Have you ever read a book and wondered, “Where did they get the idea for that person?” Let’s face it, there are so many great characters in fiction to choose from and they all bring so much to the table.
In my case, my characters come from a few places:
- Behaviors/Peronality Traits that I’ve seen demonstrated
- Beliefs that I respect
In The Star Child, my debut novel, protagonist, Kellen St. James is a love-starved prodigy. He graduates from Yale at eighteen and is immediately transported from his graduation ceremony into a dream. It was important to me that Kellen demonstrated the following:
- Skepticism
- Intelligence
- Courage
- Problem-solving Skills
- Honor
- Loyalty
- Questioning
- Sensitive, but not over the top
- Romance
Once I had a sense of what shaped the character’s personality, then I could truly start to write in that character’s voice.
One time, I attended a meeting, and a co-worker kept asking questions, repeatedly. It was really starting to frustrate me, because I felt like it was derailing the conversation. Of course, I gave Kellen that personality trait. Ironically, that same colleague read The Star Child and asked if she was the inspiration for that scene. I had to fess up.
About the Book
Only one can stop the night.
Kellen St. James has spent his entire life being overlooked as an unwanted, ordinary, slightly geeky kid. That is until a beautiful girl, one who has haunted his dreams for the past eleven years of his life, shows up spinning tales of a prophecy. Not just any old prophecy either, but one in which Kellen plays a key role.
Suddenly, Kellen finds himself on the run through a Celtic underworld of faeries and demons, angels and gods, not to mention a really ticked off pack of hellhounds, all in order to save the world from darkness. But will they make it in time?
Paperback
E-Book
About the Author
Stephanie Keyes holds an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems as well as a Master's in Education. A seasoned, facilitator, Mrs. Keyes worked in Training and Development for an international telecommunications corporation for twelve years; spending the first eight years of her career as a Software Trainer and Technical Writer and the last four working in Human Resources and Employee Development.
In May of 2012, Mrs. Keyes left the corporate world to focus on her family and her writing full-time. She also operates a freelance graphic and instructional design business, Sycamore Road Design.
Inkspell Publishing will release her first novel, The Star Child, on September 21, 2012. She is now currently at work on the second book in The Star Child Trilogy, The Fallen Stars.
Keyes lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two children, and Riley the dog.
Contact Stephanie
Website: www.stephaniekeyes.com
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Keyes/150860604966160
Twitter: www.twitter.com/StephanieKeyes
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5 comments:
Dorothy, Thank you again for hosting me as part of this tour. It's been fun!
Great post! I'll follow you anywhere :)
I love Kellen! His character, I mean (he's a bit too young for me!). He seems totally real though. Well done, Stephanie! :) xx
Great post! I, too, loved Kellen and my heart went out to him right in the very first scene! Lovely to get the inside scoop on how he became who he is, thanks for sharing, Steph! And thanks to the lovely Dorothy for hosting you here today. Rock on! X
I think that fictional characters come from our imaginations! They come from parts of the writer/creator. (;
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