Who Are You Inviting?

I'm not sure if other writers feel this way, but for me, when it comes to writing, I need to have a solid idea of who my characters are before I start.  I may not have every tiny detail worked out, but I have a good idea of their general personality traits, their flaws, their strengths.

I liken this to hosting a dinner party.  Long before I plan the menu or select the vino, I think about who to invite.  Which guests will mix well with the others?  What common bonds might they share?  I may think to myself that I surely have to invite Tyler - he's always good for jokes and injecting humour into an evening. And of course, I have to invite Jim - he always has wild stories to tell.  Julie just got back from a trip to Brazil and I can't wait to hear about the trip.  Donna will probably bring her guitar and after dinner drinks may turn into a sing-along.  And I know that if I invite both Liz and Andrew, there will likely be a heated debate about politics or current events since they are polar opposites.  

You get the idea.  

Once I know who I'm dealing with, the plot slowly starts to come together.  If I know Andrew is a bit of a hothead, then it will be easy for me to thrust him into situations and know just how he will react.  And when it comes to dialogue and Tyler - piece of cake because I know he will crack wise at any opportunity.

There are all sorts of charts and lists that one can create (or find online) to help you with character development, but I don't use any of those.  I'm fairly loose about backgrounds - what I do for one I may not do for another.  But generally, for most of my main characters, I'll figure out:

• political leanings - and do they usually vote?
• zodiac sign
• education (major), or did they drop out of high school?
• religion - whatever it may be - do they practice it actively?
• where they fit in the family tree (middle child, youngest, etc.)
• relationship with parents (and were they divorced?)
• ethnic/cultural background
• attitude towards some "hot button" issues, like marijuana, immigration, gay marriage, etc.
• talents/hobbies that have nothing to do with the plot or with their jobs (do they play an instrument or are they on a sports team?)

The list could go on and on (do they prefer Coke over Pepsi, Apple or Windows, are they afraid of heights, do they have/do they like pets, do they have any allergies, etc.) but the above points usually give me an idea of who my character is.  And that's a great start!

Character Bio: Antonio Agostino Antonelli

We’ll be meeting Antonio Agostino Antonelli in book four of the Sasha Jackson Mystery series (I don’t yet know the title for the fourth novel). Here’s a sneak preview of him.


Name: Antonio Agostino Antonelli

Profession: Porn Producer. Antonio A. Antonelli has produced 577 “adult” films in the last three years. Yes, that’s almost 200 films a year. We’re not exactly talking high art here; most of the porn flicks are made in about a day.

Hobbies: Rug hooking. Currently making a 4’ x 6’ mat with a very chesty naked woman on it.


Secret Dream/Ambition: He has always fantasized about competing in the Tour de France, but at 280 lbs (on a 5’8” frame) it is highly unlikely he’ll achieve this.

Role Model: Larry Flynt.


Pet Peeve: People who bite their nails and unaddressed mail/junkmail. He also hates Campbell’s Soup, any and all flavours, and he'd love to throw acid on those Warhol paintings.


When he thinks no one is looking: He fondles himself and whispers loving words to himself in Italian as he’s doing this. He calls himself “gorgeous” and “handsome” and “hot stuff” and then kisses himself on his hairy shoulder.


Afraid of: Spiders, dogs, marmalade and flying.

Embarrassing Fact/Temper Tantrum: Gained twenty-nine pounds (and three inches) within six months of having liposuction on his gut at a dodgy clinic in Mexico.  Flew back to Mexico to pummel the doctor, who now works as a one-armed street sweeper.


Criminal Record: Rather long, and he was framed... that other guy did it.

Invented the Word: Blowjoberrific.   The meaning should be obvious.

Why would anyone want to kill him?  The list is too long to get into, but he's a dirtbag with no morals whatsoever.  The kind of d-bag who says things like "blowjoberrific".  Unfortunately, no one has done him in... yet...

A little more about Victor and his Dating Profile

I haven't said much about Victor yet...

To know him is to love him, sort of. Victor is a very nice, very rich DWEEB! He's a nerd, a dork, a geek... There is no nicer way to put it. He's socially awkward, always says the wrong thing at the wrong time, but he's harmless, and he means well, it's just that he's so... argh!

Victor was one of Sasha's first clients, and since she wrapped up his case a while back, he has developed a crush on Sasha... lucky her, not!

So, Sasha is doing her best to try to help him find the love of his life, or at least a date - anything to get him out of her hair. He had his eye on one woman and Sasha gave Victor advice about how to try to sweep the woman off her feet. One thing Sasha suggested was a box of truffles, but Victor thought Sasha meant truffles the mushrooms, not the chocolates. Needless to say, that didn't work.

So now it's time for Victor to try online dating. Here is Victor's profile/personal ad:

Are you the Girl for me?????

Looking for a long term, committed relationship with someone who shares my hobbies. I enjoy stamp collecting, rock polishing, reading old maps and calculating baseball statistics.

I am a successful, self-employed male, 5'5", 192 lbs. I am clean shaven, have brown eyes (I wear bi-focal, horn-rimmed glasses with tape on them), brown hair (I'm kind of going bald but no one notices because I comb over the bald spot).

I enjoy going out for a nice romantic dinner at an all you can eat buffet, and I like polka dancing. I also like a quiet evening at home - drinking a glass of warm milk and listening to my Ethel Merman collection.

My favourite colour is plaid, my favourite flavour is vanilla, my favourite book is Roget's Thesaurus, and I have a pet goldfish named Goldy.

Drop me a line if you think we're a match!!!