A question for you all ...

[Barbara]

People often ask me whether I plot out an entire book before I begin to write. The answer is no. I do have a general plan, but once the characters are established, they often do things that surprise me. This happened with several of the characters in FAMILY TREE.

So tell me. Did any of the characters in this book surprise you?

[Tara]

Looking back, I don't think any of the characters surprised me. I guess the individual reactions by each character towards the birth of the baby was not surprising to me. I think I would have been more surprised if all of the characters had been overly accepting and didn't question the child's appearance, therefore not questioning their own biology and ancestry.

[Vicki]

When I was reading the story, I was a little surprised with some of her grandmother's behavior. Except now that I think of it, her mother was secretative it shouldn't be a surprise that so was her grandmother.

[Tammy]

I have read a couple of interviews where the author says the characters often surprise the author with what they do. This is amazing to me! For some reason I think that since a fiction author can control all aspects (ie; the book isn't based on historical events) that they will control all aspects.

I will say that I was surprised a bit by Hugh - in the first chapter he seems to be comfortable asserting his independence over his family, but in the middle of the book seems confused by where his loyalties lie. It seemed easier for him to view the world objectively than it was for him to examine his own life. I like that he had to go through the re-examination process though.

I was surprised by some of Dana's resistance to her biological father's overtures (or general interaction with his family). The possible kinship seems like such a long shot...although the knitting circle sounds like good company even if that doesn't turn out to be true.

I was surprised by the woman at the knitting store that seemed to be there on a hunch that she was related to Hugh (is this Saundra?).

I like it when characters surprise me or when they do something "unexpected" but which makes sense within their character/thought process.