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Tracy Grant
Poor Relation Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 82	Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 1:45 pm    Post subject:   Candice wrote: KalenHughes wrote: My brain just doesn't naturally go to a dark place. Curse my parents for givng me such a happy, stable childhood! How am I supposed to work with that? LOL! Me, too, Kalen. My childhood was much too happy. What were our parents thinking??? My childhood was extremely happy too--I just must have a warped imagination . And then my wonderful stable mother introduced me to opera, Shakespeare, Jacobean plays, and lots of angst-filled nineteenth century novels. By the way, speaking of authors who take risks with what they put their characters through, Dorothy Dunnett is definitely a good example. Cheers, Tracy http://www.tracygrant.org
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KalenHughes
Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1077	Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 2:29 pm    Post subject:   Tracy Grant wrote: By the way, speaking of authors who take risks with what they put their characters through, Dorothy Dunnett is definitely a good example. Lymond. *sigh* I think I need to re-read those (the Nicolo books never worked as well for me). _________________ -Kalen w/a Kalen Hughes LORD SIN; LORD SCANDAL w/a Isobel Carr The League of Second Sons, coming 2011 www.kalenhughes.com
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Tracy Grant
Poor Relation Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 82	Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:13 pm    Post subject:   KalenHughes wrote: Tracy Grant wrote: By the way, speaking of authors who take risks with what they put their characters through, Dorothy Dunnett is definitely a good example. Lymond. *sigh* I think I need to re-read those (the Nicolo books never worked as well for me). I loved the early Niccolo books but had problems later in the series. The first time I read the chess game in "Pawn in Frankicense," I couldn't believe she went there. Elizabeth George is another author who doesn't pull her punches--to put it mildly. I'm sometimes terrified of what she'll do to her characters, but it keeps me coming back . Cheers, Tracy http://www.tracygrant.org
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Candice
Queen of the Board Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 2671 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:26 pm    Post subject:   Tracy Grant wrote: The first time I read the chess game in "Pawn in Frankicense," I couldn't believe she went there. OMG, I was a wreck after that scene. I think the whole character of Lymond, over six books, was pretty courageous writing. He was very out there, for a hero. Dunnett had him do things most heroes couldn't get away with and still be called a hero. But that makes us love him more, doesn't it? Tracy Grant wrote: Elizabeth George is another author who doesn't pull her punches--to put it mildly. I'm sometimes terrified of what she'll do to her characters, but it keeps me coming back . I'm a big fan of her, too. And I think it was a brilliant move when she killed off a popular character as I thought it made a very powerful story and provided the main protagonist with an agonizing choice. But some fans were up in arms over it. I was not one of them. I had never liked that character anyway and was not sorry to see her gone. _________________
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Tracy Grant
Poor Relation Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 82	Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:39 pm    Post subject:   Candice wrote: Tracy Grant wrote: The first time I read the chess game in "Pawn in Frankicense," I couldn't believe she went there. OMG, I was a wreck after that scene. I think the whole character of Lymond, over six books, was pretty courageous writing. He was very out there, for a hero. Dunnett had him do things most heroes couldn't get away with and still be called a hero. But that makes us love him more, doesn't it? Great description. I think one of the keys with Lymond is that he always has good, honorable reasons for what he does--even if it sometimes takes books to unravel what they are. He's a fascinating, charismatic puzzle, both to other characters and to the reader. Tracy Grant wrote: Elizabeth George is another author who doesn't pull her punches--to put it mildly. I'm sometimes terrified of what she'll do to her characters, but it keeps me coming back . I'm a big fan of her, too. And I think it was a brilliant move when she killed off a popular character as I thought it made a very powerful story and provided the main protagonist with an agonizing choice. But some fans were up in arms over it. I was not one of them. I had never liked that character anyway and was not sorry to see her gone. That pretty much mirrors my feelings, Candice. Even though I wasn't overly fond of the character in question either, I was shocked and a bit horrified at the plot twist, but at the same time totally fascinated by her audacity and on tenterhooks to see where she'd take the series next. I've just started her latest book and am very much enjoying it so far. Btw, I went to a mystery writing conference and head Elizabeth George give a fabulous workshop on characterization when I was writing Secrets of a Lady. I used her system of creating character profiles for Beneath a Silent Moon and continue to use it. It's very great at fleshing out even minor characters and wonderful for a series as it gives one a convenient place to refer to for information on ongoing characters. Cheers, Tracy http://www.tracygrant.org
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KalenHughes
Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1077	Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:15 am    Post subject:   Tracy Grant wrote: Elizabeth George is another author who doesn't pull her punches--to put it mildly. I'm sometimes terrified of what she'll do to her characters, but it keeps me coming back. I feel the same way about Sharon Kay Penman. I re-read The Reckoning about once a year and I cry every damn time. God I love that book (like all of her books, but LOVE that one). _________________ -Kalen w/a Kalen Hughes LORD SIN; LORD SCANDAL w/a Isobel Carr The League of Second Sons, coming 2011 www.kalenhughes.com
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Tracy Grant
Poor Relation Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 82	Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:34 am    Post subject:   KalenHughes wrote: Tracy Grant wrote: Elizabeth George is another author who doesn't pull her punches--to put it mildly. I'm sometimes terrified of what she'll do to her characters, but it keeps me coming back. I feel the same way about Sharon Kay Penman. I re-read The Reckoning about once a year and I cry every damn time. God I love that book (like all of her books, but LOVE that one). I haven't read The Reckoning, though I've heard great things about it. Who is it about? I loved The Sunne in Splendour. Also wrenching, though pretty much any novel about Richard III is. Cheers, Tracy http://www.tracygrant.org
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KalenHughes
Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1077	Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:32 am    Post subject:   Tracy Grant wrote: I haven't read The Reckoning, though I've heard great things about it. Who is it about? It's about Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, the last Prince of Wales. _________________ -Kalen w/a Kalen Hughes LORD SIN; LORD SCANDAL w/a Isobel Carr The League of Second Sons, coming 2011 www.kalenhughes.com
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Tracy Grant
Poor Relation Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 82	Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:01 pm    Post subject:   KalenHughes wrote: Tracy Grant wrote: I haven't read The Reckoning, though I've heard great things about it. Who is it about? It's about Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, the last Prince of Wales. Thanks--I can see how that would be a wrenching story. That's one reason that, while I love historical fiction, I personally prefer fictional characters as the central characters. That way, not matter what I put them through, can control where the story goes. Cheers, Tracy http://www.tracygrant.org
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