 The characters in my books In Search of the Cannibal King and Cannibal King were not simply born from my pen—though it was my description that breathed life into them. Each character emerged from the story, shaped by their culture and society into the multi-dimensional and colorful people they became. I dressed them in words, but they introduced themselves.
As the author of a story filled with diverse, multi-dimensional characters from various societies and walks of life, it was my responsibility to present them as authentically as possible. My goal was to connect with you, the reader, on a deep level, so that you might find yourself immersed in a scene, seeing the world through the eyes of either the villain or the heroine. When you read a book and feel equal passion for the characters as you do for the story itself, the author has succeeded in giving those multi-dimensional personalities their due—adding just enough salt and pepper to spice them up! As an unknown writer once said, “A book is knowledge shared.” Another said, “A story told is a story that's never forgotten, but a memory of what was past and what will be." Both are true…yet the rest is subjective, as every reader’s experience of a story is unique. Here’s what one reviewer said after reading Cannibal King, “I miss its characters, and they stay with me now, alive in my mind, days after finishing the book. This is such a feat for this talented author! Her outstanding writing made every little detail of the tribes’ villages and customs come alive in my mind’s eye, as if I were on the Marquesas Islands, too.” What that reader conveyed to me was that I had achieved what I set out to do—make the characters live on. Until next time, happy adventuring! Nanine If you want to explore with me, start with In Search of the Cannibal King, which my publisher is offering FREE for a limited time. If you want to dive right into the fast-action historical adventure of John Rumell, head right to the Cannibal King! START YOUR ADVENTURE NOW!
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Crafting Compelling Characters: The Evolution of a Prequel! Plus, a $0.99 Book and a New Release!7/8/2024  Creating Multi-Dimensional Characters: The Story of Claire One of the most rewarding aspects of writing is crafting characters that resonate deeply with readers. As a storyteller, it's essential to breathe life into your characters, making them as complex and multi-dimensional as the people we encounter in real life. In my Midnight Sons series, Claire, the mother of the five brothers, exemplifies this approach. She started as what seemed like a background character but evolved into someone readers demanded to know more about. Let's delve into how Claire's character was crafted and what you can learn from it. Introducing a Character with Purpose From the very beginning, I knew Claire wasn’t just going to be a passive presence. In the first book, we meet her sitting in a dive bar, celebrating the youngest Midnight Son’s 21st birthday. This introduction was intentional. It immediately paints a picture of a woman who is deeply involved in her sons’ lives, not just as a mother but as a friend and mentor. Sam mentions how she was a climber back in the day but now handles the business end of things. This tells the reader that Claire has had an adventurous past but is now the backbone of the family business. Building a Multi-Layered Persona Claire’s role in each book is pivotal. When Sam is upset, she’s there to encourage him. When a new woman enters the scene, Claire is the first to take her under her wing. She speaks truth into her adult sons’ lives, offering wisdom and guidance that only a mother can provide. This consistency in her character makes her a reliable and relatable figure for readers. However, what makes Claire truly compelling is the gradual revelation of her past. Unveiling the Backstory In every book, readers learn a little more about Claire’s previous life. This slow drip of information keeps readers intrigued and invested in her character. She even mentions to one of her son’s girlfriends that she shared a similar situation, hinting at a depth and complexity that isn’t immediately visible. This technique of revealing backstory bit by bit can be incredibly effective in maintaining interest and adding layers to your characters. The Importance of Knowing Your Characters When crafting a story, I make sure to know all my characters’ backgrounds intimately. Often, I find myself sharing a scene from a book with someone, going into more detail than what’s in the book. They often stop me with a, “Wait! I didn’t read that.” That’s because not all details make it into the final version, but they’re still a part of the character’s history—in my head. This comprehensive understanding of your characters’ pasts, motivations, and desires is crucial. It allows you to write them with authenticity and depth, even if all those details aren’t explicitly stated. Readers’ Demand for More The real test of a well-crafted character is how readers respond to them. Imagine my surprise when readers started demanding to see Adam and Claire’s story. I had included so much detail about what seemed like a background character that she became central to the narrative in readers’ minds. This demand led to the creation of Adam’s Rising, where I delve into the origins of the Midnight Sons and explore the rich backstory of Adam and Claire. Until next time, Happy Reading and Writing! Carmen Grab Sam's Folly for $0.99 for a Limited Time! Or... If you've already finished the series, grab the new release for only $0.99!
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Synchronicities in Setting: The Magic of Finding Your Story's Perfect Place by Tina Wainscott6/10/2024 
The setting also came to me easily. Although I’m a Florida girl, I love Georgia and North Carolina. For many years, we’ve had a place in the NC mountains where I can escape the Florida humidity. I saw and felt the small southern town that the story would play out in, and I knew it was in Southern Georgia. I wanted to choose a place that I could pop off the interstate on the way up or back and easily explore the town and take pictures to inspire my story. But by then, I had mostly written the book, using my imagination and Google maps to guide me. Back then, Google Maps didn’t have all the user photographs, so I went by what I saw. Imagine my surprise when we drove into Clinton, Georgia and it looked exactly how I had seen it. I mean, eerily similar. Even down to the cemetery that I had totally made up. It was so cool and validating that this was a book of my soul. As a writer, it’s important for me to have a clear visual idea of my world so I can convey it to you, the reader. More importantly for me, I want to convey it with a few concise words and not paragraphs of description. Those classics and books of yesterday could go on and on about a settee and the drapes that framed it in the parlor, but not anymore. And thank goodness, right? I want to sink you into the town, the woods, the house, and pull you right along with the story.
Especially because it’s set at Christmas! Ahh, that most wonderful time of the year! Even when it’s actually May. Hot and muggy in Florida already, and I was playing my Christmas music and watching my favorite rom-coms to get in the mood. Not a hardship, let me tell ya. I love the holiday season. And it was fun to put in all those details (but not too many) that make that time of year so fun—the music, the tinsel, the Santas! Okay, I’m not actually into Santas, but since there’s a creepy and suspicious man in a Santa costume in my story, I had to put in a lot of Santas. Settings are incredibly important for a story, and I think they should play a significant role for the characters—and the reader. What are some of your favorite settings? I'd love to hear your thoughts as a writer and/or a reader! Tina  Follow Tina to stay up-to-date on New Releases and Specials!
It’s a crazy statement, I know. But all authors have an element of crazy in them somewhere — at least I don’t think I’m the only one. How can we not? We have to balance our lives, family, and day-to-day responsibilities with the art of storytelling. We create lives, personalities, likes, and dislikes. It’s like giving birth without the added weight gain and late-night bottle feedings.
Or is it? If we’re not careful, we drink too much coffee, eat too many snacks — instead of real food — and position ourselves in front of our computer screens for hours on end. Thus, weight gain. Late-night bottle feedings come in the form of waking up in the wee hours of the night, jotting down notes or a scene that’s been plaguing us all day. How do we stay sane? Where do these fictional people come from? Why are we not wearing straitjackets? My best guess is because we’ve learned to blend in with the rest of society. Thankfully, readers are intrigued by our stories, which helps me to keep the purple straitjacket tucked away. All jokes aside, it is my opinion that writing is the truest form of self-expression, healing, and finding a way to cope with whatever ails you. Whether you journal, blog, write a memoir, or take your life experiences or pull from those around you and write a book. No matter what avenue you take, writing is therapeutic. I love to create the characters in my stories. As an only child, I spent a lot of time alone, playing with my baby dolls, stuffed animals, and Barbies. Each had a name and a voice of their own. I spent hour after hour making up stories and creating adventures to entertain myself. Each story had a Happily Ever After. From time to time, I would get the tape recorder (remember that old-fashioned form of electronics?) and make cassette tapes of my little adventures to share with my parents. They, of course, thought my tales were funny. Little did I know that form of storytelling would eventually lead to a writing career. I still use a recorder — digital now — to record my ideas for my books. No dolls allowed; I leave that to my daughter. The tales are no longer about a princess riding horses and marrying a prince. Now the stories deal with real-life experiences. Not all are my own, but they are real, they do happen, and there is heartbreak and pain. But through it all, there is happiness and love. After creating the heroines in my books, I realized something. In each character — as different as they are — there is an element of me. The woman I once was, the woman I am, the woman I secretly wish I could be, and the woman I aspire to become. Multiple Personality Disorder at its best. By telling their stories, I’ve found a way to work through the pain I've experienced to find happiness in my family and the ones I hold dear. Along the way, I’ve made friends I never would have known and gained knowledge I never would have attained. In short, I’ve not only learned how to become a better writer, but I’ve also learned more about myself. Writing has allowed me to make a mark of my own outside of being a wife and a mother. I have discovered something I love, something I’m good at, and something that unless I actually lose my mind, no one can ever take away from me. There’s not a morning I don’t get up with an idea that I’m anxious to put on paper. Seeing the Butterfly Memoirs go through several different stages of evolution over several years taught me so much. Adding to the story, taking away, fine tuning, and finessing … it’s all the part of telling a story — with heart, care, and attention to detail. If you’re thinking about writing a book, watch out for those doctors with those special white coats! By the way, my straight jacket also has butterflies! LOL! Great news! If you’d like to learn more about my characters, my first book, a romantic women’s fiction with heart and soul, is absolutely FREE for a limited time! Hope you enjoyed this insight into my writing world! M.J.
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When I sit down to write a novel, I generally have no idea where I’m going. My typical start of a story is usually the main character—whether it’s the male protagonist or the female protagonist—and whatever issue they are facing.
From there, I just ask myself questions:
The great thing is, just like the reader, I never know exactly what my characters will do. Sure, I know I want a happily ever after, but I also know that not every character will get a happily ever after. And the detours they make along the way sometimes even surprise me. Why? Because I allow my story to progress naturally. I typically write two thousand words a day, and then every night I read the last few chapters to make sure the story flows, marking any areas that need addressing, and then go to sleep, allowing the characters to come alive in my dreams. And ohhh how they do. It’s not unusual for hubby to see me typing on my iPhone’s notepad in the middle of the night. Often it’ll just be a great line or a missing link I was in search of. When I finally finish the novel, I take an entire day and read from beginning to end, making sure the story flows and that there are no holes or contradictions. Easy, right? I’ve read this story almost thirty times at this juncture. How can it surprise me, how can it make me cry? And yet, here I am, sitting on the sofa, my afghan curled around me, and I’m bawling over something that happened. Hubby, who has been sitting quietly by his computer—because he knows it’s read-through day—whips his chair around to face me and asks, “Are you okay?” I swipe away my tears and answer, “Yes, I just can’t believe that happened.” “Wait. I thought you were reading your book?” he asks. “I am,” I answer. “But it still makes me cry.” He shakes his head and goes back to typing his nonfiction. One of my favorite quotes is by Robert Frost: “No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” Well, I’m always surprised, and I always cry when something happens to my characters, so I hope when you read my books you will, too! If you enjoy stories that blend happy and sad, romantic and suspenseful, click the link for your favorite retailer below and grab one of my free books. If you’ve read all my books, make sure you grab my new release, Erik’s Revelation, so you’ll know why I was crying! Until next time, happy reading! Carmen DeSousa
Learn more about Carmen: www.WrittenMusings.com/CarmenDeSousa
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