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‘Ask Charles’ No. 3
Posted in Ask Charles on Tue, March 16, 2010
Q: What process do you take to come up with the right name for your characters?
Good question. I’m not sure I have a process for naming characters. I’m always paying attention to people’s names. Especially when signing books. I can usually pick up a few while on tour. More than anything, I listen to what a name sounds like. And sometimes how it’s spelled. But, I don’t really have a hard and fast process. It’s sort of stumbling in the dark sort of thing. Its not unheard of for me to get to the end of a book, turn around and completely rename a character.
Q: Charles, what/who do YOU read when you’re in the mood for a good fiction book?
Anything Vince Flynn. I’m a pretty big Grisham fan. The Testament may be my favorite. Or, A Time to Kill. Although the first chapter is Testament may be my favorite all time first chapter ever. Wish I’d written it. Clive Cussler takes me places I like to go. Stephen Hunter is another. Conroy, of course. For the most part, I read non-fiction. Krakauer. Powers. Ambrose. Sides. I can’t explain that, I just do. Right now, I’m reading The Hobbit to the boys. I read it when I was twelve. Quickly followed by The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King. I remember reading the Two Towers in a day and a half – which was unheard of for me. Still is. I fell in love with Tolkien and middle earth long before Jackson put it on screen. (And he did an awesome job in my opinion. Can’t wait to see The Hobbit.) Anyway, they love it. Mesmerized. A lot of fun for me. Sometimes, I’ll go back and read Louis Lamour novels that I’ve read a few times. I love a good western. My favorite book is Robinson Crusoe. Followed closely by Huck Finn. My favorite writer is King David – he says what my heart needs to hear…and say.
Q: How long did you research locations when writing “When Crickets Cry”?
About a year. Maybe 18 months if you include the writing.
Q: Do you still live in Jacksonville, Florida and are you a native Floridian?
Yes. Born and raised. Still here. I’m a 4th generation Jacksonvillian.
Q: What book that you have written has touched you the most?
It surprises folks when I say this but I cried when writing all of them. I know, I know… But, I did. If I don’t experience it emotionally, why in the world should you? If it doesn’t touch me, how will it ever touch you? I don’t pick one book as touching me the most, but there are scenes in each that get to me. You can probably guess them. Same ones that get to you I suppose.
When the book you researched, in part, in Texas is published . . . please consider a book signing in Texas. Remember the “Q”!
All of your books have touched me emotionally. Relationships, to me, are the reason life is worth living. I am 25 years old and my parents just divorced. I remember 2 years ago, on my wedding day, thinking, “Wow, they are what I aspire to in my own marriage.” I feel like the rug has been yanked out from under me. On the other hand, the love my husband and I share is quite comparable to those of your characters, and I know we’ll be together always, through good and bad. I hope our children will one day aspire to find the love we have and want the same for themselves. Your books, especially, always remind me of the power of love and remind me to strive to show my husband every day what he means to me. Thank you for that.
Hi Charles! My name is Diana and I’m 17, I read your book “until the river slpit us” (i’m not shure about the traduction of the name of the book because I’m portuguese), and I would love to know something about you so I can do my school project. Simple things like, when you were born, the things you like to do when you were a kid.. I would be thankfull
Thanks for the attencion, and bye. XX
Just finished reading “When Crickets Cry” and loved it. But there was something that confused me. On page 160 it sais the heart of a 20-year-old killed in a motorcycle accident could be used foe either Emma or Shirley. Reese chose Shirley. Then on page 205 Reese meets Shirley on the street where she recognizes him as John Mitchell. Shirley starts crying and says the person whose heart she received must have been a real crier since she’s so emotional. The next para says the heart belonged to a mother of seven. Don’t think the biker was a mother of seven.