Friday 45 (Femme Fatale)

Femme Fatale will deliberately use her charm to control men and get them to do things against their nature. She is the kind of woman capable of luring good men into crime and murder. She trusts no one, is jaded and disappointed with life. She feels power when others do her bidding and may only value herself for her body. She feels society owes her and she is just collecting her due.

She will never get her own hands dirty or implicate herself in any wrongdoing. Any man who strives for her will end up dead or absolutely ruined. Watch any film noir movie to see her in action. When she decides to turn on a lover, things get ugly and blackmail is the first thought in her mind if he's married. She would rather die than give up her looks or power and doesn't play the victim easily. Also will not sit in the shadows while a younger woman tries to take her place as center of attention.

Example: Cleopatra preferred to commit suicide rather than give up her power. This need for power is a defining characteristic of the Femme Fatale.

She is excessively emotional and attention seeking, but these rapidly changing emotions are well hidden behind a stoic, unreadable face. She has a low tolerance for problems of any kind and has no problem using her body as a weapon. She believes if men are stupid enough to fall for her wile then that's their problem and they must suffer the consequences. She is driven to prove she's not a piece of meat to be thrown around. Has a kill or be killed mentality. She is a great actress who can cry real tears on command. She will be concerned with money and power which equal survival to her.

She is unfaithful and can remain detached when sex is involved. No one knows when she speaks a lie. She can be all things to all people.












Sharon Stone as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct

























Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra




















So, do you have a Femme Fatale character you're working with right now?

Friday 45 (The Seductive Muse)

The Seductive Muse

Is strong, creative, beautiful and driven to creative projects that show the world who she is. She is able to stay cool under pressure, usually seeing the simplest solution to the biggest problems. She often desires a deep connection of love with one man but cannot give up the thrill of the chase. Needs many relationships and experiences to feel alive. Her open sexual nature and the power it gives her generally gives this kind of character a bad rap in the real world. This open sexuality often causes her problems when she looks to get married or start a family. May often find herself in the role of mistress as it is difficult for men to see her as a wife and mother, despite her charm. Sex seems to be the answer and root of all her problems.

She cares about the intimate parts of a relationship and loves being in control. She doesn't openly dominate men, but will manipulate them with her charm. She can read body language well and often tries to awaken those hidden desires in her partners and friends. She will construct a wall if she has been hurt by a lover, convincing herself that someone better is just around the corner. Friendships with other women are important, but rarely does she have a true best friend. She wants other women to express their sexuality as openly as she does, but only other Seductive Muses can truly understand her intensity and appreciate it. This also makes it harder for her to understand the other archetypes.

She fears losing her sexuality, allure and creativity. Rejection of any kind would be a huge blow to her ego, especially if it comes from a lover. She always wants to be the one who ends the relationship because her charm over men is what gives her power. Aging is her enemy. It would feel like the end for her. She may not get married but fear of isolation definitely fuels her need for people and attention. She might be afraid that other women hate her for the attention she receives, but she hates more not being the center of it. She is best suited to befriend Amazons, who are just as extroverted but also protective of her, like a big sister, and with Maidens who look up to her. If she is around other Seductive Muses, their friendships become competitive very fast.

Motivation for her is an urge to create and it doesn't matter whether she is publicly recognized for that creation or not. The need to produce things and experience life to the fullest is deeply rooted within her. She wears alluring clothes and is mostly likely always ahead of the trends. Everything about her ensemble will appear to be perfect and always has an inner glow or star quality that cannot be denied.

Developing her character arc: She will want to be recognized for her brain instead of just her beauty. She might have to learn that physical looks are temporary and superficial. She will want a true soul mate who sees her for who she really is. She will also need to learn to plan for the future instead of always living for the moment. To grow, she is best paired with one of the following;

The Woman's Man: He is capable of teaching her to value herself for her mind and spirit as well as her body.

The Messiah: He can teach her how to channel her sexual energy to advance spiritually.

The Recluse and Mystic: He can teach her to know herself deep down inside or how to be alone without fear of abandonment.

The Amazon: he can teach her how to set limits and accept discipline as a positive in her life.

Assets: Loves to be the center of attention, has a need to express herself, smart, creative, emotional, loves herself and body in a healthy way, loves to dress up and wear alluring clothes, enjoys sex, enjoys female friendships, encourages other women to be creative and sexual, inspires men.

Flaws: Is unable to do things alone, lives for the moment, never thinking or planning for the future, falls in and out of love easily, is manipulative and flirtatious, is impulsive and promiscuous, is very self-focused.

Examples:




Samantha Jones from Sex and the City (Kim Cattrall)















Vivian Ward from Pretty Woman (Julia Roberts)




















Marilyn Monroe






Do you have a character who fits into the Seductive Muse role?

45 Master Characters (Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters)

45 Master Characters (Mythic Models for Creating Original Characters) is a book by Victoria Lynn Schmidt. I've been slowly reading it and making notes for a long time now. Basically, it divides characters into hero and villain categories and tells you what composes the character and gives you examples from movies and literature throughout the ages. It also has a great section on supporting characters and plotting tips for both male and female journeys.



I highly recommend this book for writers. I found it very informative and while I don't sit down with a copy of it every time I develop a new character, I thought the information inside was very helpful. I'll be posting some of the notes I've taken from the book to share with you soon.

Character Interview

First and foremost, I need to direct you all to this blog HERE. Reading her last couple posts have inspired me to share with you the "interview" process I go through with my MCs. It sounds easy, right? Well, I'll warn you now, it's a long list of questions that I try not to rush through and I try to give thorough answers to. I sometimes complete the interview in a day, sometimes it takes a week. It just depends on how easily the character's voice comes to me.

Also, a few of the questions may repeat, but that's because I tend to add and edit as I fill them out. So, this is an interview I conducted for December Sloane, the heroine of Living Behind Glass Shadows.

1. Start out with a couple pictures of what you imagine the character to look like. December is supposed to be half Puerto Rican, so I was looking for a character who has Latina characteristics. I chose Sofia Vergara as a visual muse for this character.

2. At this point I have a general idea for the story so I tend to know the major plot points I'll be working with, which I think can either help you or harbor you when answering the following questions from the character's POV. I try to answer the questions as if the story has yet to happen. It covers a bit of everything from past to present to what the character is looking for in his/her future.

3. Feel free to copy the questions if you'd like to ask of your own characters. I keep a blank file of the questions and copy and paste them into a new document for my new characters.

4. Not everything in the interview will or needs to make it into the story, but I find that I can come up with ideas about my character's emotional state throughout the story by reading through the answers to these questions. Also, I realize I refer to her brother as both Avery and Tucker. His name changed by the time I got around to writing him.





What is your character’s full name? December Liliana Sloane
The reason behind the name? December was the only word of English my grandmother, Liliana could speak. She loved Christmas.
Nickname? Some of my friends just call me Sloane
Birth date? June 5th, 1983
Astrological sign. Any significance? Gemini. Don’t think it has any significance. Don’t believe in that stuff.
Glasses or contacts? Neither, but I’d prefer contacts if I had to.
Typical hairstyle? Long and wavy, but usually always pulled back in a ponytail.
Typically healthy? Yes.
What kind of distinguishing facial features does your character have? Big brown eyes.
Birthmark? Where is it? Small, cherry shaped brown spot on the back of my left thigh.
Scars? How did they get them? Some small scars on my hands from kitchen accidents.
Who are the friends and family? Who does he/she surround herself with? Who are they closest to? Who does she wish she was closest to? My mother is Maria Sloane. I have a sister, Harper, and a brother, Tucker. I’m the oldest. I’m closest to my mother, and although Harper and I have a bit of a rocky relationship, she and I are very close. They’re really the only family I know. I wish I could be closer to my father’s family, but they live out of state.
Where was she born? Pittsburgh
Where does she live? Pittsburgh
Where has she lived her whole life? I grew up in Pittsburgh, but moved to New York for college and culinary school. Moved back home to Pittsburgh afterward.
Where does your character go when she’s angry? The kitchen. I find myself there whenever my emotional roller coaster hits a peak in any of the emotions.
What’s her biggest fear? Who has she told this to? Who would she never tell and why? My biggest fear would probably be getting married and having a family. I’ve talked to my boyfriend, Josh, about this. I’d never tell my mother. I wouldn’t want her to feel like it was her fault.
Does she have a secret? Hmmm….I don’t think so.
What makes your character laugh out loud? I have a very dry, witty kind of humor. I like jokes and situations where you actually have to think about the words said, and process them to get it. I don’t really get into the crude humor and I stay away from anything overtly offensive.
When has your character ever been in love? Ever had a broken heart? I loved Alex Brooks. He was my first true love. And leaving him broke my heart. Now I think I’m in love with Josh.
What’s in the fridge right now? On her bedroom floor? On her nightstand? In her trash? I have a lot of things in the fridge. I’m a chef. Lots of fresh vegetables, herbs, fruits, juice, wine, milk, water, yogurts, and meats.
Look at her feet. What do you see there? Does she wear dress shoes or gym shoes? Is she in socks that are all ratty and holey? Or a pair of slippers knitted by her grandmother? My toes are painted right now, chocolate wine I think. I usually wear a comfortable pair of sneakers or dress shoes since I’m on my feet all day, but if I go out I like to dress up and I love shoes. I have a ton of high heels in my closet I rarely get to wear.
When she thinks of her childhood kitchen, what smells come to mind? Why? Lots of spices and the smell of tortillas on a cast iron warmer. Mom is Puerto Rican so our food always had vibrant colors, loud spices, and tortillas.
She’s spring cleaning. What is easy for her to get rid of? What is difficult? I don’t really have a problem throwing anything away. Except cookbooks or food magazines. I get ideas and inspiration from those so I have tons of them around the apartment.
Saturday at noon, what is your character doing? Give details. I’m either in the kitchen, in the office, or on my way to the kitchen. Work keeps me busy, especially the weekends.
What is one strong detail that has stuck with your character since childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting? My father’s death. He was a policeman and I was with him when he died. We pulled up outside the International Grocery store and there was a robbery in progress. We were in the back of the store when we heard gunfire. Dad hid me between the freezer and a display. I saw him pull his weapon out of his holster and he left me there so I’d be safe. He ended up getting shot in the chest. But that didn’t stop him from firing two shots at the suspect. The guy who killed my father got out of the store with less than one hundred dollars. He made it three miles before he crashed the car into a stop light. He almost bled to death, but paramedics saved his life. He killed my father and two other people in the store that day and paramedics saved him.
Your character is getting ready for a night out. Where is she going? Who will she be with? What will she wear? Karaoke. I work far too long on the weekends to enjoy going out to the bar, so Nora and Spencer, Josh and I will go out on Wednesday’s for karaoke. I usually take this opportunity to break out my heel collection. I prefer jeans to dresses and a flashy little top.
What is her greatest achievement? Why? Opening the restaurant. It was something I worked really hard for, something I didn’t think was ever possible. And it’s really successful so I’m very proud.
What is her idea of perfect happiness? Perfect happiness would be a successful career doing what you love, having time to spend with someone you love, and enjoying the perks of being successful.
What is her current state of mind? Totally career focused right now.
What is her favorite occupation? Chef/Restaurateur.
What is your most treasured possession? A baseball glove. It was a gift from my father, the last gift he ever bought me.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? Bruce, my cat. He’s a short haired tabby. I named him after my father’s favorite baseball player, Bruce Kison from the Pirates.
What is your favorite journey? I kinda like the one I’m on right now. My life is starting to calm down and the pieces are falling into place. I am anxious to see where I go from here.
What is your most marked characteristic? My curves. I think it’s part of my Latina heritage.
When and where were you happiest? Dad used to take me to baseball games when I was a little girl. They’re my fondest memories. Sitting in the seats, all the screams and shouts, people we didn’t know but we were all there for the same reason. And Dad always bought nachos and hotdogs and the sweetest sodas. He was always happy and I didn’t have to think about him being a police officer. He was just my dad.
What is it that you most dislike? People who are given every opportunity to succeed and turn fail every time.
What is your greatest fear? Failing.
What is your greatest extravagance? My apartment. It’s a little expensive, but the kitchen was perfect and I couldn’t pass it up.
Which living person do you despise the most? Alex Brooks. The guy almost killed my drive. He was one of those people that took and took and took, but never gave.
What is your greatest regret? Well, I wish I’d realized as a child how important it is to savor those moments with the people you love.
Which talent would you most like to have? I wish I could play an instrument, like the piano or the guitar or even the violin.
Where would you like to live? I loved New York but I prefer Pittsburgh. It’s home and always will be.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery? Watching someone you love suffer and not being able to help them.
What is the quality you most like in a man? Responsibility.
What is the quality you most like in a woman? Independence.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? I avoid emotional attachments.
What is the trait you most deplore in others? Selfishness.
What do you most value in your friends? My friends are fun, but also know how to be serious. I don’t have to tell Spencer that we’re at work and he needs to focus.
Who is your favorite hero of fiction? Rhett Butler. He made no excuses for the way that he was or the person that he was. He didn’t let go of the things he wanted, but he showed real change and progress at the end of the story, and that’s what life is about.
Who are your heroes in real life? My mother. She stayed single after my father’s death. I don’t even ever remember her dating. She was a nurse and she worked all the hours she could to take care of me and my brother and my sister. She never let Dad’s death destroy her. She’s always been the strongest person I know.
Which living person do you most admire? My mother. For the reasons above.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue? Forgiveness. I don’t know that forgiveness does much for the person doing the forgiving. It seems like a way for the wrong-doer to come to some sort of peace about whatever they’ve done. Forgiveness doesn’t set you free, it sets you back.
On what occasions do you lie? I try not to. I can’t think of anything that jumps right out at me.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse? That’s the way the cookie bakes. I also use “chick” a lot. “Divine” is one of my favorite words.
If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be? Sometimes I wish I had a wild streak, like my sister. It would be so much fun to cut loose and forget about work, bills, money, and just be someone else for a day.
What are your favorite names? Haven’t really thought about it.
How would you like to die? In my sleep, when I’m ancient.
If you were to die and come back as a person or thing what would you like it to be and why? Rachel Ray … She’s living the dream life.
What is your motto? What do you want out of life? “Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” I don’t want to lose my drive. I want to keep going and keep getting better.
What do you want during the course of this story? I don’t know. Sometimes I feel like something is missing. Usually I feel like I have everything I could want, but there are those few times when I think how nice it would be to get out of my own head for a while.
If you had to choose one event in your life that most shaped who you are what would it be? Definitely would be my father’s death. It opened up a lot of things that otherwise wouldn’t have happened. When he died I kinda became a mom to my brother and sister. I learned to cook because Mom was working double shifts at the hospital.
Who is your mother? (name, occupation, birthday, personality) Maria Sanchez Sloane, February 14th, 1959, Small and petite, but very strong and courageous. She’s quiet, but definitely the kind of person you don’t want to cross.
Who is your father? ( name, occupation, birthday, personality) Charles William Sloane, August 17th, 1956, He was tall, very handsome. He was funny and kind, very brave, always giving people the benefit of the doubt.
Do you have any siblings? What is your relationship with them like? I am close with both my brother and sister. Avery is in the military so we usually communicate through written letters. He’s quiet and smart, brave like our dad. Harper is a little annoying at times, but I’m more like her mother than her sister. We’re close, but our relationship is complicated.
Describe the place and people you live with or near. My apartment is on Carson Street, in the artsy district of Pittsburgh. There are exposed brick walls, big windows, hardwood floors and exposed beams and pipes. It’s colorful with lots of warm colors like red and orange and yellow. The living room has lots of shelves for books and pictures of my family. The kitchen is extensive and contemporary. The bedroom has a big bed and cool colors for soothing and relaxation. The bathrooms are simple but elegant, definitely for relaxing in a long, hot bath.
What is your occupation? Do you enjoy it? Chef/Restaurateur. Love it.
Write a full physical description of yourself. Height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, scars, flaws, best features, distinguishing marks? 5’8, 145 lbs., Latina American, brown eyes, dark brown hair. I love jeans and girly blouses. I’m more flirty than girly in my dress.
Is this physical assessment accurate? Yes.
To which social class do you belong? The working class. Middle class.
Any allergies, diseases or other physical weaknesses? Nope.
Right or left handed? Left hand.
What does your voice sound like? Soft, kinda husky, a bedroom voice.
What do you have in your pockets right now? A grocery list for the restaurant and one for the apartment, my keys, and a pen.
Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits or other defining characteristics? I bite my bottom lip when I’m nervous or thinking. Sometimes I talk to myself in Spanish, especially if I’m cooking and things are too hectic.
What is your earliest memory? My earliest memory is of Dad taking me to the hospital to see Mom after Avery was born. I was only three, but I remember the day really vividly. My parents were so happy and they had this chubby little baby in their arms, and I wanted to be jealous that they were so doting toward him, but I just thought it was amazing that this little baby belonged to our family.
How much schooling have you had? Did you enjoy school? I spent four years at a culinary school in New York, but also got a lot of on the job training in various restaurants along the way. I loved culinary school and excelled there, but I wasn’t a great high school student.
Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities? Culinary school and various restaurants, as well as in my kitchen at home.
While growing up did you have any role models? Who and why? My father for his bravery, my mother for her strength.
While growing up how did you get along with your family? Yes.
As a child what did you want to be when you grew up? When I was a child I wanted to be a ballerina or an astronaut, or a doctor.
As a child what were your favorite activities? I loved playing Hide and Seek, coloring, and playing sports.
As a child what kinds of personality traits did you display? I think I was always really strong and level-headed. I was the leader.
As a child were you popular? Not really. I had some close friends, but once I was off the bus, I had to take care of Tucker and Harper. So I didn’t get to play much with the neighborhood children.
Who were your friends and what were they like? Brittany Campbell was my best friend in elementary school. She was a bookworm, very quiet, but she didn’t take to bullying at all. Spencer Steele was always my best friend. We went to school together and even moved to New York together. His modeling career didn’t go so well so he followed me back to Pittsburgh. I think people are given friends who were soul mates in past lives. Spencer is definitely mine.
When and with whom was your first kiss? Spencer. We were barely ten years old, and he said he didn’t like girls. So we kissed to see if that would change things. And it didn’t.
When and with whom did you lose your virginity? Seventeen … Bobby Reese; my high school crush.
What do you consider the most important event of your life so far? Opening the restaurant.
What is the most evil thing you’ve ever done? Left Alex with months of unpaid bills before leaving him without a word. He deserved it. He didn’t work. I did and went to school. He was a mooch who needed a lesson taught to him.
Do you have a criminal record of any kind? No.
What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you? Coming up topless in the pool at a party.
If you could change one thing from your past what would it be and why? The only thing I would want to change is my father’s death. Other than that, I think I’ve been really lucky that my life has been on track.
Optimistic or pessimistic? I am optimistic.
Religious views? More spiritual than religious. I believe in reincarnation and karma.
Political views? Independent.
Sexual views? Whatever bakes your cookie.
Are you able to kill and under what circumstances? I’d like to think I could if my life were in danger, but I think that’s one of those things you never know until you’re in that situation.
In your opinion, what is the most evil thing a person could do? Lead someone on, pretend to be someone you’re not, or not ready to be.
Do you believe in the existence of soul mates or true love? Yeah, to some extent.
What do you believe makes a life successful? Being the best person you can be and knowing that it’s a journey.
How honest are you when it comes to your true thoughts and feelings with yourself and others? I try to be as honest as possible, but sometimes it’s difficult to know what your true thoughts and feelings are.
Do you have any biases or prejudices? Stricter punishments for criminals. I don’t think bad people should be given chance after chance to do bad things.
Is there anything you absolutely refuse to do under any circumstances? Why? I’m sure there are things, but nothing springs to mind right away.
Who or what would you die for? My family.
How do you treat people in general? Does your treatment of them change depending on how well you know them? I am generally accepting of people. I like to be friendly and have fun when it’s time to have fun. I don’t allow people to hurt me more than once. I suppose some could say that I’m a little too hardcore and that I can carry a grudge, but I just see it as protecting myself.
Who is most important in your life and why? Bruce, my cat. Josh, my boyfriend. My family. Spencer and Nora. They are who I see every day, they are who I love.
Do you have a spouse or significant other? Describe them. Josh Logan. He’s tall, finger-length dark hair, a bit of a scruffy beard. He’s a very athletic and a workaholic. He’s an architect. Honest and trusting. Brown eyes. A nice smile. Sensitive guy. Smart, sometimes oblivious.
What do you look for in a potential lover? Someone who’s honest and doesn’t need a lot of time or attention to feel like he’s in a relationship. I need someone who isn’t afraid of a strong woman, and someone who understands me and accepts me for who I am.
Have you started your own family? Do you want to? Why or why not? No, and I don’t see myself as a mother. Maybe later, but not now. I just spent too much of my childhood being a mother for my siblings. I’m not ready to go there again.
Are all your children with the same partner? What is the custody agreement if not? N/A
How do you relate to children? I understand children, but I choose to avoid situations where I need to relate to them.
Which child is favorite and why? N/A
What is your favorite memory of child or children? Least favorite? N/A
Relationship to children important? N/A
Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help? I have a few people. Mom would be a last resort. I wouldn’t want her to worry. I’d go to Josh or Nora before my mother, and to Spencer before them.
Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who and why? My friends, my family.
If you died or went missing who would miss you? Spencer and Nora would be the first to notice because of work. Harper would be next because the girl always needs me to clean up her messes so I’m sure I’d miss some catastrophe she’d need me for and then realize I was missing. Then it would be Mom. I see her often so she’d be worried if it took more than a few days to hear from me. But she knows I’m strong so I think it would take her a while to come to the conclusion that I’m not okay. Then Josh would probably be last. He works so much that it’s not unheard of for us to go a few days without speaking or seeing each other.
Do you tend to argue with people or avoid conflict? I avoid conflict if I can, but I’m not afraid of it.
Do you tend to take on leadership roles in social situations? Yes.
Do you like interacting with large groups of people? Why or why not? Yeah, it doesn’t make me uncomfortable. I have a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities.
Do you care what others think of you? To some degree, but not enough to worry about.
What are your favorite hobbies and pastimes? I love catching baseball games. I like playing sports, karaoke, catching any kind of sport game actually. I love to cook even when I’ve cooked all day at work and I come home. I love to travel and wish I had more time to do so.
What is your favorite color? Least favorite color? Emerald green is my favorite. My least favorite would be pink.
Favorite food? Something spicy like fajitas, fresh from the grill.
What do you like to read? Cook books, new recipes I’ve found on the internet, food magazines, and the occasional romance novel.
What is your idea of good entertainment? A good movie, a quiet night of dancing, great food, time with friends or family. I like being outdoors.
Do you smoke, drink, or use drugs? If so, why? Do you want to quit? No.
What if anything shocks or offends you? The usual. I’m not easily offended or shocked.
What would you do if you had insomnia and had to find something to do to amuse yourself? Create a new recipe.
How do you deal with stress? Cooking. Trying to come up with new dishes or perfecting old ones.
Are you spontaneous or do you always have a plan? I always have a plan for work. At home, I just kinda leave things to what may come.
What are your pet peeves? I don’t like when people ask if you know what they mean. It drives me insane. And people who smoke in obviously smoke free places including businesses and homes.
Describe the routine of a normal day for you. How do you feel if this routine is interrupted? I get in some kind of morning exercise, shower, head into work and check to see if there is anything I need to get from the store, get into the kitchen, start working, go home and make a quick meal then watch a movie or catch up on emails. I also go to Mom’s a few times a week with frozen meals for her and Harper.
What is your greatest strength as a person? Weakness? My greatest strength is my strength. I know I can make it through anything. My weakness is sometimes I’m a little too emotionally distant.
Introverted or extroverted? Extrovert, but a healthy dose of the introvert as well.
Organized or messy? Mostly organized, especially in the kitchen.
Name three things you find yourself to be good at and three things you’re terrible at. 1. I can take care of myself and the people around me. 2. I’m responsible to a fault. 3. I’m an excellent cook, very creative and modern with a homemade flair. Terrible … 1. Sometimes hard for me to admit my feelings, especially if it’s an overly emotional thing. 2. I can’t parallel park at all. 3. Laundry totally gets the best of me.
Do you like yourself? Yes.
What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime? I’d like to have another restaurant or two, maybe even outside of Pittsburgh. I want my restaurant to be successful.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Maybe married, no kids. Working on a second restaurant and actually scheduling time for a vacation.
If you knew you were going to die in 24 hours, name three things you’d want to do. 1. Be with my family, tell them all how much I love them. 2. Make love to my boyfriend. 3. Get my finances in order.
What is the one thing you’d most like to be remembered for after your death? That I was always the best person I could be and that I tried to learn from all of my mistakes, no matter how big or small they were.
What three words best describe your personality? Friendly, Funny, Creative
What three words would others use to describe you? Hardworking, fun, dependable
What advice would you give your character? Every day is a learning experience. Taking your heart out of the equation only makes the lesson you need to learn longer.
What do you like to eat for breakfast? Grapefruit, oatmeal, omelet, or toast
Night owl or early riser? Both
How old are you? 26
Favorite music? Artist? Album? Band? Instrument? I like indie music, especially from movies or shows that I like. I like music with lyrics that actually mean something. I like Gavin Degraw, Mat Kearney, Carolina Liar. Instrument: acoustic guitar.
Favorite book? Author? I don’t really read much outside of cookbooks so I can’t really say.
Expletives? Don’t really use anything too graphic. The occasional damn or hell, but that’s it.
Mode of transportation? A Ford Explorer, 2007, Green, Eddie Bauer Edition
Cautious or daredevil? Same when you’re alone? I’m cautious, same when I’m alone.
How do you spend a rainy day? Cooking, or browsing cook books, or visiting my mother and sister.
Close to your co-workers? I work with my two best friends. The other employees respect me because I treat them well. Happy employees are loyal, hardworking employees.
What is the one even that would most throw the character’s life into turmoil? Why? Pregnancy. The restaurant is popular and well liked. The last thing I need is a child or pregnancy taking me away from that momentum.
Soft spot? Is it obvious to others or not? I have a soft spot for people who try to do better for themselves, but hit speed bumps along the way. It’s not obvious, but if it were, then people would stop trying so hard.
Which of the seven deadly sins does she give into willingly or unwillingly? Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride? Probably pride.
Which of the seven virtues does she have or fight against? Chastity, abstinence, liberality, diligence, patience, kindness, humility? Diligence is mine.
Talents? Cooking, and singing one heck of a rendition of Sometimes You Can’t Make it On Your Own.
Has she ever cheated on significant other? No.
Favorite clothing? Why? Least favorite? Why? Jeans and a nice blouse. It’s feminine and flirty, but still casual. That’s me. Least favorite would be turtle necks.
Jewelry or other accessories? I like earrings and necklaces, not big on bracelets or rings.
Does she shop frugally? Yes, on some things. Never on food.
What does she do too much of? Too little of? I work too much. I don’t enjoy time off nearly enough.
Is she depressed most days? Ever considered suicide? Not usually depressed and never considered suicide.
Wear skinny jeans? Yeah, if they fit right. I’m a curvy chick so it’s not always possible to wear skinny jeans.
Favorite actor or actress? Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock
Favorite alcoholic drink? Chardonnay
Favorite non-alcoholic drink? Water
Favorite song? I don’t know. I like a lot of music and my favorite songs change all the time.
Does she write poems or stories or songs? Not usually. I write recipes. That’s about it.
Favorite flower? Gardenias
Afraid of thunderstorms? No. Love them.
Favorite animal? Cats. They’re independent.
How often do you take a shower? Every day.
What is your favorite kind of chocolate? Dark chocolate, rich and luxurious
Favorite candy? Chico-stick
Do you floss? Yes. Every day.
What side do you sleep on? Middle of the bed.
What’s your favorite restaurant? Mine.
Favorite holiday? Christmas.
Ever kissed in the rain? Movie theater? Underwater? Yes, yes, no.
Are you a tease? No, especially not intentionally.
Do you flirt a lot? Yes, sometimes.
Longest relationship? Josh …. Three years
Shortest relationship? Alex …. One and a half years
Have you ever gotten a poem? No.
Ever get flowers? Yes.
Do you drink coffee? Sometimes, not often.
Would you ever hook up with someone of the same sex? No.
Have you ever kissed two people in one day? At the same time? No. No.
Ever cried over someone of the opposite sex? No.
Ever been dumped? Ever dumped someone? Yes and yes.
Ever been rejected? Yes.
Do you have a lot of exes? No.
Are you a slut or ever been called one? No, and yes.
Shoe size? 9
Favorite number? 71
Do you sleep in your bra? Yes. My girls are far too big to be running around free at night.
Do you enjoy drama? Nope, not at all.
Are you a girly girl? Nope.
Small or big handbag? I usually don’t have a handbag. I carry a wallet.
Do you think you’re conceited? Nope.
Do you dress up on Halloween? Sometimes, for a party.
Double jointed? No.
Where is the weirdest place you’ve slept? I try to never be in a situation where I have to sleep in a weird place.
Has anyone touched or smacked your butt? Yes.
Do you call anybody by their last name? My brother Tucker.
Wear makeup? Yes.
Ever cried at a movie theater? Yes.
Can you put on mascara without opening your mouth? Yes.
Hoops or dangling earrings? Both.
Ever slapped someone in their face? No.
Cried yourself to sleep? Yes.
Ever wish you were famous? Maybe a time or two.
Funny or serious? Both.
Favorite season? Spring.
Would you move to another state or country to be with the one you love? Maybe.
Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Yes.
Which one of your friends do you think would make the best doctor? Nora.
Are you afraid of falling in love? Why? Eh, I’m not afraid of love. I’m afraid of what comes after.
Ever been in a bar fight? Yes.
Last person to lay in your bed? Josh.
What was the last TV show you watched? Something on Food Network

Critical Mass

(Taken from Room to Write by Bonni Goldberg)

Prompt: Turn your internal critical voice into a character. What is its gender? How does it look? How does it smell? Who are its favorite writers and why?

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"Most of the methods of training the conscious side of the writer--the craftsman and the critic in him--are actually hostile to the good of the artist's side; and the converse of this proposition is likewise true. But it is possible to train both sides of the character to work in harmony; and the first step in that education is to consider that you must teach yourself not as though you were one person, but two." ~~ Dorothea Brande
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My inner voice is female. I imagine she is reminiscent of old Hollywood and picture her in a sparkling gown atop a piano with a glass of whiskey at her side. When I hear her voice, it is a bit smoky, raspy, but poised, always pointing out what I first assume is irrelevant but actually ends up meaning the most to me. She has a cigarette wand, much like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, although I often think it is more for show than actual use.



She has sleepy eyes, the kind that were so seductive in 1930's Hollywood. She's a golden blonde with short hair in the traditional deep set fingerwaves set close to the head. Now that I think about it, I think she has become Tallulah Bankhead's image in my subconscious. She is mostly quiet, choosing to nip casual remarks at my writing, but the kind of remarks that make you question every word before and every word after. She is always serious, her facial expressions rarely changing, unless a scandalous quip or reference brings a smirk to her face. She makes no excuses for what she says or how she feels. Often there is the scent of delicate perfume wafting around her, mingling with the smell of cigarette smoke and stale liquor. She often looks sad or lonely but she is neither. And the only time she is quiet is when writer's block has a stranglehold on my internal pen. Then she chooses to luxuriate in expensive gowns and mink coats, effortlessly sipping at the glass of scotch at her side, an all knowing expression behind her eyes. It's almost as if she is happy by my silence, but there is some anxiety in her gaze, as if she is silently cheering me on, waiting for the next line to dissect and scrutinize.

Her favorite author would be VC Andrews, a woman who lived a quiet life but wrote about such dark and twisted events with a poise and flow that totally enveloped you in that character's world.

Introducing ... Gennadi Kozlov

It's no secret (or perhaps it should be) that I am totally and completely in love with Evgeni Malkin. Yeah, I know, he's not exactly the best looking guy to take up a Penguins roster spot, but he's my hockey crush. You might have guessed he is the inspiration behind NOPB in the first place. I wanted to write a story with a hockey backdrop and thus the birth of Gennadi Kozlov (Gennadi because it is similar to Malkin's nickname, Geno and Kozlov for the reason I loved hockey to begin with so many years ago, Viktor Kozlov)

Side note: You can't tell out there in the interwebs, but all these Russian names have that red squiggly line underneath them as if they are spelled incorrectly and it is driving my inner writer insane.

Anyways, I did a character interview for Gennadi as well, trying not to let the influence for his character come screaming out. Also, as a Pens fan it killed me that Gennadi has to be a Bruin but I think it was important to keep that theme of the story where she runs from one extreme (the far east coast) to an opposite extreme (the far west coast) and back again. Perhaps in the third installment, Tallulah will be faced with a job offer in Pittsburgh and with Kozlov retired, maybe they will find themselves in my wish-it-were-mine hometown.

Introducing ... Evgeni Malkin as Gennadi Kozlov



And my weak Paint.Net skills to showcase my favorite self-created couple ....

Introducing .... Doctor Tallulah Elizabeth Madison Kozlov

I'm sure that every writer has a different process for imagining their characters. My way is to do a character interview with them. It's a lengthy process that has very personal, deep questions mixed with fun, intrinsically useless questions. It helps me get a feel for who the character is, what makes the character laugh, what makes the character smile, what kind of secondary character would make a good best friend for this primary character.

I also need visual assistance too. Not that I don't already have a picture in my head of what the character looks like. I start out with generic details like hair color, eye color, height and weight. Then I do some Googling until I come up with a photograph that instantly screams that characters name.

When I first started the NOPB story with Tallulah I had a rough idea of what I was looking for. She would be tall, curvy, very dark haired, strong and smart but a little internally insecure. My first thought was Sara Ramirez from Grey's Anatomy, but that seemed too mirrored of the character, especially since Tallulah is a doctor.

I found this photograph and I just knew, when I saw it, that she was Tallulah. Not exactly, but mostly, and it would be a great visual aid.



Her real life name is Christina Schmidt and she was an actress on Degrassi several years ago, but now seems to be a plus sized model. But I saw this picture and I thought her image was much the same as I envisioned Tallulah. She is beautiful, but not "Hollywood" either. She looks very strong and sure of herself, but there is still enough youth and innocence in her eyes to imagine she isn't quite as sure of herself as she should be.

So there you have it, Doctor Tallulah Elizabeth Madison Kozlov.

If you had to visually assign a Googled photo to one of your favorite main characters who would it be and why?

What a Character

(Prompt from Room to Write by Bonni Goldberg)

Pick someone you know either intimately or superficially and see on a fairly regular basis. Describe this person. When you are finished, notice what you concentrated on first, what aspects you have included and what you have left out. Did you include a physical description but leave out the way this person talks? Spend another half page on an element of the character that didn't appear in the original description, or rework the portrait by beginning with the last category of characteristics to show up in the original description.

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"I think what we do is take what we understand of both ourselves and what we see around us. Our own nature makes a selection; it selects which things please you more." ~~ Louise Nevelson
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Favorite Cousin

She is tall, imposing. She has a baby face with straight dark hair and brown eyes. She wears her jeans way too tight but she doesn't care what anyone thinks. She is funny and loud, naive at times. She scrunches up her face when she laughs. Her style is definitely more urban than anything else. Sometimes she seems more naive and unaware than she should be, but that is a defense mechanism. Sometimes she is very much a bully and puts on a tough act, but she has a heart of gold and takes things personally but you would probably never see her react to it.

Reworked from the last characteristic.

Heather portrays a tough exterior, but she has a heart of gold. She can rough house with the boys and put makeup on with the girls so she makes friends easily. She has a very urban street flow to her words but she is sweet and thoughtful. She might seem unapproachable because she has a lot of abrasive traits, but she is a kind person who has little encouragement at home. She is tall and imposing, but has this extra youthful smile when she is laughing that makes her seem so naive. She has long, straight dark hair almost always in a ponytail and brown eyes --- beautiful eyes! She always bites the tip of her tongue when she laughs.

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I had a difficult time with this exercise because I felt like I was cheating myself of it's benefits. I felt like I was focusing my character scope too widely because that was the point of the redirect. When I am writing, I fill out character interviews for each of my main characters and summarize my secondary characters so I don't think description is an area I truly need to focus on, but it was neat to "observe" my favorite cousin for a prompt.