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Like most authors, I’m always asked how I create characters. Several related queries usually follow the first one:
How do I come up with their names?
How do I “know” what they look like?
The answers to these questions depend on how the story comes to be. If I’m starting with a story concept, I wonder what type of person would do, what I want them to do, and how I want it to happen. Psych 101 is handy here (yes, a little knowledge is dangerous). My characters seldom do precisely what I wish them to and are known for going off on a tangent of their own making, but I have a starting point, at least. Then comes damage control or patching plot holes! But that’s another blog post.
Some stories start with the character defined due to the character’s quirks. For instance, I might ask myself what happens when the manager of an event venue with coulrophobia (the fear of clowns (and don’t we all?)) is forced to spearhead a rowdy clown convention. Again, I have my starting point.
As for names, that’s something I agonize over and spend ridiculous amounts of time on. I research names’ origins and their meanings to match the characters. Does it sound right? Would the character like the name? Do I know anyone well with the same name? Do they have any qualities like the character? If so, I keep looking…
Eventually, I do get there. I have a name and the character’s personality down. But how do I know what they look like? This is a conjecture and only comes when I’ve been with the character for a while. At some point, I see the person I’m talking about, the “who” I’m talking for and through. It’s not a very scientific or precise method, but it works for me. I hope it works for you and helps you know your characters.
Emma Love never thought she’d return to her hometown after years away from her estranged family. But when her sister-in-law is kidnapped, Emma puts her life on hold to help an old flame, Deputy Sam Mattingley, solve the case and bring Gwen home. With a degree in Criminal Justice and part-time experience working at a detective agency, Emma’s skills are tested. As the layers of secrecy are peeled back, Emma realizes the mystery shrouding Love’s Manor and her brother’s marriage is more intricate than anyone could have fathomed. Can she navigate the convoluted trail of clues and locate Gwen before it’s too late? And what of her long-suppressed feelings for Sam Mattingley…are they merely a product of nostalgia…or something more?
Enjoy an Excerpt
Sliding my feet into cheap imitation fur-lined slippers, I set the book on my nightstand and made my way to the kitchen, and the coffee pot. The old-fashioned percolator began its flirtatious dance, and the scent of the fresh ground coffee teased my nostrils. I glanced around the room, noticing all the work needing to be done. The condition of the place made it affordable for me. The paint was chipping from the walls, and the kitchen cabinets were stained with decades of accumulated grease. The sink’s constant drip kept time with the ticking of the kitchen clock, a throwback black cat with rolling eyes and a swishing tail. But it was home, and it was mine. Well, mine and Old Joseph’s—the name I gave to the source of falling objects and bumps in the night. What I only somewhat jokingly referred to as my resident ghost. I wasn’t sure I believed in ghosts, but I was a firm believer in my vivid imagination.
About the Author: 
D.W. Thompson is the mystery genre pen name for award-winning author David W. Thompson. As a multi-genre author, he’s been awarded membership in the Horror Writer’s Association, The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association and the Mystery Writers of America. David lives in picturesque Southern Maryland with nearby family and dear old friends.
When he isn’t writing, Dave enjoys time with his family, kayaking (flat water, please), fishing, hiking, archery, gardening, winemaking, and pursuing his other “creative passion”- woodcarving.
He’d love to hear your thoughts on his tales that he describes as occasionally twisted, but always honest and original!
Buy the book at Amazon.
