Serious Wednesday: Behind the Scenes

 Behind the Scene with Secondary Characters 

Boet

Creating characters for our books is extremely important, immeasurably valuable. Without the right character creations, a book will be boring and unnoticed by many. That's why authors must work diligently to create characters with vivid and correct personalities to suit their various duties in our books.

Let's talk about a few secondary characters—those creatures who support the protaganist(s) and antagonist(s). In my newest book: Catch Me If You Can, Book one of the Nursery Rhyme series, I have two I want to use as examples.

I love creating secondary characters in books. They seem to add a touch of spice to the whole story. For instance:

• 
  Take Jimbo: He's a Native American of the tribe of Blackfoot, intuitive, kind, knowledgeable of the area and of reading trail signs plus a good nature endears him to readers. I didn't make him weird or unworldly, but with an innate personality that knows his own mind and isn't threatened
  by anyone.

How does that affect the readers? They love him: his deep understanding of people, their troubled hearts, their spirituality, their hurt—all of that resonates with them. It makes him a very empathetic individual, one that readers can connect with.

• And then there's Boet (pronounced Boot): A little background here: when I first wrote Catch Me If You Can, Tara Layne (the protagonist) had a pet mouse given to her by her two brothers as a joke. BUT...when an editor suggested I use a different kind of pet, I went on the hunt for the perfect pet. Once I'd decided on a cat as Tara's pet, I did a lot of research and came across an article about Savannah cats. I was impressed, not only by their behavior and attitudes but that this cat was the perfect pet for her.

And what is the response to Boet from readers? Well, he's one of their favorites. His antics, intelligence, and overall personality win them over.

Secondary characters are vastly important in books. I've found myself caring more about them, sometimes, than I do the main ones. And why's that, you ask?

Because they're not restricted in behaving in a way that leads to results. They can be as quirky or hateful as you portray them, and people will still love them because of that distinct difference.

Think about it. Who doesn't love a cat who leaves perfectly good clues for their detective and then nonchalantly walks away? He's done his job, now it's up to this person to do his. And all the time, he's gaining the attention of readers who wish he belonged to them. As is his right.

Smart cat! Fascinating characters!  

Serious Wednesday: Introducing BOET!

 

BOET

*  A major character in the book series:

The Nursery Rhyme Books

*  He's a SAVANNAH cat.

*  A Savannah cat is bred between a domestic cat and an African Serval cat.

* Savannah cats are rated between F1 and F5. The F stands for filial (how many generations removed from the Serval cat that cat is). You cannot own an F1 without a Dangerous Wild Life Animal license.

 The higher the number, the more gentle they are.

Savannah cats are extremely loyal. Raised in a household with children or other people help to make them very socialized.

* Savannah cats like to cuddle, play ball, and sometimes even swim! 

*  They are extremely smart (hence Boet's intelligence in this series!)  

* They can weigh anywhere from 15 lbs to 25-some lbs. The largest Savannah cat--19 inches tall--in the world lives in Michigan. First generations are usually larger than later ones.

*AND they are expensive. Some can run as high as 30 some thousand.

NOW...

For a chance to win a Kindle copy of Catch Me if You Can, 

answer this question:

Question of the Day:

Would you like to own a Savannah Cat? 

Sunday Morning Sunshine: There are Cats, and then There are Cats...

 All cats are demanding.

Grouchy

and sometimes downright sarcastic.

There's no debating on this statement.

I insist that it's true! :) 

Princess

But, when they want to be,

they are loving 

(or at least want to be loved on)

It's their right, they think!

Simon

and beautiful

(who's ever heard of a modest cat?

NO? I thought so!)

Tipper

Some are smart

So smart they THINK

they are the boss

You'll catch them with that certain gleam in 

their eyes

Boet

he's becoming a celebrity because he's a KEY character

in Catch Me If You Can

(Book 1 of the Nursery Rhyme series).

Everyone loves him 

and the attention 

is going to his head.

He thinks I don't know what

he's thinking,

but I do.

because...

 some cats are dumber than coal buckets,

but don't let them know I said this.

Especially BOET!

Sunday Morning Sunshine: I Like Animals

CAT

My cat,

Is quiet.

She moves without a sound.

Sometimes she stretches herself curving

On tiptoe.

Sometimes she crouches low

and creeping.

Sometimes she rubs herself against a chair,

And there

With a miew and a miew

And a purrrr...purrrr...purrrr...

She curls up

And goes to sleep.

My cat

Lives through a black hole

Under the house.

So one day I

Crawled in after her.

And it was dark

And I sat

And didn't know 

Where to go.

And then--

Two yellow-white

Round little lights

Came moving...moving...toward me.

And there

With a miew and a miew

And a purrrr...purrrr....purrrr

My cat

Rubbed, soft against me.

And I knew

The lights

Were MY CAT'S EYES

In the dark.

--Dorothy Baruch

1933

Sunday Sunshine: The Love of a Child's Cat

Cat

My cat

is quiet.

She moves without a sound.

Sometimes she stretches herself into curving

on tiptoe.

Sometimes she crouches low

and creeping.

Sometimes she rubs herself against a chair,

and there

with a miew and miew

and a purrr  purrr  purrr

She curls up

and goes to sleep.

My cat

lives through a black hole

Under the house.

so one day I

crawled in after her.

And it was dark

and I sat

and didn't know

where to go.

And then-- 

round little lights

came moving...moving...toward me.

And there

with a miew and a miew

and a purr   purr   purr

My cat

rubbed soft against me.

And I knew

the lights

were MY CAT'S EYES

in the dark.

--Dorothy Baruch

1933

ABC4UandMe

C is for Cats

Tipper, a cat with her own thoughts about the way she's to be treated!

MK (Miniature KitKat) sweet, mischievous, spoiled

Simon: with a need for constant petting.

Cookie: a good-luck? stray, Son #1 adopted. Smile

Have a fun, blessed day!

Need Another Unusual Gift?

Try one of these, either for an cat lover or for a family member who has everything.

A greeting card/gift that will give the receiver something to ponder over through the weeks.
Materials

• A collection of items that represent what your family did over the past year
• Holiday decorations
• Family photos
• #9 or #10 business envelopes

Instructions

1. Gather your items, such as ballet slippers for a dance recital, a trophy for a winning season, or a mini house for a move to a new home. Assemble the collection, along with festive holiday decorations and family photos, and take a picture of it.
2. Using a word processing program, compose a greeting that includes a list of what to look for in the photo. If you have a digital camera, insert your photo above the text and print out the page. If you're using a snapshot, leave room at the top, print the page, then tape or glue on the picture. Print or color-copy as many as you need.

Got a cat lover for a best friend and need something unusual and personal that will tell her you love her no matter whether the cat sheds on your good black clothes or not? Then check out this gift:
Materials

• 1 yard of fabric
• Polyester filling
• Chalk
• Scissors
• Pins
• Dried catnip
• 1-foot piece of fabric
• Needle and thread
• Embroidery thread

Instructions

1. To make the cushion, fold the fabric in half so the patterned sides are touching. Draw an oval on the fabric with chalk, then cut along the outline with scissors to make two ovals of equal size. Pin them together and stitch three-quarters of the way around to create a pocket.
2. Turn the fabric right side out and stuff it with polyester filling that has been sprinkled with catnip. Turn in the open edge and hand stitch it closed.
3. The fish is made in the same fashion. Fold a 1-foot piece of fabric in half, draw a fish shape on it, and cut along the outline so to create two fish of equal size. Sew up the sides, leaving the tail open.
4. Turn the pocket right side out, stuff with polyester filling and catnip, and sew closed.
5. As a finishing touch, stitch big green eyes and colorful stripes on the fish with embroidery thread.

Quote: My will shall shape my future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. --Elaine Maxwell

Blessings!

M.K. and a Little Boy

Are you one of those persons that loves everyone and everything?

Well, I've gotta tell you, it's not that easy for me. Take for example:

Years ago, I babysat some kids. This one little boy--well, there was just something about the little fellow that was hard for me to love like I should have.

I tried. Honest. But I couldn't make myself love him.
So I resorted to prayer. I told God he would have to help me learn to love this child.

To make a long story short (as all the long-winders always say, and then go on and on) he did, and I did. Wasn't in my power, but his.

Now on to M.K.

Who's M.K.? Stands for Miniature KitKat (KitKat is the mother). When Son # 1 moved, he brought them to us to watch. I had no trouble with KitKat. Even though she did things I didn't like, I cared about her.

But M.K. was another matter. Could have been cause she's not an overly friendly cat. Or could be . . . well, I don't rightly know.

But I didn't like her. Care for her. Love her.

Until she took a liking to me.

I guess I felt sorry for her, with Son # 1 gone so much. So when she mewed and drug her "string" into our great room so I could have the privilege of running around the kitchen for her to chase, I started to enjoy playing with her.

And then she's got these BIG yellow eyes that are totally gorgeous. And she started making up to me. When she wanted petting, she'd allow me to pet her majesty's head a little. And she deigns now and then to sit at my feet or near me.

She also is the only cat on our hobby farm that can open the door to go out and then paw it to come back in. Darling!

She still doesn't want picked up. She won't ever be a lap cat. She's spoiled and touchy and self-centered.

But I love her.


Quote:
You write to me that it's not possible. The word is not French. --Napoleon

Blessings