Revisiting old friends

I’m in the middle of writing The Redemption of Micah, my second Brava book and the one that follows The Education of Madeline. I wrote Madeline’s book a few years ago, so Micah’s story is like taking a trip to visit old friends.

And it’s a very comfortable journey.

To start the process I re-read Madeline’s story and found myself engrossed again in Plum Creek Colorado, circa 1872. Madeline’s character had a lot of me in her, and I fell in love with her and Teague all over again. And then there was Micah.

Ah, gentlemanly tortured Micah with a drinking problem, a tremendous scar on his face and a broken heart. I’m not sure what it is about men with emotionally shatterd souls, but they appeal to me more than a confident handsome rogue. Micah is a man who cannot find his way out of the dark without a very bright light to guard him. He’s been lost for so long, he has stopped trying.

It’s amazing to me that I can relate to this man, this character I invented from my head and he becomes real to me. I feel his pain, his longing, his absolute need for redemption. Does that make me a little wonky? More than likely.

I get very caught up in my characters, probably more than I should. I’ll confess now that I’ve cried when writing a scene (not to mention other more interesting emotions). I wonder how many other writers get down deep in their character’s stories.

Then again, it’s like visiting old friends, laughing, crying, getting wiggly, and finding joy together. I’m off to get busy with Micah again, I’ll be back in a bit.