well, it’s not the ideal way to bring a child into the world. That’s for sure.

  EH: Ah, a great segue there, Lisa. When we left you at the end of In The Breath of God, clearly you were expecting your second child. So, what’s the word on the latest Mendez?

  LM: *looks down, fidgets her hands nervously*

  AM: Can we move on, please?

  EH: Certainly. I’m sorry. I don’t wish to open any fresh wounds.

  LM: *Biting her lip* *smiles at me reassuringly and nods*

  AM: It’s just difficult sometimes. To think about the circumstances that brought him into this world. I’m sorry. Next question.

  EH: So, Alex, at the end of In The Breath of God, you were retiring. Is that no longer the case? Can we expect two Mendez’s in the field again?

  AM: I came out of retirement because I was needed. I’m still needed, I think. They did a lot of damage to small-town America. There are a lot of ashes waiting on the proverbial phoenix. Now’s not the time to sit on the sidelines and wait to be called. When I’m no longer needed, I’ll go back to the bench.

  EH: What about you, Lisa?

  LM: *stops biting her lip* I, uh, I really haven’t decided yet. I sort of promised I wouldn’t pin on a badge again, but…

  EH: Clearly this was not an easy thing to go through. How was this different from In The Breath of God? For you, personally, I mean. The feel of it.

  AM: Well, for me, it was different because I wasn’t the one in the hospital bed this time.

  LM: For me, I guess, just the opposite. I was the one in the hospital. Helpless.  And I still ache sometimes. Not sure when that goes away.  *She pauses* I—honestly it was just very different. It’s one thing to stand in the presence of God. It’s kind of hard to top that sensation of joy, peace and love. But, honestly, this was an intimate, tactile connection. When you go from touching purest Goodness to literally touching pure Evil, well, it’s quite a shock to the system. I don’t know if you ever get over something like that.

  AM: We get through it the way we get through everything else, Lisa. Together. Doesn’t really matter which side you’re on, I guess. Either way you’re pretty helpless, whether watching your loved one suffer or being the one in bed suffering. Helpless.

  LM: That’s the one thing neither of us can stand to be. Helpless. There’s always an answer. There’s always a solution. “I can solve this.” But I think we’re both learning that sometimes it takes something else. A little help.

  EH: You actually work closely with some federal agents in this one. How difficult was that, given the distrust between you and certain federal officers prior to Mourning Reign?

  AM: Well, I have to say I think I made a pretty good friend in Moe. He’s my kind of guy. If I ever need help from a Fed again, you can bet he’ll be the one I call.

  EH: So we’re likely to see more of him and Agent Parker?

  AM: You really don’t realize who the writer is, do you? *Laughs*

  EH: Okay, so you’ll have to indulge me here. My readers will kill me if I don’t ask the question. What can we expect in future Mendez adventures?

  AM: I guess you’ll know when we do. Or maybe that’s the other way around. We’ll know when you do?

  EH: But there will be future stories?

  LM: Like I said, I’m a storyteller at Christina’s bedtime. We’ll leave the writing decision up to you. I think Alex and I both are just enjoying the opportunity to watch our children grow up. For as long as we are afforded the opportunity.

  EH: So, what you’re saying, if I’m reading you correctly is… well, if I stopped writing—

  LM: I’d haunt you till the day you died. *winks at me*

  EH: I’ll be writing immediately after this interview is concluded!  Alex, I must shift gears for just a moment. I get more letters about you than just about any other person. People want to know if you’re for real. They say men like you don’t exist in this world. So, what motivates you?

  AM: *Looks at Lisa* She does. My family does. Love.

  LM: And God.

  AM: Yes, God. It’s very new to me – to us – so we’re still learning what all that means, but yes, I want to be a Godly man. Someone my family can be proud of.

  LM: We couldn’t be prouder, Hero.

  EH: I am sure my readers would echo that sentiment.

  I want to thank Alex and Lisa for taking time out of their busy day to sit down with me. I’m sure there are tons more questions my readers would like answered, so please feel free to leave your question for Lisa or Alex. I’ll see to it that one of them answers it ASAP!

  Thanks again and be sure to check out Mourning Reign when it comes out!!

   

   Until next time this blog is brought to you by the letters W, E and H and by the number 2.

   

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