Visit Me

Today I have the honor of being interviewed on Patricia C. Lee's blog. She asks lots of interesting questions about characterization. Most writers create their characters' traits and build their back story long before we put the first words on the page. Pat's questions led me deep into the ideas behind my latest book, The Marine's Heiress.

I hope you'll stop by Pat's blog and leave a comment. And check out the special sale my publisher has going on to promote The Marine's Heiress with an exclusive offer only on the NCP website.

Do you know Pat? Do you do a character bio before you start writing? Ever have to change it up a little as the story progresses?

Bad Guys Have Feelings Too

As I plow through the third draft of War Dragon, the second book in my Morbunda Saga, I'm making sure I add depth to my bad guys. My villains are sure they're the good guys. They're waging war to right a societal wrong.

As I weave more background into the novel, the reasoning of my villains makes more and more sense. They're still ruthless bad guys, but the reader will understand where they're coming from.

One of the things I love about writing fantasy novels is how fantasy readers expect to see into the heads and hearts of multiple characters. This current novel reveals the plot through the eyes of six different characters.

Another thing I'm enjoying is the redemption of one villain from the first book in the series, and the descent into evil by one of the heroes.

One of the reasons I enjoy the show Once Upon a Time, is the complexity of the characters as their back stories are revealed. Everyone makes mistakes and they do regretful things. But most of the characters also do good things or think they are working for good. Captain Hook is one of the characters I hope is redeemed and perhaps he'll find his happy ending. And not just because he's a cutie.

Do you sometimes like the villains as much or more than the heroes? Do you enjoy writing them? Who is the most interesting bad guy you watched in a movie or read about in a book?

I: Issues

Issues.  We all have them in many forms.  Some are contemporary.  'Can I pay the bills this month?  Will my day job still be here next week?' and a rash of other problems facing us every day.  Some have been with us since childhood such as relationships with parents, siblings and friends.  Some we've added in our adult years with interactions between us and significant others and perhaps our careers. 

We all have issues and deal with them in our own ways.  But as writers, it's important our characters have issues.  The most interesting protagonist has a history and it shouldn't be all silver spoons and rose beds.  Past experiences mold people.  These experiences may strengthen a person or instill them with their greatest weakness.  Sometimes our characters are aware of the issues driving them and creating a great story for the reader.  Perhaps our characters aren't aware of their motivations and the issues behind them.  A writer can weave an complex tale and slowly reveal a character history.  A character without issues, perfect and without fault, is boring. 

 Antagonist need a history too.  They can't be totally evil.  A great story has a complex bad guy with issues of his or her own. 

Issues.  Everyone has to have them, especially our characters.  Did you ever read a book where the hero or heroine was too perfect?  How about a bad guy too perfectly evil?  Have you read a book where you've admired the weaving of a character's issues with the plot of the novel?

Characters At Susquehanna Writers

Thanks for visiting me at Alex Cavanaugh's blog yesterday.  Today I'll be appearing on The Susquehanna Writers blog where I'll be discussing character. 

The first book in my fantasy series, The Keepers of Sulbreth, received much praise from reviewers for the depth and complexity of the characters.  Beyond the Gate, book #2 in The Futhark Chronicles, will expose even greater insights in the lead characters and those who surround them.  I would love your comments on characters and what you do to make them compelling for readers. Stop over at Susquehanna Writers today.