In case you don’t already know, Yancey Williams’ book Shoot the Messenger is an enchanting love story about murderous psychopaths, contract killers, and totally jilted lovers gone awry. Sounds like a good Valentine’s Day read, doesn’t it? Yeah, we think so, too.
We’d like you to win a copy, so we’re making it easy. Use the entry gateway to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and tell us which character in Shoot the Messenger you’re most like in the comments section below.
Elvis Octavius Palmer
Little man as in little people in today’s sqeaky-clean, spruced up vernacular. Midget to others. Ego more than sufficiently compensates for diminutive stature. Profession: Psychopathic contract killer. Previously, drug dealer. Well versed as hustler, pimp, and handy man to the malevolent and maladjusted. Positive attributes include a quick, demented wit, bawdy eye for pole dancers and night club strippers, as well as coefficiently equipped to handle any disturbingly filthy job you don’t want to do yourself. If you can call those attributes?
Vladimir Gagarin Yeltsin
Yes, cousin to cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Or so he claims. Who knows? Ex-Russian mobster. For sure. Otherwise, believe what you want? If in his company, say you believe. Profession: Hit Man. Period. Attributes. None, less the soft spot for Elvis and an overcompensatingly salacious, anatomical affinity for the opposite sex. Is groping ever listed as an attribute? I didn’t think so.
Harriett O’Connor
The beautifully sensuous, unfaithful Yuppie-wife to the very wealthy, philandering Harry Axel O’Connor. Lover to Earnest Darwin, investment tycoon and candidate for the United States Congress. Harry, the wealthy, philandering husband is in Harriett’s way. Earnest’s too. Harriett’s used to getting her way. Not good for Harry. Profession: Yuppie housewife. Attributes: Beautifully sensual. Penchant for tiger sex.
Earnest Darwin
CEO of Galapagos Capital. In his spare time with his spare change, he’s running for the United States Congress. Additional sideline: ensnaring eligible women. Enter Harriett O’Connor. Or enter Earnest Darwin. It all depends on who you ask. Profession: Investment Banker. Attributes: Financially secure in spades. Penchant for tiger sex.
Thornton Alpert
Father. Husband. Profession: Insurance adjustor. The unassuming and unguarded target of Harriett O’Connor who’s looking to Alpert as a disposable means to collect on her dead (murdered) husband’s life insurance policy. Attributes: Willingly efficient and putty in the hands of the aforementioned Harriett O’Connor.
WhoreHay ManWell Reconquista Gonzalez
Illegal immigrant or undocumented immigrant as referenced now by the most politically correct of modern day verbage navigators. Profession: A trespassing, border-hopping little thief feigning employment as the O’Connor’s (hired by Harry primarily to appease Harriett or so it seems) handy man. Attributes: Self preservation.