Mar
Candace Havens Goes Crazy!
Before I started writing fiction I thought I was going crazy. These people were talking in my head and it took me a little while to figure out they were characters in a book. Once I put them on paper, the voices went away.
That’s what happened with Bronwyn in my “Charmed & Dangerous” series. As a TV critic I’d been privy to the news that the final season of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” was upon us. I’d always been a big fan of the show, so much so that I wrote a biography about creator Joss Whedon called “Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy” for Benbella Books. The news that the show wouldn’t be around any more made me mad. There was a serious lack of strong women in television and film. I thought, “Fine, I’ll come up with my own heroine, thank you very much.”
And I did.
This character, who had been in my head for some time, decided she was tired of waiting and wanted a book of her own. I started writing about this powerful witch, Bronwyn (I have no idea where the name came from) who protected the British Prime Minister, and I couldn’t stop. The words fell on to the page.
The idea for “Charmed & Ready” came after interviewing a couple of rock stars for the day job and this character Zane wouldn’t leave me alone. He’s turned out to be one of my favorite characters ever, besides Bronwyn of course. (Smile) Zane was so present in my head that he liked to listen to his own music, stuff I’d never really listened to before.
The same thing happened with the two bad guys (I can’t tell you who it is) in the upcoming “Charmed & Deadly.” They had their own music and they both insisted on equal time in the book.
I know, kind of crazy, but it worked. So now, I let the people in my head take over during the creative process. I push that internal editor aside and let my characters write the books. I just put my name on them. (Smile)
Candace
www.candacehavens.com
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Winner of Debbie’s contest is…. Terri! Congratulations!
Please send your information to contact @ romanticinks.com and I’ll forward it to her.
Candace!
Wow! I felt the same way when Whedon’s Fire Fly went off the air!! My LIP (lost in progress) manuscript was inspired by that and the loss of Fire Fly lol…
Can I just tell you how excited I am about Charmed and Deadly? What a fabulous story premise, and I am already dying to know what happens. I love the name Bronwyn~!
March 26th, 2007 at 1:33 pm“I push that internal editor aside and let my characters write the books. I just put my name on them. (Smile)”
LOL! Love it, Candace.
My characters are much the same. I started out trying to tightly plot my stories and quickly discovered that it didn’t matter what I wanted them to do … they were bound and determined to do their own thing. Now I try really hard to stay out of their way! *g*
March 26th, 2007 at 2:24 pmI was a Buffy and Angel fan. I’ve been to cons, hung out with other fans, and met some of the stars. It was a good ride.
March 26th, 2007 at 4:26 pmI love the voices in my head too girl! I loved reading about your writing journey. It’s good to get thos characters out of your head!
March 26th, 2007 at 5:28 pmAh, voices. I hear them, too
March 27th, 2007 at 6:44 amI’m so glad I’m not the only crazy person around.
I had trouble going to sleep last night because the voices wanted me to write. I downed some Nyquil and put them all to bed.
March 28th, 2007 at 7:36 am