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Monday, January 30, 2012

I Love My Character, and I Hope She Loves Me


Hello all! Darynda Jones here, author of the Charley Davidson series. Leena Hyat of Tote Bags ‘n Blogs was gracious enough to invite me as a guest on her blog, and I’m so happy to be here. Thanks, Lee, for having me, and thanks readers for being here.

Tomorrow is January 31, and the third edition of the Charley Davidson series will be released. I’m excited. There are butterflies in the pit of my stomach. I love Charley, and I love having the glorious opportunity to write her stories.  It’s a blast being able to share her with others, knowing that some readers out there have as much love for her as I do.

As a character, I could not have asked for a better person to come through from divine inspiration. If I could interact with one of my characters for real, it would be Charley. I would love to have the opportunity to hang out with her. I can only begin to imagine the wicked danger she would get me into. She would scare me, but we would be fast, lifelong buddies.

Charley is one of those characters that comes along at a time when you need her most. I was determined to live out my destiny and calling of being an author. What to write, though? Who to write about? I knew in order to gain the attention of the NY literary world I would have to come up with a spectacular female lead.

Now, some people have heard the story of Charley’s “birth.” I was lying in bed, waiting for my turn at the shower. I was daydreaming and under the woozy influence of menthol vapors steaming from my bedside vaporizer. I was wondering about my heroine. Then she came to me, like a thief in the night. Only it was daytime, and all she stole was my heart. I have been on cloud nine ever since.

I love writing about Charley. I feel honored to have been chosen to tell her stories. She has a vibrancy and a nuance about her. Awww. Who am I kidding? She’s loads of fun. She’s a hoot. Not too many people, err, characters could be referred to as: smart-ass, child-like, severely ADD, schizoid, hilarious, dangerous, possibly violent and yet, fun-loving and kind-hearted.

And I don’t want to give any spoilers, but let me ask you this. How many people do you know continue to push their luck with a pack of guard dogs at an abandoned mental institution just for the sake of names? Who else but Charley would flagrantly flaunt her gnarly trespassing “skills” to an outlaw biker gang just to go visit some ghost buddy who hangs out at this same mental institution? I know the neighborhood this old building sits in. Believe me. Not many people want to hang out there. Would you want to rumble with the Son of Satan? Would you pursue a murderer or two, putting your life at risk for the sake of a client? Charley does.

Some of you may be wondering about my mental health. I realize I am talking about Charley as though she were a real, live person. Maybe you’re extending to me the excuse of being a highly imaginative writer. Having minored in psychology for my bachelor’s degree, I understand you could argue that Charley’s simply an extension of my personality. I know full well she could be a way of allowing myself the privilege of letting my inner child to come forth, or my inner psycho, or my inner coffee drinker (Sadly, I’m relegated to decaf right now, folks).

I know Charley’s not real, but I think she’s awesome. We’ve had some fun together, her and I. The last three years I have spent with Charley in my life have been truly amazing, and I expect the experience to continue on. She has at least two more stories to look forward to. Me, that is. For me to look forward to because I truly love telling her stories. Aww. Good times. Good times. Thanks Charley.

And thank you all so very much! I’ve enjoyed talking about Charley from a writer’s POV. I have two more things I’d like to share. First, I’m giving away a signed, hardcover of Third Grave Dead Ahead to one winner, so good luck, all! Second, how is a winner determined? Get on the Tote Bags ‘n Books comment board and answer this question. A winner will be chosen from one of the participants this evening.

So answer this: Which literary character would you like to spend the day with in their world? I would love to know what everyone’s answer to that is. It tells a lot about the reader. Ha ha.


***Candie is the winner for the hardcover of Third Grave Dead Ahead!!  Congratulations!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your full name and mailing address!***

20 comments:

Alison said...

Wow - Charley sounds a fascinating character! No wonder you have fun writing her. Literary character - Mr Darcy of course. I might even get to see what he looks like in the bath!

pageturner345@gmail.com

traveler said...

What a wonderful post today. Charley sounds unique and special and your books are memorable. I would like to spend time with Atticus Finch. A man who is a real man, when men were men, who has values and principles and is to be admired. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

CrystalGB said...

Charley sounds amazing. I would want to spend time with Keri Arthur's Riley Jensen. She was be a great friend to hang out with. Thanks for the giveaway.

Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

petite said...

Charley certainly is enterprising, brave and gutsy. Congratulations on greating this character. Someone with whom I could spend hours and days with would be Anne of Green Gables. Her personality is so wonderful and appealing. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Alex Adams said...

I adore Charley--no wonder you like spending time with her. Me, I'd like to spend the day hanging with Jasper Fforde's Thursday Next.

What does that say about me? Do I even want to know? :D

Lil said...

Your character sounds like quite a hoot. I would also love to hang out with Katherine "Kitty" Katt from Gini Koch's Alien Collective series.

little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

Martha Lawson said...

I'd like to hang out with Charley for a day!! Anxiously awaiting the new book. Love them.

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Na said...

Charley sounds awesome and I have to say many times when I meet fictional characters it makes me wish they readlly did existed. Wouldn't that be something? :)

Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

Darynda said...

Thank you guys so much!!! You have mentioned some fantastic characters. Mr. Darcy makes me drool. lol And Atticus Finch is awesome. I've been wanting to read about Thursday Next. I'll have to get on those. As well as Kitty and Riley. I love Anne too.

Anywho, I digress. Thanks all!! OH! And mine would probably be Elizabeth Bennet. And maybe catch a glimpse of Mr. Darcy in the process. lol

Unknown said...

So I love Charlie, but not sure I want to spend my day dodging bullets and worrying about why Mr. Wong is stuck in his timeout LOL
Honestly I would love to spend my day with...mmmm..this is hard. I would say: Mick from the Storm Walker series... *melt*

annie(dot)palmer(at)collinfamilylaw(dot)com

cAnDiE said...

Being an avid reader this question is so hard to answer! ACK! I would have to go with Claire Fraiser from the Outlander Series. She's my favorite heroine of all the books I've read. I also have a soft spot for Marianne in Austen's Sense and Sensibility.

Barbara E. said...

I'm looking forward to reading your books and learning more about Charley.

I'd love to spend the day with Jennifer Estep's Gin Blanco. Not only is she an awesome assassin, but she's a heck of a cook. Just reading about some of the dishes she makes starts my mouth watering. So hopefully, she'd do some cooking for me that day. :D

Barbed1951 at aol dot com

Renee said...

I'd love to be Agatha Christie's Jane Marple. She was always such an insightful person or a member of Lauren Willig's Pink Carnation because any of her characters have an interesting love story. I love the character of Charley.

alainala said...

thats tough.. willy wonka or sherlock holmes!! i think that they would both be awesome to hang out with for a day.. lol

Mary Preston said...

I don't think I would. Knowing my luck I would be branded as a witch or harlot because of some outlandish comment, the way I dressed or any similar indiscretion. I can see myself a victim of circumstance & mis-happenings.I know it's just for the day, but I'm not game to chance it.

mountie9 said...

I would love to spend the day with Finn from Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassins. He's a wonderful flirt and it would be fun just to flirt with him -- and maybe go past the flirting LOL!
contestmom AT hotmail DOT com

blackroze37 AT yahoo.com said...

love to read this series. think i would adore charley .

Michele L. said...

I know this might sound strange but I would love to hang out with Joe Morelli from the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. He sounds so cool and handsome! Your Charley stories are awesome cool! I definitely can't wait to read your new book!

Dina said...

Id visit Lizzy Bennet, she was strong willed and could still show a senitive side. didn't likew to be forced to choose something she didn'i think was right

Linda Henderson said...

I would love to hang out with Roarke from JD Robb's In Death series. He is a very intriguing man and Eve is very lucky to have him. Of course he's pretty lucky to have her too. I'm a big fan of that series.

seriousreader at live dot com