Developing Characters with Stephen Tremp

I'd like to welcome Stephen Tremp, author of Breakthrough, on his virtual Blog Book Tour. Today is stop number five out of fifteen and he's discussing Developing Characters with Character.




Unless you’re writing a cozy mystery, I think sometimes it’s important to have a plethora of characters for a good story. I remember a new author once received a review from Stephen King. The famous writer of horror and terror wrote what he appreciated most was that there were over 60 characters that gave tremendous depth to the story.

Is Too Much Too Much: Although I do not have close to 60 characters, I took this to heart as I began writing Breakthrough two years ago. I was determined to take the time and commit to developing a rich array of personalities who not only complimented one another, but also caused internal and external conflict. Plus, this pool of individuals gives me more options to kill off figures (eleven murders in my book and many more in Opening and Escalation) without depleting the story of main and supporting characters.

Supporting characters can be almost important to a good story as the protagonist and antagonist. They add dimension and depth to the main character as well as the plot, allowing the author to weave personality traits important to the story line that is difficult to attribute to the main character. Sidekicks intimately know the main character and the author can elaborate by exposition personality traits of the protagonist to the reader. Dr. Watson (Sherlock Holmes), Tonto (The Lone Ranger), Robin (Batman), Festus (Matt Dillon), Mini-Me (Dr. Evil), Donkey (Shrek), and Ed McMahon (Johnny Carson) are all sidekicks who have significantly contributed to the development of the main character.


Sidekicks do all Kinds of Things, from royally screwing things up and getting the main character into danger, to redeeming themselves by saving the protagonist's life or offering that one piece of advice or information that saves the day. They are the yang to the protagonist's ying, but many times in an uncomplimentary manner. Think of Jerry Seinfeld and George Castanza.


Sometimes equal partners can be sidekicks to each other. We see this repeatedly in comedy. They have very differing characteristics that play well off each other. Think of the straight men and the funny guys like Abbot and Costello, George and Gracie, Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, or Laurel and Hardy. These characters have entertained audiences for generations because they both offer something so incredibly different than their partner. But together, the duo is inseparable, and writers can be creative and innovative with the polar opposite personalities and talents.



Do You Base Your Characters on Yourself or Anyone you Know: My protagonist, Chase Manhattan is loosely based on me, only he’s a little bit taller than I am, a little bit better looking, a little faster, stronger, smarter, and much richer. The rest of the good guys (and girls) and bad guys (and girls) are partially made up as well as based on people I’ve known. I sometimes use celebrities as inspiration to develop characters. I have to admit that there is quite a bit of me in the antagonist Nicholas Fischer Jr. But that’s another blog for another day.


Where to Find Inspiration for a Character’s Character? Other People, of Course
Last year we hosted two International Exchange Students from Japan for three days and hosted a student from Wuhan China for a semester. Although we were challenged by the expected language barrier, we had a great time sharing a cultural exchange with each other. We spent time at the beach, ate cheese burgers and pizza, and watched movies.

Ironically, the settings in the next two installments in the BREAKTHROUGH trilogy take place in China and Japan as well as the U.S. By hosting these students I have grown to more fully appreciate the people and cultures of these countries.

I'm now developing a few characters from China and Japan that will help balance the violent events that push the world on the brink of war. I think it’s vital to develop characters culturally different from yourself. All too often I read books where explosive events happen that are to engage and WOW! the reader. Lots of explosions and action, but little regarding how people are affected and the losses and pain they incur caused by the events.


Finally, I don’t want the characters to be perceived as merely the “good guys” or the “bad guys,” where the good guy wins in the end. I want the reader to care about and form an affinity with the characters, to relate to and identify with their trials and tribulations, and share in their successes.
Please join me Monday as I visit Alex Cavanaugh .



You can visit Stephen Tremp, author of the action thriller Breakthrough at Breakthrough Blogs .



If you feel this blog is worthy, go ahead and make my day. Retweet it

A Mortal Halloween - #FridayFlash

"Come on, it'll be fun. Haven't you ever wondered what it'd be like?" Death looked at the frown on his best friend's face and tried again. "Do this as a favor to me. I've always wanted to experience Halloween the way mortals do and go trick or treating."

"I don't know—it seems awfully risky to me. What's the point?" Chronos fiddled with his hourglass as if it might disappear at Death's suggestion.

"No point, other than the novelty. We've been working too hard lately. This is our chance to play. It'll be fun."

Chronos snorted at that but relented, twisting the hourglass a full turn. "Okay, but when we get into trouble, don't say I didn't warn you."

They rode Death's chopper down the city streets until they came upon a party spilling out into the night. Death pulled over and parked, anxious to join the costumed revelers as they marched down the block.

"Whoa, dude. Nice costume. You look like Death," one inebriated mortal dressed like Darth Vader said as he passed by.

"Isn't this great?" Death said and practiced catching peanuts in his eye socket while walking with the crowd. "I wonder when we get to knock on people's doors."

Chronos merely nodded, his attention snagged by a scantily dressed slave girl who winked at him.

Glass broke behind them and the noise of the crowd became a shriek of chanting. A rock whizzed by Chronos on its way to an unknown target.

"I don't think we're going to see any trick or treating with this group."

Sirens rose to a high pitch as the night flashed red and blue. People scattered in different directions, leaving Death and Chronos wondering which way to go. A voice through a bullhorn commanded their attention while police handcuffed their arms behind their backs.

"Are we having fun yet?" Chronos asked Death.

"Oh, yes. What an experience."

Chronos shook his head at the enthusiastic answer. "I was being facetious."

Death dropped his jaw in a laugh. "Once we get to the police station, we can call the bar and have Lucien bail us out. It's perfect."

After Lucien ranted into the phone and hung up on him, Chronos studied the other inmates sharing their cell. They all scrunched into one corner, as far away from Death as possible.

"Do they recognize you?" Chronos leaned over and whispered to his friend.

"Oh, yes. Didn't I tell you? On Halloween many will perceive who we really are, although the constables don't seem to."

A commotion started down the hallway, drawing their attention. Death and Chronos watched in fascination as two officers prodded a furious Lucien into a cell across from them. Smoke boiled out of his ears and his face appeared as red as the horns on his head.

"Are you here to bail us out?" Death called over to him.

"Does it look that way to you? What did you do to my powers, you infernal timepiece. Give them back so I can get out of here!"

Chronos fingered the hourglass on his belt. "Have you had enough fun yet?"

Death shrugged, his metacarpus still wrapped around the bars.

"We can go home now, I guess." He leaned in close. "What about Lucien?"

Chronos smiled. "He's such a hothead. Maybe it'd be better to leave him here overnight."

"I'll get you for this, you rusty clock," Lucien yelled as they flicked out of sight.

"He looked really angry," Death said as they climbed on the motorcycle.

"Just playing a little trick on him." Chronos tapped his hourglass. "He's back in his bar now. Happy Halloween, my friend."

©2010 Laura Eno

50 Stories for Pakistan is Here!

Look at the image on the cover of this book.

A man and a boy knee-deep in water. Father and son? Uncle and nephew? Teacher and pupil? Or perhaps just a kid, lost, tagging on to an adult in the hope that he will be taken somewhere safe, dry?

They are wading away from the light into the darkness and gloom. The unknown. Fear. Hunger. Disease. But they are also wading towards you. They can’t ask for your help. You must choose to give it.

A simple way of doing that is to buy this book. Proceeds go to helping the victims of the Pakistan floods.

Now please take one more look at the cover. And remember, they can’t ask…

50 Stories for Pakistan features work by the following authors: Robert J. McCarter, Joanne Fox, Erik Svehaug, Susan Lanigan, Anne Mullane, Lisa Ricard Claro, R.J. Newlyn, Nuala Ní Chonchúir, Martin Webster, Jonathan Pinnock, Trevor Belshaw, Julia Bohanna, Iain Pattison, Laura Eno, Dave Clark, Pam Howes, Alun Williams, Annie Evett, Jennifer Stakes, Rebecca Emin, Marjorie Tolchard, Marit Meredith, Paul Malone, Ewan Lawrie, Jarred McGinnis, Alex Tomlin, Gail Richards, Benjamin Solah, Ruchira Mandal, Alyson Hilbourne, Ramon Collins, Darren Lee, Riaz Ali, Nasim Marie Jafry, Heather Parker, Shazia Bibi, Andrew Parrott, Brigid O’Connor, Rob Innis, Tony Williams, Annemarie Neary, Emma Newman, Robert Long, Beryl Brown, Vanessa Couchman, Joanna Campbell, Sylvia Petter, Rosemary Hayes, Paul Anderson, and Alice Turner.
(Stolen from Big Bad Media's website)

It's here!

I am honored to be a part of this terrific anthology and Greg McQueen's vision of helping those who can't ask for it.

50 Stories for Pakistan

Please, go buy a copy or three now.

A Twofer Day!

I'm in two places today! Please stop by and say hi…or boo, as the case may be.

My story, Note To Myself, is up at Erin Cole's Halloween event, 13 Days of Horror. You don't want to miss the 13 nightmares she's featuring!

I'm also a guest over at Clarissa Draper's blog, writing about tossing out the fluff in your story. Please stop in—I'll even give you some virtual chocolate while you're there.

The Art of Listening - #FridayFlash

“Did you remember to shut the windows in the back of the house? I can still feel a breeze.”

“I’ll get them in a little while. I’m listening to the game.”

“Do you hear that? It sounds like someone’s screaming.”

“What? No, I didn’t hear anything. It’s all in your head.”

“Well, if you’d take those headphones off maybe you’d hear better.”

“I’m trying to follow the game. It’s the bottom of the eighth. And would you quit peeking out the window?”

“I’ve got a right to look out my own window. There’s someone walking down the street, but it’s too dark to see anything.”

“Right. So quit looking. Jeesh, you’re a regular Peeping Tom. You’ll have Mrs. Anderson calling the cops on you again.”

“That wasn’t my fault. There it is again. Can’t you hear that?”

“I can’t hear anything, not with you talking so much. Drop the curtain and come sit down.”

“There’re two of them in the street now. They’re almost under the street lamp.”

“You’re an embarrassment, always spying on people.”

“They’re moving funny, sort of shuffling.”

“Shh…bases are loaded.”

“Did you hear that noise? I think it came from the back of the house. Go close the windows. Someone might be trying to break in.”

“If you’re so worried about it, go close them yourself.”

“Those people down the street are getting closer. They’re lurching and their clothes are all torn and dirty. I’m going to go lock the house up.”

“You know I can’t hear you when you walk away while you’re still talking.”

“I said I’m going to lo…”

“Erma? Erma? Jeesh, no need to get mad and quit talk…”

©2010 Laura Eno

Alex's Army Reporting For Duty!

Many of you may know Alex J Cavanaugh, and that the debut of his book, CassaStar, is on Oct 19th. He has many friends giving him blogspace today to celebrate. Here are the particulars:

CassaStar by Alex J. Cavanaugh
October 19, 2010 Science fiction/adventure/space opera
ISBN 9780981621067 Dancing Lemur Press LLC

To pilot the fleet’s finest ship…

Few options remain for Byron. A talented but stubborn young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude, his cockpit skills are his only hope. Slated to train as a Cosbolt fighter pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life as he sets off for the moon base of Guaard.

Much to Byron’s chagrin, the toughest instructor in the fleet takes notice of the young pilot. Haunted by a past tragedy, Bassa eventually sees through Byron's tough exterior and insolence. When a secret talent is revealed during training, Bassa feels compelled to help Byron achieve his full potential.

As war brews on the edge of space, time is running short. Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive, and Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal




Links to purchase:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bam



Also available in eBook format for Kindle, iPad, Nook, and others

Bio:

Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He’s experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Currently he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.
http://alexjcavanaugh.blogspot.com/

And The Winner Is...

The winner of the free pdf version of Chinese Whisperings, The Yin Book is...

Anthony Venutolo of Bukowski's Basement!

Congratulations, Ant!

For everyone else, remember the Chinese Whisperings Yin & Yang Books are now on sale in ebook form! Ten female writers (including me) are featured in the Yin Book, while ten male writers complete the Yang. You can purchase each separately or buy both for twice the fun. The paperback version will be available in December.

Chinese Whisperings

It's A Party!

Welcome to the virtual launch party of Don't Fall Asleep, the first in a series of Dream Assassin Novels. There are assorted goodies over on the side tables, so help yourself. Please note that Jezebel is swimming in one of the punch bowls so I would suggest serving yourself out of the other bowl.

I'd like to thank all of you who have continued to encourage me on my writing journey. Without your support, I'm not sure where I'd be right now.


Description from the back of the book:

In the 27th century, a psychic aberration has manifested in humanity, gifting a select few with the ability to weave dreams for others. They ply their addictive trade, calling themselves Dream Merchants.

Rarer still are those who can assassinate people while they dream…

Newly arrived on Altair IV, Cassandra Dade works her profession as a Dream Assassin according to her own code of ethics. She's beautiful, rich and running from her past—a past which is about to catch up with her.

The partner she trains might be all that stands between her and mental destruction, a fate worse than death. But does his own secret agenda set them on a collision course with disaster?

If you didn't catch the excerpt last week, you can find it here.

Where to buy:

Amazon Trade Paperback

Amazon Kindle

Amazon UK Kindle

Smashwords

Thank you so much for your continued support! I appreciate each and every reader more than I can say!

Chinese Whisperings - Win The Yin Book!

You have a chance to win a free PDF of the Yin Book just by leaving me a comment! How easy is that? Leave your comment here before midnight of Friday, the 15th and I will announce the winner on this blog at noon EST on Saturday, the 16th. Multiple comments won't count. :)

The Chinese Whisperings Yin & Yang Books are now on sale in ebook form! Ten female writers (including me) are featured in the Yin Book, while ten male writers complete the Yang. You can purchase each separately or buy both for twice the fun. The paperback version will be available in December.

The experience of collaborating with other writers on this was amazing and I would like to thank the editors, Jodi Cleghorn and Paul Anderson of eMergent Publishing, for inviting me to participate. It was a wild ride!

Chinese Whisperings

Prophecy Moon Review

I woke up this morning to find another great review for Prophecy Moon on Gather! I'm thrilled and delighted, jumping up and down, clapping my hands...

Sorry, got carried away there for a moment. Go have a read here:

Gather

While you're at it, drop over to Sheila Deeth's blog, the author of the review. She has several more reviews listed, as well as her own recently published book, Refracted, for sale.