One of the most fun things about writing cozy mysteries is creating characters and developing those characters into becoming. Becoming what, you may ask. Becoming real in the mind of the writer and reader.
Oh, I enjoy manufacturing a plot with plenty of chills and setting the whole thing down in a place that may look bright and sunny on the surface, but just beneath what we see, something else is going on–something sinister and more than a bit spooky.
But the characters are what make the story.
Darcy and Flora, in the mother/daughter sleuth series were pretty easy. It was as if I already knew these women and all I had to do was write what was going on –what they said, how they acted. And, the character of Ned McNeil in her moonlight series was fun and not hard. But, you know what is the most fun? Those quirky, just a little weird, or downright evil people who make a mystery a mystery.
For example, in the third McNeil moonlight book that is a mystery in progress (mip) there is a little, old lady who lives in a great, big historic mansion way out in the country. Yes, she is little and yes, she is old. But, what else? Well, she is a talker. She is what Ned’s father would call “wound up.” Do you know people like that? They ask a question and answer it before you have a chance to open your mouth. She also imagines things. Or, at least, Ned thinks Miss Evangeline (that’s the little old lady’s name) is imagining things–like people who are out to kill her and take over her mansion and all her fabulous wealth.
So, enter more characters. One of them is the bad guy, but which one? Now, on the surface, they all appear pretty normal, except for being a tad greedy. In fact, each of them would benefit from being the heir in Miss Evangeline’s will. But, which one is greedy to the point of murder? Yes, indeed. And, the will? Did Miss Evangeline ever get around to making a will? Wouldn’t most people do that? Probably. But, Miss Evangeline Carver is not “most people”. She is unique. And, that’s what makes her an interesting character.
Blanche Day Manos Cozy Mysteries
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