(Spoiler Alert. If you have only read books 1-10 in the Haunting Danielle Series you may want to skip this interview.)

Interviewer:  Welcome back to Marlow House. Today in our next installment of the Marlow House Interview series we will be talking to the police chief of Frederickport Oregon, Edward MacDonald. And with him is his son, Evan MacDonald, the youngest of what I term, the Marlow House mediums. Welcome Chief and Evan.

Chief:   Thanks for having us.

Interviewer:   Is it okay if I call you chief? I notice most people seem to call you that instead of your name.

Chief:   Chief is fine.

Interviewer: How are you today, Evan? 

Evan:  Okay. 

Chief:  He’s a little nervous. 

Interviewer:   I can understand that. Although, now that I think about it, Evan showed amazing bravery when he helped Walt after the hijacking and kidnapping. I can’t imagine talking to me could be scary compared to that.

Chief:   Evan’s my hero.

Interviewer:   Evan, you’re blushing. Don’t you feel like a hero?

Evan:   I just wanted my dad to come home. And it wasn’t scary, I had Walt. 

Interviewer:   I would think most kids would be terrified of a ghost. But Walt never scared you, did he?

Evan:   No. Walt’s really neat because he can talk to Sadie and Max, and he can move things. And he never treats me like a dumb kid. 

Interviewer:  Chief, you have another son, Eddie Jr. Does he know about his brother’s gift?

Chief:  No. Evan and I have talked about it, and we think it’s probably for the best Eddie doesn’t know right now. It’s enough for Evan to deal with his power—gift—whatever you want to call it. Eddie doesn’t need to deal with it if he doesn’t have to.

Interviewer:  One of our readers ask if it is possible that Eddie has the gift too, but he’s just hidden it from you? 

Chief:  I’d be really surprised. For one thing, he’s never shown any signs.

Interviewer:  What kind of signs? 

Chief:   I never knew they were signs until after I realized Evan was seeing ghosts. Had I never met Danielle, I’m not sure I would have ever understood what was going on with Evan.

Interviewer:  What were the early signs?

Chief:  There were instances Evan insisted there was someone in his room. I thought it was the old “monster in the closet” thing some kids go through. Eddie would be in the room too and accuse his brother of making things up. I never once remember Eddie coming to me about someone being in his room or the house, but Evan did a number of times.

Interviewer:  Evan, is it pretty common for spirits to just come passing through your house?

Evan:  No. There was only a couple of them, but one hung around for a long time. He’s gone now.

Interviewer:  Evan, do you wish you didn’t have this gift?

Evan:   It used to scare me. I didn’t understand why I was seeing stuff other people didn’t. My brother told me to stop making up stories or people would think I was crazy. But now I understand. Walt helped me. Now I’m glad I can see ghosts like Danielle.

Interviewer: Chief, I know your last relationship didn’t work out.

Chief:  Well, that is an understatement.

Interviewer:   One of our readers wondered if you had started dating again?

Chief:   I’m really busy right now, with work and my boys. Going out and trying to meet someone, it’s not really in the cards right now.

Interviewer:  Do you plan to just stay a bachelor?

Chief:   At the moment I just want to raise my boys.

Interviewer:  Before we wrap this up, I have one question for Evan. Evan, do you know what you want to be when you grow up?

Evan:  I want to be a policeman like my dad.

Interviewer: Really? I thought you might want to do something with your gift.

Evan:  Oh, that’s why I want to be a policeman! I would get my ghost friends to help me get the bad guys!

Interviewer:   Chief, you sort of do that now, don’t you?

Chief:  Indirectly, I suppose. But even when a ghost tells us who did it, we still have to prove it. 

Interviewer:  Thanks again for being here. We’ll be back on Monday with another interview. Hope to see you then.

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(Spoiler Alert. If you have only read books 1-12 in the Haunting Danielle Series you may want to skip this interview.)

Interviewer: Welcome back to Marlow House. Today we’re talking with Ian Bartley. Some of you might know him by his pen name, Jon Altar.Welcome Ian and thank you for participating in the Marlow House Interview Series.

Ian: Thank you for asking me.

Interviewer: I understand you initially came to Frederickport when you were working on the Eva Thorndike story.

Ian: That’s correct.

Interviewer: You coauthored that piece with your sister, didn’t you?

Ian: Yes. It was actually Kelly’s idea. She’s the one that came across the information that proved invaluable.

Interviewer: You and Kelly are close?”

Ian: Yes, but we don’t normally work together. We’ve always shared the love of writing and research, but our careers took us in different directions.

Interviewer: Have you considered sharing with your sister what you know about Walt Marlow?

Ian: Oh god no!

Interviewer: That was pretty emphatic.

Ian: I love my sister. But there is no way she would leave that one alone. It’s hard enough for me. It’s best for everyone if she doesn’t know.

Interviewer: I’m not sure why.

Ian: Walt’s story is probably the biggest story I’ve ever come across—and I can’t touch it. There’s no way I can write about it for various reasons. I don’t think Kelly would ever understand my reasons.

Interviewer: What are they?

Ian: Too many people would be hurt—people I care about. And frankly, it would be the end of my professional reputation. I’d look like a fool.

Interviewer: Because it’s unbelievable?

Ian: Exactly. 

Interviewer: But your sister lives in Frederickport now. Are you afraid she might find out herself?

Ian: I certainly hope not.

Interviewer: Speaking of moving to Frederickport, when you first rented the house across the street from Marlow House did you have any idea you’d be staying after you finished the story?

Ian: Not at all.  When I rented the Hemmings House, my plan was to stay until I finished the Thorndike project, but I fell in love with the charming town.

Interviewer: I understand you also fell in love with Lily Miller.

Ian: That too. But Lily had moved back to California when I initially decided to stay longer. I’ll admit I had already fallen for her, but at the time I think both Lily and I felt it was too soon in our relationship to make a serious commitment.

Interviewer: This brings us to a question from a reader. When did you know Lily was the one?

Ian: After she moved back to California I realized I had fallen in love with her. But when I thought I had lost her—well I then realized how much I really did love her. I’ve never been so afraid in my life.

Interviewer: Another reader asks, do you ever feel a little jealous over Sadie’s relationship with Walt?

Ian: I might have been jealous if I’d found out about Walt sooner. But as it was, I think I was more relieved when I realized what was going on.

Interviewer: How do you mean?

Ian: I have to admit I prided myself at how well-behaved Sadie was. She’s one smart dog. She was easy to train. But we move here, and suddenly she becomes unpredictable. Starts acting strange. No, I was more relieved than jealous.

Interviewer: One last question. You always seem to have a Cubs baseball cap on. I take it you’re a Cubs fan?

Ian:  Since I was a kid. My dad is a big Cubs fan too.

Interviewer: You must be a loyal fan; the Cubs haven’t won a World Series since 1908.

Ian: Hey, you just watch, this is going to be the year they win. Mark my words.

Interviewer: Umm…what year is it in Frederickport again?

Ian: What kind of question is that? It’s 2016 of course.

Interviewer: Well, maybe you’re right. Maybe this will be the year the Cubs win the World Series.

Ian: It will be!

Interviewer: Well, that wraps up today’s interview. Tomorrow we’ll be back when we talk to Chief MacDonald and his son Evan. Hope you all join us then!

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