I would like to welcome Diane Wolfe to the Scribbles blog today! Diane and I have known each other for quite some time and have shared some wonderful times together at a few book fairs. Her books, called "Circle of Friends" are a unique series that share friendship and love, and is currently completed at five books. Please check out her site at Spunk on a Stick!
And now our featured presentation!
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Thank you for having me today, Bonnie!
How did I choose my characters? I think for the most part, they chose me.
The main characters in Book I, Lori and Jason, came to me in a dream. It was just a wisp of a dream, but I knew what they looked like, their ages, and Lori’s interest in swimming. A story idea came to me the next day and after a week of plotting, I began to write.
Once the story came to life, supporting characters just appeared, names intact. Before it got out of control, I created character profiles and gave each one a background, personality, strengths, weaknesses, and goals. I’m a big fan of the book Personality Plus by Florence Littauer, so I let that guide me in the creation of the characters.
By putting so much into the secondary characters, it was easy to transition into the remaining four books. I already knew the characters. I just needed to tell their stories.
Now, do I have a favorite character? Each one has unique qualities I adore, although Heather often annoyed me. But of all my characters, I liked Sarah best. She shares more of my own traits than any other character, which also meant writing her was very easy. I joke that I aspire to be like Lori, who is positive and determined, but I’m usually a bit more like a moody, insecure Sarah. And as for the guys, Matt’s always been my favorite because he’s all about the fun!
Some days I miss my characters. I spent years with them and learned so much about life and relationships. The series is complete at five books, but one day I just might revisit The Circle of Friends!
L. Diane Wolfe
Professional Speaker & Author
www.spunkonastick.net
http://www.circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
www.thecircleoffriends.net
https://twitter.com/#!/SpunkOnAStick
Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association. “Overcoming Obstacles With SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting”, ties all of her goal-setting and leadership seminar’s information together into one complete, enthusiastic package. She also conducts seminars on book publishing and promoting, and assists writers through her author services. Her YA series, The Circle of Friends, features morally grounded, positive stories that appeal to both teens and concerned parents. Ten years associating with a motivation training system and experience as a foster parent gave her the in-depth knowledge of relationships, personality traits and success principles. Wolfe travels extensively for media interviews and speaking engagements, maintains a dozen websites & blogs, and contributes to several other sites and newsletters.
