Take a C.A.R.D.
by Bethany Maines
While I was reading Sparkle Abbey’s recent blog post about
how real her characters in their Pampered Pets Mystery series, I laughed and
sympathized with the authors who are clearly suffering from C.A.R.D. –
Character / Author Reality Disorder.
Most authors I know suffer from this. We invest a lot of time in these people and we go through a
lot together. Of course it’s only natural that they start to take on a life,
even if it’s only a virtual life, of their own. Sparkle Abbey described their characters as the best
(fictional) friends a girl could have.
But what happens when you don’t like one of your characters? It’s possible that I created a
character to be an excellent villain and now they… Just. Won’t. Die.
how real her characters in their Pampered Pets Mystery series, I laughed and
sympathized with the authors who are clearly suffering from C.A.R.D. –
Character / Author Reality Disorder.
Most authors I know suffer from this. We invest a lot of time in these people and we go through a
lot together. Of course it’s only natural that they start to take on a life,
even if it’s only a virtual life, of their own. Sparkle Abbey described their characters as the best
(fictional) friends a girl could have.
But what happens when you don’t like one of your characters? It’s possible that I created a
character to be an excellent villain and now they… Just. Won’t. Die.
The third novel in my Carrie Mae Mystery series High-Caliber
Concealer (on sale November 17 – available for pre-order now!) brings back all
the girls. Nikki, the heroine, and
linguistics major, with a nagging mother who tries to keep her job as an independent
espionage agent for Carrie Mae a secret from her CIA Agent boyfriend. Jenny, the bombshell blonde with a
beauty pageant history and a love of firearms. Ellen, the grandmother of two, and well-trained sniper. And Jane, the geeky Intelligence
Analyst who keeps the team up to
speed, but fails at keeping them politically correct. But at the very end of
the book, I also bring back a character that’s been kicking around for two
books now insisting on getting more “screen” time, and of course, that segued
right into book four – Glossed Cause.
And I have this thought: Oh, now I remember why killed you. It’s because you are SO ANNOYING.
Concealer (on sale November 17 – available for pre-order now!) brings back all
the girls. Nikki, the heroine, and
linguistics major, with a nagging mother who tries to keep her job as an independent
espionage agent for Carrie Mae a secret from her CIA Agent boyfriend. Jenny, the bombshell blonde with a
beauty pageant history and a love of firearms. Ellen, the grandmother of two, and well-trained sniper. And Jane, the geeky Intelligence
Analyst who keeps the team up to
speed, but fails at keeping them politically correct. But at the very end of
the book, I also bring back a character that’s been kicking around for two
books now insisting on getting more “screen” time, and of course, that segued
right into book four – Glossed Cause.
And I have this thought: Oh, now I remember why killed you. It’s because you are SO ANNOYING.
Is it ok to fight with your characters? Just punch them in their virtual face a
little bit? Or do I need to check
myself into the library and get a stiff dose of non-fiction to combat the
raging C.A.R.D. outbreak I’m clearly suffering from?
little bit? Or do I need to check
myself into the library and get a stiff dose of non-fiction to combat the
raging C.A.R.D. outbreak I’m clearly suffering from?
Bethany Maines is the author of the Carrie Mae Mysteries, Tales from the City of Destiny and An Unseen Current. You can also view the Carrie Mae youtube video
or catch up with her on Twitter and Facebook.
or catch up with her on Twitter and Facebook.
Great post, Bethany! There are those characters we love and those we…well, don't. LOL Both make for interesting fiction, but the "bad" ones make the most conflict! Can't wait to read High Caliber Concealer!