Writing in Reverse

Characters and Transitioning

With Jan, it complemented her welcoming presence.  I wanted her to be the only character in his family that stood out to still have hope and respect for Clare too, even if she was disappointed.  She doesn't judge people, and is very light when it comes to showing affection as well.  And I went as far as picking the name Jan because it was simply, light, and easy. 

When Albany first met Jan, she got this weird vibe right away.  And it made her feel sick.  Albany never had the type of mother Jan was and it hurt her.  Because even though Clare was never like that, Albany still, when younger, wanted Clare to be.  She always wanted a mother that cared and never got it.  That's why it really hit her hard. 

When Albany met the rest of Luke's family, it was a different type of trasition.  One that was more mature than the decision of not running away - but slowly, very slowly, entering Luke's life bit by bit.  And though family seems like a simple step, to meet them, in my eyes it was a really intimate step for her to meet them because it established that they both cared for each other enough to put the hard effort in to meet new people.  Albany was scared, didn't want to, knowing she would be judged.  But she wanted to know about them, was curious to find out more about Luke even if she hadn't realized it at that point. And Luke... wanted to take the step towards involving Albany in his life even more. 

Introducing several characters at one time was very different from what I was use to.  A lot of names were made up right on the spot.  Just as the name Prenta came about.  It was during the car chase scene with Luke that I realized over the radio, they should respond by last name.  And... it took me a few minutes to come up with it.  The first time I thought the name though - Prenta - I laughed because that was the most unusal last name I came up with.  But at the same time, I really really liked it.  And that's doesn't happen much with names.  A lot of the time it needs to fix well to with the person and with him, I figrued it was a perfect name.  Luke Prenta.  And that went with the rest of his family when I introduced them - and their names in th same spontanious fashion.

Mike.  Very simple name like Jan.  But Mike was also short for Michael, like Jan was short for January.  Because though both have a distinctive nature to them but they are also more complext too.  I wanted Mike to be a little different actually.  Where the first time he met Albany, he had a very straight face and spit out weird obvious questions at her - which she responded to in the same manner.  I wanted his humor to show but be a bit different, more old fashion in a way, but also relatable and funny without trying.  I wanted it to be a joy to me and my readers every time he was in a scene - not because he was funny at all but because his character was very forward and aggressive in a way that was nice, if that makes sense. 

The ironic part was Francis. I got his name from always loving the name.  I always liked the name and have been saving it for someone that had his personallity that fit the name - and he did.   Now, I had no idea that this dude was going to becoming one of the main people.   I decided while I was writing this chapter to have Francis even exist.  He was just suppose to be this suscicious guy that Albany knew in her past.  He use to be a part of the group she was in and was someone Albany stole money; I wanted a possible threat to enter and kind of an insider of what has happened between the friends since she betrayed them and left.  And he was going to be that link, who I, at the time figured could inform her a bit on how things have been.  Also, I thought it would be interesting to introduce someone in this story that Alabny knew before she left besides Clare.  And that would be him.

However, during that point, she didn't want anyone to know she alreay knew this guy.  She was afraid of him wanting pay back and didn't know how to feel about him.  But he looked different, that was for sure.  I wanted Francis to have gone through a type of trasition of his own - but not like the ones I spoke of earlier.  The type that only happened because he made a choice to change, not because he couldn't stop it.  Unlke Albany, he welcomed in the family life, the goodness, the emotions and became a better person while Albany was trying to avoid it at the same time.  And the result of these two seperate ways of transitioning kind of came out the same.  She was cleaned up and so was he.  His appearance, was very different - very differen't when you take into account how shocked Albany was when she saw him.  From the greasy hair, baggy and cigarette smelling clothes, crooked teeth, no glasses... to this.  To being cleaned up, still looking carefree, but it a better way.  Straight teeth now, glassed, not smoking.  Huge change in appearance based on the huge changes he made in his life.  To grow up, get out of that group, and take care of his daughter.

His humor wasn't something I was really even focused on at the moment.  I figured it would be Mike that I focus more on showing a comic releife but it wasn't long before I realized Francis was the way to go on that.  It came natural to his character not long after to be that one guy that is always teasing, always smirking, and joking and at the same time be serious when he needs to. 

When I introduced Brooke, his daughter, I wanted her to reflect more on how kids today in society are taught about people.  She, not raised to judge Albany like that, she managed to because media still gets to kids.  Of how Albany is a crazy nutcase and when kids her age hear that, either through people or TV, it stays in this case.

I just thought of her name off the top of my head.  Brooke - simple, cute.  It fit with her I think too.  And I also wanted her to also be the reason Francis made that abrupt transition with himself.  She had that affect on him.  And she instantly had an affect on Albany too just as Jan had.  Where Jan reminded Albany of the mother she always wanted, Brooke reminded her of the sister she lost.  She got that same sick feeling in her - which could also represent the reason she always wanted to hide her feelings, to hide from this type of pain.  It made it harder for Albany when Brooke showed she was not shy to point her out as the crazy girl and became scared of her. 

When I brought in Shannon, I had her react in the same open way as Brooke - but much more immaturely.  I actually picked her name because whenever I hear that name, I think of somone that can be snotty or really nice.  And I think that fit with Shannon.  She was very immature and I actually don't think I made the smoothest transition with her.  Nearing her 30s, this girl was incredably immature towards Albany.  Like a 15 year old brat would be.  And with the trasition I made with her later to be very mature, I regret now just how bratty I made Shannon at first.  I meant to have her be mean but not in the way where it was to the level a teenage would be - immature and just annoying on the matter. 

Either way, introducing his family was a huge step in the story - and character development within Luke and Albany and the start of more changes between the family later on.  I was happy to have as many chacters at this point as I created.  I broadened the story greatly and opened up many chances to show different sides of the book too.