How I Create Characters

You have an idea but you need to bring it to life, preferably without the dark and scary laboratory, with a creature sown together from bloodied spare parts. Really the first thing you need to do is go back to a primary school basic of the Who, What, Where, When, Why, How. Let me demonstrate this with a new character I’m working on for my new book.

Who: Johannes Corro – The name is important it must reflect the year/time they are set in, the country if applicable and give them the right feeling, for example you don’t name an evil person Sally Sweetheart, when maybe Sally Sweeney Todd would suit better.

What: Shape shifter looking for his love and friends. – What does this character bring to your story? What is his purpose for being there and his back story?

Where: The Black Forrest Germany. – Research their home to ensure you make their back story is as realistic as you can make it. All the little details are what can really bring a character to life and with it the story as a whole.

When: Eve and Naoaki are leaving Australia. - When does this new character enter your story and what is the significance of their entry. Is it surrounded by mystery or full of drama, is it a calm and quiet entry or a loud and explosive entry.

Why: Seth’s men captured his love with his two friends and he has spent years searching for them. - Give the character meaning and purpose; ensure his back story ties in well with your main story.

How: Looking for his love, tracking the movements of Seth’s men. – How did they come to be in your story what is their purpose, how are they tied into the whole bigger picture.

First draft for Johannes main entrance into Sekhmet – Volume 2 below:

As we came up onto the open deck, the fresh morning air filled our senses the cool breeze still had a bite to it. The salt of the ocean spray below us wafted into our nostrils. I was no stranger to the open waters though and travelling the world was no longer strange to me now. Before we could even begin our search for Johannes though he reached out to me, I felt his mind knocking upon mine, waiting patiently for me to answer. Informing me, he was at the front of the ship in the open lounge area. I told Naoaki and preceded directly there, with Naoaki following close behind. Scanning the open area, with already quite a few passengers gathering in the morning sun light, I discovered him in a quiet corner by himself, a book in hand. As we approached, he looked up and smiled as he signalled us to take the seats opposite him. “Good Morning,” he beamed as he put his book down before he continued. “I am guessing the morning has allowed you some time to process everything and you now have questions that need answers. We are a little out of the way of the general traffic here and hopefully will not be disturbed for these delicate conversations.” He finished looking to us for our first round of questioning. “Well first off could we hear the story of how your friends came to be captured?” “Yes but I should probably explain who we were and how we lived as well.” Johannes nodded as he paused to get his thoughts in order. “Our home for many years was the Black Forest in Germany. We kept to ourselves having built a modest farmhouse deep within the forest where people rarely travelled, its wooden construction and thatched roof blending in beautifully with the surrounding woodland. We lived there for many years after finding each other within the world, we knew then that the chances of finding more of our own kind would be slim but we were happy enough with our small group and knowing the rareness of this small circle of friendship, we settled there to keep it safe. Lisbeth was my love and our two close friends Wilhelm and Lilly were quite in love as well. We lived in blissful peace, the forest providing us everything we needed including our most favourite disguises. The large wolves and mountain lions our closest friends, they happily shared their land with us and after a few years they trusted us so much that they even began to seek us out when they were in need. Large storms lashing the forest would see them come to us for shelter and eventually we created a large sectioned stable area for them to come and go as they needed, some packs choosing to spend the whole winter with us. Others came to us for help be it for themselves or another of their pack that was too injured to come to us themselves. All these animals are considered predators to human beings but to us they were our closest friends outside of our own kin, we ran with them through the forest and hunted with them, we helped them and looked after them when they were in need and they in turn returned the help whenever it was required. They informed us of any human beings coming too close, brought us firewood through the winter to keep our fires burning and we in turn helped them with fresh water in winter, when the cold had turned all to ice. Keeping a fire burning in the stable centre with a large metal dish above that we would shovel the ice into and as it melted, it ran off slowly into a large metal trough, from which they would happily drink the warmed ice water. This was our life, we loved it and its simplicity. We had no need for the outside world and felt safer tucked away within our dark woods.” Johannes said a slight smile appearing as he remembered this happy time in his life, pausing for a long moment before he continued as if he did not want to leave these grand memories. He had opened his mind to me so as he spoke and the memories flowed through his thoughts, I saw what he saw and he was right it was a beautiful existence. “One day a fellow wolf came to find me I had known him many years and he pleaded for me to come with him. I could tell he required urgent help as he tugged at my clothing but he was in a rather bad condition himself ragged and under fed; I insisted he take food and water before I would follow him. He seemed to accept my terms eating quickly and taking in a large drink from the stream that ran by our house but then becoming even more insistent I leave with him immediately, even though the spring sky was darkening and twilight was upon us. Lisbeth was going to join me but I insisted she stay with Wilhelm and Lily and I would go alone at this late hour and advise as soon as I knew what the problem was, if I required their help. Being linked via our minds, we could communicate telepathically over a fair distance. I left with the wolf, chasing him through the darkening woods until night stole the last of our light and I was grateful for my wolf eyesight as we ventured further and further away from the areas I knew well. For half the night we ran at full pace through the thick trees until suddenly he slowed his ears alert for some reason, sniffing the air as he regained his direction. Walking slowly forward until we came to a cliff edge, carefully looking over the edge, he howled a deep long howl and to my surprise, the howl returned from below. I began to see the problem and looking over the edge, I saw another female wolf below trapped half way down the cliff face on a small ledge. She appeared injured badly from her fall, as she whimpered trying to stand to confirm to her mate she was still there. My friend looked to me in distress, as he did not know if I could help but he implored me with his big round brown eyes as they showed the sadness he felt for his trapped mate. I sat down at the edge for the cliff studying the situation carefully, climbing down to the injured wolf was one thing but getting back up with her was another problem altogether. I changed back to my human form knowing this would allow me to climb better and set to work gathering things from the forest around us to make some sort of platform that I could lower down to her for the moment. She was obviously in need of food and water, as much if not more than my friend had been when he arrived. So hoping he would understand I sent the message to his mind to find her food that I could lower down and to help her keep her strength up while I came up with a solution, which I believed, would require some time. It was the middle of the night and I hoped my family would hear my thoughts as I sent them out loudly over the forest towards them. Lisbeth was awake waiting for my message hoping everything was all right. She saw my problem and knew I would require help to rescue the poor creature. She woke Wilhelm and Lily and they discussed what was going to be needed and began gathering equipment. Just as they were about to set off, they called out their message that I would need to guide them to the location. Unfortunately others had hear my earlier communication with them and had started heading to their location and their call back to me had given them the exact pinpoint for their location now that they were closer. Focused only on my location, they missed the evil that was quickly approaching them.” Johannes stopped the pain of that night returning and burning deep within his heart as he relived that helpless moment within his mind. I reached out and clasped his hand trying to give him the strength to continue. “They surrounded them within seconds I heard their gasp and surprise as they realised they had been found and surrounded by six or more vampires within seconds. The wolves taking shelter within the stable felt the evil presence and came out to aid them but they were no match for these vampires only one was young the rest had the strength of time on their side. As the wolves attacked them voraciously, the vampires grabbed them with ease twisting their necks quickly and throwing them to the ground dead and lifeless. Never breaking their circle as the then began to close in on them and tighten their hold. Furious and driven by love and rage I stood tall calling out to them to distract them and pull their attention away from my three beloved family members but the leader of the group ignored me sending back one simple message. “We have enough here we do not need you and Seth will reward us greatly for this catch, as he has wanted to study your kind closer for many years and I will not give up three for one. Think yourself lucky and tell your friends to stand down and come willingly and they will not be harmed.” My love and my friends knew they did not stand a chance against these numbers and their strength so they gave up without a fight hoping they would live to find a way to escape another day. Lisbeth sent one final message before they took hold of her and left with great speed, “I love you and one day hopefully we will find each other again. Remember our spot if we can we will find you there.” Our spot referred to a small cottage by a lake much further North in Hanover where we had first met. Every year since that horrid day, I have returned there to see if they have returned but they never have. I brought the house many years ago and it remains empty accept for a small bible in the kitchen, which contains a hidden note only they would know to look for. Telling them the date I would return to check if they have made it back to the spot.” Johannes sighed as he finished his story looking down at his hands as if they were at fault. “Don’t be sad Johannes, it is not your fault and it does not seem like there was much you could have done to prevent their capture.” I said softly hoping to bring him back from his grief. “I know Eve,” he said a small smile of thanks appearing. “I have spent years wallowing in my own what if’s but the reality is it happened and I cannot go back and change the past. I only wish to find them and free them but with each year that passes by, it becomes harder to have hope anymore. Though I will never give up until I discover what happened to them even if the outcome brings me more pain, I must know for sure.” He stood looking down at us for a moment before speaking again. “You are the best hope I’ve stumbled upon since it happened and I hope you agree to let this old dog tag along. I will leave you to discuss, as I need to go and clear my mind of these sad thoughts and I believe a good swim with the dolphins tonight will help that. Therefore, if you do not mind I will retire for the day with an early dinner and await nightfall, so that I may slip over the edge without detection.” With that last comment, he turned and left us out on the open deck.

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