Hephaestion

May Character Interview

Patricia Parrington ~ May 22, 2025

Hello my lovely readers and fellow book-lovers! For those of you who are new here, I, your Pegasus-loving host Patricia Parrington, have the pleasure of interviewing characters from books all over the world.

Today we have with us Hephaestion from the adult historical fiction novel Young Conquerors: A Novel of Hephaestion and Alexandros by Christopher Cosmos. Christopher is a Black List screenwriter and bestselling author from the Midwest who attended the University of Michigan as the recipient of a Chick Evans Scholarship. Young Conquerors is his second novel.

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Meet Hephaestion

[Patricia moves a pillow then smiles at her guest.]

Welcome to Fable Features!

So where are you from?

I’m originally from a city called Solona in Illyria, but I’ve been exiled and live in Greece now, with my best friend Alexandros, in a town called Pella, which is the capital of Macedonia.

Oh no! How come you were exiled?

When my father died, my uncle stole the throne that was supposed to go to me because I was too young to take it, so I had to leave for my own safety. I was the heir, and then I wasn’t, which is the most dangerous thing one can be in the world in which I live.

[Patricia frowns sympathetically.]

That would be a terrible position to be thrown into.

What’s “home” for you now?

The idea of home for me is elusive and always has been.

In one sense, I see myself as a citizen of the world, and the entire whole world is my home. In another—and perhaps a more true sense—home is a very specific person, and whenever I’m with him, I am.

I love that idea of a specific person being considered “home.”

What makes you feel seen and appreciated?

I used to wish for this once, but I don’t anymore. I am always seen and appreciated by the one that means the most to me, and that’s enough. In fact, it’s everything, because how many people find the one that they’re supposed to?

Very true!

[Patricia leans forward.]

Tell me more about this person who makes you feel seen and appreciated. How did you meet?

He was alone and reading a book in a garden and I felt drawn to him so I went over, which is very unusual for me, and asked him about it. We’ve been inseparable ever since.

What a lovely way to meet someone!

What mythical creature would improve the world most if it existed?

They don’t exist?

[Patricia shrugs.]

Some people say they don’t. Do you have a favorite?

I think I’d most like to see Pegasus.

[Patricia nods in agreement.]

Pegasus is quite beautiful. I’d like to see Pegasus as well.

Do you have any enemies right now?

I have enemies everywhere and all around me.

Because of my place next to Alexandros, and in his life, everyone that we know—everyone except our Companions, that is—are potential enemies.

It’s the game of thrones that we play, and that he was born into, and I was, too.

That sounds like a scary situation to be in. I admire how casual and nonchalant you seem about having many enemies.

How would you react if you opened your eyes and suddenly you were in a haunted house?

In some ways I wake up in a house that’s haunted every day. I try to overcome the demons which live with us, though, so that Alexandros can overcome them, too, and become king.

I hope you can overcome them! I wouldn’t want to keep living in a haunted house-like situation.

What was a time where you laughed the hardest you ever have?

Any time I’m with Alexandros.

Any time we’re together, especially when we ride to the lake in the mountains, when the walls come down and we can both be who we are.

[Patricia smiles.]

That sounds lovely! I’m glad despite the threat of enemies all around you that you’re still able to laugh.

If you had to tell someone one piece of advice, what would that be?

Spend your life searching for love. There is nothing else.

Beautiful advice.

[Patricia smiles again.]

Well, thank you very much for chatting with me today, Hephaestion.

End of interview.

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Want to Read More?

Hephaestion’s author, Christopher Cosmos, can be found on Instagram. Young Conquerors is available on amazon and anywhere else books are sold! For signed copies, go to Schuler Books.

Young Conquerors by Christopher Cosmos

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See Ya Next Time

Aaand that's all the time we have today. Thank you, readers, for coming. And thank you, Hephaestion, for letting us get to know you! See y'all next time.

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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.