My goal as an author--to write versatile characters

Get Lost in a Story Readers, Angi and I are doing something fun today.... We're promoting each other's work on each of our blogs.  Angi is over at Intrigue and I, of course, am here at GLIAS.  (see complete details below).

A few years ago I wrote a blog called “He’s Such a Character,” in which I talked about the talent and genius of William Shatner a Shakespearean-trained actor who puts enormous depth in to every role he portrays.  I saw William Shatner and Christopher Reeve (dating myself, huh?)  at Elitches in Denver many years ago where he played in the humorous version  of Death Trap.  As I sat in that audience, I forgot he was “Captain Kirk.”  He was that good.

Later when he went on to play a uniformed cop in TJ Hooker and the dementia-ridden Denny Crane in Boston Legal, I remember thinking He’s Such a Character!

Then of course he went on to become “The Negotiator,” in the Priceline Commercials, now playing opposite his secret daughter Kaley Cuoco from Big Bang Theory fame and William Shatner is equally convincing in a commercial. 

Why do I bring this up?  Because I have a dream and a goal – which is to create in my characters and passion in the manner Shatner brings to his roles.

In The Past Came Hunting, protagonist, Melanie Norris, is an uneducated widow, a mom and an ex-con.  She’s full of guilt over the poor choices she’s made in her life, and lives in fear that her son Luke will find out about her past.  With no college under her belt, she’s self-taught, and after her stint in prison, she carries a toughness about her that she’s forced to resort back to as the story progresses.

In Deadly Recall, my protagonist, Eden Moran, is a lawyer who carries with her repressed memories.  It’s no accident Eden grew up to be a public defender, she’s been all about protecting the underdog and doing what’s fair her entire life.  As she and Albuquerque Police Detective Kevin Dancer connect, her personality comes through loud and clear.  It also gets her into some serious trouble. 

Creating memorable characters is every author’s goal.  To have someone connect with them the way one would connect instantaneously with characters like James, T. Kirk, T.J. Hooker, Denny Crane, or The Negotiator is every author’s dream come true.

Donnell’s two-part question for readers:  Can you think of an actor who is synonymous with his/her characters, in other words, do you recognize the characters as much as you recognize the actor?  Can you think of an author whose character(s) come instantly to mind?

ST. PATRICK'S PALS GIVEAWAY

Enter a special contest (now through Sunday 3-17) for a release by Donnell or her pal, ANGI MORGAN. It's easy and there are lots of ways to enter. Angi has a great blog Tuesday about her May Cover--What She Loves about It and What She Doesn’t. You can leave comments on both posts or Tweet about our giveaway. 1 book for every 50 entrants. Enter through Rafflecopter.

Also, I'll be at Mysteristas on March 14th. 

Donnell Ann Bell is a two-time Golden Heart® finalist who previously worked for a weekly business newspaper and a parenting magazine.  Her debut novel The Past Came Hunting became an Amazon bestseller, reaching as high as #6 on the paid overall list and finaling in 2012 Gayle Wilson Award for Excellence, RWA’s® Greater Detroit Bookseller’s Best, and the 2012 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. Deadly Recall, brought to you by Bell Bridge Books, is her second published novel.  Learn more about Donnell at www.donnellannbell.com