Interview: Chance and Dakota from A BRIDGE UNBROKEN

The characters in the Miller’s Creek novels rarely cooperate. I go to a lot of time and trouble in plotting out the story before I write one word, but without fail the characters usually take over and rewrite at least part of the story for me.

Honestly, I don’t mind. Their version is usually much more interesting than mine.

Here’s an interview where  Chance and Dakota–the hero and heroine from A Bridge Unbroken–turn the tables on me. Some of you may have already read the interview on various blogs during the virtual book tour, but I just had to re-post it here to show just how unruly the characters in my stories usually are!

Character Interview with Chance and Dakota from A BRIDGE UNBROKEN

Chance: (finger to lips) Shhhh! Don’t tell Cathy. She’s supposed to arrive here in a sec to interview me and Dakota. What she doesn’t know is that we’re gonna turn the interview around and put her in the hot seat for a change. After all, she’s put us through the ringer in writing A Bridge Unbroken. It’s only fair that we return the favor. Right? Oops, here she comes. (returns to seat and acts all nonchalant)

Cathy: (enters and moves to seat) Hey, you two. Y’all ready to get this interview underway?

Chance: (with a smirk and a sideways glance exchanged with Dakota) Of course. Why wouldn’t we be?

Dakota: (her green eyes shooting daggers) Yeah, it’s not like we have anything else to do with our time, thanks to you.

Cathy: (shifting in her chair uncomfortably) Uh…what do you mean?

Dakota: Renovate a farmhouse, rebuild a farm, fix a bridge, work on our relationship, get away from the antagonist, all while dealing with an unexpected gift of farm animals and a dog? I mean, really, couldn’t you just send us to outer space in a defunct space shuttle or something?

Chance: (reaches over and pats Dakota’s arm) Easy, honey, your Irish temper is showing.

Dakota: (doesn’t answer, but continues to shoot daggers at Cathy)

Cathy: (swallows hard and glances down at her notes) Um, sorry. First question: Why did you two introduce yourselves to me with such major problems to overcome?

Chance: Ha! That’s not the way I see it. You’re the one who created us, not the other way around. Why’d you make us with such problems to overcome?

Cathy: Because I wanted to explore the topic of forgiveness. It’s such a huge part of our faith, but all believers tend to struggle with it, especially when the offender seems unconcerned and determined to destroy us, you know?

Dakota: (nods, now her eyes hold understanding) What makes it even harder is when our own actions hurt others. We can’t go back and undo what’s been done. It’s especially difficult when we have trouble forgiving ourselves. And then when the other party accepts no responsibility… (her words trail off, and she glances at Chance)

Chance: (frowning) Haven’t we discussed this enough already? Yeah, so maybe I have a hard time seeing the speck in my eye–

Dakota: Speck?

Chance: Okay, so maybe it’s a little bigger than that.

Cathy: Little?

Chance: You, too?

(Cathy and Dakota share a knowing look.)

Chance: (with an exasperated sigh) Okay, beam. You happy now?

(Both Cathy and Dakota smile and nod.)

Cathy: (staring at the clock) Wow, time really does fly fast when you’re having fun. Better move on to question two. Dakota, why do you have the tendency to run away?

Dakota: (crosses arms, a glare on her face) Well, as I recall, you gave me a pretty tough childhood. (inserts sarcasm) Let me express my undying gratitude.

Cathy: (smiling) You’re very welcome. Anything to help the story.

Chance: Yeah, speaking of that, why do you put the story above your own characters? Don’t we deserve some gratitude for bowing to your commands?

Cathy: Um, first of all, you are the story; the story is you. That’s just the way it works. And as for bowing to my commands? Well, let’s just say that both of you are two of the most unruly characters I’ve ever written. You took over on more than one occasion and told the story for me.

Dakota: I would think you’d be grateful.

Cathy: If I wrote by the seat of my pants, maybe. But I like knowing what you guys are gonna do before I ever start writing the story.

(Chance and Dakota look at each other.)

Dakota: Great. Our author has OCD.

Chance: Big time. But at least it explains why she put us through so much.

Cathy: Enough about me. Chance, would you explain to my reader friends how you got those scars on your face?

(Chance blushes and squirms in his seat.)

Dakota: (still looking at Chance, with a compassionate expression) Uh, I’ll take responsibility for that. Sorry, Chance.

Chance: (smiling tenderly at Dakota) It’s over and done with. Besides, I gave you a few scars as well.

Dakota: (smiling back) Yeah, not all scars are visible. But I think we’ve done pretty well in moving past our scars. (She takes his hand.)

Chance: (brings her hand to his lips and plants a soft kiss there) Agreed. (He stands and pulls Dakota up with him.) Interview over.

Cathy: (her face incredulous) What? But I’m not through.

Chance: Oh yes, you are. (He and Dakota turn and move away.)

Dakota: (glancing back over her shoulder) Seriously, Cathy, how can you expect to write a romance and not give your hero and heroine some alone time? I mean, really.

Cathy: (watches them walk away, then produces a sheepish grin) Sorry. Did I mention that these two characters don’t always do what I say? (sighs and waves good-bye) Thanks for coming to the interview.

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