What a pleasure to have Ally Broadfield here today. She’s talking about characters and their quirks.
Engaging Characters
All authors strive to create engaging characters. A character that readers can both identify and empathize with is the goal. There are many ways to accomplish this, but one of my favorite methods to add depth and give insight into a character’s personality is to give her a unique quirk.
Some of my favorite Regency romances utilize this technique. Author Julia Quinn is especially accomplished in this area. Her heroine from Ten Things I Love About You, Annabel Winslow, is in the habit of listing ten things about whatever situation or challenge is presented to her. Lisa Kleypas created a unique character in animal lover Beatrix Hathaway of Love in the Afternoon. Beatrix is the youngest child in the Hathaway family and appears in other books in the series, always with or in pursuit of some animal or another.
When I started writing the heroine for my upcoming April release, Just a Kiss, she decided that she loved flowers and wanted to create flower arrangements. Since it wouldn’t do for a Regency lady to have an occupation, she could not work as a florist, so she contents herself with creating the flower arrangements when her family entertains. However, she frequently has to restrain herself from improving upon the arrangements she comes across at balls and other society functions, and every once in a while she forgets herself and rearranges the flowers in full view of the others guests. Of course, the arrangements always benefit from her attention.
What makes a character special to you? Who are your favorite characters?
She loves to hear from readers and you can find her on her website, Facebook, and Twitter, though she makes no claims of using any of them properly.
Links:
Website: http://allybroadfield.com/
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