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Why Read A Book?

1/18/2011

In today’s technologically charged society, it’s amazing anyone finds time to read. Whether it’s your I-phone singing to let you know your next phone call or text message is waiting, the internet blinking its acknowledgement to the social media blurps of facebook, e-mail or you-tube, the TV or radio blaring today’s news of mishap and mayhem, or just pure gravity pulling you to your knees, we are busier than any society could ever imagine we could be. So how, with all these interruptions at hand, do we manage to find the spare minutes to allow our minds to flee to the written word? And why?

Why do you read? Do you read to escape? Do you want to flee from reality and forget your problems? Or do you choose to read to fulfill the craving for character and justice?

For me, it’s all of the above. I love a good book…my heart racing as the young hero, Harry Potter, does his best to thwart the dastardly intentions of Lord Voldemort, my insides turning to mush as Mr. Darcy reveals his true feelings for Miss Elizabeth Bennet, cheering on Mary Lennox as she coaxes Colin Craven to walk again amongst the roses in the Secret Garden, or rooting for underdog Paul Fisher as he struggles with his poor eyesight to become a winning soccer goalie in Tangerine.

These stories indulge my fantasies, stir my desires, awaken my senses, and give me hope. Hope that my dreams are not beyond my reach. Trust that with the right words, I too could change someone’s outlook, even if only for a little while. And joy to know that even the smallest of smiles is pure sunshine. You can check out my bookshelf at Goodreads.com to see what I enjoy.

So, tell me why you read? And what do you like to read? Share your favorite books and why you enjoyed them! I’m always on the lookout for the next novel to grip my heart and take me for a ride.

Thanks for stopping by.
C.K. Volnek

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What's In A Hero?

1/10/2011

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What is a hero? Do you have a favorite? One hero that always jumps to my mind is Superman. Meek. Mild-mannered. A true gentleman. But also strong and courageous and willing to do anything for the woman he loved. The kind of hero that could pluck a kitten from the top of a tree and still manage to save the damsel tied to the railroad tracks. An old-fashioned kind of hero.

But what’s in a hero today? In a world where so many Hollywood superstars have proven themselves only too shallow and greedy, and the media all too eager to show the ugliness of mankind, I’m always on the look-out for the kind of Superman that deserves to be called a hero; to offer our youth a real life role-model.

In the wake of the terror that struck Arizona this last weekend, when a lone gunman shot and killed six beautiful people and gravely wounded his intended victim, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords as well as several others, some real heroes stepped to the forefront. They didn’t claim to be heroes. They didn’t want or enjoy the instant fame the media offered them for their role. They had merely seen an opportunity to stop the carnage and help their fellow man.

Bill Badger, a retired army colonel had stopped to meet and greet Congresswoman Giffords. At the sound of gunfire, he hit the ground, only to have a bullet graze the back of his head. Despite his injury, upon seeing the gunman empty his first clip and attempt to reload, he sprang into action, followed by Roger Salzgeber. And while they fought to keep the gunman subdued, 61-year-old Patricia Maisch jumped in to keep the new clip of ammunition out of reach, preventing the attacker from claiming more lives.

In the midst of the chaotic aftermath, Daniel Hernandez, an intern for the Congresswoman, rushed to her side, setting her up and putting pressure on her wound; holding her, comforting her, until help could arrive. The news media said, because of his quick and precise actions, he is credited with saving Congresswoman Giffords’ life.

I applaud these heroes. They are my Supermen and Superwoman! They aren’t the Hollywood idols, seeking fame and glitz, they are people like you and me; people that overcame their fear in a time of need, seeing a job that needed to be done and doing it. Without their intervention that day, there surely would have been many more funerals. They are people of character. And these are the characteristics I hope to bring to my heroes in my books. Real Heroes.

Tell me about your heroes!

Thanks for joining me today.
C.K. Volnek

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Fleshing Out Your Characters

1/4/2011

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A story revolves around characters. Good characters. Bad characters. Funny, serious, sad, happy, emotionally charged characters. Your story may not utilize everything you know about your character. After all, will your reader care if a love-sick teen is adopted, or that the school bully loves horses? The reader may not know, but the author should. That love-sick teen may be searching for love because she’s always felt deprived of it. Or the bully reacts the way he does because his father sold his beloved horse for a gambling debt. Every decision a character makes, is the result of several other factors in his or her life.

I admit, I seldom know my character completely when I begin to write. I find my characters flow and swell as I write, shaping themselves and revealing more and more about themselves as the story progresses. I don’t go into the story blind though. I have a set of questions I ask my characters. They may be shy and not tell me everything, but usually by mid-manuscript I know them like a best friend.

Here are some of the more important questions I like to ask my characters.

Name: What’s in a name? It’s your first impression. Your character needs to have a first, middle, last and nickname that creates the image you wish for your character.

Age: When I write middle grade or young adult, I feel age is extremely important. A 12 year old can’t wait to be a teenager, counting off at ‘12 and a half’ or ‘almost 13.’ And a teenager many times will lie about their age because they want to be treated as a grown-up and not as a baby. It isn’t until they get much older, they want to quit aging so fast. ;-)

Birthday: Again, in some fiction, this may not be as important. But for middle grade and young adult, a birthday is a very celebrated occasion. And depending upon their birth date, they may feel ahead of or behind their friends. My son had a September birthday and thus was the youngest student in his graduating class. He was ready for grade school, but we had some challenging moments in grade school because his maturity level was behind many in his class.

Height, Weight, Body type: Is your character short or tall? Are they skinny or heavy? Or are they average? Do they like the way they look? Or do they wish to be different? How many people are ever satisfied with how they look?

Family: Does your character have a loving mother and father? Sisters? Brothers? The family can shape the personality of your character.

Speech: Does your character speak well? Does he or she have an impediment or an accent? Speech can tell a lot about a person. A character raised with a silver spoon and the best schools speaks much differently than a character that was raised in the back woods. A shy character will also speak differently than an out-going person.

How does your character see his or herself: This will explain a lot of how your character will react to whatever crosses his or her path. What are his or her weaknesses? What are their strengths?

How do others see your character: This also tells a lot about your character. Maybe your character feels she is dull and boring, but others view that as a loyal friend and a good listener.

Hobbies. Likes. Favorite colors: A happy person will usually like bright colors like orange, red or yellow. A depressed person goes to black. A happy person will like to be active, releasing endorphins while a sad person might prefer to walk alone in the dark.

What is the best thing that can happen to your character? What is the worst: Set up your story and let your character tell you how they will react and solve the issues that come up.

These questions reveal much about my characters. But I admit, my characters usually change some from the first time I ask these questions to the time I end my story’s rewrites. They change, they grow, they learn, just as I do, each and every day. I’ve learned to be patient, love them, embrace them and grow with them. After all, they are some of my best friends. And they have a story to tell!

Good luck getting to know your characters.

C.K. Volnek

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Why Read A Book?

What's In A Hero?

Fleshing Out Your Characters

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