Fiona Duet
- Linnae Klutchko
- Apr 1
- 5 min read
April Character Interview
Patricia Parrington ~ April 1, 2025
Hello my lovely readers and fellow book-lovers! For those of you who are new here, I, your music-loving host Patricia Parrington, have the pleasure of interviewing characters from books all over the world.
Today we have here with us Fiona Duet from the middle grade fantasy book Fiona and the Forgotten Piano by Kate DeMaio. Kate’s short stories appear in the Clio’s Curious Dash through Time and Prom Perfect anthologies. Her poetry can be found in The Dirigible Balloon.
Meet Fiona
[Patricia flops onto an orange suede couch opposite her guest and smiles.]
Welcome to Fable Features!
So tell me—where did you grow up?
[Fiona admires the couch’s soft fabric.]
Me? Oh, I grew up in Songfield, Massachusetts. It’s a little town with these amazing woods. Somehow, I think I’m the only one who notices them. I guess it helps I can look out my window to see the trees. Each one is different from the next. I’ve never seen a forest like it.
That sounds like a pretty forest. One of my favorite pastime activities is to go for a walk through the woods! Do you go there much?
I walk by the woods often. I pass them on my way to school, and I spend a lot of time in my backyard. But they’re too dangerous for me to walk through them.
[Fiona scratches her thigh.]
I’m told there are lots of ticks out there. I don’t want to get bitten!
[Patricia wrinkles her nose.]
I wouldn’t want to get bitten either.
If you had to pinpoint one person or event who contributed to a major part of forming who you are today, who or what would that be?
[Fiona glances thoughtfully at the ceiling.]
I would say my mom. She’s always on my side, even when people freak out about my red freckles. She’s there to tell them, “Hey, they’re not that weird!”
[Fiona chuckles nervously.]
I mean, I know not everyone looks like me, but it doesn’t feel good when they avoid me either. It’s nice to have my mom in my corner.
It is nice having someone supporting you, isn’t it? I’m glad your mom is always there for you.
Is there anyone you absolutely can’t stand?
[Fiona’s mouth pulls to one side.]
Well, I don’t like to judge too much. You never know what people are going through, you know? But . . . if I’m being honest, my piano teacher isn’t my favorite person. I feel like she can’t stand me! I’ve been taking lessons for a while now and Ms. Downey won’t show me anything but scales. Major scales, minor scales, pentatonic scales, you name it! I just think . . . if I had a different teacher, I would’ve learned a song by now. Right?
[Patricia nods.]
Sounds like it to me! Scales are not fun to play. You need at least a song or two as well!
Is there a specific song you’d like to learn eventually?
I would be happy just learning Twinkle Twinkle Little Star! But if I could pick any song, it might be something from a Broadway musical or a Disney movie. I love Moana. She seems to be drawn to the ocean just like I’m drawn to the woods.
I love that! I could see you enjoying playing a song from Moana.
Speaking of sounds, what’s a sound you will never forget?
The first time I heard the woods sing was life-changing. I mean, at the time, I was sure I was losing my mind. I had no idea where the sound was coming from. Once I realized the music was coming from the trees themselves, I really did lose my mind. I never knew trees could do that!
[Patricia’s emerald green eyes widen.]
The trees sang? That’s amazing. Do they do that often? What do they sound like?
It’s funny. I hadn’t heard the trees sing for a long time. But once I heard the notes again, it was like memories spilled out of a locked treasure chest. I dreamed of—or maybe I remembered—dancing barefoot in the woods. The notes swam around my head. They sounded like a sparkling symphony.
Wow, that’s so cool. I would love to hear trees sing.
[Patricia taps her chin as she mulls over the next question.]
Where do you go when you’re angry?
When I’m angry?
[Fiona smiles politely.]
I’m not really known for getting angry. I get sad—when my freckles scare people. Or frustrated—when Ms. Downey tells me to practice scales again. But I can’t think of a time when I lashed out. If I did get mad, I think I’d walk around the woods. I’m not allowed in them, but I can get pretty close. I would breathe in the oxygen from those strange trees and remind myself that the angry feelings would pass.
That sounds like a great way to cope with anger.
What are you most proud of?
Once, I had a piano recital. Remember how I told you I never learned any songs? Well, at this recital, things were different. I was different. I heard this boy play Minuet in D Minor, and suddenly, I could play Minuet in D Minor too. The boy’s parents weren’t very happy with me for copying his performance. But if I ignore that part, when I was playing it felt incredible.
[Patricia considers Fiona, impressed.]
You must be very talented if you can play a whole song just by listening to it!
[Patricia smooths out the skirt of her dress as she thinks of the next question.]
What would you say you struggle with the most?
Honestly, I’m not sure how to grow up.
[Fiona blushes.]
Not in the “I’m immature” way, but in the transition kind of way. How do you go from being a good kid who does what they’re told to being an adult who makes decisions? I know I’m not an adult yet, but I’m almost a teenager. Suddenly, I’m supposed to think about what I want for my future. Before, I was worried about doing what others wanted. Now, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. It’s a lot to think about.
[Patricia’s eyes soften.]
That’s a lot of pressure, isn’t it?
[Patricia glances at a clock on the wall.]
Oh good, we have time for one last question! What do you feel like is your life’s purpose?
Wow. That is a tough one. I think some part of me feels I was put on this planet to protect the trees. I know that’s silly. I just don’t understand how people don’t see the woods the same way I do. We have this amazing forest—right here in Songfield—and all it gets is an unfinished sign. I don’t know, the woods feel more important than that to me. Maybe I can help them somehow.
I think that is a great purpose to strive for. Everyone needs an advocate, even the trees.
[Patricia stands and smiles.]
It was so nice getting to meet you, Fiona! I wish you the best of luck with wherever your path leads you . . . and with getting Ms. Downey to let you play more than just scales.
End of interview.
Want to Read More?
See Ya Next Time
Aaand that's all the time we have today. Thank you, readers, for coming. And thank you, Fiona, for letting us get to know you! See y'all next time.
If you would like to submit a character to be interviewed for a future issue of Fable Features, please send an email to linnae.writer@gmail.com with the subject line: Fable Features.
Please note that erotica and content with excessive vulgar language will not be accepted.
If you have questions you'd like Patricia Parrington to ask in a future interview, please submit them to linnae.writer@gmail.com with the subject line: Interview Questions.
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