Bringing Characters to Life

I've read a lot about people's taste in plot driven versus character driven stories. Even those who like "mysteries" - which is perhaps the epitome of plotting - want to read about characters with whom they can identify.

For me, it is important to find the right balance. In my series, I have three main characters who appear in every one of the stories. They include, Brad Frame, Sharon Porter, his assistant, and Nick Argostino, the Philadelphia police detective who is Brad's silent business partner.

Then there are characters that are important in the lives of those principal characters (family members, close friends).

The victims of crime and their family members are crucial in each of the stories, and a believable cast of suspects is also essential.

At other times, because of the setting, there are an array of other characters who are also important to the story. I want each of them to "come to life" for the reader, to be more than a cardboard cutout--or a caricature.

All of the action in TRANSPLANTED DEATH takes place within a matter of days inside of a hospital setting. I had to have medical staff, food workers, janitors, administrators, technicians, an array of patients, etc. on hand to bring the story to life. How my protagonist deals with a "minor" character helps the reader to know more about the protagonist, as well as a realistic perspective about how that person with the "walk on" part fits into the whole picture.

Similarly, in FINAL JUROR, there were numerous scenes which took place in a courtroom populated with a judge, twelve jurors, alternates, court reporter, court crier, tipstaff, court clerk, prosecutors, defense attorney, and defendant. In addition, there were relatives of the defendant, and family members of the deceased that had to be included. And then "spectators" to fill the courtroom. Whew! Making it all come to life was a challenge, and since that book is on the verge of launching--I will find out soon.

To read the opening of my latest Brad Frame mystery, click here for FINAL JUROR.

Q & A

Q: I understand you're close to publishing your next Brad Frame mystery?

A: Yes. It's called FINAL JUROR. It's a dual story looking at a seventeen-year-old murder of a man who served on a jury in a federal racketeering case, and a contemporary murder trial in Brad Frame's home county.

Q: Are the two cases related?

A: No. Readers won't find a connection between the two other than the fact that both involve jury service.

Q. Where did you come up with the idea?

A. I've always been fascinated by courtroom drama in fiction. Perry Mason stories were among my early favorites. A long time ago, I attended a Saturday session of a major trial in the community where I lived. I wanted Brad and Sharon to have a chance to operate in that environment.

Q. It's been an easy process for you then?

A. The opposite actually. This may be the hardest book for me to write (so far).

Q. Why's that?

A. The courtroom scenes in particular; trials can be quite tedious. The challenge becomes where to put the focus. When do I actually "show" witnesses testifying, and at what moments is it better to just have Brad bring readers up to speed with a quick summary. (e.g. "After listening to him drone on for the past three hours, the only new fact they'd learned was that DNA at the crime scene only matched the victim.") If I did otherwise, I fear readers would be throwing their Kindles across the room.

Q. Sounds like you had to do a fair amount of research?

A. Yes. Nearly two years ago I visited the  Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, PA. Brad Frame lives in Montgomery County, and that's where the trial takes place. I met with the Jury Commissioners, who provided a tour of the courthouse, discussed how jurors are called to serve, the dos and don'ts of the process, and shared a few stories of how people try to get out of serving on a jury. Their help was invaluable.

Q. The murder trial in the book, is it based on an actual murder case?

A. No. But the challenge for any fiction writer is to convey the sense that these are real events and real people.

Q. You usually like to have an unexpected twist at the end of your mysteries. Will that be the case with FINAL JUROR?

A. That's the plan... times two.

Q. Times two? Explain.

A. I mentioned that this book involves two cases, the seventeen-year-old unsolved murder, and the contemporary murder trial. I'm hoping readers will be surprised by the outcome in both cases.

Q. Do you have an exact publication date?

A. What's that phrase? "No wine before its time." The book is finished, and currently being read by a few of my trusted "beta" readers. It should be available soon. Readers can visit this link to read the opening chapter, until the full book is ready. FINAL JUROR opening

Alpha, Beta, and Gamma

We writers speak in code. Whenever we're huddled in a group, the term "beta readers" can usually be heard. Time for me to de-code.

You've heard the expression "Alpha dog?" It's the leader of the pack. I ultimately write for YOU, the alpha reader; the person willing to plunk down $2.99 for a Kindle (or Nook) download of one of my books. And for those who like to hold a book in their hands, all of my books are available in trade paperback through Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

When I use the term "beta reader," I'm referring to the select group of people that I ask to read and comment on the finished product. I trust them to let me know if the book "works," by providing big picture comments on plot or characterization. One of my beta readers spotted a major continuity issue in BLOOD PORN, and I was easily able to fix it. In another book, a beta reader found the tension between two characters a little hard to swallow, which sent me back to the computer for corrections. I ask them to look for typos as well, but usually by the time it reaches them, those problems have been corrected.

For the last eighteen years I have been blessed to be part of a writers' critique group. First, in the Annapolis, Maryland area, and in Celebration, Florida since I've moved. I like to think of these people as "gamma" readers. They are writers who understand the craft of writing, and who appreciate things like viewpoint, voice, subject agreement with verb tense, use of punctuation, internal monologue, etc. When I share my writing with them, I can count on plenty of "tough love." As writers, we open ourselves to critique from others so that by the time the story reaches your hands that you don't find yourself stopping every few paragraphs because you've spotted a spelling or grammatical error, or couldn't understand whether the "she" I'd just used referred to Sharon or Beth.

Following my first book, which was published by Five Star, I've self published the others. Indie authors get a bad rap for not tending to their editing the way a traditional publishing house might. I work hard to provide the best product I can, since I want to be able to come back to you the following year with a new story. Hopefully, I will have earned your trust and you'll want to read more.

I appreciate my alpha readers, because they help provide a monetary reward for my writing efforts. But I love my beta and gamma readers, who continually challenge me to bring my best work.

Any thoughts? Please join the conversation.