G is for Gina (and Girlfriends)

 From the moment Angel's Jersey girl friend Gina makes her debut in Casting the First Stone, it's clear to the reader that the women are nothing alike. Still, a friendship forged in the office of an auto repair shop persists despite the women's differences in background, lifestyle, and marital status. Although Angel's life has changed dramatically since her days as a receptionist, the bond between the two friends remains, with Angel bringing out Gina's softer side and Gina nudging Angel to be more daring.

Marita and her best friend (and sidekick) Bets have a lot more in common. As with Angel and Gina, life changes have led the two women down different paths, but Bets provides a glimpse into the Marita she has always known -- the one readers can imagine, but never see. It's easy to see how Marita and Bets could have been very much alike earlier in their lives, and that gives readers insight into the events and emotions that shaped Marita into the character who shows up on the page.

Just as women need girlfriends in real life, so too do fictional characters. Both need sidekicks and amateur therapists, Bible study buddies and drinking buddies, people to pick us up when we're down and ride the wave alongside us when life is wonderful. 

Our friends give us glimpses into ourselves, seeing us in a way we can't see ourselves. In fact, that's part of what makes writing secondary characters so much fun. They can be daring and outspoken, providing a contrast to a character who's more quiet or serious, or a complement to one who is equally ready for whatever comes next. They can move the plot forward by talking our protagonists into (or out of) adventures and bad decisions. They can steal the story at times, and the same character can be beloved by some readers and disliked by others.

Bets is a good example of this. Some readers relate to her fierce loyalty and sense of fun, while others see her as a bad influence. A suggestion from one reader that Bets needed her own book inspired her parallel story line in Courting Peace, a move that was sure to please some readers and annoy others. 

In the novel I'm working on now, no one bears any resemblance to Marita or Bets, nor to Angel or Gina, but each has her own distinct personality and way of interacting with the others. Recently, a woman who was supposed to have only a walk-on role ended up with a much bigger part. She insisted, and I didn't argue. It was clear that she brought something different to the story, so I widened the circle.

In the real world, friends help us to shape our identities and navigate our lives. Why should it be any different in fiction?

Way Back Wednesday: Gregory Who?

 Last weekend, I finally tackled some of the clutter in my office. Among the random slips of paper on my desk was a playlist for Marita (one of the  protagonists in my novels) and Gregory.

Gregory? 

I'll let this post from last summer re-introduce you.

Gregory Daniels, Esq. appeared in Casting the First Stone, but after "beige" date with Marita, he never got a second chance. At least not until the third book, when he showed up early on, hoping to convince Marita he was worth a second look. 

Here are a few things I know about Attorney Daniels. 

1. When he's not at work and/or in court, he's most likely in the law library or at the gym.

2. He worked as a barista to put himself through law school. 

3. He admired the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg because she was feisty, smart and had a hunger to see justice served.

4. He has two older sisters. 

5. He thinks he made a mistake not trying harder with Marita.

And one thing I learned? He can be very persistent when he wants something. 

Or someone.

Oh, and that playlist? 

Here you go.

"Taking a Chance on Love"

"Crazy"

"Since You've Asked"

"Love Shack" 

Admittedly, that last one is kind of an outlier. Not sure what I was thinking when I chose it but, in reviewing it, I enjoyed departing from the standards.

 

5 Things I Knew About Gregory Daniels and One Thing I Learned

Gregory Daniels, Esq. appeared in Casting the First Stone, but after "beige" date with Marita, he never got a second chance. At least not until the third book, when he showed up early on, hoping to convince Marita he was worth a second look. 

Here are a few things I know about Attorney Daniels. 

1. When he's not at work and/or in court, he's most likely in the law library or at the gym.

2. He worked as a barista to put himself through law school. 

3. He admired the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg because she was feisty, smart and had a hunger to see justice served.

4. He has two older sisters. 

5. He thinks he made a mistake not trying harder with Marita.

And one thing I learned? He can be very persistent when he wants something. 

Or someone.

 

Back on the Porch Swing with Marita, Angel, Charli and Bets

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As promised, I've invited my characters back to the porch swing, but it was too hot for them yesterday. Today, after a rainstorm, it's cool and dry and they're ready to chat -- so much so, that I put them in charge of the questions (I never know where these discussions will end up anyway). Bets has offered to go first :-)

Bets: If you could go back and do one thing in your life differently, what would it be?

Charli: I wouldn't have broken up with Todd. Mom, how about you?

Marita (laughs): That means she doesn't want us to ask her for further details. Hmm...one thing. And everything else in my life would be the same?

Bets: If that's how you want it.

Marita: Okay. I would have gone to college.

Angel: Me too.

Charli (looks from her mother to her stepmother): Neither of you...?

Marita and Angel shake their heads.

Charlie: I never realized that. 'Course I guess it's kinda my fault that you didn't go, Mom.

Marita: No, it's not. I never really loved school, and I'd had enough of it by the time I was 16. I wouldn't have appreciated college then. Now, I realize how many doors it could have opened for me.

Charlie: If not for me. 

Bets: C'mon, Char. You heard her. She wanted everything else in her life to be the same.

Charlie: Did you go to college, Bets? 

Bets: One semester of community college. I wasn't exactly a stellar student and my parents didn't want to lay out the money for me to go away to college. That was the experience I wanted, though, so I kind of tanked. I didn't exactly try.

Marita (guffaws): That's one way of putting it.

Charlie: What -- ?

Bets (mimes zipping her lip): I plead the fifth.

Nietjuh via Pixabay

Charlie: You could still go, Mom.

Marita: I might. But you definitely will. There will be no negotiating.

Angel: I agree.

Charlie: How come you didn't go to college, Angel? Didn't you like school either?

Angel: Oh, no. I loved school! But I didn't know what I wanted to go to college for, and it seemed a lot to ask of my dad to send me to school when I didn't know what I wanted to study. So, I decided to work for a while until I made up my mind. And then, I met your dad.

Marita: If you could go now, what would you study?

Angel: Business. Or psychology. How about you?

Marita: I really do like my job, so probably something in law. But I don't want to be a lawyer. Maybe a paralegal. Bets?

Bets: I'd get a degree in theatre arts. Really, truly study acting and directing. 

Charlie: So, what's stopping all of you? And why do I have to go if you all didn't?

Marita: Let me take those in reverse order. I want you to have the experience. And college opens doors. Now, that said, if you had a different plan -- you really wanted to be a carpenter or a welder -- 

Charlie: A welder, Mom?

Marita: Whatever. If you wanted to go to school for something that didn't require college, I'd be open to discussing that. But I want you to be ready for wherever life could take you.

Charlie: So, what's stopping all of you from going now?

Angel: I've always wanted to be a mom. There's no career I want more than that.

Bets: I'm too old.

Marita: Bets!

Bets: No, seriously, Ri-Ri. Can you imagine me competing with all those college girls for parts? I want to be the ingenue, not someone's mother. Besides, Char, school is kind of a habit. Once you get out if it, it's hard to start it up again. It's easier to just go straight through. Or, at least I think it would have been.

Charli: Mom?

Marita: I've actually been thinking about it.

Bets: You...What brought this on?

Marita: I've been reading online about how the pandemic has shaken up the job market. How a lot of women have left and might not return, and how many people are considering changing jobs. I guess it got me thinking.

Angel: Wow! Marita, that's so -- 

Charlie: Cool!

Marita: Do you really think so? I mean, Bets is right. It takes a lot of discipline to do the work. Especially when I already have a job.

Charlie: So quit!

Marita (laughs): Oh, Char! It's not that easy. Besides, I want to make sure I don't stop saving for your education. 

Angel: Well, you certainly won't have to do that on your own. Jim and I will contribute to Charli's college.

Bets: And I'm sure Rosemarie and the Judge will send some cash your way, wrapped up in a nice, neat little bow of opinions and ultimatums. (clears her throat) Sorry, Charlie.

Charlie (laughs): That sounds about right. Just don't tell them I said that. And, Mom, I don't want to be the reason you don't go back to school. That's not fair.

Marita: You're right. But it's not you, it's me. I'm your mom. I want to make sure I invest in you and your future. But I'll also take money from your father without blinking an eye!

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Bets: As you should.

Angel: No argument here.

Bets: Ri-Ri, are you serious about this?

Marita: Well, I've looked into some online programs...

Bets: You are! Is tuition reimbursement part of your contract?

Marita: Yes, but how did you --

Bets: Temp job as a high school secretary. So, when do you start?

Marita: Wait! I'm not --

Bets: Wait for what?

Charlie: Yeah, Mom. What are you waiting for?

Angel: Well, this conversation certainly took an interesting turn.

Bets (grins): It sure did. And it all started with my question.

Angel's View from the Driver's Seat

On Saturday, I finished putting the final touches on the paperback edition of Courting Peace. This week, I'll get the proof and, by this time next week, the book should be available! In celebration (and anticipation), I thought I'd share a little bit of deleted Angel material.

Happy reading!  

Angel circled the block for the third time, wondering if she should keep driving and let Spencer sleep, or take her home and try to put her down for a nap. Either way, she was trapped. Trapped in a car, driving in circles and accomplishing nothing or trapped at home with a baby whose needs she couldn't discern.

Was this how her mother had felt? Was this why she'd left?

But her mother had made it through the baby stages. Could what came next really be harder than this?

* * * * *

Angel Alessio pulled into a parking space at Holy Redeemer Church and peeked in her rear view mirror. Spencer was sound asleep, her peaceful expression belying the endless crying that had cost all of them countless hours of sleep. Angel had expected her baby to cry -- to believe otherwise would have been ridiculous -- but in no way had she been prepared for the endless cycles of inconsolable wails that had marked Spencer's first few months of life. 

Angel glanced at the entrance to the church. Just a few parking spaces separated her from the company of actual adults whose responses had evolved far from wails of dissatisfaction at every turn -- women who'd be delighted to pass her baby from one set of arms to the next, giving Angel a break and perhaps being able to do what she could not. But here, in the car with her sleeping, content baby, fears of parental incompetence evaporated with one look at Spencer's beautiful, angelic face. 

Angel checked her watch. Bible study would begin in less than five minutes. By the time she unbuckled Spencer from her car seat, doubtless setting off a whole new chorus of wails, she'd have about two minutes to make it across the parking lot and into the church, loaded down with all of Spencer's paraphernalia, consoling her child all the way.

Spencer stirred and Angel held her breath. Gently shifting the car into reverse, she backed out of the parking space and drove home.

Things I Can't Do

 

Courting Peace, the third book in the Marita/Angel/Charli (MAC) series released on Kindle on January 14 (my late grandmother's birthday). Since then, I've been trying to get the paperback version ready to go -- in between class planning and teaching and other writing projects -- and I have come to an unassailable conclusion.

There's a reason I'm a writer, not a book designer. Oy, as my friend Annie would say.

I thought I had it all figured out about a week ago, so I requested a print proof in order to check for errors in. Well, there were errors all right. Sized like a textbook rather than a novel, the end product was far too big for easy reading. There's no curling up with this 8 1/2 by 11 monstrosity.

Make no mistake -- this was entirely operator error, and precisely why I allowed myself a month to finish work on the paperback edition. So, last weekend, I dedicated some prime time to finding and correcting the mistakes, and now I await what I hope is the final proof. If it is, I'm on target for my February 14 release date (stay tuned for details).

It's been a humbling experience, and a reminder that no one is good at everything. One advantage to getting older is that I find it a lot easier to have a sense of humor about the things I can't do. I don't want to stop trying new things, but I also decide a whole lot faster what is and what is not worth my time. Often, that has to do with how much fun the process is. Writing books? Worth my time. Creating a cover? Possibly. Doing the whole process by myself? Unlikely.

And I'm okay with that. 

It's Here!

Available as an e-book from Amazon.com

After a long delay, the final book in the Marita/Angel/Charli series is finally here! I'm very excited, though I must admit I'm not sure where I want to go next. This book has been my writing goal for so long that, aside from continuing work on the paperback edition, I don't know where to turn my attention. In addition, release days for indie authors during a pandemic are a little like a birthday during these times: exciting and meaningful to the person to whom they belong, but unable to be celebrated in the usual fashion. While I'm shouting about the book from the social media rooftops, I can't get together with friends to toast the book, or celebrate its existence. All in good time, I suppose.

The fact remains that the book is out there and the series is finished, something I find both exciting and bittersweet. I've been hanging out with these characters for over a decade and, although I know other characters await, I feel a little sad saying goodbye to this group. Yes, I'm aware they're not real people -- but the job of an author is to make them feel real to readers and, to accomplish that, they have to first feel real to her.

Mission accomplished.

Fortunately (or not, depending on your perspective), this isn't a group that will go away quietly. They might be a welcoming committee on the porch swing as new characters visit from other neighborhoods or, like grown children, they may drop in to visit over the holidays. But one thing is for sure.

You can always find them in the pages of these books. Happy reading.

A Fond Farewell

The final book in the MAC (Marita, Angel, Charli) series is finished, except for the final polishes (yes, there are several) and it is -- dare I say it? -- on track for a January release.

Yes, yes, I know you've heard this before and I'm as tired of saying it and not delivering as you are of hearing it and not reading. But this time, I have all of the magic ingredients in hand -- a thorough copyedit from a trusted editor, time off from teaching, and no other books competing for a publication date. Sure, there are other projects vying for my attention -- there always are, and I'd be nervous if that weren't the case -- but this one is at the top of the pile, the list, and the general to-do list that includes everything else in my life in addition to my writing. 

Still, it's bittersweet. I know these characters better than I know some people, and I’ll be sorry to say goodbye. My mind whirs with possible encounters. Maybe the characters for my next novel will move onto Marita's street, or next door to Angel, or be in a play with Bets. In fact, I can imagine one character-under-construction being quite at home with Marita’s mother and Nora Michaels. Maybe one of them will pop up for a cameo in another novel. At the very least, Marita and friends are likely to turn up here to commandeer a blog post now and again. Just because I've typed "The End" that does not mean they'll stop trying to boss me around.

So, as it turns out, maybe it's not goodbye after all. More like a "see you around."

And, in the case of the final book, see you soon.

Kill Your Darlings

Not-quite-final version of the cover for
the third Marita/Charli/Angel book.

Writers are routinely advised to "murder our darlings," those lovely turns of phrase and bits of prose we create and then fawn over. 

But, if they're so lovely, then why should we kill them?

Because beauty is in the eye of the beholder (welcome to cliché day on the porch swing). All kidding (and clichés) aside, we writers are often unable to be objective about our own work. We have favorite pens, favorite words and an affinity for particular combinations in our own work (and sometimes in that of others, too). Often, it takes an objective eye to catch the fact that something's got to go.

This happens for many writers in the revision process but, if we're really lucky, we have critique group members and beta readers who highlight these things before we get to that point. As I was working on the final revisions for Courting Peace, I came across the description below. To put it in context, Angel was sitting in the parking lot of her church, glancing around for a distraction.

"The bell tower was a consistent source of discussion among the congregation. Physically, it was still in good repair, beautifully beckoning potential congregants from miles away. 

But mellifluous it wasn’t. Over time, the bells had fallen out of tune, and the discussion over replacing them had been heated. The bells had been part of the church since it had been built over a century ago, and not everyone viewed their replacement as progress. Pastor after pastor had avoided controversy by ensuring that the bell tower itself was safe, then channeling funds to more popular projects, while the bells’ pitch grew flatter and flatter. Last year, the music ministry had held a raffle to raise money to repair or replace the bells but, even with some money set aside, no plan that pleased everyone was yet in sight."

The writing is okay. Angel being in her head is okay. But when one of my critique group colleagues raised the question of the importance of the bell tower, I had no rationale for these paragraphs. When my colleague said that, in her opinion, the bell tower didn't warrant that much description unless it was going to play a role elsewhere in the book, I couldn't disagree.

And so, last weekend, when I came to that section, I cut it. Anne's gentle suggestion that the prose might be better without it was right on target.

Killing our darlings is hard (thus the cringe-worthiness of the phrase) but, in the end, doing so makes our work better, tighter, and clearer.

One more reason to love my critique group. Thanks, Anne. You were right.