The Desperate Hours

[jgraeme2007]

No, not talking about this year's work schedule, though after this last month -- three and a half novellas in four weeks -- things have been a bit fraught at Chez Lanyon. But the hard part of the year is over now. There will be edits and a couple more projects, but nothing like the frenetic activity of the last weeks. Barring catastrophe, the rest

Comments

[jgraeme2007]

Thank you. That's kind. Of course the challenge of creating a variety of realistic characters is no reader will then be able to relate to ALL of your characters, just as we don't like every person we happen to meet.

It's always interesting why certain characters trigger the responses they do.

Especially interesting is why those readers who do like the least popular stories (AVA is an example) are intensely loyal to those stories and characters? Is it because there aren't many characters or stories like that so they treasure them? Do they enjoy bucking the trend?

I don't know. You're right, though, the author can never really see what it is readers like or dislike so much about any given work. I can draw deductions based on feedback, but I can't see those things myself.

[jgraeme2007]

I guess part of what fascinates me is our ability to suspend disbelief enough to react with tears or nausea over the fate of made up characters.

Even as a creator of worlds and stories I feel it. Not for my own work, obviously, but even knowing where all the nuts and bolts are in the creaking scenery, knowing how the pulleys work, I can be as riveted by someone else's storytelling as anyone is by mine. So the power to analyze and dissect doesn't make us immune from that magic.

Although I will say I become a tougher audience with each passing year. But we all do.

[andy_slayde]

Some writers have that gift of making me care so much about a character. You've done it with Jake. Jordan does it as well. But there are others where I wish the characters would just die.

You need a vacation :o)

[naltariel]

But there are others where I wish the characters would just die.

So true, there are a couple of books that make me so fucking mad because one of the character finally ends up or continue to have a relationship with clearly the abusive partner. Mostly BDSM books. I really really wish I could get into get into my ereader and shake the character some sense. When other readers praise such books to high heaven, I want to shake the readers.

[jgraeme2007]

So true, there are a couple of books that make me so fucking mad because one of the character finally ends up or continue to have a relationship with clearly the abusive partner.

I'm sure that's true. I've also read things though where a reader thinks Jake, for example, is abusive to Adrien. This leads me to think these folks need to get out more. ;-)

[jgraeme2007]

But there are others where I wish the characters would just die.

:-D

[krisserci5]

You've done it with Jake.

Yes! I so care about Jake because Adrian cares and he taught me to care about him.

But there are others where I wish the characters would just die.

Ain't that the truth! Many. . . so many!

[jgraeme2007]

Well, with those two there is a sense that neither will be well or whole without the other. Maybe that's part of it? There needs to be a sense of threat? Not physical necessarily. But the peril is still real?

[jgraeme2007]

Funny, the character I relate to the most is SSS.
Swift is... I don't know, like Olorimë with a penis.

There you go. Not one of the hugely popular ones, but a certain very loyal percentage of readers. I do love that you're related best to a magical character. :-)

[jgraeme2007]

do love that you're related best to a magical character. :-)

Sorry. Too many characters. Swift. Yes. Painfully human, I hope. That was the intent anyway.