Years ago, I conducted interviews with my characters to allow readers to get to know them a little better. It was all in good fun and I received a lot of fun feedback from all of you about what you liked. Since we are deep into the next generation, I thought I would take a minute to interview some of the ‘newer’ characters and let you get to know them a little more.
I really feel connected to Jimmy and David and I know we’ve watched them grow and develop through the first series. When it came to the Next Generation, I found myself really getting to know Robbie, Kevin and Bryan. Even though Robbie played a pretty important role in the first series, and obviously Kevin and Bryan were introduced, too, they didn’t really have a lot of interaction with each other.
One of my most favorite things about writing this series is the relationships between friends and family. Tommy and Jack is of course my ultimate friendship, but I’ve really tried to develop those connections amongst other characters. It’s super important to have people to talk to and bounce ideas off of and I wanted those connections to seem organic and not forced.
Kevin and Bryan were an easy choice because they are related and would naturally have a connection, but I struggled with connecting Robbie to someone. He is one of my favorite characters to write and he teaches me more every time I bring him into a scene. He has a lot of struggles with his parents and managing his life with Epilepsy. He is young and active and I know how he struggles with the unpredictability of his disease. I didn’t want to ever make him a victim or dependent on anyone else, but he needs someone to talk to- aside from Tessa.
Kevin is someone I have been waiting to incorporate for so long. I love him and it took a long time for him to ‘talk’ to me. I know that sounds weird, but sometimes the characters are quiet and I struggle to find where they fit in. I think Kevin is a lot like me. I’m quiet. I observe. I stay behind. I’m an introvert.
But sometimes, something happens that shocks you out of your routine. It doesn’t change those qualities- they are perfect- but it gives you a new perspective. Josie did that for him and for me. I struggled writing Josie for so long because I didn’t know who she was. I didn’t have any trouble with any of the other kids as they grew, but Josie never talked to me. I finally sat down with her and figured it out. But then I realized I couldn’t figure her out because I hadn’t given her a chance to show me who she was. She isn’t a token character. She is a real human being with multiple facets to her life. I was trying to fit her into a mold that she didn’t belong in.
I’m so proud of who she is and what she and Kevin may become.
Finally, there’s Bryan. He was created for Naomi. I know that sounds weird, but I knew from the beginning I wanted him to be there for Naomi. I knew he was a chef and I knew he struggled with his parents. I knew he had a rough time growing up the son of a heartthrob and I knew he would have a huge chip on his shoulder. It seemed like he would be a match for Sabrina, but he was never meant to be with her.
Pitting Sabrina against Naomi at the beginning of Bryan’s arrival was more about Sabrina’s journey than anything else. She was going through so much and hurting Naomi was the last straw. Bryan was never into Sabrina. That was new for her. It was necessary and it led her to find Jimmy. Not that an of my characters ‘need’ someone to make them whole, but rather to help them realize their full potential.
But back to Bryan. I worked hard to figure him out. He was handsome, but so what? He was rich, but that meant nothing to Naomi. He was angry and sullen and guarded. He never looked at himself as being authentic, because he wasn’t. He was hiding. Naomi saw through his act. She had no time for games and her happiness was infectious.
I won’t spoil anything, but this next book will take Bryan on a journey unlike anything he’s done before. It will also have dire consequences.
So, without further ado, here is a little chat with out three leading men.
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Interviewer: Hi! Welcome to our chat. Can you introduce yourselves to everyone?
Robbie: I’m Robert.
Kevin: Robert? So formal.
Robbie: Whatever. I’m Robbie.
Kevin: I’m Kevin.
Bryan: I’m Bryan.
Interviewer: Nice to meet all of you. How do you know each other?
Bryan: Kevin is my baby cousin and Robbie is my best friend.
Kevin: Baby cousin? Dude, you’re an ass. We’re three years apart.
Bryan: Sounds like a baby to me.
Robbie laughed.
Kevin: Whatever. Robbie is my friend too.
Robbie: They are both lovely to be around.
Interviewer: Alrighty then. let’s start with something simple. Would you rather ride a bike, ride a horse, or drive a car?
Kevin: A spaceship.
Bryan: That’s not even an option.
Kevin: Fine. A car.
Bryan: A horse.
Robbie: Probably a horse. It’s the only safe one for me.
Interviewer: Okay, Who would you want to be stranded with on a deserted island?
Robbie: Tess
Bryan: Naomi
Kevin: Um, I don’t know (he blushes)
Robbie and Bryan: Josie
Kevin: Shut up.
Interviewer: What is your proudest accomplishment?
Robbie: Personal? Getting into Med school, but Tess getting into vet school was way harder. She’s amazing.
Bryan and Kevin rolled their eyes.
Robbie: Whatever. Vet school is incredibly competitive.
Bryan: Becoming a chef despite my parents not wanting me to.
Interviewer: Why didn’t they want you to become a chef?
Bryan: It’s not stable. Which is rich, coming from an actor and screenwriter. Not the most stable occupations.
Kevin: Bryan, your dad is a famous actor and your mom is always in demand. They are the epitome of success.
Bryan: Whatever.
Interviewer: Kevin? What is your proudest accomplishment?
Kevin: I don’t know that I’ve had one yet.
Interviewer: What is your biggest complaint about your job?
Bryan: It’s always hot, but it’s amazing, too.
Kevin: Nobody actually knows what I do.
Robbie: I don’t know yet.
Interviewer: Okay, some easy ones. Are you a coffee or tea person?
Robbie: Coffee
Bryan: Coffee
Kevin: Coffee
Interviewer: What job would you be terrible at?
Kevin: Anything public speaking related
Bryan: An office job
Robbie: A lawyer
Interviewer: Who has inspired your career path most in your life?
Kevin: My mom
Bryan: Naomi
Robbie: The incredible doctors who’ve helped me.
Interviewer: What’s something we would never guess about you?
Kevin: I’m afraid of steamrollers.
Bryan: What? Why? What did a steamroller ever do to you?
Kevin: It’s not what they did, but what they could do. I don’t want to be flattened.
Robbie laughed
Robbie: You’re weird.
Kevin: What about you? What’s something we wouldn’t guess about you?
Robbie: I can tapdance.
Bryan and Kevin: What?
Robbie: My mom made me take classes. She thought it would help my seizures if I focused on something.
Bryan: Does Tess know this?
Robbie: No and she doesn’t need to.
Bryan and Kevin: Yet.
Interviewer: So what’s the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
Bryan: Hit snooze. I work nights, so I’m always tired.
Kevin: Get up and feed Little Mittens.
They all looked at him.
Kevin: What? She likes her breakfast at a certain time.
Robbie: Snuggle with Tess.
They all smiled at him.
Bryan: You’re both adorable.
Robbie: Shut up.
Interviewer: Okay, final question. What is one feature you love about yourself and one you want to change.
Bryan: I love my hands and I would change my butt.
Kevin: That’s weird.
Bryan: No it isn’t. My hands can do awesome things with a knife and Naomi doesn’t complain. My butt is flat and it’s embarrassing.
Robbie: I love my chest because Tessa loves it. I would change my brain.
Kevin: Your brain is fine. You’re fine.
Robbie: You’re sweet, but I’m a mess.
Kevin: I love my mind and it’s something I would change.
Interviewer: Why?
Kevin: People don’t think the way I do. Sometimes it’s weird. But I also love what I do, so it’s not too bad.
Interviewer: Thank you all so much. I really appreciate your time.
So, what else do you want to know? More info about “Complications” book Seven coming soon.
