Creating Characters

Sharon Lathan

Sharon Lathan is the best-selling author of The Darcy Saga, a ten-volume sequel series to Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.

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Sharon

Thank you Vee and Elly. I really appreciate the kind words! I have been giving the idea of a formal "discussion" some consideration. A friend of mine – Marie Force – will be holding a blog discussion when her book "Love at First Flight" comes out this next month. I thought that was a great idea for a launch week activity and am going to blatantly steal it from her! LOL! She did give me permission. 🙂

Naturally I hope everyone will love my characters and appreciate the direction I have taken them in. It is just one way of many to approach Jane Austen’s beloved characters. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

Vee, as always you lift my heart with your heartfelt appreciation. Thank you, my friend.

Vee

Dear Sharon,

This is a wonderul topic for discussion! Your amazingly brilliant characters!

I will start with Darcy because he deserves a BIG mention. I have always loved JA’s Darcy, what you have done, in my opinion, is taken this extraordinary character and given him the depth he deserves. I could not believe that I could love him any more than I already did until I read through your novels. From his grand reserved position as Master of Pemberely to the vulnerble passionate being he becomes with Lizzy. I love every single bit of him. He is serious, funny, passionate, caring, sexy, and a devoted family man. He is so much more than I can put into words the "perfect man" IMO. You have not made him faultless to be sure, but that just makes him even more lovable. He will now be my all time fav Darcy!
Richard Fitzwilliam is a wonderful wonderful character that has me captivated. I love what you have done with his character, especially his wicked brotherly humour when interacting with his dear cousin Darcy. Its always a treat for me when they get together! His own storyline is riveting too, fabulous work with him!
Dear old Dr Darcy! What a card! He is witty, charming, eccentric and a wonderful much needed family addition to the Darcy clan. How very clever of you to make him so very different to my fav Darcy because they compliment each other so well. His worldliness maturity open mindedness and wisedom is exactly what our newly weds need. He delivers so many lines that have me laughing out loud. The excerpt above is one of my favs with him "Why can she not remember my name, WIlliam?" hahaha. There are so many memorable coversations had by Dr Darcy and Darcy, all so entertaining!
You mentioned Anne De Bourgh. I was so relieved when you came to her rescue with Raul, what a great storyline in itself.
And Georgiana has become an exquisite individual, not to mention Kitty and so many others you have laid your magic touch upon.
So many favourite parts and characters throughout your entire series Sharon, thank you for providing all of us with a Saga to love and cherish for many many years.
TSBO devotee
Vee

Elly

You know Sharon that I LOVE your saga. I admire your creativity and all the characters. But then there is this man….. breezing in….. and I fel head over heels deeply in love! So please keep Dr. George Darcy in all you coming novels. It gives me a picture of Darcy after 20 years of marriage with his Lizzy Oh, by the way I like Richard too. 🙂

Sharon

Thank you Seli. There are few words a writer appreciates more than that one’s book is dear to a reader’s heart. Thank you for that. 🙂

Hi Becky! I am cracking up that someone actually asked about the book! How funny! Of course, I think YOUR dream was an even better one and I am rather sad a hot guy wasn’t the asker! Thank you for your kind words about Loving Mr. Darcy. Coming from you this is high praise indeed. I try very hard to give every character their moment. The truth is that I love them all in various ways, even snotty Caroline! But of course it is all about Lizzy and Darcy, so for me it is easy to keep them central. Thank you so much for recognizing that. Can’t wait to read the full review! Happy reading!

Becky at One Literature Nut

This is so interesting how you say you’ve drawn out these minor characters in the story. I’m in the middle of Loving Mr. Darcy, and LOVING IT, but did notice how you had drawn out Lizzy’s sister Mary, Bingley’s snotty sister Caroline, Dr. Darcy, and Anne de Bourgh. The thing I wanted to say though, is that it didn’t feel heavy handed at all. You didn’t make me feel like we were departing too far from our loving couple, which really takes some skill! Once again Sharon, I really am pretty bewitched by your writing style. How do you stay so close to the language of that era, continue to portray so many characters, and still remain so focused on the Darcy’s story? It’s so good!

By the way, as you predicted, I did have someone ask me at the beach what I was reading. She was this delightful, local islander woman, and when I showed her your book and said it was a continuation of the Pride and Prejudice series, she looked at me funny. I quickly realized, she hadn’t read Pride and Prejudice! I told her how good they all were, and told her she should definitely give them all a try. I just thought it was funny, considering what you predicted about my reading of your novel.

Seli

I love how your characters come to life. It is like being there with them and seeing the reactions and interactions with the main characters of the story. I have to admit Journeys is very close to my heart I loved reading the first draft of it and it is wonderful. I fell in love with George Darcy as I am sure alot of people will. He is a wonderful addition. I cant wait to purchase it in September!!!

Sharon

Thank you Susanne. You are very kind. I can’t imagine not having George or Samuel around either. Samuel and Marguerite are two other examples of "small" characters that grew within my heart, exerting their influence without me having any choice in the matter. Funny how characters do that!

Susanne

Well, Sharon, now I read your "Creating Characters", too and I have to say that you have a very special gift: just with one or two sentences you give a person, new or barely mentioned so far, a unique personality, a character and a complete life.
That is amazing! Other authors write page after page, but their characters remain lackluster.
All your people are very much alive and I think that is very important for your success!
And I can´t imagine "Pride And Prejudice" without George, Samuel and all the others.

Susanne

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