Fyre

30. Final question! Tag someone! And tell us what you like about that person as a writer and/or about one of his/her characters!

Nope. I don't tag. It's pushy :)

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28. Have you ever written a character with physical or mental disabilities? Describe them, and if there's nothing major to speak of, tell us a few smaller ones.

Right now, I'm writing an OC who has been paralysed after being hit by a car, which is quite the challenge, but I've also had a partially-sighted character who brain-damaged in infancy due to head trauma (well, dragon, but still!), who is the sweetest, gentlest character I have. Oh, and I have a one with dyslexia, and another with the mathematical equivalent. And technically, George has OCD specifically about numbers while Rufus has a mild varient of ADHD. They get around, my kids.

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26. Let's talk art! Do you draw your characters? Do others draw them? Pick one of your OCs and post your favorite picture of him!

I did give it a try, but I was never satisfied with the way they came out. I do know exactly what they look like, though. Especially George, who bears a rather uncanny resemblance to Bela Lugosi in this picture. One day, I may give it another go.

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24. How willing are you to kill your characters if the plot so demands it? What's the most interesting way you've killed someone?

When I used to fanfic in excessive amounts, I was known for maiming and killing characters left and right. I found the follow-through so fascinating, looking at how people would respond and reacte to the deaths. Especially in stories when it was close-knit groups. I considered it a real triumph if I managed to make myself cry when I read back what I had written. And I have done, a few times. I like to understate the drama of the actual death-scenes. I like them to mostly be 'off-camera', since angsty goodbyes can turn cliche.

As for interesting ways, I couldn't pick one. Although I know which is my favourite not-quite-death scene that I've done: Max's father. He's injured in the siege of Buda, and dying slowly of sepsis. Half-asleep one night, Max sees his father talking to someone. It's only years later, after his own encounter, that he realises he watched his father taking wine with Death.

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22. Tell us about one scene between your characters that you've never written or told anyone about before! Serious or not.

Any of the courtship of Jack and Scarlett. A few people know about their first few meetings (and/or abduction and subsequent smackdown), but I haven't reached the point of writing the point where things changed. It starts with him being brained with a telescope and goes from there, really. (Oh, and the birth of John, their first kid. There is nothing quite as soppy as Mister Tough Guy pirate cooing over his first child)


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20. What are your favorite character interactions to write?

George and Rufus. Without question. They're such complete opposites, and yet, they end up the dearest and most loyal of friends. I can't get over how much I love them together. And while a couple of my lovely test-readers have implied they should be slashed together, I can't get by them being best of friends in all ways. I also have a fondness for Max with anyone: Death, Irmengard, Rat, Maximilian II. He's just such a fun character to put opposite people. Especially since he really doesn't like people at all :D

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18. Favorite antagonist and why!

Death ;) You don't get much more antagonistic than he/she/it. especially for Max, who really wants to hate his particular one.

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16. Do you write romantic relationships? How do you do with those, and how “far” are you willing to go in your writing? ;)

Technically, yes, I write relationships (although the one that showed up in vampire book was unexpected), but the stuff I'm currently writing does not require 'far'. I can do that if need be, but I prefer not to unless it's really essential to the story. I prefer looking at relationships more from the dynamics and the interactions, especially given how peculiar some of my characters are.

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14. How do you map out locations, if needed? Do you have any to show us?

Oh, yes, in spades. Especially when I'm working historically-speaking. I've got historical maps of the era printed off and stored in a folder. 16th century maps are so pretty! And yet, so frustrating since the cities I'm using all have at least 2-3 different names, depending on which year I'm in, since there was that pesky Austro-Hungarian takeover, to say nothing of the Turkish invasion.

Entirely fantastical lands, you would think, should be easier, but they take as much planning, because you just know if you get something wrong, it'll come back to bite you. Much like Legolas in the Two Towers film saying that "they're taking them north east, to Isengard". You had a map, Mister Jackson. Either your elf is directionally challenged or you can't tell east from west. I do like specifics. Tolkein taught me the importance of a good map of the landscape.

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12. In what story did you feel you did the best job of worldbuilding? Any side-notes on it you'd like to share?

I'm quite fond of the pirate-story, even if I'm still working on it. The politics and history are taking a bit of work, but it makes things interesting. My other stuff is mostly based in factual and historical places (one modern Edinburgh, another 16th century Europe) with just slight tweaks based on mythology and supernatural elements, so not so much world-building going on.

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