The character portraits are the work of Greensprite. More coming soon!
Abbie recommends every podcast listed here. They’re all awesome.
Gerard
Myers-Briggs type: INFJ
Species: Grishnard (griffin shelt)
Age when the story begins: 25
Marital status: Thessalyn Holovar (“adores” does not begin to cover it)
Height: Tall
Place in the story: Sole viewpoint character outside of chapter 1
His Voice Actor: Nathan Lowell is an educator and technology guru. He’s the author of the Solar Clipper books, available on Podiobooks.com and in iTunes, and he’s been a Parsec finalist for several years in a row. Most recently, he released a fantasy called Ravenwood. Nathan is known for rich, witty, poignant fiction (this is coming from me, not him 
. If you haven’t discovered his books, you owe yourself a listen. Nathan’s interview.
Silveo
Myers-Briggs type: ENTP
Species: Foxling (fox shelt)
Age when the story begins: 29
Marital status: Hahahaha! Not interested in procreative sex, but that leaves plenty of options in Panamindorah. He’s getting to be very good friends with Gerard and Thessalyn, maybe even more than friends. (Both of them? Well, yeah. What? Is there a problem?) In the meantime, there’re his lieutenants, his cabin boy, friends, enemies, acquaintances…
Height: Stands to about Gerard’s elbow (foxlings are a small species, and Silveo wasn’t exactly well-nourished during his growing phase.)
Place in the story: Admiral of the Temple Sea Watch. Mad, bad, and dangerous to know.
His Voice Actor: Norm Sherman is a musician from Baltimore. He’s the host and producer of The Drabblecast, which is one of Abbie’s favorite podcasts on the web (and not just because they’ve run her drabbles – seriously!). The Drabblecast features “strange stories by strange authors for strange listeners…such as yourself.” If you enjoy weirdness, incredible production, and a podcast that doesn’t take itself too seriously, you must check them out. Norm’s Interview.
Thessalyn
Myers-Briggs type: ENFP
Species: Grishnard (griffin shelt)
Age when the story begins: 21
Marital status: Gerard Holovar (will follow him anywhere…whether he likes it or not)
Height: Stands to about Gerard’s shoulder
Place in the story: Catalyst, understands and interprets situations with great accuracy
Her Voice Actor: Writer, voice actress and podcaster Kimi Alexandre has been on the Web since the mid-90s. Her award-nominated podcast Tale Chasing, a show for urban fantasy readers and writers, is now in its third year. Guardians, her podcast novel about a body guard drawn into a murder mystery with supernatural elements, launched in 2009. She has also played numerous voice roles in other podcasts. In addition to her voice-over work for award-winning author Holly Lisle, she has had guest roles in podcasts such as Metamor City podcast, Predestination and Other Games of Chance, Angel Between the Lines, The Ties That Bind, and Digital Magic. Tale Chasing was a finalist for the 2008 Parsec Award for best writing-related podcast. A native of Kansas, she currently resides in New Jersey and refuses to confirm or deny rumors that she’s seen the first two Twilight movies at least 10 times each. Kimi’s interview.
Morchella
Myers-Briggs type: ISTP
Species: Grishnard (griffin shelt). Maybe.
Marital status: She takes whatever she wants.
Height: Just a little shorter than Gerard
Place in the story: Well, you’ll have to figure that out
Her Voice Actor: Kim the Comic Book Goddess is a musician whose voice you are likely to hear all over the podosphere. She is the mistress of the Geek Pantheon and Your Moment of Kim podcast (Presented by the SSDWC – the Secret Society for Delayed World Conquest), which was a Parsec finalist in 2009. Broaden your Geek Horizons – don’t enter your battle of wits unarmed.
Gwain
Myers-Briggs type: INTJ
Species: Grishnard/ Shavier
Age when the story begins: 28
Marital status: There are rumors about halfbreeds…
Height: A little below Gerard’s shoulder
Place in the story: Mysterious antagonist, author of a forbidden book
His Voice Actor: Chris Lester is the creator of the fabulous Metamor City podcast. In real life, he’s mad scientist. Trained as a biologist at the University of California-Santa Cruz, he received his master’s degree in 2004. After three soul-sucking years in corporate America, he is now working as a science teacher at a charter school in Oakland, CA. When he isn’t writing or planning lessons, he enjoys role-playing games, playing piano and guitar, sketching and digital painting. He misses his family’s three Shiloh shepherds terribly. Chris’s interview.
Alsair
Myers-Briggs type: ISTJ
Species: Griffin
Age when story begins: 15
Marital status: Liaisons with female griffins if they happen to be around in port.
Height: When standing at rest, he’s about head-height with Gerard.
Place in the story: Gerard’s friend and mount since childhood, not handling exile well
His Voice Actor: Ryan Stevenson is an actor and musician whose voice can be heared all over the podosphere, but especially on the Dead Robots’ Society Podcast. Ryan is currently working on both his first and second novels, and his short story “Love in the Time of Spiders” was featured as a contest winner on the Tech for Writers podcast. Ryan lives in Ontario with his wife, four cats, and a guinea pig. Interview with the Dead Robots, including Ryan.
Basil
Myers-Briggs type: ESTP
Species: Grishnard
Age when story begins: 44
Marital status: Hahahaha…
Height: Maybe a hand shorter than Gerard.
Place in the story: Rascal. Silveo’s lieutenant and sometimes lover.
His Voice Actor: Dan Sawyer’s podcast novel series, Antithesis, was one of the reasons Abbie chose to produce Cowry Catchers as audio drama. It’s an inspiring production. The story is a gripping, near-future sci-fi spy thriller. By the time Cowry Catchers launches, Book 2 of Antithesis should be appearing. Can’t wait!
Farell
Myers-Briggs type: ISFJ
Species: Grishnard
Age when the story begins: 42
Marital status: Divorced. Has an unclear, on-again-off again relationship with Silveo.
Height: Average
Place in the story: One of Silveo’s three lieutenants, technically captain of the Fang, although Silveo takes over when using it as his flagship.
His Voice Actor: Terry Mixon is a writer, podcaster, and computer enthusiast that works as a contractor in the Mission Control Center at NASA maintaining the computer configuration used by the shuttle and international space station flight controllers. He is an avid reader of science fiction, fantasy, and mystery. His writings include several award winning romantica/mystery books posted directly to the web: The Lady in Blue, Finding Elvis, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, and A Touch of Death. The interview with the Dead Robots, including Terry.
Arundel
Myers-Briggs type: Kind of hard to say. Does schizophrenia count?
Species: Grishnard
Age when the story begins: 48
Marital status: We hope not.
Height: Average
Place in the story: One of Silveo’s three lieutenants, captain of the Sea Feather.
His Voice Actor: Terry Mixon voices him as well. Terry also does a variety of bit parts in the story. Interview with the Dead Robots, including Terry.
Mishael Holovar
Myers-Briggs type: ISTJ
Species: Grishnard
Age when the story begins: 52
Marital status: Widowed
Height: Slightly taller than Gerard
Place in the story: Gerard’s father
His Voice Actor: Rish Outfield does a variety of voices in Cowry Catchers. He is an editor and host on the Dunesteef. He’s got one of the most versatile voices in podcasting, and he needs to podcast more of his own stories. His phobias include clowns, old women, small children, cows, spiders, kittens… First half of the interview with the Dunesteef, including Rish. Second half of that interview.
Jaleel Holovar
Myers-Briggs type: ESTP
Species: Grishnard
Age when the story begins: 23
Marital status: Not yet, but he’s creating a supply of court bastards to fill the governmental roles of Holovarus and enliven court politics for years to come.
Height: About half a head shorter than Gerard.
Place in the story: Gerard’s little brother.
His Voice Actor: Big Anklevich does a variety of parts on Cowry Catchers. He is an editor and host on Dunesteef Audio Fiction Magazine. This is also one of Abbie’s favorite podcasts. The stories are well-produced audio drama, and they run the gamut from magical realism, to literary, to ghost stories and horror. The hosts are hilarious, and the discussion after the stories is as much fun as the stories themselves. First half of the interview with the Dunesteef, including Big. Second half of that interview.
Marlo
Myers-Briggs type: INTJ
Marital status: Single
Height: Short for a grishnard
Place in the story: One of the Temple Police who makes himself useful immediately upon Gerard’s promotion and whom Gerard uses as a secretary and assistant.
His Voice Actor: Hughes is Abbie’s little brother. He’s a programmer in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife and 2.5 cats. He likes collecting spare languages. Hughes is the technical consultant for all of Abbie’s websites and occasional co-host of her feedback shows. Hughes has been beta reading Abbie’s work since the days of dot matrix printers, when dinosaurs still roamed the earth.
Lu
Myers-Briggs type: ISFP
Species: Ocelon
Age when the story begins: 31
Marital status: Single
Height: A little taller than Silveo
Place in the story: An apothecary and long-time friend of Silveo and Basil
Her Voice Actor: Amy Watkins Copeland has been reading Abbie’s books for as long as Jeff and almost as long as Hughes. She is a publishing poet with an MFA, and she hosts a poetry micro cast called Red Lion Square. You can read Amy’s poems online at LiteraryMama, The Pedestal Magazine, Shaking Like a Mountain and Umbrella. She is the editor and host of the new podcast poetry magazine Red Lion Sq.
Hoepali
Jeff is a graphic artist and a long-time beta reader for all things Abbie Hilton. He’s been making maps for her stories for almost as long as she’s been writing them. He’s also her cover designer. She had to twist his arm a bit to get him to actually speak on the podcast, but she thinks he did a great job!
Paiter
Once upon a time, Justin McCumber was a productive member of society, but because of the downward spiral that is the current economy he lost that respectable job and is now a full time writer and podcaster. Being 36, he hopes the new job sticks. In his free time he likes to read, play video games, watch bad popcorn flicks, and speculate endlessly about the greatest TV show ever made, aka LOST. Justin is married to a fine woman and is surrounded by many fine and furry animals. If you want to learn more about him (and really, why wouldn’t you?), you can find his personal blog at www.justinmacumber.com. You can also find his podcast, The Dead Robots’ Society – for writers and by writers – at www.deadrobotssociety.com.
A smuggler
James Durham is a musician and writer. His amazing podcast, FETIDUS, won a Parsec in 2009. FETIDUS (The Foundation for the Ethical Treatment of the Innocently Damned, Undead and Supernatural) is a meticulously produced post-apocalyptic urban fantasy that takes place in Washington D.C. It’s got a lovely sick sense of humor. You should check it out.
Astral and Merta
When not podcasting from Koru Studios in Wellington, New Zealand Philippa Ballantine as spends most of her time writing. So far she has had two books published; Weaver’s Web (which she’s turned into a podiobook) and the award-nominated Chasing the Bard. Her Parsec and Sir Julius Vogel nominated show Whispers at the Edge is where she talks about living at the bottom of the world and passes on what she’s found out about writing. She has also had published a variety of articles on her other love, history. Currently she is working on a number of fantasy projects. The main projects in 2009 are a collaborative project with Te Morris, a steampunk CSI podcast series, and podcasting Digital Magic, the sequel to Chasing the Bard. She has also had a number of roles in other podcast novels, and is enjoying the challenges of voice work. More can be found out about Pip at pjballantine.com.
Here and There
Lance Schonberg is a freelance writer, editor, and soon-to-be podcaster living in Eastern Ontario, Canada with his wife, three children, feline overlords, and Geckzilla. The “day” job that pays the bills gives him the title of Pit Manager in a small casino, where he spends half his waking life time-shifted by seven or eight hours. In a fit of insanity, he declared 2010 to be “The Year of Creation” and committed himself to 40 creative projects to match up with his next birthday. You can find details at his website, Small Realities.
I’d also like to give a special thank you to Bryan Lincoln (Fullcast Podcast), Charlie Blanchard, and Alex Thomasser (Blue Zoo). These guys helped with the first pass edits for Book 2 and beyond. Without them, you would not have gotten Cowry Catchers as quickly.