Characters are a lot like children by Mike Hartner
I made
this mistake the first time I tried to write. I had this idea for a fiction in
the 1970s and 80s. The main characters were to be twentysomethings, and the
first outline said that 22-year-old boy meets 22-year-old girl, and the two go
do some important things. Simple, right? Create the boy and his
family. Make the path to the big city where the novel was set a straight
line... let him meet the girl there, and voila! Everything early is
solved. And the two protagonists can go solve the mysteries of the world
together.
(*SIGH*) And then, I sat down to write the novel. The male was born
in Hawaii... so getting him to the big city was not a direct path. The
female was born in Chicago... she was also going to the big city, but needed a
reason. After all Chicago was big enough. And rather than take the
direct path, and go do what I expected, both of them went off on their own
tangent lines.
The
direct line to the Big City...New York City, in this case...was anything BUT
straight or direct. And the adventures in other parts added to their many
character layers.
Understand…I created these characters. They are something I’d been
thinking about in my own mind for some time. And then I set their births
to paper.
And All
H! broke loose. I didn’t plan on the male adventures with base jumping, or
surfing. I didn’t plan on the female being exposed to the EVIL forces, or
criminal elements or a neighbour whose parents insisted their daughter learn
about ALL of the world’s religions in increments of one or two years. These are
things I NEVER would have considered for either of them. And yet, they were
things that the protagonists themselves told me about their upbringing.
Every
time I wrote a scene, and let it sit for a few days, the protagonists would tap
me on the arm and say, “Well, that’s not quite how it happened...” And I
would need to go back and set the record straight. One such event in the
male’s life dragged out for three or four weeks until it was ‘accurate’
according to the protagonist’s memory. And my mental response was ‘Why
didn’t you just say this in the first place?’ And the smart-ass response
was, ‘You never asked.’
And yes,
I know I sound schizophrenic because I believe my characters are real. But, if
you are an author, or close to one, you probably also understand that
scenario. And I freely admit to listening to my characters as I’m writing
their story down. They are REAL…to me anyway.
And
characters, like children, hate being told what to do. And they like
carving their own path into your heart and your story.
So, for
you authors out there, feel free to plot and scheme (read: outline and
plan). But, don’t be surprised if your characters decide to go a different
way, and make the story more rich and enjoyable. Have fun doing it.
Oh, and the
story? Never got published. But not for the reasons you’re
thinking. No, the simple reason this story got put aside is because it was
meant to be part of a series. And it comes towards the end of that
series. So, obviously you need to write the beginning first. And the
beginning is I, Walter.
I, Walter is the first in a series of books in a saga which will span
continents and time to arrive in present day North America.
Each in the series will be connected, though that connection may not be
obvious for several more books.
It's almost like looking at a menorah (sic). Many lines, seemingly
individual, connect to center at different points.
Walter Crofter was born into
Elizabethan England.
In a country and a time where
favor and politics were both deadly, can an honest boy stay true to himself?
Especially given his family
background?
About the Author
Mike Hartner was born in Miami in 1965. He’s traveled much
of the continental United States. He has several years post secondary
education, and experience teaching and tutoring young adults. Hartner has owned
and run a computer firm for more than twenty-five years. He now lives in
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife and child. They share the
neighborhood and their son with his maternal grandparents.
Book Details
·
224 pages
·
Genre: Historical Fiction
·
Age: Young Adult
·
Available from: Amazon.com
·
ASIN: B00C7FJ7B4
Review Excerpts
"I,
Walter is a grand tale of adventure that reminds me of the Patrick
O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin adventure series but with a noble innocence and, a
most refreshing, charming slant. Romance, adventure, mystery, rescues,
deception, and vivid descriptions make I, Walter a most enjoyable and
inspirational read of chivalry. This CBR reviewer looks forward to reading more
of the Crofter saga from Mike Hartner" Chanticleer Book Reviews
“This book truly is
New York Best-seller material!" Charity Langley, Author
Contact Details
Email: assistantk8@gmail.com
Website:
www.mikehartner.com
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MHartnerAuthor
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mike-Hartner-Author/368690356556759
Purchase Book:
Amazon
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Giving away ONE copy of "I, Walter"
Readers choice: ebook, audio, or print (International ebook or audio book only)
1. In order to enter giveaway all you need to do is leave a comment with your email address!
2. For one additional entry, follow me on GFC and leave your user name!
3. I will choose a winner and contact them on May 1st.
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