Kirk
asked
Matthew FitzSimmons:
First, awesome book! I found your book thru the Kindle First program and I'm glad I did. The plot had me hooked from the start. The thing I like the most is that Gibson Vaughn is an average, flawed guy and not some big, bad never makes mistakes hero. So, where did you get the idea for his character? And, how hard is it to stay in character if he differs from you?
Matthew FitzSimmons
Thank you, Kirk! Glad you liked it.
To answer your question, I think there are a number of ways to create characters. One is to imagine the character and then invent a backstory that gives them the attributes that you want. Creating Gibson, I tried to work in the opposite direction - I created the backstory first. Once I knew the major events/traumas/landmarks in his life, then I asked myself, how had that shaped him? How would it make him strong and to what would it make him vulnerable? I wanted him to be a real person so I'm glad you appreciate that about him; I feel that "ex-Navy SEAL" has become the default superhero backstory for many thriller protagonists that allows protagonists to simply be good at everything. I've never cared for the overpowered, infallible hero in books or movies and definitely wanted to go in a different direction with Gibson.
And it can be a challenge to stay in character, but I really enjoy that aspect of writing. I'll give you one example - Gibson is very smart, but he never went to college; he went into the Marines instead. His education has largely been practical rather than esoteric, and he's never had a lot of time for pop culture - he doesn't know much about film, music, . He's been too busy trying to survive. I, on the other hand, went to college, and I am a pop culture sponge. It sounds like a small thing, but I have to constantly remind myself that Gibson just doesn't know a lot of the useless trivia that I do. I'll write a line of dialogue for him and then realize that that is something that I would know, not what Gibson would know. It seems like a small thing, but it helps keep Gibson separate from his author.
To answer your question, I think there are a number of ways to create characters. One is to imagine the character and then invent a backstory that gives them the attributes that you want. Creating Gibson, I tried to work in the opposite direction - I created the backstory first. Once I knew the major events/traumas/landmarks in his life, then I asked myself, how had that shaped him? How would it make him strong and to what would it make him vulnerable? I wanted him to be a real person so I'm glad you appreciate that about him; I feel that "ex-Navy SEAL" has become the default superhero backstory for many thriller protagonists that allows protagonists to simply be good at everything. I've never cared for the overpowered, infallible hero in books or movies and definitely wanted to go in a different direction with Gibson.
And it can be a challenge to stay in character, but I really enjoy that aspect of writing. I'll give you one example - Gibson is very smart, but he never went to college; he went into the Marines instead. His education has largely been practical rather than esoteric, and he's never had a lot of time for pop culture - he doesn't know much about film, music, . He's been too busy trying to survive. I, on the other hand, went to college, and I am a pop culture sponge. It sounds like a small thing, but I have to constantly remind myself that Gibson just doesn't know a lot of the useless trivia that I do. I'll write a line of dialogue for him and then realize that that is something that I would know, not what Gibson would know. It seems like a small thing, but it helps keep Gibson separate from his author.
More Answered Questions
Roger Duval
asked
Matthew FitzSimmons:
Matthew, I just finished The Short Drop audio book. I loved this book so much that I immediately started again from the beginning to go back through and listen for all the subtleties. You are very talented, my friend. I will immediately buy your next book. Your characters, and story, are presented in such a way that my brain turns all of it into a movie. Congratulations. Sell many copies and eat some cherry pie! (?)
Tyrone Jackson
asked
Matthew FitzSimmons:
I enjoyed Short Drop. I really liked the Tinsely character, would you or have you considered creating a series around that character? I think there is a large audience of people who would really follow that. I like Gibson Vaughn too so I'll be sure to check out the next one. Thanks for creating!
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