Can You Be Found In Your Characters?

It’s hard to admit, but it seems possible I suffer from multiple personality disorder.

After working on several stories for over a decade – the first books I ever wrote – I’m still never satisfied, no matter how much I tweak them. Slowly but surely they’re starting to not resemble the original stories at all anymore. I think I’ve tweaked them to death.

One of the most revealing observations gained from picking these stories up every once in a while, editing, then letting them sit for another year or two, is quite surprising. Perhaps it’s due to maturity gained from reading the same material at different life stages… maybe I’m more attuned to who I am now than in earlier years.

In one novel – by far the longest at approximately 225,000 words – and yes, it’ll be shortened by at least half before it ever sees the light of day – I’ve discovered fragments of myself in not one, but five different characters.

The heroine’s reactions to her journey are similar to mine in earlier years. The hero embodies a magical self that mirrors my own. The fairy godmother character portrays my inner child – that part of me that beams when I can help another by pointing out what is beautiful in life. The parish priest is as irreverent as I’ve become, while maintaining a deep core of spirituality. And then there’s the one that makes me blush… the villain. Why do I write his passages with such glee? Why do my fingers come alive on the key pad when I’m in his dark and twisted mind?

This book was supposed to be finished this year. It won’t be, and I’ve made peace with the fact it isn’t happening. I’m still rewriting it. Again. For the fifth time.

Perhaps the purpose of this novel is to reflect my own evolution back to me instead of to entertain others. I’m seriously beginning to wonder.

So, let me tell you about Autumn Masquerade, the novella I released at this time last year. It’s a tribute to the beauty of the season. From glorious falling leaves to a luxurious masquerade ball, it is all about autumn. Anna works in the corporate world and carefully guards her secret – she is a gifted psychic medium who speaks with the dead. When circumstances force her to be the only psychic at a ball, she fears being unmasked. What will her boss think if he finds out she is psychic? Even if he doesn’t fire her, will he ever take her seriously again? Perhaps what is really bothering her is that beneath those concerns, she has fallen in love with the handsome widower. His rejection would devastate her on a very personal level. Meanwhile, his deceased wife decides the only way they’ll ever get together is with some assistance from beyond the grave.

What about you – do you write yourself into your characters? As a reader, how do you feel when you find a character just like you?

Have a splendid autumn and be sure to read some wonderful stories!

Cindy, thanks for having me visit your blog today.

GEMMA JULIANA is a multi-published author who lives in an enchanted cottage in north Texas with her handsome hero, teen son and a comical dog. She loves making new friends and hearing from readers. Exotic coffee and chocolate fuel her creativity.

You can buy Gemma’s books on Amazon and visit her website http://www.gemmajuliana.com.
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