The other day I was asked how and why I came up with the character of Jonelle in The Age of Corruption .
While there are usually many reasons and ways I come to see a new character, Jonelle has two main ones that are less convoluted than the rest!
Firstly, as I have mentioned in posts and one other sites like Twitter and Facebook, I am experiencing long term illness which has prevented me returning to the gym, or indeed, any of my usual fitness regimes.
I wanted to write about a character who could do all the things I couldn't and indeed, the things I really shouldn't (after all, she is a retiring assassin and that is something I don't need to share with her!).
Jonelle is therefore a completely physical person, someone who relies on her wits, her extreme violence and presence to get things done.
But at the same time, I wanted her to be personable, to be relatable. So she has her weaknesses and her own moral compass - it just doesn't fit with the world as we know it!
So here I had someone who could get out there and kick some serious butt. Wonderful!
The second reason I made her so strong and physical is my complete love of all things super hero-y.
I love the fact they are capable in situations we (humans!) are not, the way they can take care of themselves and everyone around them.
I am a complete devoted fan to all things Marvel (and thus, by extension, all things Joss Whedon - though his works outside Marvel all speak for themselves)like Iron Man, Thor etc.
But I also love the more broody hero like Batman. Hence the inclusion in Fiona and Jonelle's world of Amelia (yes, look out, she does appear other times too!).
Jonelle may not be a super hero, I wanted to ground Fiona Page Novels in reality after all; but she has similar characteristics - extreme strength and the ability to do amazing feats others can not; and a desire to make things better. Though, of course, her idea of what is better isn't filtered through the same morals as a hero - she is somewhat darker than that!
So the short answer to the short question of where did Jonelle come from is: my desire to create someone who could go out there and strut herself stuff, and someone who could be hero-worshipped by Fiona, even though she's no real super hero at all!