June 30th, 2010 | by Crystal Jordan |
So, one of my upcoming characters is going to be a travel journalist. Someone who travels the world and writes interesting and entertaining stories about where he or she has been. Sometimes this is about something the Average Joe or Jane could try and sometimes it’s something no one would ever want to try if they had a choice in the matter.
To get ready to tackle this hero, I interviewed a couple of travel writers: Tim Cahill and Rolf Potts (both pictured above). I met Rolf at one of my scholarly conferences in 2009, and ended up helping him with a story he was writing, and then I hit him up when I needed help writing this character. He suggested I talk to Tim, who happened to be doing an event in my town just then, and poof! A second interview with a second travel writer. I’m having a great time comparing and contrasting their answers to my questions. Even when there are differences, there are similarities, so I’m getting a great feel for the kind of personality that would be a life-long vagabond.
This is going to a be a reeeeeeally interesting character. I’m loving it! Note that this character is actually a shape-shifting panther and Latino, with dark hair, eyes, and skin, so he doesn’t look a thing like either of my travel real-life travel writers, but that’s probably for the best since I want an even mix of both Rolf and Tim in the hero. (If you haven’t guessed yet, this hero is going to be in ON THE PROWL II)
Also, I’ve totally gotten hooked on reading travel writing stories. I’ve blown through Rolf and Tim’s books (and loved them!), moved on to Bill Bryson and Pico Iyer, and…well…I see a few exotic settings coming up in my future books. This is just too much fun!
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by Crystal Jordan :: Blog » Blog Archive » The People Who Make Your Characters · June 30th, 2010 at 9:10 amLove it! Can’t wait to read him. I love traveling, and I am planning on hopping in your suitcase for a few of your more exotic locations
I think its wonderful when you have such great resources at your fingertips. My current story has a, surprise, chef in it-and luckily my husband is a fount of info.
by RG Alexander · June 30th, 2010 at 9:33 amMy brother in law is a travel writer! I always thought his job was so glamorous. Going all over the world, interviewing all sorts of interesting people. They must have thought it was cool to be interviewed for once.
I’d love to see some interesting locations show up in books. No money or time to travel now, so I can live vicariously, right?
And is it just me, or does Rolf look like Matt Damon? Or is it Tim?
by Jeannie Lin · June 30th, 2010 at 9:40 amHow awesome, Crystal… their job must be a bit exciting at times. Looking forward to reading On The Prowl II
by Ali · June 30th, 2010 at 9:48 amA travel writer is a great occupation, and I think there’s nothing like doing interviews to give you the real flavor of a job. I bet those guys had some wonderful stories, Crystal.
My favorite interviews were with firefighters in Vancouver (for HOT IN HERE) and in Australia (for “Hot Down Under” in THE FIREFIGHTER) and with exotic dancers for my undercover heroine in “Private Eyes” in SOME LIKE IT ROUGH. I’m with Jeannie, too, in enjoying doing some armchair travel. Right now I’m “in” Greece, writing HEAT WAVES, which is set on a Greek Island cruise. Sure wish I could be doing my research there in person, but at least I’ve visited in the past. So far I’ve only written destinations that I’ve visited myself (Belize, Australia, Montreal, Whistler, San Francisco) as I think it’s really hard to make the ambience come across with just book and internet research. Still, some authors manage it beautifully.
Your book sounds great, Crystal. Best of luck with it.
by Susan Lyons · June 30th, 2010 at 10:05 amRG: It’s so awesome that you can base a character on your hubby. The Cookie would make a great hero!
Jeannie: You’re probably thinking Rolf. He’s the younger one, pictured second. It so cool that your BIL is a travel writer! I may have to hit you up to let me talk to him!
Ali: I can’t wait for OTP 2 to be out there in the world. It’s going to be a fun book, I think!
Susan: This is my first time interviewing people with the career of my character, so it was kind of exciting! Sounds like you do it all the time
by Crystal Jordan · June 30th, 2010 at 10:15 amI thought its great when you research for a character and get to talk to real people. And I am so very excited about On the Prowl II yay!
by Ana Ovi · June 30th, 2010 at 10:42 amCrystal, I don’t do it all the time. I’m really nervous about asking people. If it’s someone I know, then no problem at all, but I’m an introvert so it’s hard to approach strangers. But it’s pretty much always worth it when I do.
by Susan Lyons · June 30th, 2010 at 11:03 amFascinating stuff! I’m currently bugging a police officer who is married to one of my writing friends about all sorts of things police related. He’s very patient.
by Kate Pearce · June 30th, 2010 at 11:33 amI would love to interview for my characters, but sadly, aliens are kind of thin on the ground at this point in time.
I did just find out one of our former foster-care case workers became a state trooper, so I might try to interview her for one of my contemporaries.
by Robin L. Rotham · June 30th, 2010 at 2:13 pmI know, right? If I could just find a shape-shifter to interview…
by Crystal Jordan · June 30th, 2010 at 2:50 pmYour trip next summer should send you home with some great locations-and great characters!
by Eden Bradley · July 1st, 2010 at 1:05 pmMostly I’ve written about places I’ve been. I did write about Rome, and a small island off the coast of Venezuela, but researched both like mad before I did it. Google Earth can be cool for that-you get to ‘walk the street’ in some places.
Haven’t interviewed anyone for a character yet, but mine are often blends of people I already know-including you, Crystal.
I’ve got the same problem as Robin…shapeshifters aren’t any easier to find than aliens, however, my husband and I have toured a couple of wolf rescue centers and I’ve been to most of the places where I set my books to get a feel for the country. I wrote my first Wolf Tales, setting many of the stories near Kalispell, MT, and finally got to see the area long after those books were out. I had come surprisingly close to catching the feel of the area using Google Earth and a lot of research materials–but I honestly think that, after being there in person, my settings now have a more realistic feel.
by Kate Douglas · July 2nd, 2010 at 11:39 am