Are the Dang Characters Real People?

Are the Dang characters real people? This is the question I get most. The answer is, of course, no. Sorta. I draw inspiration from all levels of association. Most of the characters are loosely inspired by peripheral qualities of family, friends, acquaintances and random people I’ve never met. There’s a little bit of everybody and all of nobody in each of the characters.

In many ways, Dang is an archetypaI story. We all know dreamers with ambitions of fame and fortune. We all have a nosey neighbor, and a fun-loving but clueless friend. Dang is my own take on the stock characters we have in our lives. Recognizing familiar qualities in characters, seeing myself and others in the story, is part of what I like about reading. I hope that as you read you can laugh and maybe even see yourself reflected in Dang.

The one person I can say with certainty that most of the characters, especially the four main characters, are based is on me. A part of me lives in Willem, Murven, Deputy CJ and Peggy. I have crazy ideas for start-up companies, and I have my lazy, playful side. My connection with Deputy CJ obvious, and I enjoy a juicy piece of gossip every now and then. Fortunately, for me and those around me, writing Dang is cathartic, and I don’t let those aspects of my personality consume me. How about you? Do any of the characters remind you of yourself or someone you know?