Beloved Characters

Some time ago, I was writing one of the Rock Chicks and I was laughing so hard at something Daisy did, I rushed to my husband, MM, and, through my mirth, shared with him Daisy’s hilariousness. When I was done, he was not laughing. He was looking at me like he was considering taking my temperature.

Then he asked the wrong question: “You do know these characters aren’t real, right?”

I rocketed to instant fury. What was he talking about? Not real? How could he think that? They are alive, they live full lives and it doesn’t matter that they do it in my head.
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I could wax on for hours about my work (and shall do in this blog), but I couldn’t tell you what is most important to me: story or character.

I can tell you that I do not sit around for hours and outline plots or write tomes of character back story. I don’t because I don’t need to. Without exception, characters are born in my head fully formed with personalities and histories and, as a storyteller, I am simply the conduit to tell their tales.

For instance, in an upcoming Rock Chick ( Rock Chick Regret ), as I was writing Rock Chick Reckoning (the book which will come first), as you do (or I do), I took a break to have a soak in the bath. Out of nowhere, Sadie Townsend popped into my head, her entire story, exactly what she looked like and what would happen to her and since part of what would happen to her was really not that great (at all) I burst out crying. I was so moved by her history and what she would endure; I finished my bath and sat right down at my computer so I could tell her tale. And I did. That book is done and awaiting edits to be let loose. And I love Sadie. I adore her. And she lives on happily… in my head.

Now, this is not to say characters are not inspired by my experiences and people I care deeply for in real life. Examples are Kate and Keira in At Peace . As might be noted in the dedication, these characters are based on my nieces, Jill and Karen. Do not get me wrong, Kate and Keira are not Jilly and Karie, but they are based on them, their manner, their behavior, the immense level of their loyalty and their extreme internal and external beauty. And there is a further beauty about this for the many people who will read At Peace who will never meet and experience the awesomeness of my two nieces will have just a hint of that gift they give me in knowing them.

I will admit, I utilize this often to influence readers for how can you fall in love with my characters unless I show you the way? Often I use my deep, abiding love for people in my life, instill that in traits or mannerisms of characters, and share it with you.

Other examples are Tod and Stevie from the Rock Chick series. Now Tod and Stevie are actually real people. They exist. They are my old neighbors in Denver. They are just as hilarious, crazy, loyal and sweet as the fictional Tod and Stevie. And I wore “Tod’s” dresses often (see my gallery at: Dressing Up with Tod and Stevie for proof). Oh yes I did. And his shoes and accessories and I can only thank God we were the same size.

Also, there is Trixie from Rock Chick Rescue. Now, Trixie is not one thing like my dear friend Dixie except Trixie has Dixie’s beautiful hands. My friend Dix has the most beautiful hands I’ve ever seen. And to help you fall in love with Trixie, as I fell in love with her as I wrote her, I gave her Dixie’s hands so I could ground myself in the love I feel for my friend and share that with my readers.

Then there is Ally Nightingale, who is based on my best friend Kelly. Kelly isn’t like Ally, as such, she just shares Ally’s fearlessness. If I had to pick one person to be at my side during a harrowing experience, it would be Kel. Hands down. And if any of my Rock Chicks need to pick, they’d pick Ally.

But this is not always the case. Sometimes, like Kate and Keira, Tod and Stevie, they fit the story so I introduce them. Sometimes, like Daisy, Shirleen, Krystal, Elvira, Maxie, Mrs. Truman (and I could go on), they were just born in my head and live there.

Obviously, it’s crowded but it’s a happy space.

I will share more stories about characters in later blogs but don’t hesitate to contact me via my website at www.kristenashley.net if you want to share with me a character of mine you enjoy or want to know better. I’m more than happy to tell you their stories mostly because they love to come out.