Today, we have a double treat. First, Ann Everett is blogging here and 
she has such an engaging style. You will love it. And second, she is giving away a ten-dollar (that’s $10) Amazon gift card to someone who leaves a comment (selected at random, of course). Ann is an award-winning and Amazon Best-Selling author who thinks Texans are some of the funniest people on earth. When speaking at conferences and to writing groups, businesses, and book clubs, she incorporates her special brand of wit. And I’ll give you ten things you won’t know about Ann by reading her bio. But first, here’s her take on what every story needs.
EVERY STORY NEEDS A BORDERLINE FOOL
Back in the 80’s, country music singer, K. T. Oslin burst onto the scene with her Grammy winning song, 80’s Ladies, which began:
We were three little girls from school One was pretty, one was smart and one was a borderline fool.
I loved that song and thought how the description described my two school besties and myself. Mahlon (pronounced Maylon) was pretty, Kathy was smart, and I was the borderline fool.
One of the questions I get most from readers is which character am I in my stories? My answer: all of them! Most of my books revolve around three female friends…and usually, one will be smart, one will be pretty, and one will be quirky. Apparently, those 80’s Ladies lyrics stuck with me!
I spend a lot of time deciding how I want to portray the borderline fool, because although she is not generally the main character, experience tells me she will steal a lot of the scenes.
In my Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy, Rayann is afraid of…skunks, clowns, gnomes, mimes, etc. Synola has an odd vocation. She writes hangtags for Luscious Leg Jeans. She also has a sharp tongue with snarky comebacks for everything.
In the final book of that series, the local Texas Ranger has a list of fifteen female suspects. Making them all standout in their own way kept me up at night. Among them, is a horse trainer, auctioneer, artist, Hummel collector, and evangelist. As if that wasn’t enough, I threw in a talking bird!
In Tell Me a Secret, Maggie (she is the main character) collected rocks as a child and journaled about them.
In Two Wrongs Make Right, Tarot reader, Raynebeaux Starr has a strange fashion style. She was such a fan favorite, her own story, Say You’ll Never Love Me released on April 1.
I enjoy writing weird characters. Anything that will make them stand out…and guess what? If they are secondary actors and fans connect with them, you can write a companion book to their first appearance as I did with Raynebeaux. Which is a super marketing tool. Connect books and you’ll sell more!!
My point to all this…even in serious, dark, tragedies, a little comic relief or oddity isn’t a bad thing. Readers like peculiar players. Plus, who wants to read something where all the personalities are the same?
Now, don’t get me wrong. Fiction is a beautiful thing and I can make my borderline fool also smart and pretty…and I do! I try not to make her perfect since none of us are and as readers, we want to identify with the character. But hey, if she’s based on me, myself and I, it’s only fair I take liberties.
Do you use weird characters in your work? If so, is it a conscious decision, or does the story just take you there? I love learning other techniques. Comment and let me know how you develop your characters.
JIM: Please leave a comment and I’ll enter you in the drawing for the $10 Amazon Gift Card. And I did not forget. Those ten things are down below her contacts. Take a look.
Learn more about Ann and her books @ http://www.anneverett.com
Latest release: Say You’ll Never Love Me
http://www.amazon.com/Say-Youll-Never-Love-Me-ebook/dp/B01BT4A8GQ/
Follow Ann:
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LOACL/?ref=h l
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/TalkinTwang
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/loacl/
Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/author/ann.everett
Goodreads profile https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5195211.Ann_Everett
Ten things you won’t know about Ann by reading her bio:
She’s been married to the same man since dirt.
She loves shopping at thrift stores.
She doesn’t remember her first kiss.
She hates talking on the telephone.
A really sharp pencil makes her happy.
She secretly wants to get a tattoo.
A charter member of National Honor Society in high school remains one of her proudest moments.
She’s thankful wrinkles aren’t painful.
She sucks at math.
Remember to leave a comment. And thanks.
I also love thrift stores and have developed a cozy mystery with a protagonist that owns one. But I do remember my first kiss. As for one of my characters being weird, I’d say all of them are a little offbeat! And I love to do humor also.
Thanks for taking time to leave a comment. I’ve racked my brain trying to remember my first kiss and can’t. Maybe hypnosis would help!!
I truly admire anyone who cam write humor…and you, Patti/Ann, are one of the best.
Thank you, Gay! I appreciate the kind words and that you took the time to leave a comment.
I think people can identify with a character who has some quirk. And everyone likes a little humor in a story–not the roll on the floor kind, but the nod your head and smile kind. The protagonist in my Landlady Mysteries is a klutz, and that gives me a chance to make her human.
Hey, Lucille Ball proved klutz’s are super funny, so I’m sure your character appeals to many of Lucy’s fans! Thanks for taking time to leave a comment. ~Ann
I agree, Ann. I get a kick out of writing my secondary characters. They always have a keen sense of humor. The story may not revolve around them, but you can always count on them to say something funny to break the tension.
Hey Susan!
Thanks for the comment. I agree it’s always a good idea to have some characters provide a bit of comic relief!
~Ann
I’m totally with you with wacky characters. In my latest book, Mrs. Odboddy Hometown Patriot, they dont’ get wackier than elderly Mrs. Odboddy seeing conspiracies and Nazi spies under every cabbage bush. Thanks for the reassurance. I’m not the only nutcase author on the block. I
I think most readers enjoy a story that can furnish a good laugh here and there. Wacky characters do that! Thanks for commenting. ~Ann
Being one myself, I love borderline fools. Life would be a boring thing without us.
Apparently there are more of us borderline fools out there than we know LOL. LOVED the spelling of Raynebeaux! So glad we got to “meet” you. Jim has a fun blog!
I can’t take credit for Raynebeaux being an original idea. When I was a school secretary we had a student on my campus with that name…spelled the same way. I always thought I might use it in a story! Thanks for the comment. ~Ann
Earl,
Good to know I’m not in the boat alone! Thanks for the comment. ~Ann