tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post5771336830002361594..comments2024-03-28T09:03:53.875-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: THINGS OUR CHARACTERS TEACH USJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7078935262896361322015-11-09T17:57:57.112-05:002015-11-09T17:57:57.112-05:00Thank you, darling MAry! And Kristopher, too for ...Thank you, darling MAry! And Kristopher, too for your astonishing review. Whoo hoo!<br /><br />(Back to writing--I am at 109,000 words now! Better wrap this puppy up!) Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-28467549596460211362015-11-09T15:06:17.405-05:002015-11-09T15:06:17.405-05:00Y'all are among my top models in writing chara...Y'all are among my top models in writing characters. In my brief bit of writing, the main thing that my characters have taught me is that sometimes they know themselves better than I know them, and that occasionally I should shut up and listen to them.Jim Collinsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-44390569372541968932015-11-09T12:14:48.954-05:002015-11-09T12:14:48.954-05:00Susan, let me, too, congratulate you on your New Y...Susan, let me, too, congratulate you on your New York Times best selling list placement! I had a wonderful last four days with family, but I have to admit that I am rather full of glee today, as everyone is gone, and I can spend the afternoon today finishing Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante. It's such a great read, and I hate that my reading of it got interrupted, even if it was for a wonderful cause. <br /><br />Of course, I adore all the characters that the Reds write, characters that have truly become like family or close friends. I'm constantly learning from their lives and adventures. If I have to choose one single (or rather double, explanation to follow) character as the most influential, surprisingly influential, character(s), of my reading life, it would be Rose and Ruby, twenty-nine-year-old conjoined twins, from The Girls by Lori Lansens. These amazing characters showed me just how extraordinary the ordinary can be, and how ordinary the extraordinary can be. Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-30124801827404274032015-11-09T11:53:51.554-05:002015-11-09T11:53:51.554-05:00Congrats, Susan!!! So exciting, and so well-deserv...Congrats, Susan!!! So exciting, and so well-deserved!!<br /><br />What interesting comments from everyone. Thanks especially, Reine and FChurch. I'm copying yours into my book diary. So lovely to know when readers see your characters the way you do...<br /><br />I was thinking about childhood reading, and the first character I really wanted to emulate. I think it must have been Meg Murray in A Wrinkle in Time. Even if she wasn't good at school or confident in every day situations, she was willing to do anything to save Charles Wallace and her father. So brave and yet so human and flawed...Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-23066344136252873962015-11-09T11:44:41.741-05:002015-11-09T11:44:41.741-05:00Reine, you never have to apologize of be embarrass...Reine, you never have to apologize of be embarrassed! We all love you!Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56935479957647709322015-11-09T11:37:01.753-05:002015-11-09T11:37:01.753-05:00After reading the other comments I feel embarrasse...After reading the other comments I feel embarrassed that I didn't say how much I loved all the Reda' characters. I do, though, as I hope you know. I'll be back when my life straightens out. Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90452612431530848872015-11-09T09:38:36.242-05:002015-11-09T09:38:36.242-05:00Susan, I'm so pleased for you! Your books are ...Susan, I'm so pleased for you! Your books are wonderful, and it's good to see the rest of the book-reading public agrees! <br /><br />My father-in-law was 93 when he died, in bed at 7:30, after having an early dinner with his 69-year old girlfriend. Who discovered what had happened when she tried to call him to see about having an ice cream together before he turned in, and couldn't reach him. At Karl's funeral, which was jam-packed with friends, I realized how many of his closest pals were so much younger. By this time most of his contemporaries had passed on before him, but he had cultivated friendships with people as much as 50 years younger, and invested a lot of time every week keeping in touch with them. A lesson for us all. <br /><br />I so agree on the authenticity of the Reds' many characters. That single aspect of your books keeps me reading, for sure. Karen in Ohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57760715618626304062015-11-09T09:03:31.884-05:002015-11-09T09:03:31.884-05:00First, congrats Susan on your latest NYT bestselle...First, congrats Susan on your latest NYT bestseller status.<br /><br />Second, Hank, I was up until 1am on Sunday finishing <i>What You See</i>. Brava. I was as exhausted as Jake was after all that drama! And I'm dying to know what was in that box! I love how both Jane and Jake entertain that "what if I wasn't a ?" when it comes to thinking about each other.<br /><br />Like so many of you, my characters are me, but stronger, braver, more confident. I love those same traits in the characters you all write, too. I'd love to have coffee with Jane, hob-nob with Mina, cozy up with a cup of tea with Clare. I love their strengths, but I love their foibles, too. Keeps them human and relatable.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66322270293588011932015-11-09T08:49:10.518-05:002015-11-09T08:49:10.518-05:00I agree with FChurch, all of the Reds characters f...I agree with FChurch, all of the Reds characters feel very real, which is why we love them so much. They are not perfect, but who is. <br /><br />As for the inter-generational friendships, I would like to say that the younger folks learn much from the older folks - as much as those old folks might be kept younger by having youth around them. <br /><br />I have always had friends of all ages and I credit most of my positive attributes as coming from my interactions with those of other generations. I do my best to pass on this knowledge now that I am well into my 40's.Kristopherhttp://www.bolobooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-33818008869553032332015-11-09T08:22:33.556-05:002015-11-09T08:22:33.556-05:00Yeah, I agree. The "brave" thing keeps c...Yeah, I agree. The "brave" thing keeps coming-out, doesn't it? I mean--yeah. "What would it feel like to be.." and then we choose something GOOD.<br /><br />We should also talk about writing the bad guys some day.<br /><br />Back to topic, I also love that I have no idea what will happen to JAne, or to Jane's life. And she doesn't obsess over it. (Like I do. Over HERS, I mean!) Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-18439230873057068192015-11-09T08:20:17.589-05:002015-11-09T08:20:17.589-05:00This is fascinating. And thanks, FChurch. I now ha...This is fascinating. And thanks, FChurch. I now have renewed strength for tackling my edits...Susan Elia MacNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349842866995778987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85154409386324721172015-11-09T07:54:53.322-05:002015-11-09T07:54:53.322-05:00Who knew this question would be such a Rohrschach....Who knew this question would be such a Rohrschach... So interesting.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87914122267922464732015-11-09T07:19:57.413-05:002015-11-09T07:19:57.413-05:00Love these comments--thank you all so much for the...Love these comments--thank you all so much for the kind words about our characters. Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-78946290277772550982015-11-09T07:13:06.432-05:002015-11-09T07:13:06.432-05:00Congratulations, Susan! Woohoo!
I think the Reds&...Congratulations, Susan! Woohoo!<br /><br />I think the Reds' characters have a feeling of authenticity about them--which is why we, as readers, are so powerfully drawn to and involved in the stories you create. To me, that's a reflection of the lives you have led, are leading--your own characters.<br /><br />Melody comes to mind as a recent character who I admire. She was born in a very specific 'box' with a very definite life mapped out for her. She chose to break out of that box and create her own life. But in doing so, she created another 'box' with its own rigid expectations of how her life should be. Now, she has examined that life, found it too narrow, and taken a chance on change. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61315410845467816512015-11-09T03:57:16.906-05:002015-11-09T03:57:16.906-05:00Gemma is committed to the responsibilities she has...Gemma is committed to the responsibilities she has chosen as well as those those she unexpectedly finds herself in. She's daring and doesn't let go when she is on track even when the outcome seems bleak. She is persistent. Her feelings inform her thoughts while not getting in the way of the facts as they are revealed. That last is something I try to hold up to my own purposeful vision.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81671833455495807262015-11-09T01:15:20.784-05:002015-11-09T01:15:20.784-05:00Congratulations, Susan . . . what great news!
I l...Congratulations, Susan . . . what great news!<br /><br />I love Hayley's loyalty, Clare's impulsiveness, Jane's confidence. I think all of the characters everyone's mentioned are great role models. Me, I could wish to have some of Jane's confidence . . . .Joan Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06810313925049108163noreply@blogger.com