Tag Archives: Shannon Callarman

I’ve been doing a lot of editing lately and making a lot of changes. I went through a little bit of a writer’s block for a few weeks, but I’m back on track! I’m feeling confident about where my book is going and the all around theme. I was talking with a friend the other day and telling her about all the characters in detail. I had a lot of fun listing my characters and describing them as if I knew them.

The first thing I did before writing my book was character development. I typed a character template that list all the attributes and personality traits of my characters. I even listed what their favorite ice cream would be (you never know when you’ll need a detail like this!) I believe character’s that are carefully constructed is the key to a good book. I want the reader to fall in love (or fall into hate) with my characters. I want a reader to always remember my characters months after finishing the book.

I decided to list out the main characters so you can get to know them before the book is done! I have a few supporting character, but I’ll leave them to talk about for another day.

Main Characters

Ryann: A 23-year-old free spirit. She has golden blond, curly hair and a petite figure. She’s been a painter since she was a child. Ryann has an edgy style and is very much influenced by the London fashion world. She grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, but after a traumatic episode a year before high school ends, she decides to take her grandmother’s inheritance and buy a one way ticket to London at age 19. When she arrives, she feels she will become the next great artist. She starts dating an upcoming celebrity DJ, Logan De Witt, who she feels will take her places. But eventually, Logan and Ryann get caught up in a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol and eventually things go down a dark path. After 5 years of living in London, Ryann starts to realize that she may have chosen the wrong path and she may need to take a few steps back in order to move forward again.

Dufficy: A 28-year-old lonely, flamboyant Irish boy who is still suffering from the loss of his mother at age 10. After his mother passes away after being ill during most of his childhood, Dufficy’s American father moves them to Chicago, away from Dufficy’s homeland. Dufficy faces a lot of challenges growing up such as not fitting in with the other guys, being from a different country, and eventually dealing with his alcoholic, abusive father. Being an only child and not having his mother any more, Dufficy still feels loyalty towards his father, despite his father’s abusive behavior. Dufficy has a hard time leaving his father, but spends most of his time hiding from him by crashing in the run down studio above the pub where he bartends.

Jolene: Ryann’s childhood friend who attended University of Chicago and became a Journalist right out of college, despite the economic hardships. School came easy for Jolene. She was always the type of girl who could go out all night and still ace her test the next morning. Not only does she have brains, but she’s also a beauty. With her long black silky hair and bright blue eyes, she attracts any man in the room. Unfortunately, after college, despite her beauty and brains, reality hits her quick and she realizes that life is starting to really kick her ass. She falls into depression because of her job, even though millions of other girls her age would kill for her position. She continues to sleep around, drink, and smoke. With this type of behavior, she may find herself losing it all.

Phil: Dufficy’s “older man”. This is definitely one of my favorite character’s that I’ve constructed, but one of the hardest. A 30-something rich, successful, educated, well dressed man who takes Dufficy under his wing. Phil is bald, but with striking blue eyes and fantastic bone structure. He loves the finer things in life such as his penthouse overlooking Lake Michigan and his Burberry scarf. He works for a big advertising agency in the heart of the city. Despite his expensive lifestyle, he still finds his way back to Dufficy who he feels “needs him”. Phil is the comedy relief, the one that breaks the ice and tells witty jokes.