Saturday, July 31, 2021

What We're Writing Week: Julia Shows Character

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: It will surprise no one to hear I've been distracted from writing the past couple of weeks. On the "difficulties" side of the ledger, my Dad's broken hip and resulting cognitive issues means he's not going to be able to go back to his continuing care one-bedroom apartment; I'm heading to Syracuse next week to visit him, tour a possible nursing home, and help my brother pack up the apartment and put most of it into storage. (Why storage? Because this is a difficult adjustment to make, and knowing we're not giving away all his stuff is important to Dad.)

I've been immersed in the world of care-giving/making decisions for an elderly parent, along with my sister and brother, and I've been making the trip to Central NY every other week since the rehab facility he's currently in got the okay from the NYS Department of Health to open - a little. Visitors are restricted to every other day; even or odd, depending on your loved one's room number. And we're still masked - my sister and I ended our joint visit a few weeks ago by knocking on Dad's window and  waving, so he could see our smiles. It's not ideal, in that Barb and I are both seven and six hours away, respectively, but having Dad stay close to his old home means his friends and neighbors can visit him (on odd days, while wearing masks.) And it is giving me a wide knowledge of Airbnb offerings in the greater Syracuse area!

On the "joys" side of the ledger: I've recently adopted two Shih Tzus! Well, one Shih Tzu and one Shih-we don't know what else. Some sort of small terrier. Kingsley and Rocky are a bonded pair, rescued in Mississippi and  shipped up here to Maine, where we have a high rate of dog adoption. 

 

Somebody loved this pair a lot, because they are utterly overjoyed to meet everyone, and they are very, very well behaved. Rocky, the smaller of the two, is a total cuddlebug, who loves to lay in the crook of my arm and get belly rubs while I'm watching movies. Kingsley is a bit more typically Shih Tzu like; he wants to be around people but isn't a lap dog. The fostering agency had listed them as 6 year old brothers, but I suspect, after a week of walks, that Kingsley is older and may in fact be Rocky's father. Sire? The Maine Millennial is already planning to get one of those doggy DNA kits.

So what does all this have to do with writing? I'm being reminded, in a visceral way, of how interconnected we all are, and of how many ties we have, with parents, siblings, friends, and yes, our beloved pets. Sometimes, in fiction, it's tempting to simplify these connections, or downplay them, because we don't want to bog the story down or slow up the action. (Jack Reacher is probably the ultimate example of this, and even Reacher had a brother, mother, and old Army friends who pull him into events.) But ultimately we don't read novels to figure out whodunnit or to chills and thrill as the hero survives everything thrown at him - although those are very nice parts of the experience!

We read to connect with the characters - characters who in turn are connected with others in their lives. It is those relationships - Kincaid and his son Kit, Daniel and Molly Sullivan, Nathan Bransford and his dog Ziggy - that make them human, and reading about those fictional people, and identifying with them, makes us, the readers, more human. (I'll add that when Hank and Hallie wrote about writing this week, they wrote about fathers and sisters and husbands.) Everything begins with character, and we reveal our characters when they walk their dogs on a beach and visit their elderly parents.

So, dear readers, am I right? And what are some of your favorite character moments from books you've loved?

76 comments:

  1. I’m so sorry to hear that your dad is not doing well . . . .

    I think character lies at the heart of every story.
    My favorite character moments? Oh, there are so many . . . in “To Kill A Mockingbird” Scout and Jem and Boo Radley . . . Reverend Sykes and all the people in the courtroom balcony stand up to show their respect as Atticus walks by . . . .

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    1. Also fabulous in the classic movie, Joan!

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    2. Oh! And Bob Whatsis - the Victim's father. Didn't we know everything about him after one visit to the witness stand?

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  2. Hopefully you are able to put a few small, special items in your dad's new residence. It might make the transition easier.

    I've been rereading the In Death series this year and appreciate when Eve and Summerset set aside their normal give/take conversations and voice their concern for the other or another character in the story. It's as if the normal give and take conversation are masks and they have just let that mask slip, just enough.

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    1. That's a great example, Deana.

      And yes, part of what I'm doing next week is packing up things that Dad can have in his new quarters - we can have his fave lounge chair moved in, which makes me happy.

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    2. I am rereading it too and just read Delusions in Death where they experience one of those periods where they who respect for each other. That series is a prime example of what Julie is talking about! LOVE it. and hers!

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  3. I'm really sorry your dad broke his hip and is having issues, Julia. That's so hard, especially from a distance. I wish you and your family all the best - partly so you can get back to writing!

    I am always reading for character relationships. I'm still reading my way through the Maisie Dobbs series and with every book I'm eager to see how things will develop further in her relationships with Billy, with her father, with Priscilla and Maurice.

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    1. That's one of the true tests of writing characters, Edith - rereading mysteries. I always say no one goes back to the book to find out whodunnit. (Although as I, too, get older, that's becoming a bit less true!)

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  4. Julia, I am so sorry to hear that your father broke his hip and has other health problems. Knowing that your sister and brother are working on the move and visits and storage issues with you is a relief. This is such a stressful time for a family and I am so glad that you are all supporting one another.

    You adopted two dogs! Two! Wow, how great is that. Have you posted their pictures on Facebook? I love that they arrived well-behaved and ready to be part of your family. Sweet!

    You're right about relationships in literature. My favorite passages are always ones where the characters have a moment of awareness that leads to a change in attitude, an Elizabeth Bennett at Pemberly type of realization. The moment Gemma decides that she wants both, Kincaid and her career. Darcy leaving a drunken Georgie in her bed, telling her that he won't make love to her in that state, then bumping into her brother and Fig on the way out the door. I love those scenes.

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    1. And it's interesting how it's those moments we remember instead of "when someone finds a clue" scenes!

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  5. No one exists in a vacuum, right? Relationships are what make the world go 'round, after all.

    Thank goodness you and your sister and brother are able to work together to help your dad. Friends without siblings who have had to help manage their parents' care had so many decisions to make on their own. I know it was a huge relief for our family when my mom was in the COVID ICU last November to confer with her doctors and nurses together. We were all on Zoom a couple times a day to discuss her options. (And she's doing fine now, just still a bit weak.) Sending healing vibes to your dad, and best wishes for being able to get his stuff back out of storage so he can use it again.

    I really loved Georgie's interactions with her granddad, especially when he was being courted by his neighbor. So many great moments.

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    1. Thanks, Karen, and I'm so glad your mom pulled through from this dreadful disease.

      And I love the scenes with Georgie and her granddad as well! Rhys is brilliant at dialogue.

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  6. Julia, I am sending big hugs and lots of love, having gone through the elderly parent health thing. I can't even imagine having to deal with my folks during COVID.

    How sweet to have two new doggies! And it's wonderful that you kept a bonded pair together.

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    1. Thanks, Annette. I went on the theory that two small dogs is kind of the same as one large. So far my hypothesis is not panning out. :-)

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  7. What awful news about your poor dad! That has to be hard, not only for him but for you and your sibs. But what great news about your pooches - so smart getting two of them, twice the fun! I once had a Rocky, a happy, special dog who chewed everything he could and then usually threw it up in the middle of the night - on my bed.

    You are absolutely right when you said we read for the characters. I'm thinking way back to a series I read by Elisabeth Ogilvie, all about and island in Maine and the people, mostly related that lived there. I think it was Bennett's Island. The books made me want to live on an island of my own, an idea I've mostly put aside as a fantasy.

    I must tell you about the emails I keep getting, they are from "Julia" and since you are the only Julia I "know" I think they must be from you. They are not. Apparently she is offering me some X rated fun but I have decided not to take her up on it.

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    1. LOL! Sorry, Judi, I'm not up for any X-rated fun either.

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    2. OMG, Judi. Steer clear of the trolls!

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  8. I'm so sorry about your dad's situation, but glad you and your siblings are pulling together. That helps so much, especially when there is distance involved.

    My reading is all about the characters and what they get up to. The plot comes into play somewhere along the line, but the characters are paramount. Hence my love of a good series.

    Favourite moments with Clare and Russ are many, but I'm still wanting you, Julia, to follow up on what wasn't covered in The Poisoned Pen interview in February this year and that is sex scenes...I'm still hoping for a post from you about writing them. So, to legitimize my comment here today, I'm going to say that a memorable favourite moment of mine is when Russ picks up Clare after her posting to Iraq. In the truck. Clare is getting more than frisky. And a cop pulls them over...

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    1. You know, that's an excellent idea for a topic, Amanda, and I can put it on my calendar for the NEXT What We're Writing Week. That scene in particular was fun to write. I was laughing while typing it out.

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    2. Yay! I look forward to that, Julia. Thank you.

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    3. I'm with you, Amanda! I LOVED that scene. It was hilarious.

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  9. If you've already commented and are coming back, please take a look at the pics of my adorable new dogs! They were there when I saved this blog yesterday - I think trying to include a MP4 file (phone video) made Blogger's brain explode. I've reloaded.

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    1. What cuties! And your dad has a wonderful, friendly smile. Thanks for for sharing them all.

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    2. Thanks for the explanation, Julia. I thought I just missed the pictures the first time around since I read today's posting around 1:30 in the morning.

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    3. Lovely to see the picture of your dad, and your two new furry family members are adorable!

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    4. Thanks, all! Blogger is a great platform, but sometimes....

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    5. Thanks, Julia. When I returned to the blog, I thought I 'd been asleep to miss those pics.

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  10. Healing thoughts to your dad! A tough situation for you and your sibs. Love the pups! How do they get along with the Maine Millennial's dog? I recently read Donna Leon's Transient Desires, set in Venice and examining current societal ills, reflected through Brunetti's conversations with his wife and two teenage children. A much better book grounded with arguments at the family dinner table.

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    1. It's so interesting to get to see another culture though the ordinary interactions of the characters, isn't it? And the pups are doing well with the MM's Janey. Rocky immediately and cheerfully went to the bottom of the pack, and Janey and Kingsley are feeling their way to an accord.

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  11. Hugs and love, Julia. It is so hard to face that moment when the parent becomes the child. Glad that you and your dad have both family support and the support of friends in your dad's community. The pups are adorable - will you be able to bring them to visit your dad?

    Yes, reading is about relationships. There are all different kinds, too. I'm currently reading Kate Flora's Joe Burgess series. Although the officers (all men so far) have significant other relationships to a greater or lesser degree, the key relationships are those that have developed among the various officers. Watching those nuances played out is fascinating.

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    1. Thanks, Kait, and I hadn't thought about the dogs visiting. He might enjoy that, if I can find a dog-friendly place to stay.

      Another interesting aspect of characters for me is getting a glimpse into the life of people I'd never have in real life - officers in a precinct, aristocrats in a drafty castle, Quakers in the 1800s.

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    2. Julia, most hotels are dog friendly. Just be sure to bring crates if you plan on leaving them in the room. And in my experience, all nursing homes will allow dog visits. Hope you can do this.

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    3. Thanks for the info, Ann, that's very useful. It also might help us lure Dad out of his room; he's been reluctant to go outside in a wheelchair for some reason.

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  12. Julia, healing thoughts for your dad’s hip and strength and grace for you both during this time of change. A credit to your writing, but I am concerned how Russ and his mother will transition as she ages. Take good care.

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    1. Elisabeth, I'm thinking that this all-too-common family occurrance would make a good story line in future books. For someone - it's hard to think of Russ's mom not out there charging away at injustice!

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    2. Julia, yes! I so admire Russ’s mom’s courage and persistence. Thank you for creating her.

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  13. Julia, I'm very sorry about your dad and the medical crap that's going on with him. Those long trips must be taking a toll on you, too. Be safe.

    The dogs are lovely. Our brother and sister in law have a ShihTzu named Rocky, now 14 years old. They're lovely little dogs, and you're in for a ton of fun. Every time I cuddle up with my two in bed for our nightly reading session, I thank the gods that be for my unconquerable poodle and pomapoo. (Sorry Mr. Henley) It's love unconditional.

    Of course I both adore and sometimes identify with book characters. I've just finished ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS PERFECTLY FINE. What a character portrait! I can't stop thinking about her and how she finds a way to interact with Raymond, a most unlikely but perfect companion.

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    1. Thanks, Ann. I haven't heard of ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS PERFECTLY FINE; I'll have to check it out!

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    2. Ann, I LOVED Eleanor Oliphant!! I still think about her and Raymond. But I've had some heated discussions with friends who just couldn't read it.

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    3. I am still working my way through it...not entirely sure about it...

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  14. Julia, I am very sorry about your dad and I am glad that you are allowed to visit him. Small blessings, right? These dogs are so adorable! Let us know how the doggy DNA kits turn out!

    There are many character moments. I adore and identify with book characters sometimes. I just got bookmail, including books that I discovered at the mystery conferences yet never see that author's novels in bookstores and the public library (before the pandemic) only had the first novel in her series.

    Diana

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    1. Diana, I have to sign up for some newsletters from the Book Riot folks (and others.) I find I'm also much less aware of what's coming out these days, since I'm still not hanging around in bookstores.

      I will let everyone know the secrets of the dogs' DNA when I find out!

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  15. Julia, thanks for sharing your photos--and hugs to your dad and you and your sibs--seems like you just got your dad settled in his apartment. And the dogs are fabulous--my sister has a Shih Tzu named Stella who loves almost everyone (if Stella doesn't like someone, you probably won't either!).

    And yes, I read and reread for characters--those scenes that reveal who they are, their relationships with family, friends, lovers, strangers. Russ and his mom, Clare and her colleagues. Gemma and the busker--can't remember right now which book that was. Characters who show up in one book and insist on coming back for more in other books. I remember them--I think it was A Fountain Filled with Blood--the character with the horrible brothers, she meets a migrant in the barn--those small characterizations make mysteries more than potboilers--they take on the dimensions of humanity that snobs seem to believe only exist in 'literature.' Bah!

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    1. Fora, you'll be very happy - that same woman shows up in a quick cameo with her husband and child in the new book! It is fun to bring people back in a later book, or to expand their role for a new story.

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    2. Yes, it is so much fun to bring back characters in little cameos. And Flora, the book was KISSED A SAD GOODBYE (which I've just reread) although Gordon the busker makes a first appearance in the previous book.

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  16. I'm so sorry about the situation with your dad. He is blessed to have you, your sister and brother there to care and look out for him.

    And in return, you are also caring for the two dogs you recently took into your home.

    Hugs!

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    1. Thanks, Dru. My oldest daughter says I'm a compulsive nurturer.... :-)

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  17. I'm sending your family a laser blast of strength and sympathy. We've been in that situation with parents and it's not easy. As for your new dogs, hooray! Our last three dogs were adult "rescues" and if I do this one more time when Jack departs I will go that route. Character development and relationships are what hooks me when I read. Meeting, liking, and courtship is a wonderful story arc. So is a married couple having to get reacquainted after a separation, having to decide if something is still there between them. Anna Lee Huber's Verity Kent series is a great example. She and husband Sidney have been apart for 4 years of war, by his laying low when he was reported dead and letting his wife grieve for over a year, by the official secrets act, not being able to clear the air about so many things. It has been so rewarding reading their stumbling progress to civilian life and trust and a relationship again.

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    1. Thanks for the laser blast, Pat! And yes, lovers working their way through problems and misunderstandings are one of my favorite storylines ever, as you might guess.

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  18. Welcome Rocky and Kingsley to the wilderness known as Maine, you might find snow to be challenging.
    Those of us who have walked the path of again parents ahead of you send loving understanding. May this journey continue to find good answers and peaceful resolution.
    A favorite scene is when Russ sees Clare marching in her kitchen using a wooden spoon as a baton. He knows in that moment his heart is lost, and his life has changed. I love this moment in time.

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    1. Thank you Coralee! That was another scene that is dear to my own heart. And thank you for the best wishes for the family. I appreciate it.

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  19. Welcome Rocky and Kingsley to the wilderness known as Maine, you might find snow to be challenging.
    Those of us who have walked the path of aging parents ahead of you send loving understanding. May this journey continue to find good answers and peaceful resolution.
    A favorite scene is when Russ sees Clare marching in her kitchen using a wooden spoon as a baton. He knows in that moment his heart is lost, and his life has changed. I love this moment in time.
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  20. Julia, I am so sorry about your dad. I stopped to see your he and your mom a few (or more) years ago on my way home from visiting my son (who was born in the same place as you, just a couple of months later) I went to college with your mom! Love your little dogs...

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    1. Thank you. They are lovable little scamps. I'm glad you got to see my mom and dad together. They were a very special couple.

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  21. Don't know what happened...This was from Patricia Summers Barron.

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  22. Julia, I am so sorry about your dad. Caring for our aging parents is the hardest thing any of us will ever do, I think. I'm an only child but my mom adored loved and trusted Donald. I think she had started thinking she had given birth to him, truly. so a lot of what was accomplished in the end phases were things Donald was able to do, to discuss with her. I don't know what I would have done without him.

    The puppies are ADORABLE!!!!!!

    Characters. Yes yes yes. My favorite books are those that have characters and character camaraderie. Reading J.D. Robb's series in order could be considered a master class in character development. Other favorite great character novels include Russ and Clare, Kincaid and Gemma, The Three Pines folks, Deborah Knott friends and family, and The Monkeewrench Gang - among others. If the characters aren't appealing, the story just simply doesn't matter to me.

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    1. Kaye, I remember sitting on a panel with the great Dennis lahain, and he was asked what was the most important piece of any book. And he answered character, it all starts with character.

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  23. Julia, I'm so glad you have your sister and brother to share helping your dad make these adjustments. It's a really difficult time but it many ways it's really enriching, because of those deepening connections. Having my brother to help with both my parents made such a difference.

    Your dad is adorable! I don't know that I've ever seen a photo before! And the puppies, obviously, are just the cutest ever.

    I totally read for character. The plot is just the framework for finding out what people's lives are like and what makes them tick. One of my favorite recent examples was a novel called Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake, which on the surface is a romance that takes place within the structure of a British baking show, but it had such wonderful portraits of parent/child relationships (the good and the bad) and the heroine's eight-year-old daughter totally stole the book. Memorable.

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    1. I loved that book! Loved how the classic rom-com meet-cute spiraled. That same author also did a wonderful job with Boyfriend Material. If you could combine Bertie Wooster and Adrian Mole you'd have the hero of the book.

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    2. Thanks, Debs. And now I have another book to add to my TBR pile!

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  24. Julia, I know it must be so hard what you're going through with your father right now. I'm sorry he can no longer be in the continuing care arrangement. I hope he has a smooth transition to the nursing home. I'm now without any parents or in-law parents, and each one was a different situation.

    Those doggies! So cute! Where you actively looking for a dog(s), or did someone present these darlings to you that you couldn't resist. I'm glad that they have found their furever home with you and Victoria. Lucky pups. We have had Lulu, our eight-year-old Brittany Spaniel, five weeks now, and she is finally learning to trust Philip some. She was a breeding dog, handled by a man, and we think that's what her problem with a man was. The vet says it will take around three months for her to feel completely at home. She has done fine with me from the start. We adore her.

    So many characters I love and so many special character moments. I can't begin to list them all. Well, I guess I can begin by saying that all the Jungle Red authors have created unforgettable characters, and the recurring ones feel like an extended family. Clare and Russ, Gemma and Duncan, Georgie and Darcy, Hayley and Nathan. But, as important as these main characters are to me, it's the supporting cast that delights me just as much. As Karen mentioned, Georgie interacting with her grandfather is something I always look forward to, as well as Miss Gloria with Hayley, and Gemma and Duncan with their kids, and Hadley Knox and Kevin Flynn. Then there is the Three Pines crew and all the characters I've invested my emotions in, and I love Anne Cleeland's Doyle and Acton. And, of course, anybody who knows me knows what a burning passion I have for Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway and DCI Harry Nelson, and the supporting cast there, especially Cathbad. Then, my long-time favorites of Laurie R. King's, Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. And, last but certainly not least is our Annette Dashofy's Zoe and Pete.

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    1. Zoe and Pete are a great couple, Kathy! And thank you for your best wishes. All in all, it's the best it possibly could be. We have excellent options for Dad, and don't have to worry about finances, which is a blessing.

      As for the dogs, a couple months ago I decided I was open to the idea of having my own doggo again and decided to leave it to the hand of fate. I was idly scrolling through an adoption site, saw the two, and there was an adoption open house the very next day. So I went, just to check it out... The rest is history.

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    2. Julia, I've always believed that our dogs find us, and it looks like yours found you. They are adorable.

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  25. You've reminded me of the years of caring for Mom, and visiting in Assisted Living and nursing homes . . . and of my wonderful students who buoyed me up in so many ways. <3 In those years I turned to the CAT WHO books when I needed comfort, saving them up for the hardest spells.
    Books, and the friends within them, have been reliable company through these endless months of isolation, and while they are fiction, they present valuable lessons and often feel real.
    Reading more fiction could improve empathy. I turned off electronics during this morning's storm, reading Chiaverini's WOMAN'S MARCH on my iPad, and I wanted to jump back into yesterday's book to tell Mac to charge hers up for books, light source, games, music, even if no connectivity. How magical the creation a fictional friend the reader wants to look out for. Today's reading makes me appreciate to work and risk involved in securing the vote for women. The work continues.

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    1. Mary, you are spot on when you say reading and our connection with characters gets us through many difficult points in our own lives. That has been very true for me, and I'm glad it's true for you as well!

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  26. Hugs on all the transitions in your life, Julia. That's...a lot. Congrats on the brothers - they are adorable! I've been kitty sitting Hooligan 2's kittens and while I'm madly in love with them...it's a lot. But I absolutely agree that we read for more than just thrills and chills. And I definitely judge characters by the relationships in their lives or the lack thereof.

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    1. My only regret is that we can't have a jungle reds pet get together, Jenn!

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  27. It is the interrelationships that make or break a series for me. The understanding seems to be the missing key for some authors who can't figure out why the series they love isn't getting the attention they expect. Action is great but it is heart that keeps us involved.
    Your comment about including this issue in your books makes me think of another author I love, Annette Dashoffy. Her mother passed a couple of years ago from Alzheimer's. She had already introduce a key character, father of another law enforcement Russ. Henry is a vital part of her stories and touches me because the man who was a second father to me passed away in 2018 from Alzheimer's. It would seem that the issue would make it hard to read the books but they just mean more to me because I can relate. It is an otherwise excellent series, too. I await new books in the Zoe Chambers series almost as anxiously as I await your next book.
    I hope you can work it out to take your babies to visit with your dad once he is settled! The assisted living facility my aunt and uncle were in takes dogs but the nursing home didn't normally but they had a pet friendly patio.

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    1. Jeanie, I hadn't thought about it before, but with the encouragement of readers here, I'm going to give it a try!

      I believe we want to see ourselves and our lives reflected in stories, even when they are parts of life that are difficult. In some ways, seeing characters we love overcome their problems - even if overcoming simply means learning to live with them gracefully - is comforting. And encouraging.

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  28. Julie, so sorry about your Dad...so difficult.

    I was reading Deborah Crombie's Where Memories Lie (I think it was that one) and I was so enjoying the opening chapters and meeting the characters, and then I realized, wait! This is a mystery! Someone is going to be killed. I was so sad when it happened because I loved the characters (this was the mother of the little girl Gemma and Duncan adopt).

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  29. All the best wishes for strength and courage as you make arrangements for your Dad. Very compassionate move to store his belongings so he won’t feel that his belongings are unimportant.
    Read about Rocky and Kingsley this morning in your daughter’s column.
    I love the character relationships in Deborah Crombie series….Gemma and Charlotte, Gemma and Hazel and Melody and Doug. I just adore those books!

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  30. Well, I love that you adopted. It's the only way I have gotten my pets, from a shiatzu to a pair of Siamese brother kitties and last but not least a munchkin kitty who has a Napoleon complex. They were/are all characters and keep me sane.
    I am really sorry to hear about your dad and the adjustments he is needing to make. It is hard all the way around.
    As for animals in stories that I have enjoyed. Lillian Jackson Braun's Siamese pair kept me entertained on any number of nights. I truly miss those beloved pair helping Quill to solve the mysteries.

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  31. Sending healing thoughts and energy to you, your brother and your dad. I know you’ll find your adopted fur kids will bring you joy and comfort. So happy you adopted. As another reader, I love those two moments in TKaMB when Scout says, “Hey, Boo.” Also when the reverend tells her to stand. “Your daddy’s passing.”

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  32. When I consider wonderful character moments in mysteries that I love to re-read, I think of Josephine Tey's novels: Miss Pym trying to understand the physical education students at Leys, for example, or Brat Farrar's growing suspicions about what really happened to the man he is pretending to be. Is anyone else a Tey fan?

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