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Why is it that all good things must come to an end?

I've only been able to participate in this blog link-up for about a year, but I dearly love it. And now it is saying farewell!! (I mean, I should have expected it, since it's been missing for several months, but STILL...*sobs*)

Anyways....

Since this is a combined favorites/character post, I'll try to keep it as general as possible. I'll use my character Ealdread, King of Aistaraina from The White Rose/From the Cave for any specific character questions.

Let's dive in, shall we?


1. Favorite genre to write in?

I've written in historical fiction, contemporary fiction, and Christian fantasy. So far, Christian fantasy has been edging out to be my favorite genre to write in. The idea that I can play by my own... (ahem...*guilty look to the heavens*) GOD's rules, and not confined to any set parameters gives me a wonderful feeling.


2. What book (a real actual published book!) do you think your character would benefit from reading?

Contrary to practically everyone, I'm not going to say the Bible. He reads it occasionally, but he reads a mix of other spiritual and recreational reading as well.

If he could get his hands on it, I would say that Ealdread needs....

a work about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Or some other joyful saint that knew how to have fun in a good way. He can be rather grim if he's not careful. 


3. Favourite piece of dialogue you’ve written?

My personal favorite so far, from The White Rose:

“What ho, my young liveryman!” Karsten called out cheerfully. Arnor turned around and saluted with a smile on his face.

“Did you lose something, dear fellow?” Karsten called to the curly-haired lad.

“Indeed, good Prince Karsten! My spear. I thought to beat that braggard Henrik in a javelin throw.”

“And did you?”

Arnor nodded, a grin creasing his youthful face. “By a good 5 leagues.”

“Right into the pond, I presume.” Ealdread could not keep a smile from his face either.

Sheepishly, Arnor lowered his eyes as the three laughed heartily.

“Never you worry, Arnor. We’ll find it even if it takes the rest of the undern.” Karsten joined Arnor’s side and started searching further along the edge.



(I'm going to share the other favorite from the same scene :) )


Arnor saw a mischivous grin overtake Karsten’s face. Glancing at Alvilda, Karsten silently gathered some pond water in his hand, brought it up to the pier, and splashed it on his bride’s ankle.

“Ahhhh! What in the...” Alvilda covered her mouth when her eyes fell on her betrothed’s grinning face. “My lord....Karsten!” She choked out, laughing as her knight gallantly saluted her. “What in the world are you doing there?”

“Searching for a lost spear, my sunshine.” He settled his head on his arms on the pier, his brown eyes gazing adoringly in Alvilda’s blue ones.

“A lost spear?” Janina asked gaily.

“Aye, Your Highness.” A deep voice wafted from the other side of the pier. “It seems our dear young liveryman Arnor got into a contest...”

Janina put her hands on her waist with mock severity. “And lost the spear in a javelin throw again. Tsk tsk tsk.”  

“You would think that after losing the spear 3 times already, he would learn by now...” Alvilda quipped sassily.

“The follies of youth.” With her mock severity, Janina set the whole company into hearty laughter.

When peace reigned again, Janina clasped her sister’s hand. “Come Alvie, let us help the men. I’m sure we can spot the spear from the end of the pier.”

With a cheerful quip about her sister being “ever poetical”, Alvilda agreed and the girls stepped lightly towards the end of the pier. Ealdread also moved towards the pier, still scanning the bottom for the missing spear.




4. What did your character want to be when they grew up, and what did they actually become?

Ealdread always knew that he would grow up to be the King of Aistaraina at some point, seeing as how he was the oldest son of his father. He didn't succeed to the throne until he was 28. What has surprised everyone is that he never married or even had a romantic attachment to anyone before then or for several years after.

Though I dare say, if he had a choice in his profession, he would be a hunter or farmer. He does love the outdoors and working hard when he can.




5. Favourite character name(s)?

Good heavens. You know how much I LOVE names?? How am I going to pick favorites???

But since you insisted, I'm putting in my top ten names, in alphabetical order. Cause a favorites order doesn't work.

Alvilda
               Aderyn
                              Caoimhe
                                                Conlaoch
                                                                  Eirwen
Gareth
              Janina
                            Jessamine
                                                 Karsten
                                                                  Kestrel




6. What makes your character feel loved, and who was the last person to make them feel that way?

Ealdread's main love language is Quality Time. He tends to be a lone wolf, who is starving for a good pack to run with. He is a good leader, but doesn't have many friends that see the man behind the crown.

Believe it or not, his new buddies Karsten and Arnor were the last ones to spend Quality Time with him. Since they got introduced, Karsten sort of adopted Ealdread as a long lost brother, in spite of the ten year age difference. Janina hasn't spent much time with him yet, LOL.


7. Favorite character you’ve ever written?

GOOD GRIEF.

I'm a proud character mommy, as you all know. So asking that question is like picking my favorite child. It's impossible!




8. If your character were permanently leaving town, what would they easily throw out? What would they refuse to part with? (Why?)

Now, let me see...

Ealdread would easily throw out a lot of his kingly articles of clothing, and a lot of of the worldly possessions that he has. "If it doesn't have a purpose on the road, it doesn't belong in the pack" is his motto for traveling. He is, after all, a rather practical person. 

He would not part with his paderau or any other religious article. Most are small and can fit in his pocket or around his neck, so they would not burden him much. Though he would hate to leave his books behind....

The reasons being that his religion is his way of life, as it is with a lot of people in the Verden universe. His prayer life is strong, and he wishes it to remain so.


9. Favorite tropes to write!

Believe it or not...true, strong, feminine women. Woman warriors is also a favorite of mine. Strong and silent manly male characters....that grabs my fancy a lot too.


10. Which story has your heart and won’t let go?

My now duology (mock covers shown):



From The Cave has been like a ghost in the background as I tried to get my mind onto other stories. Now that I've been working on the prequel to it for months, I'm settling some important details (especially in the world-building category!). Between the two Camps, I hope to have all the details settled so that it can be written in it's entirety this November.

The White Rose also was a sort of a background story that forced it's way to the front of the line when I realized that the Verden universe was where I wanted to be. As much as my pantser self wanted to explore Aistaraina like Gail did, my plotter spine wouldn't bend. #spoilsport. LOL.


11. Favorite relationship between characters you’ve written?

This may surprise you....

but it's the three way friendship between Arnor, Karsten and Ealdread from The White Rose.

I love these three a little too much, I think.


12. Toni Morrison once said, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” What are the books that you want to see more of, and what “holes” do you think need filling in the literary world?

Well, as much as I agree with Faith @ A Writer's Song, and Christine @ Musings of An Elf's answers to this question wholeheartidly, I think there is a bigger hole to be filled.

What I really would like to see is more books centered around Catholic characters. And I mean true honest portrayals of Catholic characters. I want to destroy the tropes of the demon school kids, the lust-filled knights of the Crusades, and destroy some of the myths that surround Catholic beliefs. I find a lot of books with a Catholic cast only marketed by Catholics for other Catholics and I don't agree with that marketing strategy (in spite of the advantages it has). I'm heartily sick of the Catholic Church being demonized by the secular society and really feel passionately about giving a positive example of it to the wide world around me.


13. Favorite Pinterest board / aesthetic for a book?


To be honest, I don't have a clear favorite. I love all my boards (most are private, especially ones for my actual stories).

Though, I do love this little board section I created for Alvilda:



14. Favourite time periods & settings to work with?

Well, I haven't worked with that many, and each has either ended in disaster (Seeds of an Orchard Invisible) or it never got off the ground (It's A Matter of Faith).

So, I think I'll stick with my fantasy (for now, anyway). Maybe I'll attempt more historical time periods later on when I feel more comfortable with it (maybe an early 1900s story?). 


15. When people are done reading your book, what feeling do you want them to come away with?

I want people to come away from my books with a feeling that they can conquer their own daily struggles.

Not that they can conquer the whole world. Not to feel jealousy that they can't portal themselves into the book. Not to lose themselves in mindless head-canoning and theorizing that will get them nowhere in the daily grind of life. My books are not supposed to be drugs. They should act more like OTC painkillers - relieve some of the barriers that stop others from being the best person they can be.

I want to be a help to people carrying their daily crosses, like Simon of Cyrene. Help them attain their salvation, in an indirect way. Be an inspiration, like the old classics, to better the others around me.

Now that my brain cells are not as scrambled and my body is back up to speed (a cold and concussion knocked me off my feet for a couple of weeks, no fun!)....hopefully, maybe, I'll have a real post sometime soon. While tags are great fun, this all-play-and-no-work thing has been getting on my nerves a little. I'm cooking up ideas for a series about writer heroines from classic literature and what lessons we can learn from them (and the authors who made them!). Oh and a wrap up post after Camp is over.

I missed you guys! What tropes are your favorite to write or read about? Your favorite character names? 

Scribblingly yours,

Catherine