Monday, September 27, 2010

Piece of Cake


The other day, someone was talking about a friend who made the most amazing baked desserts ever. While she was getting orgasmic about the brownies and the white-forest cake, I nearly mentioned someone I knew who was an equally good baker. Luckily, I caught myself just in time, because strictly speaking I don't know the person. She is a character from Hart Johnson's WiP, but I do know her better than several people I am friends with on Facebook.
"The secret to a compelling character is that they live on after you finish reading the book", someone said. I agree.
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A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words.
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28 comments:

Tabitha Bird said...

I agree. The words MUST live on.

Will Burke said...

Tall order -- out of the hundreds of books I've read, maybe a dozen characters are remembered.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

How many fictional characters I've loved over the years!

Unknown said...

Yes, that's how I gauge a good book as well.

CD

Anonymous said...

Rayna - I agree completely! When a character becomes that real, you know you've read a good book.

Southpaw said...

"She is a character from Hart Johnson's WiP" I busted out laughing!

Saumya said...

Haha, this is great. I've sadly become "friends" with so many of my favorite characters!! Love this!

Carol Kilgore said...

I've felt that way about book characters, tool.

Natasha said...

@ Tabitha- and so often, they do.

@ Will- you may remember a dozen characters, but I am sure you often have this sense of deja vous when you encounter a real person and realise you 'met' someone like them earlier in a book.

@ Debra- absolutely. And how many I disliked. And how many I disliked and then grew to like.

@ Clarissa- or at least one of the ways.

@ Margot- absolutely.

@ Holly- it is funny, isn't it? If she was a character from a published book, it may have been different, but an unpublished book?

@ Saumya- me too.

@ Carol- I guess all of us have. To some degree or the other.

@ Karen- she is a wonderful character, isn't she? Loved her in every one of the books.

PK HREZO said...

Ha ha! THat's awesome! Truly the sign of a compelling character!

Sueann said...

I have so become attached to characters in a book. I devour everything about them. Much like you would eat that cake!! Ha!
Great story!!
Hugs
SueAnn

Private said...

How cute! It's lovely when you almost regard characters as real people:)

Hart Johnson said...

Natasha! Thank you so much for singing Annie's praises! She is such a fun character to write. It's possible she is a little bit Tart, but her exuberance really was fueled much more by my lifetime best friend's personality.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

And *that's* a realistic character!

Melissa said...

SOunds like a very real character, they are my favorite!

LTM said...

LOL! That is so great--I love it~ :o) <3

Jules said...

Yes, they should be a friend and live on.

Now what is with all the food today? You guys are making me so hungry :)
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Won't Hart be thrilled!

Jane Kennedy Sutton said...

Now that is a compelling character! I love it when a character is so vivid they seem real and stay with you a long time.

Kathryn Dyche said...

I's great when we truly connect with a character from a book . . . mmm you're making me hungry.

Carolyn Abiad said...

I love white forest cake!!! The Abu Dhabi Hilton has the best ever and I have't been able to eat one since without thinking of it. Do you think Hart's character can make me one?

Victoria Dixon said...

Wow, what a powerful testimony to Hart Johnson!

Yeah, I can read a completely plotless book and still enjoy it if the characters are good enough.

Cinette said...

I've done the same thing! How a character is brought to life for us:-)

Anonymous said...

I agree! I love it when characters are memorable and live on in our memories our entire lifetimes.

Jan Morrison said...

I so do this! Places where I've set characters - I want to visit them!
I have an award for you on my blog dearie bones!
Jan Morrison

Deb and Barbara said...

This is so funny. I've had that happen too, where a character becomes so powerful for me that I forget they are fictional. I want to tell people what they said or did. That yours was Hart's character is even better!!

B

Ella said...

I love this and you are so right!~
We want more insight, more dramas with the characters that become part of our fictional family~ Pass the cake.... Your post was sweet! ;-D

Natasha said...

@ PK Hrezo- it is, isn't it?

@ SueAnn- I guess we all do. And grab a bite.

@ Alexandra- they are people, aren't they?

@ Hart- I knew Annie had to be based on someone- she is too real not to be real, if you know what I mean. But you do a great job of bringing her to life, so the credit is as much yours.

@ Elizabeth- absolutely.

@ Melissa- mine too.

@ Leigh- but then, it is Hart's baby! And we love her.

@ Jules- that's the idea.

@ Alex- she is.

@ Jane- they are the best ones.

@ Katheryn - it is amazing when that happens, isn't it?

@ Carolyn- I am sure she can. And boy, are you making me drool.

@ Victoria- absolutely.

@ Cinette- we are weird people, aren't we?

@ Fiona- sometimes I think of a world where we and our characters can live together. Then I realise we do have that universe- it is called imagination and memory.

@ Jan- the reverse happens for me. When I visit for a first time, a place I have read about, I feel like I am returning for the tenth time!
And thank you, my dear.

@ Barbara- I am glad I am not the only one (though I suspected I would not be). It must be even stronger for you since you are an actor.

@ Ellie- thank you. And grab as much of the cake as is left.

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