Bonnie Phelps, Author: Meet the Characters - An Interview with Major Edmund Quinn from “A Major Affair” by CJ Matthew

Today we’re talking to Major Edmund Quinn from, “A Major Affair (a novella in The Colonel's Daughters quintet),” by CJ Matthew.

Hello, my name is Ed Quinn, Major Edmund Quinn, US Air Force stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB in North Carolina. I’m a WSO, (that’s pronounced wizzo). The initials stand for Weapons System Officer in the back seat of an F-15 Strike Eagle. I heard you met one of our Strike Eagle pilots, my buddy Major Steve Shorner, a couple months ago. DO I need to defend myself here?

Moderator: Not at all. I think you’ll find my readers are a pretty friendly audience. Welcome to my blog. Why don’t we get started with the questions?

Name three of your favorite things.

I just returned from 8 days leave, spent secretly evaluating a luxury resort on Kauai as a favor for a friend’s dad. Hawaii was even more spectacular than I remembered. I got a real kick out of the drinks with all the fruit, flowers, and little umbrellas. That’s got to be my current number three favorite thing. And while we were there, we took a snorkeling trip and swam with wild Spinner Dolphins. That experience shot up to the number two spot on my favorites list.

And number one has to be the beautiful woman I met in Hawaii, DeAnna.

What was your first impression of her?

Funny you should ask that question. Did you know the original South Pacific film was shot on Kauai? We got to swim on the same beach and when I heard the song, Some Enchanted Evening, it made me remember the first time I spotted Dee in the VIP lounge at the Honolulu airport. She seemed familiar somehow. Then on the flight to Kauai I introduced myself and made certain we’d see each other again. The woman is gorgeous and smart and funny.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

The thing about being in a Fighter Squadron is we’re always on call, whenever and wherever our country needs us. More often the deployments are planned ahead but if there’s an emergency, the Strike Eagles, air crews, maintainers, and support teams are ready to go. Because of that, I’ve learned to sleep most anywhere and anytime there’s a lull. My personal choice is to get up early for work, and then, when the job’s done, party late. As I said, that’s subject to change.

What’s your favorite drink? food?

When I’m not on vacation trying out crazy cocktails in coconuts, I drink beer. Served ice cold in a chilled glass. I love most ethnic foods as well as good old American beef. Rib-eye steak, grilled medium rare is my favorite. And North Carolina barbeque.

Are you close to family?

Absolutely. My family lives in upstate South Carolina and I see them on most holidays. Also they take turns coming to Goldsboro for a weekend or dropping by on the way to the beach. I’m especially close to my younger sister, Olivia who graduated from UNC.

Do you see morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?

Damn, out of the blue, a real serious question. However, it’s one question with an easy answer. The rules we live by, or should live by, are definitely laid out in black and white. And I believe most people are totally aware of the rules. Even when people plead ignorance, or try to make excuses for “going around the rules” I believe they do know right from wrong. We’re all human, we all make mistakes, but our goal should always be to do what’s right, to do the honorable, moral thing.

What is your most prized possession?

The military, including the Air Force, has a tradition of awarding commemorative coins. I have several coins from different war exercises and each one means something different and special to me. The one I treasure the most, my prized possession is the coin from my WSO graduation class. It represents one of the proudest days of my life. I’ll never part with that coin.

A MAJOR AFFAIR (as part of the Tropical Tryst box set) is available through:

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