One of the most important aspects of fiction writing is getting to know our characters. Some find character interviews effective. Today Inspirational Author Donna Schlachter interviews her character Calliope Jeffers from her Prairie Rose Collection to show us how it’s done. Personally, I think this is rather clever–and effective. What do you think? Please welcome Donna as one of my returning guests to Help From My Friends Friday ~ Donnell
Donna Schlachter: Today I’d like to introduce the heroine of my story, Calliope Jeffers. Tell us a little about yourself.
Author Donna Schlachter
Calliope Jeffers: It’s nice to finally meet you in person.
DS: What’s your role in the story?
CJ: I guess you’d call me the heroine of the story, although that makes me sound so brave, and I’m anything but. You could call me the love interest, but that would be telling the end before the beginning. Call me Calli.
DS: What is your deepest, most closely held secret?
CJ: I struggle with the fact that I loved my husband so deeply that in simply looking at another man, I’m doing both a disservice. Yes, I understand marriage is “til death do us part”, but every time I see Bradley Wilson, I think of my husband. The only thing I can do is trust that God has a plan, and if Mr. Wilson is part of that, then love will come again. How lucky a woman could I be, to love deeply and eternally twice in this life!
DS: How do you feel about your occupation?
CJ: I love being a nurse. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to help people. Of course, back then, boys grew up to be doctors, and girls grew up to be nurses. Perhaps one day, that won’t be true. I do almost all the same things Doc Weldon would do if he were there, which he often isn’t. And while I can, I still like the personal care of the patient, listening to them, talking to them, writing letters home for them. Most of my patients are soldiers and their wives, both of whom have made a huge sacrifice to serve their country. We should keep them in our prayers.
DS: Tell us something about where you live.
CJ:As Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory. It’s an exciting time, 1870. There are still wagon trains heading west. Not so many as there used to be, I’m told. The fort is a popular stopping point for supplies, medical care, a blacksmith, and the town itself has several saloons, although I’ve not seen them personally. There are more than a hundred men stationed here, plus a good many civilian employees and military wives. Even a few children.
DS: Do you have a cherished possession?
CJ: The Bible my parents gave me. When my husband was stationed in Fort Bridger, he said I could bring one suitcase. Can you imagine? How to choose amongst my beautiful dresses, coats, hats, and shoes? But, as he reminded me, we would have nowhere to wear such fripperies, and so there was no point in bringing them. So instead, I filled my suitcase with medical books. And my Bible. It’s the only thing I have from them. I still had room for two dresses, a pair of boots, underclothing (which I won’t mention here), and essentials such as a hairbrush and hair pins.
DS: What do you expect the future will hold for you?
CJ: I’m told I shouldn’t give away the end of the story, and of course, none of us can tell the future, but suffice it to say that where once I had no hope, now I do. And where a baby was fatherless, now she has a daddy.
About the Book and About Calli:
Calli works as a nurse with the US Army at Fort Bridger, Wyoming in 1880. When a wagon train full of discouraged emigrants passes through on its way east, a pregnant widow delivers her baby then dies. Bradley Wilson, leading this train, has few options. He asks Calli to travel with them until they find a relative to take the child in St. Joe, Missouri. Calli, drawn to both this dark and quiet man and the child, resists. But when she disappears, he wonders if she’s run away or been kidnapped. Can these two put their pasts behind them and move into a new future together? Or will Calli insist on having things her own way?
https://www.amazon.com/Calli-Prairie-Roses-Collection-Book-ebook/dp/B09SD6XPRQ
About Donna:
A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 50 times in books; is a member of several writers groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; ghostwrites; edits; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both.
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Check out previous blog posts at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com and www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com
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Donna, I haven’t tried character interviews. They talk to me along the way, but this is fascinating. Thanks for being my guest today! I love the era you’re writing and Calli sounds like an incredible protagonist
Best wishes on the book.
This was so much fun to read. I already love Calli!
Thanks for giving us a peek into your process while you introduce us to Cali, Donna. Sounds like another fascinating and entertaining read! Looking forward to it!
Loved the interview! 🙂
Awesome interview, Donna!
I stumbled on the idea of character interviews while writing my (attempted) first novel. I didn’t have a good grip on my main character’s motivation for her behavior. I had the “what,” but not the “why.” In desperation I opened a new Word document and interviewed her, writing it all down as we went. She spoke to me and explained everything. I couldn’t have figured it out alone. This was a Civil War novel, which I worked on for six years sitting in my Maui condo, drowning in enjoyable research, which finally overtook the whole thing. It’s still in a box in my storage locker! –Madge Walls, author of “The Visiting Girl.”