I’m glad to report that my latest manuscript, Warming Trend, is finally on its way to editing. As I blogged earlier, one of the delightful discoveries along the way is Lisa, a secondary character whose personality abruptly walked off the drawing board into three-dimensional splendor.
I named the character Lisa at the request of the winner of a GCLS silent auction item at the Phoenix convention in August. I already had the character planned, and changed her name. I swear…it was the name that did it. Suddenly, she had a personality that wouldn’t quit! I’m not saying that she’s anything like the person’s she’s named for, but I really think there’s something to the name. Additional note 2018: Talk about getting your money’s worth, Lisa arrived in My Lady Lipstick ready to join the fun, and was once again instrumental in pointing out to foolish friends facts right in front of their faces.
Here’s another snippet of Lisa, and her effect on the main character of Eve.
Lisa licked her fork free of the last of the apricot sauce before going back for another bite of pancake. “Enough about Ani. I actually dropped in to ask about Tan. What’s her favorite food? Does she like sex?”
Eve blinked. Lisa really knew how to change gears quickly. “I don’t know. I don’t really know her at all socially.”
“There’s no amicable ex I could ask?”
“Not that I know of. I mean, I have no idea who she might have dated.”
“Damn.” Lisa pursed her lips. “Ani was useless too. Didn’t even have a clue what Tan’s favorite breakfast might be. Heck, she didn’t even know Tan was gay.”
“I’m not sure Tan knows Tan is gay.”
“Oh.” Lisa smiled and Eve immediately thought of a cat considering a bowl of cream. “She knows she likes women. Might not have had much practice, but she knows. It’s in her eyes. Did you know that her irises are ringed with an orange-gold? It makes the brown like chocolate.”
“Um, no,” Eve said. “I can’t say that I ever noticed that. Sorry I’m not any help.”
Lisa absentmindedly ran one finger under the collar of her scoop-neck shirt. “I’ll just have to use my wiles.”
Tan didn’t stand a chance, Eve thought. Lisa was practically a force of nature. “I should probably get back to work.”
“Sure you won’t come with us? Tomorrow?”
She shook her head. “I…I’m not sure I’d be any help.”
“I’m not going to be the least bit help, and I’m going. Ani’s looking for one thing out there. I’m looking for something else.” Lisa licked the last drop of apricot syrup from her fork. “What are you afraid to look for?”
Writing Lisa has been a great deal of fun. I hope readers find her as mesmerizing as I do! Clearly, she’s a special character. Read more about her in My Lady Lipstick and the follow-up short story in Frosting on the Cake 2 called “Good Morning.”
