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Burst the Bubble
 By Guest Blogger by guest blogger Susan Mallery
That sort of constant self-reflection and self-correction has the potential to grow annoying in a character. (It’s bad enough in my own head.) Better to dole out just a few meaningful memories, some of the moments that formed his or her personality and that clarify the character’s motivation for what’s happening in the book.
“I hate seeing her like that,” he says. “My mother was a vibrant, funny, smart woman who saw the ridiculousness in life. She loved to argue politics and read a book a day.” In one day, he lost his mother. Even though she didn’t die, the woman he knew was gone forever, and he blamed Jed for failing to help Kathy when he could so easily have done so. In that scene, with that memory, both Dana and the reader gain insight into why Garth has been so focused on wresting power away from the corrupt older man. Think back to your childhood. Can you think of a defining moment in your life that made you realize it was time to grow up? 9 Responses to “Burst the Bubble”Leave a Comment |
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Behind every cliché is at least a kernel of truth. Here’s one: We are each the sum of our experiences. That’s true of characters, too. Or it should be. A novel shows one segment of a character’s life, but fully drawn characters don’t exist only in that bubble of time. Readers should get the sense that the characters will live on after the book ends, and that they lived long before the book began. (Unless, of course, the book started with the character’s birth.) Characters must have memories, and some of those memories must be shown on the page. The memories must affect how the character behaves and the decisions she makes.
If you’re like me, a constant internal monologue runs through your head as you move through the world. At the mall: “Look at those shoes. They are so cute! They remind me of the shoes I wore to my college graduation. I should try them on… Oh, who am I kidding? Spike heels, me? Bad combination. Last time I tried stilettos, I was laid up for two weeks with a sprained ankle. Keep walking, Susan. Keep walking along in your ugly but comfortable tennies. Nothing to see here.”
I’m not exaggerating. And I don’t always overcome temptation. Once, I gave in and bought a beautiful pair of pale gray Cole Haan pumps that I will probably never wear. But every now and then I take them out of the box and put them on, then carefully walk around the house, trying desperately not to step on the dog.
In Hot on Her Heels, the fourth book of my Lone Star Sisters series, I faced a particular challenge. The hero, Garth Duncan, was the villain of the first three books in the series. He did some pretty horrible things in a quest for revenge against his father, Jed Titan. By showing some of his childhood memories, I hoped that the reader would empathize with the pain that had caused him to lash out. In one telling scene, Dana asks Garth about how he survived as a teenager after his mother Kathy became brain-damaged. Dana learns that Garth went to high school during the day and worked overnight as a janitor just to make ends meet.
Not all his memories are bad, though. In fact, his happy memories of his mother before she suffered from brain damage add poignancy to the story.
September 17th, 2009 at 6:21 am
First off I love your books. I can’t wait to get Hot On Her Heels. I always enjoy your connected family stories. Now to answer your question. Probably that moment for me would be when I was 8 when my father died. My father was an alcholic who passed out smoking early Christmas morning and burned our house down. My mother and he had been separated because of his problem and we were staying with my aunt. So in one moment we not only lost him but our home. My mother who had never worked had to get a job to support us so I had to learn how to get some of my own meals and help clean up the house. So I would say I grew up then.
September 17th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Linda,
Thank you for your sweet comments about my books. Not long now until HOT ON HER HEELS will be in your hands!
I am so sorry to hear about your father. A parent’s death must be the most painful way for a child to grow up. At 8, you were far too young to have suffered such a loss. You have my deepest sympathy.
September 17th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Love love love your books. Always has a “feel good” feeling
what made me grow up? having a baby when I was still a baby myself. We grew up together. I think we turned out okay.
September 17th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Thanks, Jann! I love love love your comment. It gave me that “feel good” feeling.
Having a baby when you’re young would force you to stop putting yourself first, the main sign of emotional maturity. I bet you made a lot of sacrifices for your baby, but it sounds like you have no regrets. Good for you!
September 17th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Want to know something funny? I don’t know how I made my face show up with my comments. Did I do that?
September 17th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Absolutely no regrets. She’s give me a great son in law and three beautiful grandchildren. And she lives close!
September 17th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I first want to say I enjoy reading your books, especially the lone star sister series. I had a wonderful childhood,I can’t complain, my mom started working the first in her ladies group and I took it upon myself to watch my younger twin brothers and start cooking dinner for I love to cook. I got married at 35yrs old.I had my son a year later and didn’t realize that my husband had a drinking problem, he hid it quite well, I had to grow-up for my son needed me sober. I left him many times and he finally got the help, but even now after 20yr. marriage I still need to be the grown-up and my son keeps telling me to lighten up, I don’t remember how to. Its sad for I feel like I’m missing out on life, even though I know how to have fun.
September 17th, 2009 at 6:51 pm
Carole,
Thanks for your kind words. I’m thrilled that you’re enjoying the Lone Star Sisters. I’m also delighted that you had a wonderful childhood. Sounds like you did everything you could to make sure your son had a good childhood, too, despite some pretty major obstacles. Now he wants you to enjoy your life!
September 18th, 2009 at 5:32 am
Never mind the defining moment – I havent had any – lol.
So thrilled to see you here – your books are just so awesome; I love series books and you never disappoint me. If anyone can make us love Garth, it is you, after all you did a wonderful job transforming Gloria in the Buchanan series. I guess it gives hope to “bad” or not so nice people in real life. We can only hope!
What are you working on next? I know you told me in an email awhile ago but memory lapses. LOL. And I do appreciate your return emails.
Thank you again for your books!