Ask the Author: Connie Myres
Answered Questions (3)
Connie Myres
Good question! The main one that I can think of is the murder of someone close to me. It happened several years ago and I know who did it, but to this day I don’t know the “why.”
So using this as an example I could show my protagonist’s normal life and problems, along with her interactions with the victim.
The murder could be the catalyst that sends the protag on a journey to find the killer. The goal is to find the killer and bring them to justice but my protag will have a weakness that gets in the way (or something like that). She will also have to have a strength that will come in handy later.
Who my protag thought the killer was is wrong (a false victory). To find the murderer the protag will need to decide to travel a path that is uncomfortable to her.
Maybe she finds the killer but the “why” still needs to be solved. The victim, who she was close to, could have a secret life she was living, one that was dangerous and maybe not so nice. This would be an unexpected discovery.
With this new knowledge, she would need to travel that dangerous path. The killer isn’t the only bad person in the picture and now the protag’s life is in danger.
The protag’s weakness will cause problems to the point that she thinks she will be the next victim. But when she thinks all is lost, her strength will save the day.
In the end, the crime is solved, and the hero is changed in some way.
Thanks for the question!
So using this as an example I could show my protagonist’s normal life and problems, along with her interactions with the victim.
The murder could be the catalyst that sends the protag on a journey to find the killer. The goal is to find the killer and bring them to justice but my protag will have a weakness that gets in the way (or something like that). She will also have to have a strength that will come in handy later.
Who my protag thought the killer was is wrong (a false victory). To find the murderer the protag will need to decide to travel a path that is uncomfortable to her.
Maybe she finds the killer but the “why” still needs to be solved. The victim, who she was close to, could have a secret life she was living, one that was dangerous and maybe not so nice. This would be an unexpected discovery.
With this new knowledge, she would need to travel that dangerous path. The killer isn’t the only bad person in the picture and now the protag’s life is in danger.
The protag’s weakness will cause problems to the point that she thinks she will be the next victim. But when she thinks all is lost, her strength will save the day.
In the end, the crime is solved, and the hero is changed in some way.
Thanks for the question!
Connie Myres
Excellent question! I think my favorite fictional couple is Odd Thomas and Stormy. I like the way they banter, with quick good-natured teasing. Odd says they’re soul mates—they are. I don’t want to give anything away, but I felt Odd’s sadness.
Connie Myres
"White Horse," book 1 of Seven Seals Redux, was inspired by my multitude of years watching B movies. Beginning when I was a child waiting for my dad to get home from working late nights, I would sit alone on the couch, in the dark, watching an old black-and-white vampire or Frankenstein movie. In later years I found I enjoyed the comedy inspired by "Mystery Science Theater 3000." Ideas for my books come from these memories.
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