[Meredith Sinclair]

OK, so I guess I should go first and see what happens and if no one responds then we'll let it go.
One of my favorite characters, who comes in along in one of the later books is Sam (nickname), an elven chieftain. He is a very wordy little fellow who always assumes that everyone knows what he is talking about. He outs everything on everyone in general and then blinks at them in consternation when they react to his revelations negatively. He loves using descriptive words, stringing them together like popcorn tinsel until someone, usually someone impatient like the Knight of Death makes him stop. He is short as are most elven creatures, has long, silvery blonde hair in which he attaches all manner of things, including smaller fairy creatures, feathers, flowers, bugs, crystals, silver and gold,etc. He wears soft, leather clothes green in color and carries a variety of weapons including spears, swords, bows and arrows and knives. He is very nimble, can hide in trees and knows how to manipulate humans to get what he wants from them. He can sleep almost anywhere and he, of course, has pointed ears as tradition requires.

Hey! That's a SHOCK! I just knew you would talk about somebody else. SAM! Yep I like him, you are right, VERY wordy...I wish I could meet him and Paddy Puffingtowne (sorry if I spelled that wrong) I surely thought if you weren't going to mention one of the main characters, it would be Paddy or Lemarik. I like both of them.

WHERE are all the authors today... out enjoying BBQ and such I suppose. I have been lurking for hours. Still no answer to one of my questions about the Nchildren's Vampire book... anybody

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Brendan,

My characters are often born out of an emotional curiosity. I have always been interested in the concept of "The Messiah" and thought about how interesting it would be to revisit the Biblical account of the life of Jesus and give it an alternate ending. This was the germ that led to the creation of one of my most important and interesting characters.

In the case of my character Laris Goddaya, who is half-human and half-fairy, I wondered what it would be like if a character was born with the greatest power imaginable, but had never been shown any love. Laris is a teenager who is shunned by her mother's people because she has human blood. But humans hold her in contempt as well because she is part fairy. Unbeknown to anyone, Laris is really of divine origin and has been sent by the gods to save the world. But the cruelty shown Laris affects her deeply and makes her feel reviled and alone.

Laris possesses the most beautiful soul and is fiercely loyal. But the scorn she feels when she is around others begins to awaken the darker feelings within her, setting the stage for her to be corrupted by those who would seek to control her.

In the case of Laris I wondered, What if the world turned its back on its savior? What kind of repercussions would that have for the "chosen one" and the people who allowed her to become the unwilling victim of evil? What would happen if the world's "Messiah" was never given the opportunity to fulfill her destiny? What if the cruelty and bigotry of the world transformed the Messiah into the Antichrist?

That was the thinking behind the creation of Laris and the vehicle for one of the major story arcs in my fantasy book The Legend of Witch Bane (The Witch Bane Saga).

She seems pretty interesting too, you authors could enjoy each others books it seems! Do you have a series of books with her? I get sooo attached to characters that I don't want to finish the book, because I feel I will have abandonment issues! Like the ones that go on in at least one other book. But, I still love AnY good fantasy type.
Anybody know how to prevent this page from jumping while you type?

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

I believe that everyone has to have anchor characters if not main heroes and/or villains (esses). Personally, I like villainesses better and probably have more female villains in my stories because I think that women villains are much more appealing, more threatening and more 'villainous' than the typical bad guy (unless it's Johnny Depp!) Personally, I don't know any drag queens, but would be honored to meet a few. They have to be interesting people with great stories to tell. I've always loved it when some of my favorite movie actors play those parts like Dustin Hoffman (Ms. Doubtfire), Chris Tucker (Fifth Element). Flamboyant and very entertaining characters. Don't get me wrong. I know that real people are not actors... er, actors are not real people... er... well, shut up, Brendan!

I Love, LoVe, LOVE, this place you guys are very entertaining, I have been lurking here and there... and I like to see how your brains are working...

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

This is the first time I have ever publicly mentioned it anywhere. But I think women are far cooler than men. In fact, the women in my stories are far more powerful and influential than the men. I'm that guy who always wonders what this world would be like if women controlled it instead of men (not a real fan of our patriachal history). I think my stories are such a blast to read because women are the dominant species, not men. Can stories really get better than that? My opinion anyway.

WOW! I'm LoVin' ya a lot more now Kevis, of course women are powerful We are the ones who control all the kids right? Like a great Lion tamer!

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Speaking of female characters (or villianesses). The major villain in my book The Legend of Witch Bane is a woman called Queen Rhiannon Eldess. She's an amalgamation of many evil figures in history including Hitler and Stalin. But more importantly she embodies the worst characteristics of the most evil women that ever lived especially Elizabeth Batohry. Anyone of yo uwho knows who Elizabeth Bathory is she's the hungarina princess who murdered over 600 girls, drinking and bathing in thier blood to gain the power of immortality. bathory is easily one of the most sadistic and evil figures in history and I drew influence from her in my creation of Rhiannon. Queen Rhiannon is defintely a dastardly and malignant figure, but it is fun to come up with characters like this becuause they represent everything that normal people abhor.

Ok....now you're scaring me... she was pure evil... and I notice you use lots of big words like Brendan... Aaaaaaaahhhh!

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Exactly Meredith,

I'm a historian and am constantly wondering how the heck did men get to control the world. Women outnumber men and not by a little bit (I believe the current ratio is 6 1/2 women to every 1 male.) And as much as I love the old fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, I think there has been too much indoctrination going on over the centuries. I guess that's why I love the Amazons. They created the a model of life that was anti-establishment and challenged the convention that men were superior to women. I am fortunate that I was raised around strong-willed women who took no crap off of the men in their lives and shattered the idea the idea that women are the weaker vessel. Women rock and I'll go to my grave believing it!!!

Thanks for being ... WISE.... Kevis! Besides I did not know it until I experienced this myself, but baby girls are born the stronger gender as well. BTW... I'm not really scared... I'm BRAVE & STRONG! & & Kevis, I am already becoming a fan.

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Because I am a short story writer, primarily (at least up to now) I have a lot of stories and a lot of characters, so I have different favorites for different reasons. One of my favorite is Molly, a secondary character from the short story "Touched," from my Phoenix Tales short story collection. She's just so cute and blunt and sincere and real that I just want to rip her out of the pages and adopt her.

Really, and you wrote her? Hmmmmmmm.... seems like you should adopt her! I mean it's pretty sad that you created her and leave her all closed-up in a book all day!

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Speaking of characters... BRENDON! WHY do you make your fairy creatures

Spoiler

sooooo....DUMB.... you are actually making me MAD! Bart is NOT that STOOPID.... seriously, you continue to have them tricked by people! Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! I want to throw.... no, I can't do that but still, please tell me that you WILL make them PREVAIL.... eventually

... I like fairies, my daughter writes about them, does her research on them, and she would be VERY upset that her friends are portrayed as

Spoiler

IDIOTS

! But seriously, I DO love the book, just not RIGHT THIS MINUTE!! Aaaaaaahhhhhhh! By the way, I am on book 10 I think, "Genesis 6.5" so don't tell me anything that will mess this up for me... just....

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

I'm really enjoying this thread! My novel is The Nine Lives of Clemenza.

so I was forced to read in the tub for sometime... and that was where the idea began. The sink faucet was dripping and I thought, how terrible it would be to be that one drop of water and your only glimpse of human life was me in the tub and a dog with a staring problem! I'm still waiting for Clemenza to ask for royalties...

HEY! I read in the tub too... but it is to get away from the world altogether ... I think your book sounds VERY intriguing, I love stuff like this! I've read a lot of NDE books including the one where the children talk about their glimpses of Heaven... wonderful read. I do love fiction and Love to hear how others come up with their ideas for their books. Great Post! And Welcome to KB!

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

But sometimes we just like them, because they do bad things that we just don't, or wish we could.
I guess this has come up since I'm having my class read Charlotte's Web. The one thing that is cool as a children's author, is that as as teacher, I do lit. studies and teach literature. Nothing better for research than a good novel study.

What grade do you teach? I teach pre-K and children with special needs. I love my job, sincerely. I also am a big Disney fan. We, my family and I, go or try to go at least twice a year if all goes well (hurricanes not withstanding). Charlotte's Web is of my DD's (nine-year-old's) favorite books. Please tell us more about your books on the snippet thread!

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

I'd like to introduce you to Serena O'Flanagan Murphy---proprietor of O'Flanagans Inn in Victory Cove, Maine.

Recently widowed (WIDOW'S TALE ), Serena finds it hard to believe that persecution from her husband has ended with his death. The ambiguity of 'death at sea' has her searching the cliffs for his body. Hearing his footsteps cross her living room floor at night when no one is there makes Serena suspect she has finally gone mad.
Serena is no frail widow, though. She is loyal to her patrons and will fight to protect those she loves.
Even if she is losing her mind...

This book sounds really good! I am a HUGE Mary Higgins Clark fan (it's a weakness ) mostly because I love the settings of my faves... I know I will love this as much, does everyone dream of B&Bs in Maine?

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Thanks Meredith. Yes, I think when I die, I'll find that heaven is a bed and breakfast in Maine. And of course, my host will serve lobster with a big pot of melted butter. If it was up to me, I'd take everything on my plate and dip it in that vat of butter. Of course, that might be why I made it to heaven so early...

Well, I have had several dreams wherein I was in Heaven and each time it is explained that Heaven is different for everyone... what ever is your Heaven on Earth, so be it FOREVER! Sooooo mine would be somewhere in New England eating crabcakes (my mother was from Maryland) and lobster and Turtle Cheesecake! Oh, and something with Tequila & Triple sec... (well I am Catholic! )

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Sounds like a name for a new book. What do you think? Kind of like "We Were Soldiers"? Like so "And then... We Were Hamburger?" Well, what do you think?

Just wondering, Brendan, what is your fascination with cows about? You have a ranch or something? You do mention them a bit in your books...
Miss QMH (I kinda like that alias )

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Ok, Brendan...

After your last blog on Blogspot I gotta ask... Do your characters get their personalities from you or do you get yours from them? You are really quite funny... yet your characters... now that I think of them... are kinda funny as well. I liked your dog photo. Is he really your dog? What about the others are they your kiddos/grandkids... or WHAT?! Ya gotta tell me!

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

I think that my characters are not me at all or at least not the part that everybody sees. I'm more of the class clown type and I like to make people laugh, but my main character, as you well know, rarely ever makes a joke, but he does say some funny things... at least they are funny coming from him simply because he doesn't make jokes. He's a very serious fellow with some very serious issues, but he has good reason for that.
As far as the pictures, I just collect pictures of odds and ends, kids and dogs... that is actually my dog. I call her Puglett, but that's not her real name (she has a pedrigree, dahling). She's my buddy. I tried to post a picture of her on the doggie thread and couldn't get it done. (Technically challenged, I am) The kids are very dear to me... precious even. Children are what its all about, right? Thanks for asking, Miss Merry and thanks for reading my blog. Yours, Brendan

HEY! You just don't know how long I have been looking for this thread... I KNEW you had a post somewhere about your doggie, I saw your pug picture just the other day and I started thinking about this post and wanted to tell you that I saw the picture...I saw him! or is it a her? did you say? Well, I was wondering what happened to this character thread as I do love to hear about all of the different characters from all of you authors... So hopefully this will give ya a bump!

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Yes, I did post in the snippest thread. Sometime this week I believe I can post again. I just need to find a good section that fits in the word count.

Where oh, where have all the characters gone...

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Hey, if you want an idea of what some readers might think my characters look like, cruise on over to the Kindleboards Photo gallery and have a look at what they did for little old me... gotta love it!!

And... do you agree, 'cause I think Miss Trish would fall for your knights... even if they aren't wearing jeans... I meeeeean, uh, ya know, well cargo pants are more their style...

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

As Brendan was kind enough to let us introduce our characters ...allow me to introduce you to Harriet Morgan, the owner of a Bait and Tackle shop in Victory Cove, Maine where WIDOW'S TALE is based.

"You again." The disheveled woman raked her glance up and down Brett's body, feigning contempt. Harriet shook her head and then stepped back to allow Brett full entry.
"Got a yearn to head out fishing this morning?" She barked.
"Not exactly."
"You better damn well buy something before you leave this store."
Harriet's face was puffed up with scorn, her chapped hands resting on wide hips. But Brett was on to her. Beneath this façade he witnessed the first hints of a derisive grin.
Automatically, Brett reached for the closest item at hand, which ended up being the replica of a wriggling black eel intended to lure some innocent creature into captivity. Holding the item in the air for Harriet's inspection, he heard her snort.
"Five bucks." Harriet turned her back to him and shuffled behind the cash register.
Brett studied the twisted bait incredulously. "Five bucks for this?"
Harriet arched a gray eyebrow and crossed her bulky arms. "Five bucks." She repeated. "Do you even know what to do with that thing?" She challenged, ringing up the sale.
I have some ideas, Brett thought, but refused to take the bait.

Well, Ms. Miller she sounds like a tough old broad! I would be asceered to go into that shop! Guess I'd have to dig up some ol' worms outta me backyard and go to the ol' fishin' hole instead of doing that big fish stuffesses! I know... I've been around MARK Ramsay too long, huh?

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

You bet your knickers, Miss Merry, if Mark Ramsay owned a bait and tackle shop, you'd better believe that you'd be buying something before you left... if you dared to enter in the first place.

Now HIM... I am NOT ASCEERED of! I so loved him in book 13....had a whole deja vu thing going on in it. Mmmmmmm.... he is soooo awesome.

 

[Meredith Sinclair]

Where has this one been? I had forgotten all aboot this thread... Oh, how I love discussing the characters of my favorite books! Quite a few people were posting on here a while back... what happened I am glad 'tis back never the less...

Oh, and LUKE... Oh, what an awesome specimen of a man... He is sooooo

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HOT!