Thursday, April 1, 2010

Special Guest, Robin Cain About Characters Who Won't Stop Talking To Her

Please Welcome Our Special Guest Today - Robin Cain

About Robin:
Robin Cain lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband, daughter, three dogs, three horses and donkey. As a novelist and regular contributing writer for an online publication, she spends her days searching for the perfect words to amuse, enlighten and touch her readers. By reading her work, you’ve not only helped make her dreams come true, but others as well.

Robin's Book - When Dreams Bleed:
Frank’s been living the dream his whole life. He’s amassed money, success, but someone out there thinks he’s gone too far. Just when he thinks he has anticipated his opponent’s next move a tragic car accident leaves him paralyzed, his life’s work is being stolen and his wife has disappeared. Just how far will someone go to teach him the correlation between deception and despair? "When Dreams Bleed" examines sexual temptation and the ensuing consequences in a contemporary world.


Robin says:
As a novelist with a newly published book, I now spend a great deal of my time doing things that are greatly annoying the forthcoming characters of my imagination. Instead of getting lost up in their joys and sorrows, I have to set them aside – literally put their journeys on hold – so that I can spend time introducing the world to the ones whose story now resides in book form. I tell you, they don’t like that one bit and they’re becoming quite vocal about it.


The already-brought-to-life characters of WHEN DREAMS BLEED, thrilled to now be out in the world, are just rubbing it in the faces of my new characters who sit cooling their heels, waiting to do the same. The new characters mumble and complain, pop into my head and distract me, waiting for their story to be told, while I spend my time booking social engagements for the others.

I have to tell you - it’s causing a great deal of angst among all of us.

The WHEN DREAMS BLEED characters, finally out of my head and living their own lives now, want nothing more than to be shared, experienced and introduced. Frank (the main character) tells me constantly that it’s HIS time to be on center stage and living large. After waiting nearly four years to be in print, his power hungry, Type-A personality wants his efforts recognized. Proud of his accomplishments and tenacity, he’s looking forward to being pretty smug. Despite his accident and the misery he’s caused others, he thinks he’s got it together now and wants to share it with the world.

Meanwhile, Sadie tells me that she just wants everyone to comprehend her reasons for doing what she did. She cries out for compassion and understanding of all she left behind; the decisions that nearly killed her. My heart still breaks for her.

Citra, on the other hand, frankly just doesn’t give a whole good gosh damn what anyone thinks. Self-absorbed and greedy, she’s only out for herself and willing to squash anyone and anything in her way. She is 100% convinced that everyone will agree with her actions. Frankly, she tells me, one would be a fool to not see it her way! She keeps telling me if it wasn’t for her their book wouldn’t be selling. Between you and me, I never liked that bitch, anyway.

Don’t get me wrong. My characters in WHEN DREAMS BLEED are nice people –at least in their own right. Honest. Yes, even Citra at times. No one would ever accuse of them of not being able to liven up a cocktail party, add interest to a lonely solitary night or not be remembered long after they’ve left the room. The lessons they’ve learned are good ones and all they want to do is share. Their actions have created a real page-turner and they are darn proud of it. If only they could just tell you themselves…

You see, each of them had dreams – dreams to be rich, dreams to be successful or dreams to be forever loved. Not unlike a lot of people, they thought happiness would be theirs…“if only”. Yet their dreams began to bleed – and for many of them, it was just a little too late.

So now they harp and whine and pester me in my sleep,

“Who are you telling about us now?”

“Where have you placed us?”

“You haven’t forgotten us, have you?”

They sit among the pages waiting to tell their story while just hounding me to get the word out. And at the same time, the new characters poke me on the shoulder, tap on my brain and wake me in the middle of the night…

“What about us?”

“When do we get our chance?”

“C’mon, leave those others to their own devices! We have a story to tell, too.”

Next time, I tell you, I’m making everyone far more self-sufficient…

©2010 Robin Cain
http://www.robincain.com/

Please leave a comment for Robin - Thanks, Morgan Mandel

10 comments:

Morgan Mandel said...

Welcome to Make Mine Mystery, Robin. I hope you have a good time. Say hello to those voices you keep hearing. (g)

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

Maryannwrites said...

Enjoyed the interview. You are so right, Robin, about how much easier our lives would be if we could make characters much less needy. They are like children, little children, who simply will not go away and hush up.

Debra St. John said...

Great post.

For me, I think I'd be more worried if the voices disappeared!

Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredith said...

Loved this post--made me chuckle.
Characters can be such a pest.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Dana Fredsti said...

Wonderful post, thank you!

I think you should let your characters all duke it out for your attention while you lounge comfortably near by and sip champagne...

L.J. Sellers said...

Good to know I'm not the only one with character conversations in my head. Fun post, Robin.

Robin Cain said...

Thanks for the invite and thanks to all of you who stopped by! The voices are still with me,,,, any ideas??? LOL!

Jacqueline Seewald said...

Hi, Robin,

I loved your comments. My characters often become more real to me than friends and relatives because, like you, my characters live in my head long before I commit them to print. I think it's the only way to write a good book. If the characters aren't "real" to us then they certainly can't exist to others.

All the best,

Jacqueline Seewald
THE DROWNING POOL, Five Star/Gale
THE INFERNO COLLECTION, Five Star hardcover, Wheeler large print
WHERE IS ROBERT? Royal Fireworks Press

Kevin R. Tipple said...

The voices are not the problem.

The talking back to them, especially out loud in front of others, is the problem.

Kevin

Jacklyn Cornwell said...

I know what you mean, Robin. Sometimes it feels like I have abandoned my characters and the longer it takes to get back to them, the more difficult it is to get back into their heads, except when they get cranky and start invading my dreams.

J M Cornwell