Character Interview and Giveaway: Maggie Mae and Bridger from Shifting by Bethany Wiggins

Today we're shifting (oh yeah, I went there) gears as I hand over the reigns of the blog to two of my favorite characters from 2011. If you haven't read Shifting by Bethany Wiggins, I promise (cross my heart and hope to die) that you are missing out. You can check out my review of this killer debut here. So stick around and read a little bit about how Bridger and Maggie Mae are fairing in a rousing game of This or That!

Just a quick explanation, I'm asking the question and one character is answering for the other. So Maggie Mae is guessing what she thinks Bridger would pick and vice a versa!

I'd like to think Maggie Mae and Bridger for taking the time to answer questions and a big thanks to Bethany Wiggins for being so awesome!

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1) Skittles or M&Ms?

Maggie: I don't think he cares as long as he doesn't have to cook it himself. If it comes ready-to-eat, Bridger eats it. You know, he ate rotting horse flesh that was crawling with maggots once (Yes, he was an eagle at the time) so I think he can eat pretty much anything palatable.

Bridger: She loves chocolate cake, so I'm guessing chocolate. Then again, I don't think there is a food that Maggie doesn't like! Have you seen her wolf down fish tacos? She can eat.

2) Now or then?

Maggie: I don't think it matters to Bridger because his life has been good, both now and then.

Bridger: Maggie likes now for *clears throat* obvious reasons. But seriously, she's been through a lot of crap. Now she's happy. So now.

3) Night or day?

Maggie: I'd have to say Bridger likes the night better because he can be himself, as in turn into an eagle whenever he wants and no one will see him. And he's almost always with me at night, like it's our time together.

Bridger: I like the day! I can see what's around during the day, which means I can keep Maggie safe (and it is whole lot easier to fly when I can see well). I worry about her when it's night--dark things come out when the sun's not shining. But I bet she prefers night because she's so used to hiding, and that's easier to do in the dark.

4) Books or movies?

Maggie: Bridger absolutely likes movies over books. Have you seen the huge flatscreen TV in his bedroom? And in their kitchen? Seriously, who would put a TV in the kitchen unless they're die-hard movie fans?

Bridger: Books--she likes books. The few times we've actually sat down to watch a movie, if we're not making out (did I seriously just write that?) she's falling asleep before it's half way over (so I help her stay awake). But she reads a lot.

5) Read minds or fly? *SPOILER ALERT- SKIP OVER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW*

Maggie: This question is totally and completely unfair, Amber! Bridger can do both, if you really think about it. SO not fair.

Bridger: I will say fly. Can you imagine? She'd be flying with me. I could show her my world, my second love in life. I think of her flying with me all of the time. Maybe one day it will happen. No, one day it will happen. Just wait and see.

6) Recorded or live?

Maggie: Um, recorded? He has tons of music and movies. Those aren't live.

Bridger: Wow. I just had a huge revelation. I don't think Maggie has ever been to anything live--sporting events, plays, symphonies, concerts. I think I'm going to surprise her and take her to a Phoenix Suns game. Or maybe the symphony. I bet once she experiences something like that live, she'll be hooked.

7) Pencil or pen?

Maggie: I like pencils because I can go back and fix my mistakes. Bridger would say pens because he's always so sure of himself, I don't think he makes mistakes. Or if he does, he just scribbles them out and has no problem with that.

Bridger: Maggie is totally a pen girl. She's smart, strong, stubborn, and tough. She knows what needs to be done and then goes for it. No wimpy pencils for her. Give her a pen, and she just might change the world with her words.

8) Being alone or being stuck with someone you hate?

Maggie: Hmmm, that would be like putting me on an island with Danni Williams (before she apologised). No thank you! I like being alone. So much more peaceful. I'd say Bridger would pick alone, too, but I've never seen him with someone he hates.

Bridger: She thinks I'd pick alone? Actually, I'd pick someone I hate. If we could stop hating each other, we could figure out why we were alone together and then fix the problem. Maggie would pick alone, though. She likes her space. She's never been afraid of solitude.

9) Black, white or gray?

Maggie: Bridger sees everything in black and white. There is no gray for him. I mean, he shot me! ME! Like, five minutes after speaking about his undying love for me--bam! Sure he had a really, REALLY good reason, but that's about as black and white as it comes. But he says when you're dealing with evil, there is no middle ground.

Bridger: Maggie sees most everything in gray. She's been through so much, she's had to find ways to justify things.

10) Love, money or fame?

Maggie: Bridger already has those three, so I don't know. I've been poor my whole life and it makes life difficult. Really difficult at times. So maybe he'd say money because he wouldn't know how to live without it.

Bridger: What the . . . I can't believe she said that about me! *gnashes teeth* Yeah, I've grown up with money, and yeah, I was popular in high school, if that is what she means by fame. So I know the true worth of both. Love is so much more important than either of those things. I would trade everything I own, everything my father owns, for the chance to be with Maggie forever--for the chance at love.

11) All or nothing?

Maggie: All. Bridger gives it all, everything he's got, for what he knows is right. It all goes back to that black and white question.

Bridger: Maggie is a nothing girl. She will risk her life even when she has nothing to gain. She will work her butt off for next-to-nothing. She has lived her entire life expecting nothing. Which is why I want to give her everything. I will give her everything I have--and I'm not talking about possessions. I'm talking about me, life, everything.

13) Answer or question?

Maggie: Bridger likes answers. He already knows the answers. He has an answer for everything!

Bridger: Maggie is a questioner. She questions everything. If you think about it, that would make her an answer girl, because the whole reason she has so many questions is because she wants to know all the answers. Everything. Now. And she's right about me. I have the answers.

14) Fact or fiction?

Maggie: Bridger is all about facts. Yes, the recurring black and white thing again!

Bridger: Isn't there fact in all fiction? Maggie is both fact and fiction. Because she's lived her entire life believing that what is really fact (Skinwalkers) to be fiction, the two are intertwined. She is a creature of fiction living in a world of fact.

15) What is the other's biggest fear?

Maggie: Bridger's biggest fear is so easy that I can't believe you're asking. Skinwalkers! He's grown up his entire life being taught that they're lurking in the shadows and shown how to fight them. Think of what that would do to a person.

Bridger: She's wrong again, at least in part. My biggest fear is not Skinwalkers. It is that the Skinwalkers will find Maggie again and I won't be there to protect her. What if she can't protect herself? Mental note to self: teach Maggie how to protect herself . . . and buy her a cell phone.

What is something you see in the other that they don't see in themselves? *HUGE SPOILER ALERT- DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW*

Maggie: Bridger is so spiritual. I have never met anyone as spiritual as Bridger O'Connell in my life. His total, yet simple belief in good being stronger than evil is changing the way I look at the world. He has faith, too. Faith in me. He mentioned earlier that he wants to see me fly. Because of him, I already do. He lifts me higher than anyone ever has in my life.

Bridger: Maggie is a rare, preiceless blend of selflessness and power. But, if you think about it, being selfless is possibly the most powerful thing a person can be beecause they never put themselves first. They do everything in their power to keep those who they love safe. That scares me. She's already risked her life for the people she loves, like Mrs. Carpenter. And me. *hangs head in shame* I mean, she let me . . . shoot her . . . instead of attacking me . . . *Bridger is unable to go on. He's wracked with guilt, anguish, and the realization that he's possibly the luckiest guy alive*

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Bethany Wiggins has always been an avid reader, but not an avid student. Seriously!!! She failed ninth grade English because she read novels instead of doing her homework. In high school, she sat alone at lunch and read massive hardback fantasy novels (Tad Williams and Robert Jordan anyone?). It wasn't until the end of her senior year that the other students realized she was reading fiction--not the Bible

Seven years ago, Bethany's sister dared her to start writing an hour a day until she completed a novel. Bethany wrote a seven-hundred page fantasy novel that she wisely let no one read--but it taught her how to write. Since then she has completed six more novels, each one a little better than the one before.

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Giveaway Time!

I loved this novel so much that I want to share it with you guys. So one lucky winner is going to get their own copy of Shifting from The Book Depository!

Rules:

-International Giveaway (if The Book Depository ships to you, you are eligible)
-Must be 13 years or older
-Must fill out the form below
-May only enter once
-Giveaway ends 2/16

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Good luck to everyone and thanks for stopping by!