Relaxing Hobbies
Most of our protagonists have interests or jobs that we use as the center of our series. But tell us about your main character(s)? What do they do for fun, or to relax? This may be something you know as the author, but your readers don’t. Or it could be a subplot in your series.
Barb: Um, solve murders? Julia Snowden in the Maine Clambake Mysteries doesn’t have any hobbies, though she definitely needs one. Jane Darrowfield, who’s retired, gardens, plays bridge, and travels. Jane has turned her hobby of solving vexing problems for neighbors into a job as a Professional Busybody.
Jessie: My characters tend to have passionate enthusiasms, likely because I do. Edwina gardens, rambles, knits and is engaged in writing her first novel. Her friend Charles is an avid watercolorist. Beryl loves to gamble, play sports of various types and to pilot all sorts of vehicles. All of these things have shown up in the books so they aren’t things only I know as the writer. Maybe I should think on this a bit!
Liz: I think my characters definitely need more hobbies…Maddie James loves to sing, which some might remember from the first Cat Cafe book. She hasn’t been doing much of it lately though, so maybe she should get back to that! Violet has her crystals, which is her business, but since she loves them so much she’s always learning more about different stones in order to bring more choices to her store.
Edith/Maddie: Robbie Jordan goes out for long, hard bike rides to clear her mind, but I’m not sure that’s a hobby. She does like to do difficult crossword puzzles – in pen. So far Mac Almeida doesn’t have a hobby other than reading cozy mysteries and discussing them with her book group. Rose Carroll doesn’t, either, but what working woman did in 1890? She does grow medicinal herbs in her garden.
Sherry: I love reading about all these different hobbies. It’s what makes reading so fun, learning about fictional characters and picturing yourself doing them. Chloe loves water sports. It stems from a tragic incident when she was ten. Sarah, of course, loves going to garage sales and turned that love into her business. Now if only someone would pay me to read!
Julie: I wrote the question, so that means I’ve been thinking about it. I think Delia does online gaming or plays Dungeons and Dragons. Ernie is an actor and a baker. Tamara probably plays tennis or golf. Roddy paints and draws. Lilly gardens (of course). She also knits, does puzzles, and likes crosswords, though she cheats.
Writer friends, do your characters have secret hobbies, or hobbies that are part of the book? Readers, do you like discussions of hobbies or games? Does it help you connect to a character?
