Author Guest Post-Being Friends with Your Characters by Lorena Bathey

Being Friends with Your Characters

by Lorena Bathey

Writing a book means the characters become like family as they come to life and the story takes shape. As an author, I find the people in the world of my books become people I want to spend time with.

This is odd, of course, because they aren't real people. But I think that in a lot of ways they are rather like the imaginary friends of our childhood. The perfect friend for us. They themselves aren't perfect or they would be really boring to read about. But they are the perfect friends for authors and readers because they have issues, problems, and tragedies that they not only solve but learn from as well.

I think oftentimes authors write about things that have happened to them and then allow their characters to do a better job at sorting the problem than the author did in real-life. At least I know that's true of my stories.

Characters come alive in books. My character, Beatrice Munson...man do women love her. I get asked all the time if I'm going to write a sequel because they want to know more about how Beatrice lives, thinks, and is. That gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling because I know I've done my job as an author if they feel that connected to my character.

In my stories I start with one character, usually the main protagonist. From that person ('cause they feel like people to me) I find the story and their supporting cast comes alive. I think about who their friends would be? Who would they fall in love with? Who would they choose to spend time with?

And I guess I would have to say that as the author there may be a bit of myself in many of my characters. It's possible. It's not always conscious or planned, but I think that as the creator of characters you can't help but have a bit of yourself seep into their makeup.

Either way creating believable, functioning, and wonderful characters takes connecting with them and their story on a personal level if you're going to write a book that people can connect to. I let my characters lead the way and so far it's been a fantastically fun and fulfilling journey.

ABOUT LORENA BATHEY

Growing up in Northern California, Lorena Bathey attended St. Mary’s College in Moraga graduating with a degree in English.

Lorena Bathey found characters were visiting her mind and wouldn't leave. She was introduced to Marissa, Andrea, Lily, Deidre and Beatrice and her first novel, Beatrice Munson, came to life. After finishing that book she was inspired to write more novels and she knew that pursuing her passion was the best way to live her life. So a writer she became.

After meeting the love of her life, they embarked on the thrilling life to follow their dreams, bringing their families along for the ride. Today Lorena has nine novels in her writing queue.

But writing isn't the only muse that inspires Lorena. She has become a passionate photographer and likes to push the envelope taking avant guarde shots. Travel, walking, enjoying new restaurants, and Italy are other loves and things she makes sure she has time for.

Find her at www.LorenaBBooks.com

ABOUT HOUSE ON PLUNKETT STREET

Phoebe Bertram is boring, bland, and unexciting. She works a job that is inadequate of her abilities. She has a boyfriend that is a dud. She is on the treadmill of her life and doesn t know how to get off. With changes in her job and her apartment going condo, she must find a new place to live. Her friend Meghan brings her to the perfect apartment and the moment Phoebe steps in the door she knows there is something atypical about this perspective residence. What she never expects are the three ghosts that arrive on her couch to teach her how life is really meant to be lived.

GIVEAWAY

Lorena has so graciously offered to give a PDF copy of House on Plunkett Street to a lucky reader of my blog!  Open internationally and ends August 20th. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below!!
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