Thintin
07-14-2008, 07:10 AM
It is important when writing a contemporary novel to make the characters believable and accessible. I achieve this by making the cast easy to relate to and therefore easy to empathise/sympathise with.
But do I manage it?
Which of these main characters can you relate to? (or which ones remind you of someone you know!)
First the contemporary characters:
Emily Phillips.
Emily is the fiery leading lady. She is a strong, independent young woman who doesn't flee in the face of danger and keeps her cool even under extreme conditions. Beneath this hard exterior she is also caring and compassionate, she tries to see the best in people and knows how to get what she wants.
With masses of curly ginger hair, pale, lightly freckled skin, well proportioned curves and large, long lashed green eyes, she looks like a Celtic goddess.
Emily plays a major role in the story and has a hidden secret that she is barely even aware of herself!
Adam Blanco
Adam is Emily's boyfriend and the self proclaimed leader of Elucidare Arcanum, the paranormal investigations team of which Emily and Cindy are both members. He is also the person who discovers the hidden castle, Treve, which is where the story begins.
Adam is classically handsome with thick dark hair, an olive complexion and an athletically built six foot frame. He knows he is good looking and this is the root of his arrogance, which isn't helped by his immaturity.
Cindy Edwards
Cindy is Emily's best friend and also her secret lover. The youngest of the group, she is feisty, playful and forthright. She would say she speaks it as she finds it (and doesn't hold back on her thoughts or feelings either, using some choice language!). Cindy is a natural medium with heightened psychic abilities and sensitivity to the environment.
Cindy is a self modelled, post-modern, cyber-chic, uber-goth, metal-head with a bit of punk thrown in for tradition’s sake, and she loves to try and shock the world at every available opportunity.
Secondly, the ageless members of the 'Vassal Syntagma':
Golgoath D'erstal Sodiem
Golgoath is the last of the Vassal Syntagma - Earth’s ancient protectors. He has been existing as non-physical energy in the hidden castle, Treve, following a desperate hundred year search for a way to regain contact with his lost wife, Verimana.
Golgoath is over eight hundred years old and has the ability to shape and manipulate the Ecruos, the life-force of our world. He also has an arsenal of magic available to him in the form of medallions which contain various spells. These abilities are used to protect us from the Stygian, invaders from other whorls of existence.
Standing at nearly seven feet tall and with broad shoulders, Golgoath is an imposing figure and has a presence and personality to match. His shoulder length, dark hair is usually hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat, and his huge bulk behind a long coat.
Verimana
Verimana is Golgoath's wife and head of the order of the H'Larian Tahl, spiritual guides who could commune with, and direct the Ecruos. Verimana became a living component of the great work 'Exilium Stygian' which successfully closed all of the doorways into our world in the 12th Century.
She has a strong sense of duty and responsibility, and sacrifices her own happiness to help mankind.
Lubloy Annock
Lubloy is the last of the Druids. As a Druidic mage he can call on the assistance of nature spirits to help Golgoath to defeat any powerful Stygian that breach Exilium Stygian. The Druids were kin to the H'Larian Tahl and it is through Lubloy that Golgoath was able to commune with Verimana.
Not as serious as Golgoath, Lubloy likes to lighten the mood with humour, but he is just as powerful and has defeated many Stygian alone.
In the 19th Century Lubloy is trapped in a void between whorls leaving Golgoath alone and unable to contact his wife.
Stygian in girl's form
In the 19th Century this powerful Stygian uses the energy of a secret magic ceremony in Treve, to bridge Exilium Stygian and enter our world. The Stygian can't bring its physical form through the barrier and so it builds a new body, out of a living host, on this side. The form of that host is taken from the mind of the master of the ceremony that it hijacked, and it is the image of a nine year old girl.
This Stygian drains Ecruos directly from living beings and uses it sustain itself. It also has the ability to enter people's minds to read their thoughts and control their bodies.
This Stygian has one purpose; to open a doorway in the barrier, so that more of its kind can return to Earth and retake their old feeding grounds.
For a better idea about which character you relate to, you can read a free 10,000 word sample of GOLGOATH at my website.
Phil.
But do I manage it?
Which of these main characters can you relate to? (or which ones remind you of someone you know!)
First the contemporary characters:
Emily Phillips.
Emily is the fiery leading lady. She is a strong, independent young woman who doesn't flee in the face of danger and keeps her cool even under extreme conditions. Beneath this hard exterior she is also caring and compassionate, she tries to see the best in people and knows how to get what she wants.
With masses of curly ginger hair, pale, lightly freckled skin, well proportioned curves and large, long lashed green eyes, she looks like a Celtic goddess.
Emily plays a major role in the story and has a hidden secret that she is barely even aware of herself!
Adam Blanco
Adam is Emily's boyfriend and the self proclaimed leader of Elucidare Arcanum, the paranormal investigations team of which Emily and Cindy are both members. He is also the person who discovers the hidden castle, Treve, which is where the story begins.
Adam is classically handsome with thick dark hair, an olive complexion and an athletically built six foot frame. He knows he is good looking and this is the root of his arrogance, which isn't helped by his immaturity.
Cindy Edwards
Cindy is Emily's best friend and also her secret lover. The youngest of the group, she is feisty, playful and forthright. She would say she speaks it as she finds it (and doesn't hold back on her thoughts or feelings either, using some choice language!). Cindy is a natural medium with heightened psychic abilities and sensitivity to the environment.
Cindy is a self modelled, post-modern, cyber-chic, uber-goth, metal-head with a bit of punk thrown in for tradition’s sake, and she loves to try and shock the world at every available opportunity.
Secondly, the ageless members of the 'Vassal Syntagma':
Golgoath D'erstal Sodiem
Golgoath is the last of the Vassal Syntagma - Earth’s ancient protectors. He has been existing as non-physical energy in the hidden castle, Treve, following a desperate hundred year search for a way to regain contact with his lost wife, Verimana.
Golgoath is over eight hundred years old and has the ability to shape and manipulate the Ecruos, the life-force of our world. He also has an arsenal of magic available to him in the form of medallions which contain various spells. These abilities are used to protect us from the Stygian, invaders from other whorls of existence.
Standing at nearly seven feet tall and with broad shoulders, Golgoath is an imposing figure and has a presence and personality to match. His shoulder length, dark hair is usually hidden beneath a wide-brimmed hat, and his huge bulk behind a long coat.
Verimana
Verimana is Golgoath's wife and head of the order of the H'Larian Tahl, spiritual guides who could commune with, and direct the Ecruos. Verimana became a living component of the great work 'Exilium Stygian' which successfully closed all of the doorways into our world in the 12th Century.
She has a strong sense of duty and responsibility, and sacrifices her own happiness to help mankind.
Lubloy Annock
Lubloy is the last of the Druids. As a Druidic mage he can call on the assistance of nature spirits to help Golgoath to defeat any powerful Stygian that breach Exilium Stygian. The Druids were kin to the H'Larian Tahl and it is through Lubloy that Golgoath was able to commune with Verimana.
Not as serious as Golgoath, Lubloy likes to lighten the mood with humour, but he is just as powerful and has defeated many Stygian alone.
In the 19th Century Lubloy is trapped in a void between whorls leaving Golgoath alone and unable to contact his wife.
Stygian in girl's form
In the 19th Century this powerful Stygian uses the energy of a secret magic ceremony in Treve, to bridge Exilium Stygian and enter our world. The Stygian can't bring its physical form through the barrier and so it builds a new body, out of a living host, on this side. The form of that host is taken from the mind of the master of the ceremony that it hijacked, and it is the image of a nine year old girl.
This Stygian drains Ecruos directly from living beings and uses it sustain itself. It also has the ability to enter people's minds to read their thoughts and control their bodies.
This Stygian has one purpose; to open a doorway in the barrier, so that more of its kind can return to Earth and retake their old feeding grounds.
For a better idea about which character you relate to, you can read a free 10,000 word sample of GOLGOATH at my website.
Phil.