Susie: Hey Tucker. Thanks for being here; I know you’re busy with school and getting ready for the upcoming snowboarding season. Are you going to compete for the Deep Haven Huskies?
Tucker: Yeah, I don’t know. Depends on whether I can afford a new board.
Susie: So, tell my reader friends about you. You star as the boyfriend to Colleen Decker, Nathan and Annalise’s sixteen-year-old daughter. But you’re quite your own character. I think you’re more than we see.
Tucker: Yeah, I don’t know.
Susie: Tell us how you started snowboarding.
Tucker: My dad gets free tickets because he makes snow at Sugar Ridge. My mom and dad are divorced, and my mom works a waitress and bartender at the local tavern. I’m pretty much on my own, especially now.
Susie: I heard about your brother’s death. I’m so sorry.
Tucker: Hey, he died snowboarding, probably catching some serious air, so, you know—if you gotta go . . .
Susie: Right. So, that’s what you want—to be a championship snowboarder?
Tucker: Sure. Yeah. I want to make enough money snowboarding that I can go out west. But yeah, I’m also drawn to Colleen’s family—the fact that they are all there, and she has such a great family. They look like they get along, and her mother is so involved. They invited me to this family dinner once . . . no big deal, but it reminded me of the days before . . . .
Susie: Before your family broke apart.
Tucker: Yeah, whatever. Colleen is cool. Her mom totally freaked when she caught Colleen and me making out, but that fact is, I like Colleen. I’m not going to be stupid with her or anything.
Susie: I’m glad to hear that—
Tucker: It kind of makes me mad that they just see what they want. They look at me, and think, hey, he’s not good enough for our daughter.
Susie: And what do you think –
Tucker: Sheesh. OK, maybe I’m not. But . . . well, I would like to be.
Susie: In fact, you’re all about proving that in this story, aren’t you? You want a seat at the dinner table.
Tucker: Are we done?
Susie: Tucker, you’re a great guy. I think maybe it’s time other people realized that too.
Tucker: I don’t know why the other characters talk such smack about you—you’re OK.
Susie: They don’t like me?
Tucker: I gotta blow. Chill, dude.
Susie: Right. OK, Tucker is played by Milo Ventimiglia. Check out his story in my new book, You Don’t Know Me, in stores NOW.
You can read my other character interview here (Annalise, Nathan, Frank, and Helen). You can also enter my latest contest! I’ll be hosting an video chat party and giving away awesome prizes (like copies of You Don’t Know Me and a $200 weekend getaway)! More info can be found here.