Leonardo Ramirez's Blog, page 31
September 26, 2011
The Family Line
Since Haven: The Graphic Novel and Haven of Dante (prose novel) stem from the original travels of Dante Alighieri through the nine circles of hell and purgatory in the 1300s. Just to keep it interesting and relevant I created a history of the family line that started from that point and leads to modern day and as such there are a few historical references that can be found throughout each work. The graphic novel depicts these as original paintings that are scattered throughout.
Sometimes we inherit more than we care to admit.
1265-1321 - Dante Alighieri travels through the nine circles of hell.
1321-1366 - UNCIVIL WAR -Members of the nine circles of hell fight for leadership and form the Aristocracy.
1366 - The Witness initiates contact with the family line to combat the Aristocracy. Clues of periodic contact are left in clues throughout history. Members of the Line are given varying degrees of power.
1760-1848 – Benjamin Esteban Dante seeks amnesty in the New World from England and after changing his name he fights bravely on the side of the Colonial United States.
1922-1945 - Kristen Amorosa Dante works as an archivist for the German military during World War II. Under this guise, she uses underground tunnels to free prisoners of the Nazis with the help of her friend David whom she marries. Together they return to the United States.
1943-1994 - Amado Ayende Dante works as a liaison officer in the United States Embassy in what was once the Soviet Union. After living there for 10 years he returns to the United States once the Berlin Wall crumbles.
1977 - Roberto's heart is not right for the mantle so the responsibility skips him which causes resentment. Wanting to be a hero in his own right, Roberto Dante forms a technology research company called Dante Technologies.
1980 - Roberto and Beatrice Dante are wed.
1984-2001 - Rebecca Mariana Dante (Roberto's younger sister) is 17 and full of life. She is lost in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
1985 - Haven Irena Dante is born.
2002 - Roberto Dante transforms his company into Dante Tech which supplies military technology to the government.
2002-2004 - Haven is missing for two years.
2004 - Haven assumes the mantle.
Thanks so much for reading. Chat later!
Lenny
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels.
For more information, please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com or http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comHaven
Sometimes we inherit more than we care to admit.
1265-1321 - Dante Alighieri travels through the nine circles of hell.
1321-1366 - UNCIVIL WAR -Members of the nine circles of hell fight for leadership and form the Aristocracy.
1366 - The Witness initiates contact with the family line to combat the Aristocracy. Clues of periodic contact are left in clues throughout history. Members of the Line are given varying degrees of power.
1760-1848 – Benjamin Esteban Dante seeks amnesty in the New World from England and after changing his name he fights bravely on the side of the Colonial United States.
1922-1945 - Kristen Amorosa Dante works as an archivist for the German military during World War II. Under this guise, she uses underground tunnels to free prisoners of the Nazis with the help of her friend David whom she marries. Together they return to the United States.
1943-1994 - Amado Ayende Dante works as a liaison officer in the United States Embassy in what was once the Soviet Union. After living there for 10 years he returns to the United States once the Berlin Wall crumbles.
1977 - Roberto's heart is not right for the mantle so the responsibility skips him which causes resentment. Wanting to be a hero in his own right, Roberto Dante forms a technology research company called Dante Technologies.
1980 - Roberto and Beatrice Dante are wed.
1984-2001 - Rebecca Mariana Dante (Roberto's younger sister) is 17 and full of life. She is lost in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
1985 - Haven Irena Dante is born.
2002 - Roberto Dante transforms his company into Dante Tech which supplies military technology to the government.
2002-2004 - Haven is missing for two years.
2004 - Haven assumes the mantle.
Thanks so much for reading. Chat later!
Lenny
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels.
For more information, please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com or http://leonardoverse.blogspot.comHaven
The Family Line
Since Haven: The Graphic Novel and Haven of Dante (prose novel) stem from the original travels of Dante Alighieri through the nine circles of hell and purgatory in the 1300s. Just to keep it interesting and relevant I created a history of the family line that started from that point and leads to modern day and as such there are a few historical references that can be found throughout each work. The graphic novel depicts these as original paintings that are scattered throughout.
Sometimes we inherit more than we care to admit.
1265-1321 - Dante Alighieri travels through the nine circles of hell
1321-1366 - UNCIVIL WAR -Members of the nine circles of hell fight for leadership and form the Aristocracy.
1366 - The Witness initiates contact with the family line to combat the Aristocracy. Clues of periodic contact are left in clues throughout history. Members of the Line are given varying degrees of power.
1760-1848 – Benjamin Esteban Dante seeks amnesty in the New World from England and after changing his name he fights bravely on the side of the Colonial United States.
1922-1945 - Kristen Amorosa Dante works as an archivist for the German military during World War II. Under this guise, she uses underground tunnels to free prisoners of the Nazis with the help of her friend David whom she marries. Together they return to the United States.
1943-1994 - Amado Ayende Dante works as a liaison officer in the United States Embassy in what was once the Soviet Union. After living there for 10 years he returns to the United States once the Berlin Wall crumbles.
1977 - Roberto's heart is not right for the mantle so the responsibility skips him which causes resentment. Wanting to be a hero in his own right, Roberto Dante forms a technology research company called Dante Technologies.
1980 - Roberto and Beatrice Dante are wed.
1984-2001 - Rebecca Mariana Dante (Roberto's younger sister) is 17 and full of life. She is lost in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
1985 - Haven Irena Dante is born.
2002 - Roberto Dante transforms his company into Dante Tech which supplies military technology to the government.
2002-2004 - Haven is missing for two years.
2004 - Haven assumes the mantle.
Thanks so much for reading. Chat later!
Lenny
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information, please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.http://www.facebook.com/leonardoramirezhttp://twitter.com/leonardoverseThanks for reading!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.
Sometimes we inherit more than we care to admit.
1265-1321 - Dante Alighieri travels through the nine circles of hell
1321-1366 - UNCIVIL WAR -Members of the nine circles of hell fight for leadership and form the Aristocracy.
1366 - The Witness initiates contact with the family line to combat the Aristocracy. Clues of periodic contact are left in clues throughout history. Members of the Line are given varying degrees of power.
1760-1848 – Benjamin Esteban Dante seeks amnesty in the New World from England and after changing his name he fights bravely on the side of the Colonial United States.
1922-1945 - Kristen Amorosa Dante works as an archivist for the German military during World War II. Under this guise, she uses underground tunnels to free prisoners of the Nazis with the help of her friend David whom she marries. Together they return to the United States.
1943-1994 - Amado Ayende Dante works as a liaison officer in the United States Embassy in what was once the Soviet Union. After living there for 10 years he returns to the United States once the Berlin Wall crumbles.
1977 - Roberto's heart is not right for the mantle so the responsibility skips him which causes resentment. Wanting to be a hero in his own right, Roberto Dante forms a technology research company called Dante Technologies.
1980 - Roberto and Beatrice Dante are wed.
1984-2001 - Rebecca Mariana Dante (Roberto's younger sister) is 17 and full of life. She is lost in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
1985 - Haven Irena Dante is born.
2002 - Roberto Dante transforms his company into Dante Tech which supplies military technology to the government.
2002-2004 - Haven is missing for two years.
2004 - Haven assumes the mantle.
Thanks so much for reading. Chat later!
Lenny
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information, please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.http://www.facebook.com/leonardoramirezhttp://twitter.com/leonardoverseThanks for reading!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.
September 22, 2011
Character Interview: Haven (from Haven of Dante)
Hi All,
I got some kind responses last week when I posted the character interview on Rose that I thought I should follow it up with one of the main character in the novel, Haven. Before I go into that I want to once again thank my friends and family for the thoughts and prayers that went out during my lithroscopy last week. It's a minor procedure (where they blast kidney stones) but the anesthesia did wreak some havoc on me and it's taken a little bit to recover but I am feeling like myself again. Thanks so much.
Also, we've got GMX coming up on October 21-23. If you'd like more information on that please visit http://www.geekmediaexpo.com and get your tickets. You won't be disappointed.
Anyway, on to the interview. Please keep in mind that Haven is answering these questions as she was at the beginning of our story.
Character Interview: Haven Irena Dante
What’s your name?
Haven Irena Dante
How old are you?
I’m seventeen.
What do you look like? If you had to describe yourself as though you were talking about someone else, what would you say?
Brown eyes, olive to fair skin, short (about 5’4”) long hair that I like to leave up in a ponytail.
What are your speech patterns like?
I speak clearly and concisely. Never rude but I say what I mean. Intelligent but relaxed.
Can you think of someone on TV or on radio that speaks in a similar way?
Charlize Theron. She also reminds me of my mom.
Do you sometimes lie?
No, I won’t.
“White lies” or significant lies?
None, I just won’t.
Can people usually tell when you’re lying or are you a really accomplished liar?
Is your whole life a lie?
Yes because people assume I’m happy because I have a lot of money.
What is your usual facial expression?
Don’t smile a lot unless I’m with someone that I really like. Pensive when I’m alone and happy when I’m around close people that I enjoy.
Are people drawn to your warmth, cheerfulness, or are you seen as quiet / dour / grim / humorless / reserved / etc?
People think I’m reserved and quiet but it’s just that I’m a one person friend. I’m not much into crowds.
Does your face reflect the ‘inner you’ or are looks deceiving?
I would say that looks are deceiving.
How do you handle anger?
One big burst and then after a while it subsides depending on the subject. If it’s relational then it lingers for a long time.
Are you slow to anger or easy to annoy?
Slow to anger but easy to annoy.
Are people afraid of you, and if so is this justified?
Yes they are despite that I think that I’m very unassuming.
How do you react to confrontation?
I’m usually pretty kind until I see the person is not going to listen and then I call them a jerk.
Would you give anything for a quiet life or do you enjoy winning an argument or a fight?
I’d rather live a quiet life. The only time I’ll fight is when I have to or when someone is being bullied. I hate bullies.
How much power do you wield at home, in the workplace, and in social situations?
I think my mom feels sorry for me because of the way my dad treats me which always works in my favor! At school, my friends are always asking me questions about schoolwork and that’s all they want me for is that and the money. I don’t buy into it and end up making people mad in the end so I don’t bother reaching out.
Are you the quiet “power behind the throne” type or do you wield obvious power? Or do you feel powerless? If so, why – and what might be the catalyst to make you change?
I would say I feel powerless but not weak. I feel powerless because there are a lot of things about my circumstances that I can’t change.
What (in your opinion) would be the first impression most people get when they meet you?
Rich girl with no friends and has everything she needs or ever wanted but they’re mistaken. They don’t know me at all.
In your case, is ‘what you see is what you get’, or do people sometimes make the wrong judgment about you? If so, why would this be? I would say people make the wrong judgment about me until you get to know me and then it’s what you see is what you get.
What is your level of education?
I’m about to graduate from high school.
Has what you have been obtained by ‘street smarts’ or ‘book smarts’? Mostly book smarts but what I’ve learned relationally comes from living in a dysfunctional home with dad mostly gone. Sometimes it’s better when he’s not around. I feel freer.
Where do you live?
With my parents in Charity Vane.
Are you happy or discontented in the relationship / this family?
I’m happy with my mom. I’m glad when dad’s away because when he’s there all he does is make mom sad that he’s so aloof. I’m past feeling frustrated about the whole thing and I’m ready to move on with my life.
If no, would you like to be in a relationship / part of a different family?
I don’t know. I’m very much used to the dysfunction as sad as that sounds.
Who is your best friend? (If you have one). When did this relationship start? What makes you friends? Soledad Alden. We met in the third grade when our dads dropped us off at school and didn’t like each other much. We became friends to spite them.
Who is your enemy / who do you dislike most? Why? When did this dislike start, and why?
I would say my biggest enemy is myself. The stuff that I hold on to and the anger that I have towards my father. I’m hoping that someday I can forgive him.
Who else is in your circle of acquaintances? Who would you turn to in times of trouble? I think that because I hold onto stuff I don’t have a lot of friends outside of Sol and Mom.
If there is anyone in your circle that might betray you, who would it be?
Dad. He already has.
Is there anyone you would not expect to betray you? How would you feel/react if they did?
Sol would never betray me. We grew up together except on opposite sides with her being poor and me being rich.
How would you describe your personality? What are your best points & assets?
I don’t like to get into other people’s business unless someone is hurting and then I can’t help myself. Deeply emotional but don’t always show it. As I said before, powerless but not weak. I’m very loyal to the point of hurting myself in a bad relationship. Deep thinker. Sometimes I think too much.
What are your flaws or weaknesses? Physically I’m really short. Emotionally, I can only handle being a friend to one person at a time which makes me a loyalist but I’ll be kind to others while not necessarily allowing them to get too close. I’m afraid of heights and I have asthma.
If there was one thing about your LOOKS that you could change, what would it be?
I’d probably just be a little taller.
If there was one thing about your PERSONALITY that you could change, what would it be?
I wish I was a little more outgoing and not hold on to stuff so much.
What makes you likeable? Are you likeable enough for people to want to spend extended periods of time with you? I’m a good listener and I’m able to empathize with a person.
What makes you unlikeable? Is this a chronic problem or can you change?
Sometimes I say too much where I should keep my mouth shut. I can be direct at times and hurt people.
What type of people would like you, and who might not like you? People who live a lie would not like me. People who don’t care about money would like me.
Would you describe your life to this point as being generally happy, pretty average, or generally unhappy? Can you briefly explain why? Half and half. My mom makes me happy but my dad irritates the tar out of me.
What is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to you? My dad didn’t give me anything for Christmas because I didn’t get straight A’s. My mom got me stuff though…with a vengeance. Also, my brother died a little after he was born. My dad drowned himself in his work from that point and my mom is very protective of me as a result.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?
My mom bought me a motorcycle just to get back at dad.
How important are material possessions to you? Do you regard them as a symbol of your success, or a trap, or neither? Really don’t care either way but I’ve never had to do without so I can’t say.
How do your surroundings reflect your success (or lack of it) in life so far? I think that I’ve been trapped into being ashamed of my good grades and good behavior only because they are so pleasing to my dad.
What do your surroundings say about you? (Your house, your car, your kitchen, your bathroom, your workplace.) That I have no needs. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Do you feel that you have achieved all you are capable of in life?
I won’t until I’m free of what it means to be a Dante.
Has your life changed in any way recently?
Unfortunately, no.
If your life has changed for the worse lately, what can you do to turn things around?
I can’t wait until I graduate so that I can go to college and live my own life.
Do you INTEND to change your life in the near future? If so, how and why? I think that I would like to help the poor somehow but I don’t know quite how yet.
What is the most important goal in your life? (What do you really WANT?) To not be identified with my father. I’d like to be an artist or a teacher.
And how do you plan to achieve it?
Going to college and majoring in art.
What are the likely obstacles to your getting what you want?
Dad being pushy about what I want to do. He’s aloof but he’s always talking about me accomplishing great things in life and doing good. I have no idea what he’s talking about.
How do you plan to overcome these foreseeable obstacles? What might be the likely result of your actions? I can see me and dad clashing about what I want to do with my life. Leaving and going to college. I can see dad not wanting to pay for it because of what I might major in (art) but I have no problem with working my way through school.
If something were to happen to deflect you from reaching your goal, how would you get back on track? Who would you call upon to help you? I would ask mom for help and I know that she would. She wants me to be happy.
What particular talents or traits do you possess that will help you to get what you want? I love to paint and I’m a good listener. I also explain things very well so I think I would make a good teacher.
How might you influence others to help you? I’m not really worried about that. I’ve always done things on my own anyway with a little help from my mom.
What is the biggest thing motivating you to achieve / get what you want? The biggest thing would be moving away from the family and all of the things that identify me with my last name.
Name the character trait or personality weakness that is most likely to prevent you from getting what you want. I’m a loyalist so I might be afraid of leaving my mom.
How might you compensate for this?
Don’t plan to.
Who would you die to protect?
Mom, Sol.
Who would die to protect you?
Mom
What is the thing you most fear losing in life? (This might be a person, a possession, or an abstract quality like ‘respect’, ‘freedom’ or ‘credibility’.) Mom, freedom, and creativity.
What drives you to do things you might regret later? My home life. I don’t want to leave mom but I do want to leave home so I’m pulled in that respect.
What are you about to do right now – today? I was thinking of getting on my bike and going to the art supply store and bringing home some paint supplies.
Finish these sentences:
“The most important thing in life is…”
Family…at least it should be.
“If there’s one thing that makes me mad it’s…”
Phonies.
“I would lose interest in life if…”
I had to go into business. Or if I lost my mom.
“I can usually get myself out of trouble by…”
Sucking up to mom!
“If I encounter a problem in life I work through it by…”
Going to mom or Sol
“I don’t like people who…”
Aren’t real.
“I like people who…”
Don’t judge.
“My most pressing need right now is…”
Getting through high school
“One thing I’m determined to achieve in the next month is…”
Applying for art scholarships.
“One thing I’m determined to achieve in the next year is…”
Move out.
“My motto in life is: …”
Don’t be a jerk.
Final question:
“Is there anything else you can tell me about yourself that has a bearing on
what you might do or say in any given situation?” I would fly off the handle if my dad told me that he wanted me to major in business. I’d probably run away if that happened.
End of Interview
Hope you enjoyed that. It really helped me to cement the characters as a whole and to understand how they would react in any given situation so if you're a writer, I highly recommend the character interview as part of the writing process.
Thank so much for following this blog. Please feel free to post and forward and even ask your friends to follow as well. Hope you have an awesome weekend.
Chat later!
Lenny
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information, visit http://www.leonardoverse.com and be sure to follow his blog at http://leonardoverse.blogspot.com.Haven
I got some kind responses last week when I posted the character interview on Rose that I thought I should follow it up with one of the main character in the novel, Haven. Before I go into that I want to once again thank my friends and family for the thoughts and prayers that went out during my lithroscopy last week. It's a minor procedure (where they blast kidney stones) but the anesthesia did wreak some havoc on me and it's taken a little bit to recover but I am feeling like myself again. Thanks so much.
Also, we've got GMX coming up on October 21-23. If you'd like more information on that please visit http://www.geekmediaexpo.com and get your tickets. You won't be disappointed.
Anyway, on to the interview. Please keep in mind that Haven is answering these questions as she was at the beginning of our story.
Character Interview: Haven Irena Dante
What’s your name?
Haven Irena Dante
How old are you?
I’m seventeen.
What do you look like? If you had to describe yourself as though you were talking about someone else, what would you say?
Brown eyes, olive to fair skin, short (about 5’4”) long hair that I like to leave up in a ponytail.
What are your speech patterns like?
I speak clearly and concisely. Never rude but I say what I mean. Intelligent but relaxed.
Can you think of someone on TV or on radio that speaks in a similar way?
Charlize Theron. She also reminds me of my mom.
Do you sometimes lie?
No, I won’t.
“White lies” or significant lies?
None, I just won’t.
Can people usually tell when you’re lying or are you a really accomplished liar?
Is your whole life a lie?
Yes because people assume I’m happy because I have a lot of money.
What is your usual facial expression?
Don’t smile a lot unless I’m with someone that I really like. Pensive when I’m alone and happy when I’m around close people that I enjoy.
Are people drawn to your warmth, cheerfulness, or are you seen as quiet / dour / grim / humorless / reserved / etc?
People think I’m reserved and quiet but it’s just that I’m a one person friend. I’m not much into crowds.
Does your face reflect the ‘inner you’ or are looks deceiving?
I would say that looks are deceiving.
How do you handle anger?
One big burst and then after a while it subsides depending on the subject. If it’s relational then it lingers for a long time.
Are you slow to anger or easy to annoy?
Slow to anger but easy to annoy.
Are people afraid of you, and if so is this justified?
Yes they are despite that I think that I’m very unassuming.
How do you react to confrontation?
I’m usually pretty kind until I see the person is not going to listen and then I call them a jerk.
Would you give anything for a quiet life or do you enjoy winning an argument or a fight?
I’d rather live a quiet life. The only time I’ll fight is when I have to or when someone is being bullied. I hate bullies.
How much power do you wield at home, in the workplace, and in social situations?
I think my mom feels sorry for me because of the way my dad treats me which always works in my favor! At school, my friends are always asking me questions about schoolwork and that’s all they want me for is that and the money. I don’t buy into it and end up making people mad in the end so I don’t bother reaching out.
Are you the quiet “power behind the throne” type or do you wield obvious power? Or do you feel powerless? If so, why – and what might be the catalyst to make you change?
I would say I feel powerless but not weak. I feel powerless because there are a lot of things about my circumstances that I can’t change.
What (in your opinion) would be the first impression most people get when they meet you?
Rich girl with no friends and has everything she needs or ever wanted but they’re mistaken. They don’t know me at all.
In your case, is ‘what you see is what you get’, or do people sometimes make the wrong judgment about you? If so, why would this be? I would say people make the wrong judgment about me until you get to know me and then it’s what you see is what you get.
What is your level of education?
I’m about to graduate from high school.
Has what you have been obtained by ‘street smarts’ or ‘book smarts’? Mostly book smarts but what I’ve learned relationally comes from living in a dysfunctional home with dad mostly gone. Sometimes it’s better when he’s not around. I feel freer.
Where do you live?
With my parents in Charity Vane.
Are you happy or discontented in the relationship / this family?
I’m happy with my mom. I’m glad when dad’s away because when he’s there all he does is make mom sad that he’s so aloof. I’m past feeling frustrated about the whole thing and I’m ready to move on with my life.
If no, would you like to be in a relationship / part of a different family?
I don’t know. I’m very much used to the dysfunction as sad as that sounds.
Who is your best friend? (If you have one). When did this relationship start? What makes you friends? Soledad Alden. We met in the third grade when our dads dropped us off at school and didn’t like each other much. We became friends to spite them.
Who is your enemy / who do you dislike most? Why? When did this dislike start, and why?
I would say my biggest enemy is myself. The stuff that I hold on to and the anger that I have towards my father. I’m hoping that someday I can forgive him.
Who else is in your circle of acquaintances? Who would you turn to in times of trouble? I think that because I hold onto stuff I don’t have a lot of friends outside of Sol and Mom.
If there is anyone in your circle that might betray you, who would it be?
Dad. He already has.
Is there anyone you would not expect to betray you? How would you feel/react if they did?
Sol would never betray me. We grew up together except on opposite sides with her being poor and me being rich.
How would you describe your personality? What are your best points & assets?
I don’t like to get into other people’s business unless someone is hurting and then I can’t help myself. Deeply emotional but don’t always show it. As I said before, powerless but not weak. I’m very loyal to the point of hurting myself in a bad relationship. Deep thinker. Sometimes I think too much.
What are your flaws or weaknesses? Physically I’m really short. Emotionally, I can only handle being a friend to one person at a time which makes me a loyalist but I’ll be kind to others while not necessarily allowing them to get too close. I’m afraid of heights and I have asthma.
If there was one thing about your LOOKS that you could change, what would it be?
I’d probably just be a little taller.
If there was one thing about your PERSONALITY that you could change, what would it be?
I wish I was a little more outgoing and not hold on to stuff so much.
What makes you likeable? Are you likeable enough for people to want to spend extended periods of time with you? I’m a good listener and I’m able to empathize with a person.
What makes you unlikeable? Is this a chronic problem or can you change?
Sometimes I say too much where I should keep my mouth shut. I can be direct at times and hurt people.
What type of people would like you, and who might not like you? People who live a lie would not like me. People who don’t care about money would like me.
Would you describe your life to this point as being generally happy, pretty average, or generally unhappy? Can you briefly explain why? Half and half. My mom makes me happy but my dad irritates the tar out of me.
What is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to you? My dad didn’t give me anything for Christmas because I didn’t get straight A’s. My mom got me stuff though…with a vengeance. Also, my brother died a little after he was born. My dad drowned himself in his work from that point and my mom is very protective of me as a result.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?
My mom bought me a motorcycle just to get back at dad.
How important are material possessions to you? Do you regard them as a symbol of your success, or a trap, or neither? Really don’t care either way but I’ve never had to do without so I can’t say.
How do your surroundings reflect your success (or lack of it) in life so far? I think that I’ve been trapped into being ashamed of my good grades and good behavior only because they are so pleasing to my dad.
What do your surroundings say about you? (Your house, your car, your kitchen, your bathroom, your workplace.) That I have no needs. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Do you feel that you have achieved all you are capable of in life?
I won’t until I’m free of what it means to be a Dante.
Has your life changed in any way recently?
Unfortunately, no.
If your life has changed for the worse lately, what can you do to turn things around?
I can’t wait until I graduate so that I can go to college and live my own life.
Do you INTEND to change your life in the near future? If so, how and why? I think that I would like to help the poor somehow but I don’t know quite how yet.
What is the most important goal in your life? (What do you really WANT?) To not be identified with my father. I’d like to be an artist or a teacher.
And how do you plan to achieve it?
Going to college and majoring in art.
What are the likely obstacles to your getting what you want?
Dad being pushy about what I want to do. He’s aloof but he’s always talking about me accomplishing great things in life and doing good. I have no idea what he’s talking about.
How do you plan to overcome these foreseeable obstacles? What might be the likely result of your actions? I can see me and dad clashing about what I want to do with my life. Leaving and going to college. I can see dad not wanting to pay for it because of what I might major in (art) but I have no problem with working my way through school.
If something were to happen to deflect you from reaching your goal, how would you get back on track? Who would you call upon to help you? I would ask mom for help and I know that she would. She wants me to be happy.
What particular talents or traits do you possess that will help you to get what you want? I love to paint and I’m a good listener. I also explain things very well so I think I would make a good teacher.
How might you influence others to help you? I’m not really worried about that. I’ve always done things on my own anyway with a little help from my mom.
What is the biggest thing motivating you to achieve / get what you want? The biggest thing would be moving away from the family and all of the things that identify me with my last name.
Name the character trait or personality weakness that is most likely to prevent you from getting what you want. I’m a loyalist so I might be afraid of leaving my mom.
How might you compensate for this?
Don’t plan to.
Who would you die to protect?
Mom, Sol.
Who would die to protect you?
Mom
What is the thing you most fear losing in life? (This might be a person, a possession, or an abstract quality like ‘respect’, ‘freedom’ or ‘credibility’.) Mom, freedom, and creativity.
What drives you to do things you might regret later? My home life. I don’t want to leave mom but I do want to leave home so I’m pulled in that respect.
What are you about to do right now – today? I was thinking of getting on my bike and going to the art supply store and bringing home some paint supplies.
Finish these sentences:
“The most important thing in life is…”
Family…at least it should be.
“If there’s one thing that makes me mad it’s…”
Phonies.
“I would lose interest in life if…”
I had to go into business. Or if I lost my mom.
“I can usually get myself out of trouble by…”
Sucking up to mom!
“If I encounter a problem in life I work through it by…”
Going to mom or Sol
“I don’t like people who…”
Aren’t real.
“I like people who…”
Don’t judge.
“My most pressing need right now is…”
Getting through high school
“One thing I’m determined to achieve in the next month is…”
Applying for art scholarships.
“One thing I’m determined to achieve in the next year is…”
Move out.
“My motto in life is: …”
Don’t be a jerk.
Final question:
“Is there anything else you can tell me about yourself that has a bearing on
what you might do or say in any given situation?” I would fly off the handle if my dad told me that he wanted me to major in business. I’d probably run away if that happened.
End of Interview
Hope you enjoyed that. It really helped me to cement the characters as a whole and to understand how they would react in any given situation so if you're a writer, I highly recommend the character interview as part of the writing process.
Thank so much for following this blog. Please feel free to post and forward and even ask your friends to follow as well. Hope you have an awesome weekend.
Chat later!
Lenny
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information, visit http://www.leonardoverse.com and be sure to follow his blog at http://leonardoverse.blogspot.com.Haven
Character Interview: Haven (from Haven of Dante)
Hi All,
I got some kind responses last week when I posted the character interview on Rose that I thought I should follow it up with one of the main character in the novel, Haven. Before I go into that I want to once again thank my friends and family for the thoughts and prayers that went out during my lithroscopy last week. It's a minor procedure (where they blast kidney stones) but the anesthesia did wreak some havoc on me and it's taken a little bit to recover but I am feeling like myself again. Thanks so much.
Also, we've got GMX coming up on October 21-23. If you'd like more information on that please visit http://www.geekmediaexpo.com and get your tickets. You won't be disappointed.
Anyway, on to the interview. Please keep in mind that Haven is answering these questions as she was at the beginning of our story.
Character Interview: Haven Irena Dante
What's your name? Haven Irena Dante
How old are you? I'm seventeen.
What do you look like? If you had to describe yourself as though you were talking about someone else, what would you say? Brown eyes, olive to fair skin, short (about 5'4") long hair that I like to leave up in a ponytail.
What are your speech patterns like? I speak clearly and concisely. Never rude but I say what I mean. Intelligent but relaxed.
Can you think of someone on TV or on radio that speaks in a similar way? Charlize Theron. She also reminds me of my mom.
Do you sometimes lie? No, I won't.
"White lies" or significant lies? None, I just won't.
Can people usually tell when you're lying or are you a really accomplished liar? Is your whole life a lie?Yes because people assume I'm happy because I have a lot of money.
What is your usual facial expression? Don't smile a lot unless I'm with someone that I really like. Pensive when I'm alone and happy when I'm around close people that I enjoy.
Are people drawn to your warmth, cheerfulness, or are you seen as quiet / dour / grim / humorless / reserved / etc? People think I'm reserved and quiet but it's just that I'm a one person friend. I'm not much into crowds.
Does your face reflect the 'inner you' or are looks deceiving? I would say that looks are deceiving.
How do you handle anger? One big burst and then after a while it subsides depending on the subject. If it's relational then it lingers for a long time.
Are you slow to anger or easy to annoy? Slow to anger but easy to annoy.
Are people afraid of you, and if so is this justified? Yes they are despite that I think that I'm very unassuming.
How do you react to confrontation? I'm usually pretty kind until I see the person is not going to listen and then I call them a jerk.
Would you give anything for a quiet life or do you enjoy winning an argument or a fight? I'd rather live a quiet life. The only time I'll fight is when I have to or when someone is being bullied. I hate bullies.
How much power do you wield at home, in the workplace, and in social situations? I think my mom feels sorry for me because of the way my dad treats me which always works in my favor! At school, my friends are always asking me questions about schoolwork and that's all they want me for is that and the money. I don't buy into it and end up making people mad in the end so I don't bother reaching out.
Are you the quiet "power behind the throne" type or do you wield obvious power? Or do you feel powerless? If so, why – and what might be the catalyst to make you change? I would say I feel powerless but not weak. I feel powerless because there are a lot of things about my circumstances that I can't change.
What (in your opinion) would be the first impression most people get when they meet you? Rich girl with no friends and has everything she needs or ever wanted but they're mistaken. They don't know me at all.
In your case, is 'what you see is what you get', or do people sometimes make the wrong judgment about you? If so, why would this be? I would say people make the wrong judgment about me until you get to know me and then it's what you see is what you get.
What is your level of education? I'm about to graduate from high school.
Has what you have been obtained by 'street smarts' or 'book smarts'? Mostly book smarts but what I've learned relationally comes from living in a dysfunctional home with dad mostly gone. Sometimes it's better when he's not around. I feel freer.
Where do you live? With my parents in Charity Vane.
Are you happy or discontented in the relationship / this family? I'm happy with my mom. I'm glad when dad's away because when he's there all he does is make mom sad that he's so aloof. I'm past feeling frustrated about the whole thing and I'm ready to move on with my life.
If no, would you like to be in a relationship / part of a different family? I don't know. I'm very much used to the dysfunction as sad as that sounds.
Who is your best friend? (If you have one). When did this relationship start? What makes you friends? Soledad Alden. We met in the third grade when our dads dropped us off at school and didn't like each other much. We became friends to spite them.
Who is your enemy / who do you dislike most? Why? When did this dislike start, and why? I would say my biggest enemy is myself. The stuff that I hold on to and the anger that I have towards my father. I'm hoping that someday I can forgive him.
Who else is in your circle of acquaintances? Who would you turn to in times of trouble? I think that because I hold onto stuff I don't have a lot of friends outside of Sol and Mom.
If there is anyone in your circle that might betray you, who would it be? Dad. He already has.
Is there anyone you would not expect to betray you? How would you feel/react if they did? Sol would never betray me. We grew up together except on opposite sides with her being poor and me being rich.
How would you describe your personality? What are your best points & assets? I don't like to get into other people's business unless someone is hurting and then I can't help myself. Deeply emotional but don't always show it. As I said before, powerless but not weak. I'm very loyal to the point of hurting myself in a bad relationship. Deep thinker. Sometimes I think too much.
What are your flaws or weaknesses? Physically I'm really short. Emotionally, I can only handle being a friend to one person at a time which makes me a loyalist but I'll be kind to others while not necessarily allowing them to get too close. I'm afraid of heights and I have asthma.
If there was one thing about your LOOKS that you could change, what would it be? I'd probably just be a little taller.
If there was one thing about your PERSONALITY that you could change, what would it be? I wish I was a little more outgoing and not hold on to stuff so much.
What makes you likeable? Are you likeable enough for people to want to spend extended periods of time with you? I'm a good listener and I'm able to empathize with a person.
What makes you unlikeable? Is this a chronic problem or can you change? Sometimes I say too much where I should keep my mouth shut. I can be direct at times and hurt people.
What type of people would like you, and who might not like you? People who live a lie would not like me. People who don't care about money would like me.
Would you describe your life to this point as being generally happy, pretty average, or generally unhappy? Can you briefly explain why? Half and half. My mom makes me happy but my dad irritates the tar out of me.
What is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to you? My dad didn't give me anything for Christmas because I didn't get straight A's. My mom got me stuff though…with a vengeance. Also, my brother died a little after he was born. My dad drowned himself in his work from that point and my mom is very protective of me as a result.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to you? My mom bought me a motorcycle just to get back at dad.
How important are material possessions to you? Do you regard them as a symbol of your success, or a trap, or neither? Really don't care either way but I've never had to do without so I can't say.
How do your surroundings reflect your success (or lack of it) in life so far? I think that I've been trapped into being ashamed of my good grades and good behavior only because they are so pleasing to my dad.
What do your surroundings say about you? (Your house, your car, your kitchen, your bathroom, your workplace.) That I have no needs. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Do you feel that you have achieved all you are capable of in life? I won't until I'm free of what it means to be a Dante.
Has your life changed in any way recently? Unfortunately, no.
If your life has changed for the worse lately, what can you do to turn things around? I can't wait until I graduate so that I can go to college and live my own life.
Do you INTEND to change your life in the near future? If so, how and why? I think that I would like to help the poor somehow but I don't know quite how yet.
What is the most important goal in your life? (What do you really WANT?) To not be identified with my father. I'd like to be an artist or a teacher.
And how do you plan to achieve it? Going to college and majoring in art.
What are the likely obstacles to your getting what you want? Dad being pushy about what I want to do. He's aloof but he's always talking about me accomplishing great things in life and doing good. I have no idea what he's talking about.
How do you plan to overcome these foreseeable obstacles? What might be the likely result of your actions? I can see me and dad clashing about what I want to do with my life. Leaving and going to college. I can see dad not wanting to pay for it because of what I might major in (art) but I have no problem with working my way through school.
If something were to happen to deflect you from reaching your goal, how would you get back on track? Who would you call upon to help you? I would ask mom for help and I know that she would. She wants me to be happy.
What particular talents or traits do you possess that will help you to get what you want? I love to paint and I'm a good listener. I also explain things very well so I think I would make a good teacher.
How might you influence others to help you? I'm not really worried about that. I've always done things on my own anyway with a little help from my mom.
What is the biggest thing motivating you to achieve / get what you want? The biggest thing would be moving away from the family and all of the things that identify me with my last name.
Name the character trait or personality weakness that is most likely to prevent you from getting what you want. I'm a loyalist so I might be afraid of leaving my mom.
How might you compensate for this? Don't plan to.
Who would you die to protect? Mom, Sol.
Who would die to protect you? Mom
What is the thing you most fear losing in life? (This might be a person, a possession, or an abstract quality like 'respect', 'freedom' or 'credibility'.) Mom, freedom, and creativity.
What drives you to do things you might regret later? My home life. I don't want to leave mom but I do want to leave home so I'm pulled in that respect.
What are you about to do right now – today? I was thinking of getting on my bike and going to the art supply store and bringing home some paint supplies.
Finish these sentences:
"The most important thing in life is…" Family…at least it should be.
"If there's one thing that makes me mad it's…" Phonies.
"I would lose interest in life if…" I had to go into business. Or if I lost my mom.
"I can usually get myself out of trouble by…" Sucking up to mom!
"If I encounter a problem in life I work through it by…" Going to mom or Sol
"I don't like people who…" Aren't real.
"I like people who…" Don't judge.
"My most pressing need right now is…" Getting through high school
"One thing I'm determined to achieve in the next month is…" Applying for art scholarships.
"One thing I'm determined to achieve in the next year is…" Move out.
"My motto in life is: …" Don't be a jerk.
Final question:
"Is there anything else you can tell me about yourself that has a bearing on what you might do or say in any given situation?" I would fly off the handle if my dad told me that he wanted me to major in business. I'd probably run away if that happened.
End of Interview
Hope you enjoyed that. It really helped me to cement the characters as a whole and to understand how they would react in any given situation so if you're a writer, I highly recommend the character interview as part of the writing process.
Thank so much for following this blog. Please feel free to post and forward and even ask your friends to follow as well. Hope you have an awesome weekend.
Chat later!
Lenny
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information, visit http://www.leonardoverse.com and be sure to follow his blog at http://leonardoverse.blogspot.com.Thanks for reading!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.
I got some kind responses last week when I posted the character interview on Rose that I thought I should follow it up with one of the main character in the novel, Haven. Before I go into that I want to once again thank my friends and family for the thoughts and prayers that went out during my lithroscopy last week. It's a minor procedure (where they blast kidney stones) but the anesthesia did wreak some havoc on me and it's taken a little bit to recover but I am feeling like myself again. Thanks so much.
Also, we've got GMX coming up on October 21-23. If you'd like more information on that please visit http://www.geekmediaexpo.com and get your tickets. You won't be disappointed.
Anyway, on to the interview. Please keep in mind that Haven is answering these questions as she was at the beginning of our story.
Character Interview: Haven Irena Dante
What's your name? Haven Irena Dante
How old are you? I'm seventeen.
What do you look like? If you had to describe yourself as though you were talking about someone else, what would you say? Brown eyes, olive to fair skin, short (about 5'4") long hair that I like to leave up in a ponytail.
What are your speech patterns like? I speak clearly and concisely. Never rude but I say what I mean. Intelligent but relaxed.
Can you think of someone on TV or on radio that speaks in a similar way? Charlize Theron. She also reminds me of my mom.
Do you sometimes lie? No, I won't.
"White lies" or significant lies? None, I just won't.
Can people usually tell when you're lying or are you a really accomplished liar? Is your whole life a lie?Yes because people assume I'm happy because I have a lot of money.
What is your usual facial expression? Don't smile a lot unless I'm with someone that I really like. Pensive when I'm alone and happy when I'm around close people that I enjoy.
Are people drawn to your warmth, cheerfulness, or are you seen as quiet / dour / grim / humorless / reserved / etc? People think I'm reserved and quiet but it's just that I'm a one person friend. I'm not much into crowds.
Does your face reflect the 'inner you' or are looks deceiving? I would say that looks are deceiving.
How do you handle anger? One big burst and then after a while it subsides depending on the subject. If it's relational then it lingers for a long time.
Are you slow to anger or easy to annoy? Slow to anger but easy to annoy.
Are people afraid of you, and if so is this justified? Yes they are despite that I think that I'm very unassuming.
How do you react to confrontation? I'm usually pretty kind until I see the person is not going to listen and then I call them a jerk.
Would you give anything for a quiet life or do you enjoy winning an argument or a fight? I'd rather live a quiet life. The only time I'll fight is when I have to or when someone is being bullied. I hate bullies.
How much power do you wield at home, in the workplace, and in social situations? I think my mom feels sorry for me because of the way my dad treats me which always works in my favor! At school, my friends are always asking me questions about schoolwork and that's all they want me for is that and the money. I don't buy into it and end up making people mad in the end so I don't bother reaching out.
Are you the quiet "power behind the throne" type or do you wield obvious power? Or do you feel powerless? If so, why – and what might be the catalyst to make you change? I would say I feel powerless but not weak. I feel powerless because there are a lot of things about my circumstances that I can't change.
What (in your opinion) would be the first impression most people get when they meet you? Rich girl with no friends and has everything she needs or ever wanted but they're mistaken. They don't know me at all.
In your case, is 'what you see is what you get', or do people sometimes make the wrong judgment about you? If so, why would this be? I would say people make the wrong judgment about me until you get to know me and then it's what you see is what you get.
What is your level of education? I'm about to graduate from high school.
Has what you have been obtained by 'street smarts' or 'book smarts'? Mostly book smarts but what I've learned relationally comes from living in a dysfunctional home with dad mostly gone. Sometimes it's better when he's not around. I feel freer.
Where do you live? With my parents in Charity Vane.
Are you happy or discontented in the relationship / this family? I'm happy with my mom. I'm glad when dad's away because when he's there all he does is make mom sad that he's so aloof. I'm past feeling frustrated about the whole thing and I'm ready to move on with my life.
If no, would you like to be in a relationship / part of a different family? I don't know. I'm very much used to the dysfunction as sad as that sounds.
Who is your best friend? (If you have one). When did this relationship start? What makes you friends? Soledad Alden. We met in the third grade when our dads dropped us off at school and didn't like each other much. We became friends to spite them.
Who is your enemy / who do you dislike most? Why? When did this dislike start, and why? I would say my biggest enemy is myself. The stuff that I hold on to and the anger that I have towards my father. I'm hoping that someday I can forgive him.
Who else is in your circle of acquaintances? Who would you turn to in times of trouble? I think that because I hold onto stuff I don't have a lot of friends outside of Sol and Mom.
If there is anyone in your circle that might betray you, who would it be? Dad. He already has.
Is there anyone you would not expect to betray you? How would you feel/react if they did? Sol would never betray me. We grew up together except on opposite sides with her being poor and me being rich.
How would you describe your personality? What are your best points & assets? I don't like to get into other people's business unless someone is hurting and then I can't help myself. Deeply emotional but don't always show it. As I said before, powerless but not weak. I'm very loyal to the point of hurting myself in a bad relationship. Deep thinker. Sometimes I think too much.
What are your flaws or weaknesses? Physically I'm really short. Emotionally, I can only handle being a friend to one person at a time which makes me a loyalist but I'll be kind to others while not necessarily allowing them to get too close. I'm afraid of heights and I have asthma.
If there was one thing about your LOOKS that you could change, what would it be? I'd probably just be a little taller.
If there was one thing about your PERSONALITY that you could change, what would it be? I wish I was a little more outgoing and not hold on to stuff so much.
What makes you likeable? Are you likeable enough for people to want to spend extended periods of time with you? I'm a good listener and I'm able to empathize with a person.
What makes you unlikeable? Is this a chronic problem or can you change? Sometimes I say too much where I should keep my mouth shut. I can be direct at times and hurt people.
What type of people would like you, and who might not like you? People who live a lie would not like me. People who don't care about money would like me.
Would you describe your life to this point as being generally happy, pretty average, or generally unhappy? Can you briefly explain why? Half and half. My mom makes me happy but my dad irritates the tar out of me.
What is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to you? My dad didn't give me anything for Christmas because I didn't get straight A's. My mom got me stuff though…with a vengeance. Also, my brother died a little after he was born. My dad drowned himself in his work from that point and my mom is very protective of me as a result.
What is the best thing that has ever happened to you? My mom bought me a motorcycle just to get back at dad.
How important are material possessions to you? Do you regard them as a symbol of your success, or a trap, or neither? Really don't care either way but I've never had to do without so I can't say.
How do your surroundings reflect your success (or lack of it) in life so far? I think that I've been trapped into being ashamed of my good grades and good behavior only because they are so pleasing to my dad.
What do your surroundings say about you? (Your house, your car, your kitchen, your bathroom, your workplace.) That I have no needs. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Do you feel that you have achieved all you are capable of in life? I won't until I'm free of what it means to be a Dante.
Has your life changed in any way recently? Unfortunately, no.
If your life has changed for the worse lately, what can you do to turn things around? I can't wait until I graduate so that I can go to college and live my own life.
Do you INTEND to change your life in the near future? If so, how and why? I think that I would like to help the poor somehow but I don't know quite how yet.
What is the most important goal in your life? (What do you really WANT?) To not be identified with my father. I'd like to be an artist or a teacher.
And how do you plan to achieve it? Going to college and majoring in art.
What are the likely obstacles to your getting what you want? Dad being pushy about what I want to do. He's aloof but he's always talking about me accomplishing great things in life and doing good. I have no idea what he's talking about.
How do you plan to overcome these foreseeable obstacles? What might be the likely result of your actions? I can see me and dad clashing about what I want to do with my life. Leaving and going to college. I can see dad not wanting to pay for it because of what I might major in (art) but I have no problem with working my way through school.
If something were to happen to deflect you from reaching your goal, how would you get back on track? Who would you call upon to help you? I would ask mom for help and I know that she would. She wants me to be happy.
What particular talents or traits do you possess that will help you to get what you want? I love to paint and I'm a good listener. I also explain things very well so I think I would make a good teacher.
How might you influence others to help you? I'm not really worried about that. I've always done things on my own anyway with a little help from my mom.
What is the biggest thing motivating you to achieve / get what you want? The biggest thing would be moving away from the family and all of the things that identify me with my last name.
Name the character trait or personality weakness that is most likely to prevent you from getting what you want. I'm a loyalist so I might be afraid of leaving my mom.
How might you compensate for this? Don't plan to.
Who would you die to protect? Mom, Sol.
Who would die to protect you? Mom
What is the thing you most fear losing in life? (This might be a person, a possession, or an abstract quality like 'respect', 'freedom' or 'credibility'.) Mom, freedom, and creativity.
What drives you to do things you might regret later? My home life. I don't want to leave mom but I do want to leave home so I'm pulled in that respect.
What are you about to do right now – today? I was thinking of getting on my bike and going to the art supply store and bringing home some paint supplies.
Finish these sentences:
"The most important thing in life is…" Family…at least it should be.
"If there's one thing that makes me mad it's…" Phonies.
"I would lose interest in life if…" I had to go into business. Or if I lost my mom.
"I can usually get myself out of trouble by…" Sucking up to mom!
"If I encounter a problem in life I work through it by…" Going to mom or Sol
"I don't like people who…" Aren't real.
"I like people who…" Don't judge.
"My most pressing need right now is…" Getting through high school
"One thing I'm determined to achieve in the next month is…" Applying for art scholarships.
"One thing I'm determined to achieve in the next year is…" Move out.
"My motto in life is: …" Don't be a jerk.
Final question:
"Is there anything else you can tell me about yourself that has a bearing on what you might do or say in any given situation?" I would fly off the handle if my dad told me that he wanted me to major in business. I'd probably run away if that happened.
End of Interview
Hope you enjoyed that. It really helped me to cement the characters as a whole and to understand how they would react in any given situation so if you're a writer, I highly recommend the character interview as part of the writing process.
Thank so much for following this blog. Please feel free to post and forward and even ask your friends to follow as well. Hope you have an awesome weekend.
Chat later!
Lenny
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information, visit http://www.leonardoverse.com and be sure to follow his blog at http://leonardoverse.blogspot.com.Thanks for reading!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.
September 15, 2011
Character Interview: Rose (from Haven of Dante)
Today I thought I'd post an interview that I did for the character of Rose from the Haven: The Graphic Novel. The character interview is a great technique to use to flesh out a character and make him/her as real to the audience as possible. I did not make up the questions. I simply pulled them from a list of questions to ask characters from various places on the web. If you google these you can find a million of them. It's a fun technique and one that I highly recommend for your writing.
Rose answers these questions before the events in the graphic novel and are explained in the prose novel which has yet to be released.
Character Interview: Rose Marina Maro
· What's your name? o Rose Marina Maro
· How old are you? o It's very rude of you to ask but I am 72.
· What do you look like? If you had to describe yourself as though you were talking about someone else, what would you say? o Green eyes, 5'2" fair skin. I'm afraid that I've let my gray hair grow in but I push it back and try to make it at least look somewhat fashionable.
· What are your speech patterns like? o Very comforting but still direct.
· Can you think of someone on TV or on radio that speaks in a similar way? o Judi Dench. "M" from the James Bond movies.
· Do you sometimes lie? I have in my day.
· "White lies" or significant lies? o Yes if it's to keep someone safe.
· Can people usually tell when you're lying or are you a really accomplished liar? Is your whole life a lie? o They have no earthly idea.
· What is your usual facial expression? o Very serious but comforting at the same time.
· Are people drawn to your warmth d cheerfulness, or are you seen as quiet / dour / grim / humourless / reserved / etc? o People are drawn to my warmth and sense of conviction about things.
· Does your face reflect the 'inner you' or are looks deceiving? o My face definitely reveals the inner me. You can tell what I'm thinking but not when I'm lying. I've lived a long time. So I'm able to give off my feelings when I want to.
· How do you handle anger? o I try to hold it in as much as I can but then I get indignant.
· Are you slow to anger or easy to annoy? o Very slow on both fronts.
· Are people afraid of you, and if so is this justified? o No they are not. Not at all.
· How do you react to confrontation? o I present my case kindly to some and indignant to others depending on the level of angst I'm feeling at the time.
· Would you give anything for a quiet life or do you enjoy winning an argument or a fight? o I prefer to live the quiet life.
· How much power do you wield at home, in the workplace, and in social situations? o I'm the one usually calling the shots as I see them.
· Are you the quiet "power behind the throne" type or do you wield obvious power? Or do you feel powerless? If so, why – and what might be the catalyst to make you change? o I don't present myself this way but I do feel like I have to be the one in charge for the sake of the group because of my experience.
· What (in your opinion) would be the first impression most people get when they meet you? o Small and defenseless but I'm not.
· In your case, is 'what you see is what you get', or do people sometimes make the wrong judgment about you? If so, why would this be? o They make the wrong judgment because of my age. I am also somewhat small and thin so they think that I'm defenseless but I am more than able to speak my mind.
· What is your level of education? o I have a doctorate in multi-cultural studies.
· Has what you have been obtained by 'street smarts' or 'book smarts'? o Both.
· Where do you live? o In a monastery on the edge of Charity Vane.
· Do you live alone, share a house, or…? o I have my own room.
· Are you in a relationship, or part of a family? o Those in the Virgilian Order are my family.
· If yes, are you happy or discontented in the relationship / this family? Tell me about it. o We have very different viewpoints and it's escalating. They denounce violence to the point of someone being hurt and I think that is too extreme. They believe that we are here simply to guide and not interfere but I contend that we are already interfering.
· If no, would you like to be in a relationship / part of a different family? o I don't know.
· Who is your best friend? (If you have one). When did this relationship start? What makes you friends? o Right now it's who we call the Gardener. He shares my views but sometimes thinks I go overboard even though he's having fun in the midst of it all.
· Who do you consider to have the biggest struggle with? / Who do you dislike most? Why? When did this dislike start, and why? o I would say my biggest enemy is myself. I want to do more than what I am presently but I'm constrained by the order so until something changes I have to remain a part.
· Who else is in your circle of acquaintances? Who would you turn to in times of trouble? o I have two friends that I can turn to in the order. One is the gardener and the other is the Sovereign Francisco who resides over me and seems to understand how I feel but has been in the order for so long that he does not wish to change anything about it and looks the other way when I get myself in trouble.
· If there is anyone in your circle that might betray you, who would it be? o Sovereign Francisco is loyal to the Order so I'm not sure if he would or not.
· Is there anyone you would not expect to betray you? How would you feel/react if they did? o I don't believe that Consul Annucci would every betray me. If he did, I'm not sure what I would do but I would seek out other Consuls who feel as I do about the Order who has abandoned their ancient ways when they employed the Evocati – a group of veteran soldiers contracted by the Ancient Order prior to Mussolini.
· How would you describe your personality? What are your best points & assets? o Caring enough to act on behalf of good but staunch in my belief that what I am doing is the right thing. I care a great deal and I'm willing to lie to protect someone.
· What are your flaws or weaknesses? o I don't always see the consequences of my actions but I will take them.
· If there was one thing about your LOOKS that you could change, what would it be? o I'd want to look a lot younger!!
· If there was one thing about your PERSONALITY that you could change, what would it be? o I tend to take on more than I should.
· What makes you likeable? Are you likeable enough for people to want to spend extended periods of time with you? o I care very much for souls that are hurting and not knowing their way. I want to help those less fortunate but not simply in word but in deed as well.
· What makes you unlikeable? Is this a chronic problem or can you change? o I tend to feel strongly about things and then act on them.
· What type of people would like you, and who might not like you? o I think that people who are reasonable and logical would like me whereas people who don't agree with me will find me a tad combative and strong-willed.
· Would you describe your life to this point as being generally happy, pretty average, or generally unhappy? Can you briefly explain why? o Perhaps a little of both. I feel like the work I have done thus far has been good but I still feel unfulfilled.
· What is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to you? o A friend died because I let her and aided her in doing something that she thought was right. She went above and beyond where she didn't have to and she ended up being killed for it.
· What is the best thing that has ever happened to you? o Still being born into this line has brought me great joy and I take great pride in it although it's not been easy bearing the responsibility.
· How important are material possessions to you? Do you regard them as a symbol of your success, or a trap, or neither? o They are inconsequential but essential if you need to accomplish a task.
· How do your surroundings reflect your success (or lack of it) in life so far? o It is a reminder that I'm lacking in something.
· What do your surroundings say about you? (Your house, your car, your kitchen, your bathroom, your workplace.) o That I have no needs.
· Do you feel that you have achieved all you are capable of in life? o Absolutely not. Not until I am free from being in the Virgilian line of Maro.
· Has your life changed in any way recently? o Unfortunately, no.
· If your life has changed for the worse lately, what can you do to turn things around? o I suppose that I could scale back on how I feel about where I stand on the Order…but I won't.
· Do you INTEND to change your life in the near future? If so, how and why? o I think that I would like to help the poor somehow but I don't know quite how yet.
· What is the most important goal in your life? (What do you really WANT?) o To make a real difference and not just be a bystander.
· And how do you plan to achieve it? o I think that I would like to turn my section into a homeless shelter for abused women and train them to become something. My mother was abused by my father.
· What are the likely obstacles to your getting what you want? o I'm not sure that the order would approve of outsiders entering the monastery.
· How do you plan to overcome these foreseeable obstacles? What might be the likely result of your actions? o I will try to win the support of Sovereign Francisco and hopefully work on the rest at some point.
· If something were to happen to deflect you from reaching your goal, how would you get back on track? Who would you call upon to help you? o I would ask the gardener but what shape that would take I am unclear.
· What particular talents or traits do you possess that will help you to get what you want? o I love music and love to play the piano. My father was a concert pianist so I was able to learn from him.
· How might you influence others to help you? o With time and a lot of patience and being relational.
· What is the biggest thing motivating you to achieve / get what you want? o Feeling constrained in this place. To me watching over the affairs of man through a family line and intervening indirectly is not productive.
· Name the character trait or personality weakness that is most likely to prevent you from getting what you want. o The Sovereigns of the Virgilian Order.
· How might you compensate for this? o Not sure yet.
· Who would you die to protect? o Whoever is in my care.
· Who would die to protect you? o There is no one left, I'm afraid, who would fill those shoes.
· What is the thing you most fear losing in life? (This might be a person, a possession, or an abstract quality like 'respect', 'freedom' or 'credibility'.) o Freedom, Creativity.
· What drives you to do things you might regret later? o The sense that others beside me are standing by and doing nothing. I would rather try and fail but then again I don't like to lose.
· What are you about to do right now – today? o Practicing some Mendelssohn perhaps.
· Finish these sentences: · "The most important thing in life is…" o Honor
· "If there's one thing that makes me mad it's…" o Phony religiosity.
· "I would lose interest in life if…"o I stayed where I am.
· "I can usually get myself out of trouble by…" o Accomplishing something in the interests of the Sovereigns.
· "If I encounter a problem in life I work through it by…" o Playing the piano
· "I don't like people who…" o Sit on their rump
· "I like people who…" o Care and act upon it.
· "My most pressing need right now is…" o Tending to my duties at the order
· "One thing I'm determined to achieve in the next month is…" o Seeing that the family line in our care is being guided in the right direction.
· "One thing I'm determined to achieve in the next year is…" o Win over Sovereign Francisco.
· "My motto in life is: …" o Don't just sit there, do something.
Final question: "Is there anything else you can tell me about yourself that has a bearing on what you might do or say in any given situation?"
I think that if someone in the Dante family line were killed as a result of no action I would have someone's head.
End of Interview
Hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed putting that together. Tomorrow I'm having what's called a lithroscopy (where they blast your kidney stones) tomorrow so if you're a praying person I'd appreciate it. I'm going to go play with my kid now before she has to spend the night at a friend's house.
Chat later!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels.For more information, please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com
Thanks for reading!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.
Rose answers these questions before the events in the graphic novel and are explained in the prose novel which has yet to be released.
Character Interview: Rose Marina Maro
· What's your name? o Rose Marina Maro
· How old are you? o It's very rude of you to ask but I am 72.
· What do you look like? If you had to describe yourself as though you were talking about someone else, what would you say? o Green eyes, 5'2" fair skin. I'm afraid that I've let my gray hair grow in but I push it back and try to make it at least look somewhat fashionable.
· What are your speech patterns like? o Very comforting but still direct.
· Can you think of someone on TV or on radio that speaks in a similar way? o Judi Dench. "M" from the James Bond movies.
· Do you sometimes lie? I have in my day.
· "White lies" or significant lies? o Yes if it's to keep someone safe.
· Can people usually tell when you're lying or are you a really accomplished liar? Is your whole life a lie? o They have no earthly idea.
· What is your usual facial expression? o Very serious but comforting at the same time.
· Are people drawn to your warmth d cheerfulness, or are you seen as quiet / dour / grim / humourless / reserved / etc? o People are drawn to my warmth and sense of conviction about things.
· Does your face reflect the 'inner you' or are looks deceiving? o My face definitely reveals the inner me. You can tell what I'm thinking but not when I'm lying. I've lived a long time. So I'm able to give off my feelings when I want to.
· How do you handle anger? o I try to hold it in as much as I can but then I get indignant.
· Are you slow to anger or easy to annoy? o Very slow on both fronts.
· Are people afraid of you, and if so is this justified? o No they are not. Not at all.
· How do you react to confrontation? o I present my case kindly to some and indignant to others depending on the level of angst I'm feeling at the time.
· Would you give anything for a quiet life or do you enjoy winning an argument or a fight? o I prefer to live the quiet life.
· How much power do you wield at home, in the workplace, and in social situations? o I'm the one usually calling the shots as I see them.
· Are you the quiet "power behind the throne" type or do you wield obvious power? Or do you feel powerless? If so, why – and what might be the catalyst to make you change? o I don't present myself this way but I do feel like I have to be the one in charge for the sake of the group because of my experience.
· What (in your opinion) would be the first impression most people get when they meet you? o Small and defenseless but I'm not.
· In your case, is 'what you see is what you get', or do people sometimes make the wrong judgment about you? If so, why would this be? o They make the wrong judgment because of my age. I am also somewhat small and thin so they think that I'm defenseless but I am more than able to speak my mind.
· What is your level of education? o I have a doctorate in multi-cultural studies.
· Has what you have been obtained by 'street smarts' or 'book smarts'? o Both.
· Where do you live? o In a monastery on the edge of Charity Vane.
· Do you live alone, share a house, or…? o I have my own room.
· Are you in a relationship, or part of a family? o Those in the Virgilian Order are my family.
· If yes, are you happy or discontented in the relationship / this family? Tell me about it. o We have very different viewpoints and it's escalating. They denounce violence to the point of someone being hurt and I think that is too extreme. They believe that we are here simply to guide and not interfere but I contend that we are already interfering.
· If no, would you like to be in a relationship / part of a different family? o I don't know.
· Who is your best friend? (If you have one). When did this relationship start? What makes you friends? o Right now it's who we call the Gardener. He shares my views but sometimes thinks I go overboard even though he's having fun in the midst of it all.
· Who do you consider to have the biggest struggle with? / Who do you dislike most? Why? When did this dislike start, and why? o I would say my biggest enemy is myself. I want to do more than what I am presently but I'm constrained by the order so until something changes I have to remain a part.
· Who else is in your circle of acquaintances? Who would you turn to in times of trouble? o I have two friends that I can turn to in the order. One is the gardener and the other is the Sovereign Francisco who resides over me and seems to understand how I feel but has been in the order for so long that he does not wish to change anything about it and looks the other way when I get myself in trouble.
· If there is anyone in your circle that might betray you, who would it be? o Sovereign Francisco is loyal to the Order so I'm not sure if he would or not.
· Is there anyone you would not expect to betray you? How would you feel/react if they did? o I don't believe that Consul Annucci would every betray me. If he did, I'm not sure what I would do but I would seek out other Consuls who feel as I do about the Order who has abandoned their ancient ways when they employed the Evocati – a group of veteran soldiers contracted by the Ancient Order prior to Mussolini.
· How would you describe your personality? What are your best points & assets? o Caring enough to act on behalf of good but staunch in my belief that what I am doing is the right thing. I care a great deal and I'm willing to lie to protect someone.
· What are your flaws or weaknesses? o I don't always see the consequences of my actions but I will take them.
· If there was one thing about your LOOKS that you could change, what would it be? o I'd want to look a lot younger!!
· If there was one thing about your PERSONALITY that you could change, what would it be? o I tend to take on more than I should.
· What makes you likeable? Are you likeable enough for people to want to spend extended periods of time with you? o I care very much for souls that are hurting and not knowing their way. I want to help those less fortunate but not simply in word but in deed as well.
· What makes you unlikeable? Is this a chronic problem or can you change? o I tend to feel strongly about things and then act on them.
· What type of people would like you, and who might not like you? o I think that people who are reasonable and logical would like me whereas people who don't agree with me will find me a tad combative and strong-willed.
· Would you describe your life to this point as being generally happy, pretty average, or generally unhappy? Can you briefly explain why? o Perhaps a little of both. I feel like the work I have done thus far has been good but I still feel unfulfilled.
· What is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to you? o A friend died because I let her and aided her in doing something that she thought was right. She went above and beyond where she didn't have to and she ended up being killed for it.
· What is the best thing that has ever happened to you? o Still being born into this line has brought me great joy and I take great pride in it although it's not been easy bearing the responsibility.
· How important are material possessions to you? Do you regard them as a symbol of your success, or a trap, or neither? o They are inconsequential but essential if you need to accomplish a task.
· How do your surroundings reflect your success (or lack of it) in life so far? o It is a reminder that I'm lacking in something.
· What do your surroundings say about you? (Your house, your car, your kitchen, your bathroom, your workplace.) o That I have no needs.
· Do you feel that you have achieved all you are capable of in life? o Absolutely not. Not until I am free from being in the Virgilian line of Maro.
· Has your life changed in any way recently? o Unfortunately, no.
· If your life has changed for the worse lately, what can you do to turn things around? o I suppose that I could scale back on how I feel about where I stand on the Order…but I won't.
· Do you INTEND to change your life in the near future? If so, how and why? o I think that I would like to help the poor somehow but I don't know quite how yet.
· What is the most important goal in your life? (What do you really WANT?) o To make a real difference and not just be a bystander.
· And how do you plan to achieve it? o I think that I would like to turn my section into a homeless shelter for abused women and train them to become something. My mother was abused by my father.
· What are the likely obstacles to your getting what you want? o I'm not sure that the order would approve of outsiders entering the monastery.
· How do you plan to overcome these foreseeable obstacles? What might be the likely result of your actions? o I will try to win the support of Sovereign Francisco and hopefully work on the rest at some point.
· If something were to happen to deflect you from reaching your goal, how would you get back on track? Who would you call upon to help you? o I would ask the gardener but what shape that would take I am unclear.
· What particular talents or traits do you possess that will help you to get what you want? o I love music and love to play the piano. My father was a concert pianist so I was able to learn from him.
· How might you influence others to help you? o With time and a lot of patience and being relational.
· What is the biggest thing motivating you to achieve / get what you want? o Feeling constrained in this place. To me watching over the affairs of man through a family line and intervening indirectly is not productive.
· Name the character trait or personality weakness that is most likely to prevent you from getting what you want. o The Sovereigns of the Virgilian Order.
· How might you compensate for this? o Not sure yet.
· Who would you die to protect? o Whoever is in my care.
· Who would die to protect you? o There is no one left, I'm afraid, who would fill those shoes.
· What is the thing you most fear losing in life? (This might be a person, a possession, or an abstract quality like 'respect', 'freedom' or 'credibility'.) o Freedom, Creativity.
· What drives you to do things you might regret later? o The sense that others beside me are standing by and doing nothing. I would rather try and fail but then again I don't like to lose.
· What are you about to do right now – today? o Practicing some Mendelssohn perhaps.
· Finish these sentences: · "The most important thing in life is…" o Honor
· "If there's one thing that makes me mad it's…" o Phony religiosity.
· "I would lose interest in life if…"o I stayed where I am.
· "I can usually get myself out of trouble by…" o Accomplishing something in the interests of the Sovereigns.
· "If I encounter a problem in life I work through it by…" o Playing the piano
· "I don't like people who…" o Sit on their rump
· "I like people who…" o Care and act upon it.
· "My most pressing need right now is…" o Tending to my duties at the order
· "One thing I'm determined to achieve in the next month is…" o Seeing that the family line in our care is being guided in the right direction.
· "One thing I'm determined to achieve in the next year is…" o Win over Sovereign Francisco.
· "My motto in life is: …" o Don't just sit there, do something.
Final question: "Is there anything else you can tell me about yourself that has a bearing on what you might do or say in any given situation?"
I think that if someone in the Dante family line were killed as a result of no action I would have someone's head.
End of Interview
Hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed putting that together. Tomorrow I'm having what's called a lithroscopy (where they blast your kidney stones) tomorrow so if you're a praying person I'd appreciate it. I'm going to go play with my kid now before she has to spend the night at a friend's house.
Chat later!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels.For more information, please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com
Thanks for reading!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.
September 10, 2011
Where Were You on That Day?
On September 11, 2001 my wife and I had just moved to New Mexico to run a lodge at the pleading of my in-laws who had retired there. Now, when people her of New Mexico the images of dry desert, cactus, and tumbleweeds usually come to mind but not so where we lived. The lodge (and the home we lived in) was 8,400 feet up on a mountain full of dense, green forest, wild coyotes and an occasional brown bear searching for trout in the creek right behind our house. My wife was 7 months pregnant and while we were eagerly awaiting the birth of our daughter we toiled hard and long in that lodge. My wife was always better with the customers and between that and the pregnancy she remained in the office/store for most of that time while went about scrubbing toilets and making beds. As a side note, I stunk at making beds so after our daughter was born my wife felt the need to intervene in that regard.
That time was not easy for us. We had a baby on the way, Kristen’s dad had died just a few months before and our business was upside down. We were barely there for a few months when we had decided that New Mexico was not for us and were already planning our “escape” when we got the call. Kristen’s mom called the store and said that one of the towers had been hit. Immediately my heart sank. I was born in New York. I still had family there. That was my home although for a short time before my mom moved us away. I remember the time my dad took us down there to see the towers. I stood at the base of one of the towers and looked straight up the side. And with the smell of hot dog vendors and the sounds of cabs going by I simply uttered, “Wow.”
That was the memory that rushed into my mind like freight train.
I rushed to the house and turned on the TV and my wife and I watched in disbelief. As the smoke rose into the morning sky I could feel that childhood memory being stolen from me by cowards. Then in horror we watched the south tower collapse. Not to diminish the horror of the south tower going down but I do remember feeling a sense of relief that the north tower was still standing almost like a lone survivor making it shore after a shipwreck. But soon after, the north tower collapsed. “All those people,” I said out loud. I had hoped that by some miracle they had all been evacuated but not so. When the pentagon was hit I prayed, “God, please let it stop.” Then the heroic passengers of flight 93 defeated the plans of those same cowards.
We couldn’t pull ourselves away from the television on that day even though we were so far away.
It’s now been 10 years later since that heinous act was committed and my prayer is not for us but for the families that have suffered the brunt of that day. For the children who lost their mom or dad. For the mom or dad who lost a son or daughter. Say a prayer for them today….please. And give your family an extra hug today because they’re still with you. Love them more today than you did yesterday and focus on them this weekend.
As always, comments are welcome. I’d love to hear your story about where you were.
On a side note (totally unrelated), I want to say thanks to the friends that offered a “get well” wish to me. This weekend I went through a bad bout with a kidney stone and I’ve been home resting up from that. Thank you so much.
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels.
Visit his blog at http://leonardoverse.blogspot.com and his website at http://www.leonardoverse.com
That time was not easy for us. We had a baby on the way, Kristen’s dad had died just a few months before and our business was upside down. We were barely there for a few months when we had decided that New Mexico was not for us and were already planning our “escape” when we got the call. Kristen’s mom called the store and said that one of the towers had been hit. Immediately my heart sank. I was born in New York. I still had family there. That was my home although for a short time before my mom moved us away. I remember the time my dad took us down there to see the towers. I stood at the base of one of the towers and looked straight up the side. And with the smell of hot dog vendors and the sounds of cabs going by I simply uttered, “Wow.”
That was the memory that rushed into my mind like freight train.
I rushed to the house and turned on the TV and my wife and I watched in disbelief. As the smoke rose into the morning sky I could feel that childhood memory being stolen from me by cowards. Then in horror we watched the south tower collapse. Not to diminish the horror of the south tower going down but I do remember feeling a sense of relief that the north tower was still standing almost like a lone survivor making it shore after a shipwreck. But soon after, the north tower collapsed. “All those people,” I said out loud. I had hoped that by some miracle they had all been evacuated but not so. When the pentagon was hit I prayed, “God, please let it stop.” Then the heroic passengers of flight 93 defeated the plans of those same cowards.
We couldn’t pull ourselves away from the television on that day even though we were so far away.
It’s now been 10 years later since that heinous act was committed and my prayer is not for us but for the families that have suffered the brunt of that day. For the children who lost their mom or dad. For the mom or dad who lost a son or daughter. Say a prayer for them today….please. And give your family an extra hug today because they’re still with you. Love them more today than you did yesterday and focus on them this weekend.
As always, comments are welcome. I’d love to hear your story about where you were.
On a side note (totally unrelated), I want to say thanks to the friends that offered a “get well” wish to me. This weekend I went through a bad bout with a kidney stone and I’ve been home resting up from that. Thank you so much.
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels.
Visit his blog at http://leonardoverse.blogspot.com and his website at http://www.leonardoverse.com
Where Were You on That Day?
On September 11, 2001 my wife and I had just moved to New Mexico to run a lodge at the pleading of my in-laws who had retired there. Now, when people her of New Mexico the images of dry desert, cactus, and tumbleweeds usually come to mind but not so where we lived. The lodge (and the home we lived in) was 8,400 feet up on a mountain full of dense, green forest, wild coyotes and an occasional brown bear searching for trout in the creek right behind our house. My wife was 7 months pregnant and while we were eagerly awaiting the birth of our daughter we toiled hard and long in that lodge. My wife was always better with the customers and between that and the pregnancy she remained in the office/store for most of that time while went about scrubbing toilets and making beds. As a side note, I stunk at making beds so after our daughter was born my wife felt the need to intervene in that regard.
That time was not easy for us. We had a baby on the way, Kristen's dad had died just a few months before and our business was upside down. We were barely there for a few months when we had decided that New Mexico was not for us and were already planning our "escape" when we got the call. Kristen's mom called the store and said that one of the towers had been hit. Immediately my heart sank. I was born in New York. I still had family there. That was my home although for a short time before my mom moved us away. I remember the time my dad took us down there to see the towers. I stood at the base of one of the towers and looked straight up the side. And with the smell of hot dog vendors and the sounds of cabs going by I simply uttered, "Wow."That was the memory that rushed into my mind like freight train.
I rushed to the house and turned on the TV and my wife and I watched in disbelief. As the smoke rose into the morning sky I could feel that childhood memory being stolen from me by cowards. Then in horror we watched the south tower collapse. Not to diminish the horror of the south tower going down but I do remember feeling a sense of relief that the north tower was still standing almost like a lone survivor making it shore after a shipwreck. But soon after, the north tower collapsed. "All those people," I said out loud. I had hoped that by some miracle they had all been evacuated but not so. When the pentagon was hit I prayed, "God, please let it stop." Then the heroic passengers of flight 93 defeated the plans of those same cowards.We couldn't pull ourselves away from the television on that day even though we were so far away.
It's now been 10 years later since that heinous act was committed and my prayer is not for us but for the families that have suffered the brunt of that day. For the children who lost their mom or dad. For the mom or dad who lost a son or daughter. Say a prayer for them today….please. And give your family an extra hug today because they're still with you. Love them more today than you did yesterday and focus on them this weekend.As always, comments are welcome. I'd love to hear your story about where you were.
On a side note (totally unrelated), I want to say thanks to the friends that offered a "get well" wish to me. This weekend I went through a bad bout with a kidney stone and I've been home resting up from that. Thank you so much.Chat soon!LennyLeonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels.Visit his blog at http://leonardoverse.blogspot.com and his website at http://www.leonardoverse.comThanks for reading!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.
That time was not easy for us. We had a baby on the way, Kristen's dad had died just a few months before and our business was upside down. We were barely there for a few months when we had decided that New Mexico was not for us and were already planning our "escape" when we got the call. Kristen's mom called the store and said that one of the towers had been hit. Immediately my heart sank. I was born in New York. I still had family there. That was my home although for a short time before my mom moved us away. I remember the time my dad took us down there to see the towers. I stood at the base of one of the towers and looked straight up the side. And with the smell of hot dog vendors and the sounds of cabs going by I simply uttered, "Wow."That was the memory that rushed into my mind like freight train.
I rushed to the house and turned on the TV and my wife and I watched in disbelief. As the smoke rose into the morning sky I could feel that childhood memory being stolen from me by cowards. Then in horror we watched the south tower collapse. Not to diminish the horror of the south tower going down but I do remember feeling a sense of relief that the north tower was still standing almost like a lone survivor making it shore after a shipwreck. But soon after, the north tower collapsed. "All those people," I said out loud. I had hoped that by some miracle they had all been evacuated but not so. When the pentagon was hit I prayed, "God, please let it stop." Then the heroic passengers of flight 93 defeated the plans of those same cowards.We couldn't pull ourselves away from the television on that day even though we were so far away.
It's now been 10 years later since that heinous act was committed and my prayer is not for us but for the families that have suffered the brunt of that day. For the children who lost their mom or dad. For the mom or dad who lost a son or daughter. Say a prayer for them today….please. And give your family an extra hug today because they're still with you. Love them more today than you did yesterday and focus on them this weekend.As always, comments are welcome. I'd love to hear your story about where you were.
On a side note (totally unrelated), I want to say thanks to the friends that offered a "get well" wish to me. This weekend I went through a bad bout with a kidney stone and I've been home resting up from that. Thank you so much.Chat soon!LennyLeonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels.Visit his blog at http://leonardoverse.blogspot.com and his website at http://www.leonardoverse.comThanks for reading!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.
September 2, 2011
Haven: Year One
One year ago this week, Haven: The Graphic Novel released into comic stores all around the country. So what's it been like for me in the past year? The best way I can describe it well...a lightning fast roller coaster ride complete with ups and downs and twists and turns. All that to say that it's not always been a rosy picture.
When the book released I hit the comic stores first with signings. One in particular, Outer Limits in Franklin, TN was extremely supportive. Thanks Anthony. Others, sad to say, cancelled their shipment because it didn't arrive to them in time from Diamond. That was very disheartening since I had scheduled more signings at some of these storefronts. One store in Nashville wouldn't even talk to me when I offered a signing which I thought was really odd. From there I moved on to Fairy Tales Bookstore in Nashville. Tammy Derr was an amazing host and I strongly recommend visiting Fairy Tales.
From there I went on to the Southern Festival of Books and then on to GMX which was by far my favorite experience of them all. In fact, I was just telling Jeremy Miller that I'd like to come back every year if possible and host more panels if they'll put up with me. Loved it, loved it.
So where do we stand now with Haven? Well, about six-seven months ago I was approached by an agent and asked if I would write a prose novel so I did. I really enjoyed that process because I could really delve into the history of the characters that appear in the graphic novel much more than a GN would allow. I've submitted the work and I'm waiting to hear back so we'll see what's in store for that. As for the graphic novel itself well, sales-wise we're in the hole. It's been pretty gut-wrenching since Davy and I put so much into it. Not to mention the imposition on my family. I try to be patient but sometimes the sadness takes over and I find myself chowing down on a carton of "Death by Chocolate". I'm a newbie, I get that. So I have to choose to be patient and keep plugging away at promoting it and connecting with folks and hope that some day there will be enough steam behind it to add more to the library. Heck, I've also written a movie treatment along with a proposal for two children's book series and an animated series.
I've mentioned in my talks that I keep a file folder in my drawer full of rejection letters and at the end of it is my contract with Markosia. I keep so that I can some day remind my daughter never to give up on her dreams. I have to choose to give myself the same lecture now and never give up.
Never surrender.
When the book released I hit the comic stores first with signings. One in particular, Outer Limits in Franklin, TN was extremely supportive. Thanks Anthony. Others, sad to say, cancelled their shipment because it didn't arrive to them in time from Diamond. That was very disheartening since I had scheduled more signings at some of these storefronts. One store in Nashville wouldn't even talk to me when I offered a signing which I thought was really odd. From there I moved on to Fairy Tales Bookstore in Nashville. Tammy Derr was an amazing host and I strongly recommend visiting Fairy Tales.
From there I went on to the Southern Festival of Books and then on to GMX which was by far my favorite experience of them all. In fact, I was just telling Jeremy Miller that I'd like to come back every year if possible and host more panels if they'll put up with me. Loved it, loved it.
So where do we stand now with Haven? Well, about six-seven months ago I was approached by an agent and asked if I would write a prose novel so I did. I really enjoyed that process because I could really delve into the history of the characters that appear in the graphic novel much more than a GN would allow. I've submitted the work and I'm waiting to hear back so we'll see what's in store for that. As for the graphic novel itself well, sales-wise we're in the hole. It's been pretty gut-wrenching since Davy and I put so much into it. Not to mention the imposition on my family. I try to be patient but sometimes the sadness takes over and I find myself chowing down on a carton of "Death by Chocolate". I'm a newbie, I get that. So I have to choose to be patient and keep plugging away at promoting it and connecting with folks and hope that some day there will be enough steam behind it to add more to the library. Heck, I've also written a movie treatment along with a proposal for two children's book series and an animated series.
I've mentioned in my talks that I keep a file folder in my drawer full of rejection letters and at the end of it is my contract with Markosia. I keep so that I can some day remind my daughter never to give up on her dreams. I have to choose to give myself the same lecture now and never give up.
Never surrender.
August 25, 2011
GMX is Approaching Fast!
If you've not pre-registered for GMX please do it now. Visit http://www.geekmediaexpo.com for more information. Hope to see you there. It should be fun!Thanks for reading!
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.
Leonardo Ramirez is an author of prose fiction and graphic novels. For more information please visit http://www.leonardoverse.com.
GMX is Approaching Fast!
If you've not pre-registered for GMX please do it now. Visit http://www.geekmediaexpo.com for more information. Hope to see you there. It should be fun!
