As a
writer, I find inspiration for my stories and my characters in everything
around me. The people I know, the books I read, the movies I watch. Sometimes I
don’t even realize what has inspired me, until after the fact.
This is the
case with my most recent series “The
Carrigans of Circle C.” I started these books with the central idea that I
would write about a rancher who wanted a son but ended up with four daughters.
It wasn’t until I was halfway through the series, that I figured out the four
Carrigan sisters I “created” were remarkably similar to the four March sisters
in Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, Little Women.
Now this
similarity came about completely from my subconscious—probably influenced by my
having read the story, watched the movie, and listened to an audio version of Little
Women dozens of times.
Mattie Carrigan (heroine of GoodTogether) is my “Meg.” She is the oldest, and is responsible and
motherly. My Mattie is not as vain or fond of pretty things as Meg March, but
she is the sister the others go to when they want motherly advice. She is also
the first to marry, first to have children, and like Meg, her children are
twins.
Callan
Carrigan (heroine of A Cowgirl’s Christmas) is my “Amy.”
She too is the baby of the family and while she isn’t artsy or ultra-feminine
like Amy, she is strong-willed and stubborn. When she sets her mind on
something, she is unstoppable. Remember how Amy is the sister who ends up with
the charming Laurie from next door? Well, my Callan has an equally wonderful hero
in store for her, as well. She just takes a long time to admit it.
Sage Carrigan (heroine of PromiseMe, Cowboy) is my “Beth.” Of all the sisters she is the kindest and
most soft-hearted. It’s no coincidence that I made her the owner of a chocolate
shop—her delicious confections reflect her own inner sweetness.
As for Dani
Carrigan (Heroine of Close To Her Heart) she is my Jo.
Dani tries so hard to be independent and strong, to be ruled by her head rather
than her heart. Her weakness is for the underdog—she can’t resist looking after
them. Just as Jo was motivated to start a school for needy boys in Little
Women, so is Dani driven to make the choices she does in Close To Her Heart.
* * *
Have you
read Little Women? Which of the characters was your favorite? Did you have a
least favorite? If you’ve read any of the Carrigan books, I’d love to know if
you see the same similarities to the March sisters as I do!
Warmest
Wishes,
C. J. Carmichael
7 comments:
That's amazing, CJ! Funny how our creativity works!!!!
Jo. She took chances.
I know, it was almost kind of spooky. Made me realize how easy it is to appropriate other authors ideas...which is okay, I guess, as long as the words are your own.
Yes, I love Jo so much!
CJ, I love that this came to you after the fact! It shows, doesn't it, how deep in our psyches these classics are buried? And they're classics because they really do capture the archetypes so well.
Kathleen, yes! I went about a year listening to Little Women on audiobook when I couldn't sleep. I listened over and over and over--which taught me that a classic book, can bear that kind of repetition where you listen, not to find out what happens next, but to enjoy and savor each scene.
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