Do Characters Share Phobias with Their Authors?

Since I'm going to talk about bugs that I consider nasty, I thought I'd start with a beautiful photo of a butterfly to remind us they aren't all bad. Be warned, this is the last nice  pic.

What trips your "ick" factor? 

For me, it's bugs. Not all bugs, but if they're on me or in my house and they aren't butterflies...

Yesterday I read and tweeted an article about an author who found a tick crawling on him on board a plane. Although I don't mind bugs as long as they stay outdoors and away from me, I, along with a lot of other readers, was creeped out by his story. Where did the critter come from? Were there more on board? He spent a lot of time figuring out how to kill it and tied it in with an author using the tools at hand and their imaginations to solve any story problems, especially inventing unique ways to commit murders. A nice article, and you can read it here:  http://judgebillhopkins.tumblr.com/.

What really intrigued me were the reader reactions -- everywhere from "meh" to "Yikes, you mean there are bugs on planes? Eww!" Yes, Virginia, there are bugs everywhere. All sizes, shapes and colors.

Some are beautiful like the butterfly above, but flies are mostly a nuisance. Others bugs can be equally annoying but also be disease carriers like mosquitoes. Garden bugs eat your plants and flowers, tiny ants invade your kitchen, and fleas attack your pets. 

I liked bugs a whole lot better as a child before I knew so much about them.



Okay, I guess I have one more photo that's not so bad. Who's afraid of a lady bug?

Ironically, the smaller the bug, the less I want it in my house. Especially if it's an ugly black or dark brown, yuk. I can't even think about the subject of bed bugs without getting itchy all over. (I didn't want to gross any of us out with a picture!) Maybe b-bugs is why I haven't taken any trips lately. Even fancy hotels aren't safe, you know. Eww.

Contrasted with snakes, I'd pick the snake every day. As long as they're not wrapped around my arm or my leg, I can take snakes. Although it is true I have been seen on a Texas rattlesnake hunt carrying a very big gun. Purely defensive, I assure you.
Did I hear someone mention spiders? I don't care for them either. They're bugs, aren't they? Even Ari, my witch heroine, doesn't like spiders. Strange, she'd have the same phobia. But look at it...creepy, sneaky. Ready to pounce on someone. I would rather it wasn't me.

Am I alone in this? What trips your "ick" meter? Have you seen other phobias appear in fiction books?



BTW, if the bugs have totally freaked you out, come back Wednesday. I have a guest and a much, much nicer topic!! :)