7/6/11

My Heroine and More Drawings

I find humor in most things, and that has not always proven to be an advisable quality. In fact, it has often hauled with it an unavoidable drawback. People grow so accustomed to that first layer that they don’t bother to look any deeper.   In addition, unless you earn a large amount of money making people laugh, prepare yourself to be presented with a label.  Remember Rodney Dangerfield?  Society will not respect you or take you seriously unless you come accross as slightly constipated.


Keeping that in mind, when I created my heroine, Theodora, (again, there is symbolism behind the name) I wanted her to be so unique that she’d keep my readers guessing.   Picture a young boy or maybe a young girl catching a glimpse of a nude scene on TV, or a copy of Playboy...girl, etc..fill in the  blanks.  The teenager is fascinated, feels guilty, embarrassed, excited, quickly surveys the room to make sure no one has caugh him or her in the act of watching, coveting, growing aroused.  That feeling, that's what I wanted Theodora to draw out.  If you've lived life and focused solely on the profound and never once peeked at the profane, you're missing half the story.   


I made her light and dark. In no way was she to fit the norm of any society. She was meant as a wildcard, someone who would break or bend every rule and have the other person believing it was their idea. She’s kind, naughty, slightly manipulative, and not of Craven's galaxy.  She will move the readers to tears and make them fall in love.  I've enjoyed writing her and making her do things I would never even attempt in secret.  There's nothing I can say about her that won’t reveal the heart of my story, so I’ll settle for some very brief dialogue.

(She first encountered Craven inside a cave where he was shackled and left for dead. The sight of him was too hard to resist.   He never even learns her name in the first book, but from that moment they were inseparable.)

*

“Are you a guardian or a tempter?” he asked.

One of the hands on his face made a slow journey down the center of his body pausing to brush the underside of his rampant erection. He sucked air through gritted teeth.

Her lips twitched at the corners. “I’m a little of both.”

*

Since Theodora is my heroine, and there is an angel companion at her side who makes guest appearances throughout the book, I thought I would post some angelic art, mediocre sketches I once worked on. I am much more critical of my drawings than I am my writing. The writing I can fix. What’s set in color is there for life.




                                                   This is Maggie.  That's what I call her.
                                                    I found her face in a newspaper once.
                                                    She was about the size of a quarter.  I
                                                    thought she'd look great in color and
                                                    with a couple of cats.  See, she reminded
                                                    me of myself when I was little.


                                      
                                          Many art lovers have seen the sleeping angel.  I tried
                                          to mimic my favorite artist.  He did it much better.


                                                     Here's a quick sketch of Michael, the archangel
                                                     because I love religious pictures and angels are
                                                     too lovely to ignore.

Tomorrow I present my first villain.

11 comments:

  1. I enjoyed this. Thank you for posting.

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  2. "If you've lived life and focused solely on the profound and never once peeked at the profane, you're missing half the story."

    Laila, you continue to amaze me with your aphorisms. They're gunna need to start chiseling out an addition on Mt. Rushmore for you.

    I find myself getting into your WIP, and I'm normally not a fantasy-type of guy. I think that bodes well for your work!

    Love the pics.
    "The writing I can fix. What's set in color is there for life." See? There ya go again.

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  3. That's cool you can draw pictures to help with your characters.

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  4. Wow,a whole new side of Laila emerges! I love the angel picture and it reminds me of Gustav Klimt.
    Awesome!

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  5. @Bryce. I never classify anything I say as an aphorism. It's just natural poet stuff. I'm glad you're liking my book. Mt. Rushmore? Quit, you're going to give me a big head.

    @Alex. Thanks. I do what I can.

    @Carrie. I'm glad you like my mediocre art.

    @Carol. Thanks for taking a peek. I appreciate you answering my SASE question. You've taken a weight off my shoulders.

    @Desert Rocks. I will admit to having two sides to my personality...^-^...sure thing. Every writer is a little nuts. I'm glad you like the angels. Not Klimt. I believe it's a Bouguereau (Wiiliam-Adolphe). :)

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  6. I love what you're saying about characterization here. I think every character should break the mold somehow and be interesting.

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  7. Laila, I like your Theodora character, she is sounds rather spicy. Like someone I would probably enjoy getting to know. I am looking forward to getting more peeks into your book.
    I am also enjoying your sweet pictures. The angel is really cool, great job on the wings.
    I read your comment back to Bryce, "big head" (Mt. Rushmore) haha!! Very punny!!

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  8. Nice sketches-- and she sounds like a little vixen!

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  9. @Jessica. I knew you'd get my point of vies. :)

    @Heather. Theodora is pretty spicy. I'm glad you liked the art. There are many more peeks available. Thanks for stopping by.

    @Jo Schaffer. Well hey, Jo, welcome back to the blogging world. Last I heard you were in England. Nice to see you! Vixen? Definitely.

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