Many thanks to my awesome historical romance pal Kate Robbins for asking this week's questions. Also, you'll see more of Kate in my blogging in the weeks to come as she launches Book 2 in her Highland Chiefs series. She's my gal, and my crit partner, so I have to make sure I show her lots of love. Now, enough Kate gushing. Time for her questions.
1. How much of yourself do you write into your characters? Or do you write characters completely opposite to you?
I think all my characters, even the secondary and male characters, have a bit of me in them. It's not planned, but if I'm creating them, delving into their thoughts, making them speak, then I think it's inevitable that a bit of me comes through. I've never set out to create a character that is representative of me, but I think I can find elements of myself in all my heroines. Elsie Walsh has my height complex. Daphne Scott has my reading addiction. Fiona Nolan struggled with her weight and loves folk music. And Grace Nolan is a regency romance reading, Dungeons and Dragons playing geek. Still, they are their own characters. I work hard to make them as well rounded as I can. And there's plenty in their lives that holds no reflection to me. Still, the one thing they all have in common is that I'd like to be their friend.
2. Has your writing helped you see events in your own life clearer?
My novels haven't, but some of my short fiction (all unpublished) has. I like using short stories and essays to help figure out my past. Maybe that's why they're all unpublished. I don't journal. But I write poetry and short stories as a means to contemplate the complexities of life. Funny story. A little off topic, but I'll keep it short. Before meeting the man that would become my husband, I wrote all kinds of poetry. Deep, soul searching, wacky stuff. And then I fell in love. And all of the poetry I tried to write was full of love and joy and beauty, I hate those poems to this day. I met my husband 11 years ago and it's no coincidence that I haven't written any poetry in 11 years.
3. Have you written a character with more of your personal characteristics than any other? What are they?
Oh. I should have paid attention to all the questions before I started writing, since I sort of answered this in question one. Still, no one character is more me than any other. In fact, I work to make sure that no character is too like me. So far. Although I have an idea for another series of contemporary novels that the character is much like me. Who knows when I'll write those though. ;)
Thanks Kate for this week's questions. And thanks to all 24 Romance Weekly authors who are posting this week. Now click click click your way over to Mishka Jenkins' page to see how she answered these questions!