COYOTE SMART will be out in sometime in late November or early December I hope, but I am already looking forward. Although I don’t plan to start another novel until maybe next summer, I am always thinking ahead, planning the next one, drawing characters in my head and my heart.
You see, I have to have an emotional attachment with the characters, but emotion and passion have a wide range. It doesn’t mean I have to like them all; on the contrary, I can despise them, but there has to be a reason for the attributes or flaws in each. You will understand quickly that I certainly have no positive feelings for Maxwell in book three, but there is a reason for him and he plays it well.
Developing characters is fun. In most cases they evolve from watching, studying, talking with or hearing about various people. My characters never portray one person I know, but instead, are generally a composite of many. Most of the time they are just a figment of my imagination with a peppering of realism.
Everywhere I go I listen to strangers, begin conversations with unfamiliar people and carefully note their stories. I try to remember little nuances; the way they hold their mouths or move their hands, what they wear or how the lines on their faces tell a story. I have always enjoyed meeting new folks and visiting with them. I’m fortunate that I can travel, which allows me to meet a wide spectrum of “characters.” Although I admit I talk a lot, I am a good listener as well. So be careful, what you say, you may be in the next book!!