 | 30 Oct 08 |
After wrapping up my copyedits on SUDDEN DEATH at 1:30 a.m., I moseyed on over to Murder She Writes to write my blog for this morning. I had a vague idea of writing about copy edits (no surprise there) but after reading Deborah’s post, I had a much better (I hope) idea. At least, it grabbed me enough and I no longer remember what I thought I’d write about!
Deb talked about hating synopses. I hate them to. Who likes them? Well, I think there’s something wrong with you . . . ha ha, just kidding.
I don’t write a synopsis until I have to. I mean really have to, like, “Sales needs this today for a meeting . . . ” kind of have to. And even then, I have problems.
Take the FBI Trilogy. SUDDEN DEATH? No problem. The book was 80% written at the time then needed the synop, so I wrote it . . . and an ending I thought was going to happen. Well, that ending DIDN’T happen, but fortunately they don’t put the climax on the back cover copy.
FATAL SECRETS? I thought this one would be the no brainer. Matt Elliott, a secondary character in PLAYING DEAD and SUDDEN DEATH was the hero. I adore him. He was also the hero of the short story I wrote for the KILLER YEAR antho. He was a reluctant candidate for Attorney General and someone tries to assassinate him. I could totally picture the opening chapter because I’d written something like it long ago in a book that never sold . . . but this was a completely different story. The heroine was an FBI Agent. I wrote a two page rough synopsis. I instantly knew something was wrong, but I didn’t know what . . .
. . . so I wrote the two pager on CUTTING EDGE. This story I only had a premise . . . someone killing those involved in cutting edge technology. (I got the idea after reading a story about a biotech genius coming up with ways in save salmon . . . I didn’t understand the technology, but did think that some people might not like it, and what if one of those was a psychopath . . . ?) Anyway, I didn’t know the characters, so I sat back and pictured the opening scene. A fire at a state-of-the-art laboratory. They’d have security, right? Sure . . . who does security in Sacramento? Rogan-Caruso . . . was this J.T.’s book? No . . . not J.T. (If you’ve read PLAYING DEAD, you know who JT is . . . he’s also in SUDDEN DEATH. Yum.) But one of them . . . I picked Duke Rogan, the middle Rogan brother. He just jumped out at me and said yeah, it was my security system, but it didn’t fail, so you’ll have to change that. My security systems don’t fail.
I sent off the synopses. That night, I couldn’t sleep. Something was wrong. It was FATAL SECRETS. I knew it, and now I knew way. Matt’s heroine was wrong, the storyline was wrong, and WHAM! I knew then that my NEXT trilogy, the first book would be Matt’s. And the heroine? No one else would do. It’s JT Caruso’s sister, an international photojournalist who disappears on assignment . . . and Matt and JT go to find her.
But that story wouldn’t fit for this trilogy, which needed an FBI agent as one of the main characters (hence, the Sacramento FBI Trilogy tag . . . ) So I emailed my editor and said, stop, FATAL SECRETS isn’t going to work. Give me a day or two, I’ll have something.
What popped into my head was a story that had been simmering for awhile. I’ve wanted to write a story about human trafficking. But it’s been done a lot recently, I needed something a little different . . . and then I came up with it. My heroine is an ICE Agent who had been sold as a child, and escaped, leading police to the bad guys, then adopted by an American law enforcement family. The hero, an FBI Agent. What was the connection? . . . what if the hero was investigating the bad guy for tax evasion, ala Eliot Ness. And the heroine for human trafficking. And their respective sting operations collided and Wham! Instant conflict. It worked, and I was going to write a story I’ve wanted to write for awhile.
I wrote up the synopsis, happy, and even got the back cover copy and was thrilled with it (it sounded so much better than what I had! I could hardly believe they pulled out a story that sounds this good from the crappy two-pager I wrote . . .
By this time, I had finished SUDDEN DEATH, revisions and all, and started FATAL SECRETS. I had a great opening scene pictured, and started writing, and within five pages I knew I had the wrong hero.
See, characters are people too. Once I pictured Sam Callahan, he became real to me. He had a personality and attitude that I couldn’t change. He’s laid back, happy-go-lucky, and very smart. He’s from a large, happy family. He doesn’t have issues. He’s a cross between Patrick Kincaid and Will Hooper. Fun, happy, dedicated, and a bit of a ladies man.
Sonia Knight is a hot-head. She’s driven, dedicated, and a work-a-holic. She is in it for one reason: save the kids. She’ll do anything–break rules, argue, lie, fight, plead–to save the girls being imported for nefarious purposes. She’s also smart and brave and has a soft-spot for kids. But other people? If you’re not part of the solution–and listen to her–you’re part of the problem.
Sonia Knight would eat Sam alive. There was no connection. I couldn’t even MAKE it happen. I couldn’t change either character.
I banged my head on the desk . . . and Dean walked in.
Dean Hooper, Will’s brother. He’s mentioned briefly in the past as an FBI Agent who Hans is impressed with. But that’s it. I had a name, and I had admiration from one of the top FBI guys in my books. I could do anything . . . and he became sort of an Eliot Ness meets Quinn Peterson (my hero from THE HUNT.) Dean is a mathematical genius and a leader in white collar crimes, a high ranking agent out of Quantico. He’s been tracking Xavier Jones for two years, and moved to Sacramento to work with the white collar crimes team (led by Sam Callahan) to finally take Jones down. As soon as he stepped out of the black SUV, I knew. He was the hero. Sorry, Sam. I hope you get a book someday . . . though I’m not 100% certain you’re going to survive this one.
So there it is, a sneak peak at my absurd and quite erratic process of . . . what? Pre-writing? I think my muse is psychotic, and does this to me to keep me on my toes.
Yet, I can see my characters and know that if I saw them on the street, I’d know them. Some writers do that for me, too. JD Robb’s Roarke and Eve Dallas . . . I would KNOW them if I met them. In fact, all her characters in that series totally pop for me. Peabody? McNab? Dr. Mira? Sommerset? Mavis? I know them all. Even Trina is a real, defined person in my mind, someone I’d recognize.
That’s what makes characters come alive for me, when they are three-dimensional. I could no more change Sam Callahan’s character than I could change one of my children.
What characters come alive for you? Who becomes real, someone you just know you’d recognize if you met them in person?
New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award winning author Allison Brennan has published fourteen romantic thrillers with Ballantine, plus a novella and four short stories. She lives near Sacramento, California with her husband and five children. Recently, RT Book Reviews said, “A master of suspense, Brennan does another outstanding job uniting horrifying action, procedural drama and the birth of a romance — a prime example of why she’s tops in the genre.” For fun Allison enjoys wine tasting, swimming, playing video games, and—of course–reading. Her most recent release is CARNAL SIN, the second book in the Seven Deadly Sins supernatural romantic suspense series. Her Lucy Kincaid series will launch in January, 2011 with LOVE ME TO DEATH.
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I love this, Allison. I still don’t have to do a synopsis in advance (thank goodness), but the books come to me via the characters. Once I know them, they lead the way.
And YES on all the characters in the “In Death” series. Not only are they all so well-rounded, we get to watch them grow over so many books. I’ve almost stopped reading the mystery parts, just to visit with my good friends.
You know the author’s done a good job when you expect to bump into these people at the grocery store. I know that when I was in Seattle for Emerald City, I half-expected to see JP Beaumont.
by Terry Odell October 30th, 2008 at 4:04 amA synopsis is nothing more then the narrative facts of your story. Which is why it is so dreaded. As writers we “think”, “believe” it should be more. As romance writers, we want to inject all the emotional tremoil of our characters into it. Its a battle, because it is two different writing styles. There are dozens of books, opinions and ways to write a synopsis. I’m probably one of the few writers I know who doesn’t dread it, (at least anymore). I write it first, it gives me some guidance as to where my characters are going. Then I go from there. Nothing is written in stone, and can be changed as I move ahead. Its just the facts and highlights of the story, written in very plan, non-emotional language.
by Lee October 30th, 2008 at 9:01 amAnd I do draw from real life in the creation of my characters…Its what gives them their ticks, and emotional baggage, which in turn makes them more human.
Elvis Cole and Joe Pike are wonderful creations of Robert Crais. I would love to run into them. If I wasn’t happily married, of course.
I expect to run into Bobbie Faye at my local Wal-Mart. Actually I expect her to run into me. It is Bobbie Faye after all. I mean that in a nice way Toni.
Stephanie Plum and Ranger or just Ranger would be very nice. I think w/ Janet Evanovich’s books you love ‘em or hate ‘em. Count me in the love ‘em.
The ladies of the sisterhood in the series by Fern Michaels. I definately would not want to cross those ladies!
There’s a lot more, but I’ll stop here before I take up all the space.
Allison – Great blog topic, as always.
by HollyD October 30th, 2008 at 9:05 amLoved this (esp. since being familiar with your books, I “know” Will, Hans, Patrick, etc.)
I’m considering dumping my own favorite character of all time, so this post spoke to me — thank you!
by Jen October 30th, 2008 at 9:59 amHolly, I’m cracking up here. Yep, she’d probably run into you… or run into the shelving which would tip over some boxes which would knock down a display, which would upend the cooking oil section, whereupon one would burst and sixteen people would be sliding around without traction, though two are singles who’d kinda been wanting to ask each other out.
Allison, love your process–I’m like that, once the character has shown up, he or she is a person and I could no more change them than I could change my kids. And I am very much eager to see more of JT Caruso. That guy *sizzled*.
by toni mcgee causey October 30th, 2008 at 10:07 amTerry, the IN DEATH series is one of the best series out there. I never get tired of the books, even after reading 25+ . . . the mysteries are good, the characters fantastic, and I feel like I’m there in 2059 New York City. With most series I’ve read, I’ve usually stopped after a few books. I lose interest because the characters don’t change or evolve. I don’t have this problem with the IN DEATH series; in fact, they are getting BETTER . . .
You’re right, Lee. And I can write a synopsis if I’m forced to . . . I don’t have a problem with the unemotional narrative. What I DO have a problem with is what happens in the story. I don’t know. And when I write out the synopsis, I don’t want to write the book. That’s one reason I keep it vague . . . and usually half my synopsis is backstory, which I KNOW because I know my characters even when I haven’t really thought about them . . . in fact, with the failed FATAL SECRETS synopsis there was NO backstory. I didn’t know it. Maybe that’s why I had a problem with the story–it was all plot and no real people. But CUTTING EDGE was half backstory, i already know Duke and Nora, and I can’t wait to see what happens when they get this case together. And the new FATAL SECRETS story came to me primarily through the heroine’s backstory, which was just there as soon as her name popped into my head. Sonia Knight walked right in, fully formed, opinionated, stubborn, brave, and intensely compassionate. She’s going to be one of those characters that you either love or hate. There’s no in-between with her.
by Allison Brennan October 30th, 2008 at 10:23 amHolly, I love Robert Crais. I love Elvis and Joe. Especially Joe. THE WATCHMAN is one of my favorite books of last year. I read it on a plane and then finished it in baggage claim . . . I couldn’t leave the airport without getting to THE END. Crais is one of the best of the genre.
Am I the only one who loves Joe Morelli? I mean, sure, Ranger is sexy and hunky and all that, but Joe is my guy
. . . I’m behind in the series, though. I think I’m up to 11. Or 10. Stephanie had been irritating me, so I think I had my fill for awhile, but I love Evanovich’s voice and her brilliant secondary characters, so I’ll probably have a binge read one weekend and catch up.
Hi Jen! I’m so glad you know my characters too! Though I had a fan letter once that asked me if I personally KNEW the Kincaids. I mean, they feel real to me, but I know they’re made up . . . Hans Vigo really developed in SUDDEN DEATH. He has more depth and a subplot related to the main storyline that gives insight into his past. To think that he was supposed to die in the prison break trilogy . . . yeah, I really thought he was going to. But he didn’t. Whew. (BTW, I don’t kill my characters. The villains do. It’s not my fault when someone dies, I didn’t do it!)
Wait until SUDDEN DEATH, Toni. We get to see him in action. I don’t want to give anything away, but I have three very alpha men working together . . . and I’ve never had so much fun writing the climax. JT is going to have a book, but it’s most likely going to be the last book of the next trilogy, which isn’t sold, though the other night a couple possible ideas came to mind . . . it’s the Rogan-Caruso Trilogy, but I want to do four books–Matt, Kane, Sean and J.T. Is that a quad-ilogy?
by Allison Brennan October 30th, 2008 at 10:33 amAllison, I knew the minute you said Sam Callahan was good, kind, sweet, and nice he was a goner! LOL I love hearing about your thought processes for writing. I go down a tangent that has my husband shaking his head. “I can see you got from A to D, but what happened to B and C?” hahahaha
by Amanda October 30th, 2008 at 11:36 amAllison, it’s always interesting to hear you describe your process. And now I know why–your characters are so real to you. I love it.
I’ve actually seen people that I think resemble characters in books I read…I was worried that maybe I wasn’t getting out enough
by Jen Apodaca October 30th, 2008 at 12:28 pmHolly, if I saw Bobbie Faye coming my way, I’d drop everything, turn and run for my life!
I actually don’t mind writing a synopsis. But as of yet I haven’t had to. I did write an outline for a series we’re going out with (hopefully in the next week) and it was a great feeling doing it. It gave me the mood and structure of exactly what I want to write.
As far as the characters I’ve written? I’d probably melt into a pile of mush if I came face to face with any of my heroes.
by Karin Tabke October 30th, 2008 at 4:01 pmI’m with Holly. I’d love to run into Elvis Cole or Joe Pike. Especially Joe. LOVED THE WATCHMAN. I loaned it to my dad and said, “This is one of my absolute favorite books. Don’t lose it.” He read it, gave it back, and didn’t comment. Maybe he doesn’t get Joe. He’s one of those characters where you get upset when you finish the book because he’s not real.
by Kendra October 30th, 2008 at 7:31 pmI hate writing a synopsis. Thankfully, my editors only ask for a couple paragraphs when the copy dept. needs to write the back cover blurb and even then they only need the setup and not the resolution. Honestly, I’d rather write an entire book than write a synop.
by S.J. Day October 30th, 2008 at 9:13 pmKenra — I found The Watchman to be ever so much more compelling because I’d read all the rest of the books (in order, anal me!) and it was knowing Joe from book 1 that made everything resonate so strongly in The Watchman. If your father hadn’t read the others, perhaps he didn’t pick up on that aspect of Joe Pike.
And, S.J. — I have to write my own back cover blurbs. I hate doing those, too!
by Terry Odell October 31st, 2008 at 3:52 am