A lot of authors do various things to flesh-out their characters — character interviews, bios, sketches, photo clippings (of celebs, or clothes / shoes that they think their characters might wear), etc. Of course, some authors don’t do anything because their characters come to life fully fleshed-out the first time.)
I did character interviews of all the major supporting characters for THE LAST SLAYER. It was a bit of a frustrating and bemusing experience to say the least, as it was the first time I’d done interviews for secondary characters.
Depending on how the interview goes, I can figure out a lot about a character. For example, Toshi, the subservient dragon, babbled a lot, and about 50% of what he said was about how he might have done something wrong and lots of “I beg your pardon”. He also occasionally went into TMI territory, though from time to time he told me he couldn’t tell me something because his lord forbade him. (Rolls eyes… *I* created his lord!)
Alexandros the Incubus King made me laugh with his super ego. I have no idea how the man’s head can fit through doors. He was mostly interested in talking about how he was awesome in every way and tried to hit on me every other sentence…even though I told him I was married. (His response: “And how is that relevant?”)
But the most interesting character was Jack, my heroine’s foster father. Not because of what he said, but because he wouldn’t even agree to a character interview! (How dare he reject his own creator?!)
He said, “Please wire the sum in the invoice attached, and I’ll be happy to spend an hour with you.”
Except the amount he wanted was just ridiculous!
When I protested, he said, “Nobody talks to me for free, unless they’re related or they work for me.”
Well, at first I thought Jack only cared about money. The man is mercenary, after all. But then later as I worked with my editor his reluctance seemed to go beyond that. He had a secret or two that he did not want me to know about. Except now I do know and will use them in the sequel. [Insert evil authorial laugh]
The big challenge once I figured out my secondary characters was presenting them in a way that Ashera (the heroine) would perceive and understand them. She has a lot less information to work with than me, and her experience and thoughts are of course different from mine. I have to keep her views consistent-but-evolving as she grows from book to book in the trilogy.
Ashera del Cid is a talented demon hunter, but when she kills a demigod’s pet dragon, the hunter becomes the hunted. Her only potential ally is Ramiel, a sexy-as-hell demon. Now the two must work together to battle dragons and demigods…and the chemistry crackling between them.
Ramiel has his own reasons for offering Ashera his protection. He knows her true identity and the real reason the demigods want her dead. What he can’t predict is how she’ll react when she discovers he knew who she was all along…
Ashera is shocked to discover that she is the only daughter of the last slayer. To claim her destiny, she and Ramiel must join forces to face down danger and outwit their enemies. Only then will she be able to truly accept her legacy…
Out from Carina Press today!
Nadia Lee
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