Comments on: Bonding With Characters by Guest Beth Ciotta

By: Michelle Rattigan

Michelle Rattigan — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:25:28 +0000

I have a longing for Maine(Stephen King obsessed as a teenager) also Newfoundland. I have no idea why, I live in Ireland which I have been told is litterally Newfoundland without the whales..but..whata gonna do?
I want to see something of myself in the heroine,self involved anyone:) but I dream and fantasise for days, weeks, months about books after I’ve read them. More so if the heroine is how I would like myself to be, passionate, fiesty witty and clever. I’m sure I am some of those things at times but to be so wanted and desired must be a confidence booster. I would also like to think the writer is puting some of herself in the heroine. I find you can sometimes tell if she has, these are the ones that stay with me, that live on after the inital read. How can you write passion if you don’t see passion in yourself?

By: Beth Ciotta

Beth Ciotta — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:45:16 +0000

Fabulous seeing you here, Fedora. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. When you DO make that trip Down Under, I want pictures and details!

By: Beth Ciotta

Beth Ciotta — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:43:54 +0000

It was great being here, Robyn. Loved all angles of the discussion. As for dream destinations, here’s hoping you and your husband get to make that joint England trip soon. One of my new favorite towns there is Canterbury. In fact, I’d love to live there!

By: Fedora

Fedora — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:53:40 +0000

Woot!! Beth, sorry I’m late to your visit! As for my wonderings, it depends on the book and the characters. If it’s an unusual setting or profession, then yes, sometimes I do think, hmm… maybe the author has some kind of “in”… But usually I just try to enjoy the story! I think that as long as it feels authentic, I don’t think too much about whether it’s just well researched or whether it’s coming from a deeper level of experience And for dream destinations? Still hoping to visit the Land Down Under

By: RobynDeHart

RobynDeHart — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:46:54 +0000

Thanks for joining us, Beth. Not to be
disrespectful of those other writers but I
think they’re fooling themselves to think
that. If you write w/authentic emotion you’re
in your characters. Period. Great topic!

As for where I want to go – the list is so long.
DH & I have been to England but not together
would like to do that.

By: Paula R.

Paula R. — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:20:39 +0000

Hi Beth, thank you for the wishes of luck. So far you have been to many of the places I want to see. I blame alot of that desire on historical romances…sigh. I will get to some of those places one day. Maybe I will hit the lotto and take a year off just to travel…LOL!!! It was great hearing the different places people wanted to see. I have been to some of the places on my list already…S. Korea, Hawaii (Oahu), though I would love to visit the other islands again, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. The last four was on a cruise. I would love to do another one of those. I would love to visit Alaska as well, but it is close to the end of the list there…It is soooo coollddd there! Have a great evening all. Good night!

Peace and love,
Paula R.

By: Beth Ciotta

Beth Ciotta — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:21:54 +0000

“…a spider or the smell of jet fuel…”

Okay. Gotta say… I loved that. And everything after. Pat… you rock.

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:16:17 +0000

IMO (definitely need to qualify what’s coming!) to write a heroine that has none of the writer within is impossible. Despite the best research, each heroine—or hero, for that matter—has “bits” of his or her creator within them. It may just be a gut reaction to a spider or the smell of jet fuel, but something of the writer exists within every character. Our heroines tend to say the things we would have said—had we thought of it with more speed—or have the generous spirit or kick-butt attitude we’ve admired in others and secretly envied. Our heroes are bits of dreams, perhaps, but they are bits of our dreams.

So, yes, I think there are bits of me—even if only the me I wish I were or could be—within every heroine I write.

By: Beth Ciotta

Beth Ciotta — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:25:37 +0000

You’re killin’ me, Elle. Alaska’s on the list. Summer. Noted.

By: Elle J Rossi

Elle J Rossi — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:19:29 +0000

In order to win the lottery, we must play. Although if I win, I make keep it a secret and let y’all think I worked really hard to but each of you a trip!

I forgot Alaska. I want to go there as well. Alaska in the summer. I mean I want to experience it but I want to be comfortable!