Meet the Characters From Fairyproof: Monique Saysin

August 31, 2012 by

Monique Saysin

After her parents’ murder, Monique’s brother Keiran took his role as Fairy protector to heart. His main concern seemed to be finding a suitable mate for Monique so he could return his focus to his job without guilt or concern.

Humoring him seemed like the best course of action until he brought Eero home. Fearing Keiran wouldn’t give up on his quest to tie the Saysin house to the Teneyck one, she fled to the human world.

But danger lurks everywhere among the humans, especially since there has been a string of fairy murders. She should return to the safety of the realm, but she just can’t resist Daniel. The one human she’s ever met who not only immune to her smile, but her powers too.

Filed Under: Books, Crescent Moon Press, Fairyproof Tagged With: , , ,

Meet the Characters from Fairyproof: Daniel Elliot

August 30, 2012 by

Daniel Elliot

Our hero, Daniel, is has thrown himself into his business in the last year, ever since his ex-fiancee disappeared with the family heirloom he gave her as an engagement ring.

When Monique walks into his office looking for a job, his mind waders to something other than work.  He’d love to leave his past behind and pursue a future with the vivacious, and fun-loving redhead.

But his mother’s obsession with getting her father’s ring back, is making it difficult for Daniel to leave his past behind. And he’s pretty sure Monique is hiding something from him. Is he setting himself up for another broken heart.

***

Today I’m at Shay Lacy’s blog talking about the road to Fairyproof.

Filed Under: Books, Crescent Moon Press, Fairyproof Tagged With: , , , ,

Meet the Characters From Fairyproof: Keiran Saysin

August 29, 2012 by

Keiran Saysin:

Keiran is a brother to Monique and Great Grandson to Harlan, who is a member of the council.

He is a protector — a fairy who is charged with keeping their kind safe from humans and the dangers of the human world.

His sister, Monique couldn’t have picked a worse time to get out of their family argument by running away to the human realm. He’s up to his eyeballs in his latest case…a series of fairy murders that Keiran is sure are connected, despite everyone’s else doubt.

Now Keiran must find his sister before she becomes a victim and convince her to bind her power with Eero (a fairy version of marriage) in order to save their Family’s place on the council.

 

Filed Under: Books, Crescent Moon Press, Fairyproof Tagged With: , , ,

Meet the Characters From Fairyproof: Billy Lanphear

August 28, 2012 by

Billy Lanphear

Among the fairies who live on the realm, Billy is an outcast. He’s thought to have turned his back on his kind because he’s married and had children with a human.

He now runs a nightclub — Ruby — in Chicago and offers select services to fairies who have left the realm to live on the human world.

Someone like Billy tries to stay off the Protectors radar, so helping Monique hide from her brother is something he should avoid.

Filed Under: Books, Crescent Moon Press, Fairyproof, Fiction Tagged With: , , ,

Meet the Characters From Fairyproof: Nick Elliot

August 23, 2012 by

Nick Elliot:

Daniel’s uncle Nick — his father’s brother — is both someone Daniel feels close to and one of his biggest clients.

He’s flirtatious — albeit a little “slick” — and encourages Daniel to give play equal consideration to work.

Given that the missing ring is heirloom to Daniel’s mother’s family, Daniel thinks his obsession with it is odd.

Filed Under: Books, Crescent Moon Press, Fairyproof Tagged With: , ,

Behind the Story… Music

July 13, 2012 by

Who needs some fun today?

I certainly do.

Sometimes when an idea hits, we have no choice but to write about. And it was just such an experience that led to a novella that you will hopefully will be seeing soon (in one way or another).

When trying to define characters I’m writing about, I need to things: a visual image, and the favorite song on their iPod at the moment. Today, I’d thought I’d share those notes on this story here.

In a recent post, I introduced you to the photo on the left — inspiration behind the hero in said novella.

Below is the song “Broken” by Seether. If Nate had a song that was her personal soundtrack, or song that he had stuck on repeat on his iPod, it would be this one.

 

“Broken” by Seether

Meet Hailey. While her spirit might be “broken,”  she knows what’s missing in her life: A true connection with another person. She’s been running after her goals with blinders on for so long, she lost touch with her family, friends and herself.

Her “repeat song” is Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now.”

 Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now”

 

(Check in next week for posts about preparing for conference. The week of July 22 will be “best of” articles while I am away at conference).

 

Filed Under: Fiction, Life, Music Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Looking for a Hero

June 19, 2012 by

Even though my new stories often start with a seedling of a plot idea. I probably spend most of my prewriting time sussing out what my characters are like.

Jim CaviezelIn fact, it sometimes take writing as much as 15,000 words of the story before I really feel like I get the character. I way have a handle on the goals and their motivations. I can infuse all kinds of conflict between two people, but it takes spending a little time with them to see inside and know what makes them tick.

I can build a hero from the ground up. Write him a back story that has made him the person he is on page one, but, at times, I feel like there’s something I just don’t understand completely.  I can decide he has brown eyes, but until I look at a picture of a man with dark, soulful eyes I’m not seeing everything there is to be seen.

I’ve spoken here before about how I use images to round out my character profiles, but I was reminded of it again as I went on web search looking for the perfect hero for my novella-in-progress.

I’d like to introduce you to Nate Jenkins ( Okay…Jim Caviezel)

Do you have any tips or tricks for getting to know your characters?

Filed Under: Fiction, Life, Writing Life Tagged With: , , , ,

The Importance of Song

November 14, 2011 by

My usual morning routine includes a light breakfast and my first cup of coffee while watching Good Morning America. This morning was no different. For the last few days they’ve been previewing Diane Sawyer’s interview with Gabby Gifford, the congresswoman who was shot in the head while speaking.

I was already anticipating tuning in for this story of courage and hope, but the teaser that they showed this morning, piqued my interest even more. They promised to show how music and song played a huge role in her recovery.

In part, I find this to be fascinating, but I also can’t say I’m completely shocked.

Music has a way of touching on emotions. Once a person has associated a specific event with a particular song, all it takes is the first few notes to bring back all the emotions associated with the event.  I can’t hear “Can’t Help falling In Love” without thinking of my wedding day. The first few notes of “She’s in Love With the Boy” will always call up the image of my toddler son sitting in his car seat singing along with the radio.

Music also helps me define my characters. When I’m having trouble making them three-dimensional, I start thinking about what kind of music they like. What song, when it comes on the radio, cuts them to the bone or can make them remember the best day of their lives.

That music/emotion connection is so human it makes them more real in my mind to know if they dig the blues or are more a grunge kind of person.

Today I’m sharing a few of my characters favorite songs from current works in progress. I’d be interested to know if, based on song, you can paint a picture of who they are inside.

This first one just came to me the other day. When this song rotated up on my iPod from Better Than Ezra, I realized this is what Chase from Shifted is all about.

Breathless

My heroine, Gwen, from the same story was a little harder to get a focus on, but I’ve lately discovered she likes Hal Ketchum’s Softer than a Whisper.

From Ultimate Catch, my hero Keller digs on the Beach Boys. This song, When I Grow Up to Be a Man, plays a pivotal role.

Filed Under: Fiction, Life, Music, Writing Life Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

What I Watched: Flipping Out

July 15, 2011 by

As I posted on Monday, I conceived this column as a way to hold my self accountable so that I would read more and watch more scripted television. Not only watch more, but study it. I didn’t really think I could learn anything (for the writing from my nasty little reality tv habit…but I was wrong.

Flipping Out has been one of those indulgences of mine for a while. Though, I have to admit the show took a long time to grow on me.  Back several years ago, when Jeff Lewis made boku bucks flipping houses, it was one of my husband’s (who installs and finishes hardwood floors and has had ‘flipping’ aspirations) favorite shows. My thoughts back then? “What a freaking jerk” (In reference to Mr. Lewis)

Times change, the economy hit the skids, and the real estate market crashed. Jeff Lewis shifted his focus from flipping houses to design and (here’s the key) I actually took the time to really watch an episode or two.

Like a lot of people I really know, I suspect that ‘freaking jerk’ attitude I saw with casual glances at the TV is a defensive shell. Evidenced in this week’s episode, when faced with the possibility necessity of firing his soon-to-be in-law, who really hasn’t mastered the concept of job performance. He caved. Gave her another chance, piled on to the 1,543 chances I’ve seen in just the first few episodes this season. 

What do you know, there’s a heart in there. And a good one at that.

So, can I take anything back to my writing?

Actually, I can. Characters are rarely black and white or good and evil. Most people are blended. (I’ll leave the inherently good argument for the philosophy classes) They have plus and minus traits. And sometimes they have to be cut-throat. Sometimes that behavior is motivated.

And sometimes the best drama / entertainment comes in seeing what’s under that crusty defensive shell.

Filed Under: Life, TV, Writing Life Tagged With: , , , , , ,

From the Office to the Page: Personality Types

June 1, 2011 by

My apologies for the extended absence. I hope that I’m acclimated to the new job and plan to resume my Monday – Wednesday – Friday posting schedule.

As a writer, I often build characters around different personality types, and then toss in some traits from real people I know who fit those archetypes. One of the bonuses of the new office job, is a large range of people to study.

In my next few posts, I plan to explore a few different archetypes, and show how I’m using my experiences at the day job to build characters.

Whether it’s a customer or a coworker, I think it’s human nature to focus on the negative. Of course, I’m touched by a kind compliment or an unexpected thank you. Aren’t we all? But the encounters, and the people, who really seem to make an everlasting impression or those who make things more difficult than they need to be.

(If this isn’t resonating with you,  maybe that explains why I like to write villans.)

Here, I’m going to take bits of two people I’ve experienced recently and tell you the comments, mannerisms, and traits that will certainly be used the next time I need to build a negative Nelly type of character.

Mister negativity, in this case, he’s a classic whiner.  He always comes baring an excuse. If you attempt to address his concerns, you only open a whole new plethora of problems. Giving him what he wants will never make him happy, because he enjoys his misery.

Even if you don’t know the person I’m referring to, I’m sure you know the type. Everyone seems to know someone who is happiest in his/her misery. So maybe your main character should too.

Whether it’s a sibling, co-worker or friend, the next time I have a character who is the world’s biggest downer, I know he or she will carry themselves with a slouched posture. They’ll be habitually late — always with an excuse. Even more so, will always have a reason why they’re not at fault for their failures.

Are you asking yourself why would I want to read (Or write, for that matter) about this kind of character? Yes, he or she would get pretty annoying pretty fast, but in small doses, it might be interesting to see how your main character deals with him/her.

Life is about diversity, and your book should reflect that.

Filed Under: Life, Writing Life Tagged With: , ,
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