Wednesday, December 15, 2021

What Makes an Unforgettable Character? By Sylvie Perry (aka Keziah Frost)


LUCY BURDETTE: I'm delighted to host Sylvie Perry, author of THE HAWTHORNE SCHOOL. You might remember her as Keziah Frost, who wrote THE RELUCTANT FORTUNETELLER, which so many of enjoyed. But now she's turned to the dark side, where characters still rule. Her new book is spooky, creepy, and thoroughly gothic. And PS, Sylvie and I had a lovely conversation to celebrate her new book, hosted by Madison Street Books. You can watch that here. Welcome Sylvie!



SYLVIE PERRY: If I ask you to name one character from fiction—or two or three—that you will never forget, which names come to mind? 

Do you see these characters alive in your imagination? Do they seem almost—or even actually—like real people?

I would argue that a memorable character trumps a memorable setting or even a memorable plot.  Do you agree?

Let’s see if any of your unforgettable characters are the same as mine. 

Characters I will never forget include: Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca—even though she is dead before the story starts and we only hear about her from other characters; Lewis Carroll’s Alice, the girl who made me first connect with fiction, a girl after my own heart who tried to make sense out of a nonsensical world of mad adults; Uriah Heep, the servile, writhing, snake-like creature of Charles Dickens’ who pretended to be so “humble.” And then I hasten to add Dickon, the boy in The Secret Garden who could talk to all animals and birds and really knew their languages, as well as the secrets of plants and trees. And who could ever forget the monster in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein? Or the idiosyncratic Sherlock Holmes or the insightful Miss Marple? Or how about Rhys Bowen’s Lady Georgiana?

Whom would you add?

As great as the books these characters live in may be, I believe the characters are even greater, and keep us coming back to re-read, and return to our thoughts from time to time our whole lives long. They make an impression on us as much as—or perhaps more than—flesh and blood people we have known.


A good rule for a writer is to put a compelling character into an interesting situation. That is a place to start with a protagonist, but it can also work for any character in the book. Not all the memorable ones are main characters.  Ophelia is unforgettable in Hamlet. Think of all the brilliant characters in The Wizard of Oz.

So what is the special sauce? What is it that makes a character memorable?

I think there has to be something very relatable about them, and also something very surprising. We want to marvel at them—and at the same time feel that they could be expressing ourselves, or a part of ourselves. Is that right? Do we tend to empathize with these book-people, and also admire some special skill they have--or else recoil from something tragic, horrifying or disturbing about them? Maybe there has to be something very realistic in their personalities, so that we can believe in them, and yet they need in some way to be larger than life, unlike any real person we know, so that we will be mesmerized and read until the very end, and then never forget them.

So we have Alice, as puzzled by grown-up ways as any other seven-year-old, but ten times more clever. And we have Shelley’s monster who only wants acceptance and belonging as we all do, but he is gigantic and terrifying to look at. Even the eponymous Rebecca strikes us with awe because that is the effect she has on the book’s protagonist, but we are repelled by her cold black heart.

Who are the characters that live in your mind, and why?

What does a character need in order to make that permanent impression on readers?


About THE HAWTHORNE SCHOOL: Claudia Morgan is overwhelmed. She’s a single parent trying the best that she can, but her four-year-old son, Henry, is a handful–for her and for his preschool. When Claudia hears about a school with an atypical teaching style near her Chicagoland home, she has to visit. The Hawthorne School is beautiful and has everything she dreams of for Henry: time to play outside, music, and art. The head of the school, Zelma, will even let Claudia volunteer to cover the cost of tuition.

The school is good for Henry: his “behavioral problems” disappear, and he comes home subdued instead of rageful. But there’s something a bit off about the school, its cold halls, and its enigmatic headmistress. When Henry brings home stories of ceremonies in the woods and odd rules, Claudia’s instincts tell her that something isn’t quite right, and she begins to realize she’s caught in a web of manipulations and power. 
 



The author’s work as a psychotherapist, with a focus on narcissistic manipulation and addictive power dynamics, guides this exploration of a young mother wanting to do the best for her child.



46 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Sylvie, on your new book. Hawthorne School sounds a bit strange, a bit creepy, and definitely intriguing. I’m looking forward to finding out how things work out for Claudia and Henry . . . .

    Oh, goodness, there are so many memorable characters . . . I think the ones that make the deepest impression are the ones that the reader finds himself/herself relating to in some way, the ones that somehow manage to worm their way into the reader’s heart. Aside from the ones you've mentioned, characters that came immediately to mind include Scout, Jem and Atticus in “To Kill a Mockingbird” . . . Eve Dallas in the “In Death” series . . . Clare Ferguson in Julia’s Miller’s Kill stories . . .

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    1. Thanks, Joan!
      Oh, yes, Scout is a character I will never forget. I think you're right, they find a way to your heart--there is an emotional connection.

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  2. Welcome back SYLVIE. Yes, I agree that a memorable character from a book is the key to the story and often wants me coming back for more.

    Evan Smoak from Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X series is one of the more recent ones for me.
    Taken from a group home at 12, Evan was trained as part of the Orphan Program, an off-the-books set of assassins for the US government. But Evan broke away from the agency in book #1 and has a personal mission to help those with nowhere else to turn. Seven books in, the complex story arc has Evan really tormented and conflicted about his future. And Evan's attempts at a "normal" life are being thwarted with some bombshell visits from his past.

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    1. Thanks, Grace!
      That is some challenge indeed, for a writer, to have a character arc spanning 7 books!

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  3. Sylvie, welcome to JRW and congratulations on your new book. It sounds intriguing and terrifying. Wow, what a premise. Both my son and my daughter have sons that I could compare to Henry and each one chose a special program/school for their child. Your story clutched my heart before opening the book!

    Characters do, indeed pull me back into stories which I have read over and over. Jane Austen created some of the most enduring characters ever in all of her books, but Eliza Bennett is the stand out. I'll revisit her journey to ah-ness whenever I need a jolt of pure romance. Speaking of journeys, I've also traveled far with J.R.R. Tolkien's heroic characters, over and over, as they save the world from destruction. It's almost time to read that series again.

    As for modern authors, can anyone forget Jack Reacher or Harry Bosch? But my personal favorites are Deb's Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid, Jim Benn's Billy Boyle, and Rhys's Lady Georgie. The pattern for me, with the modern ones is that they all inhabit series. I'd like to add all of the Reds' here because I will not miss a book written by any of them although I am still playing catch-up!

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    1. Like you, Judy, I go back again and again to the classics. Jane Austen, yes! And the Brontes--I'm a little obsessed with them. And as you say, all of the Reds--there are excellent characters being written now.

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  4. Welcome Sylvie/Keziah! I connect most with characters who have a flaw or a wound--exactly like Harry Bosch, who is on a mission to right wrongs because of what happened to his mother when he was a child.

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    1. Yes, flawed, wounded (and vulnerable). Bosch and my suggestion of Evan Smoak fit those exactly.

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    2. Yes, Lucy, I agree that there is a strong emotional connection when we see a character with a wound on a journey to overcome adversity. That would even fit Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables! Maybe we love it because we all have a wound of some kind, and want to see the example of how it can still be okay--or even great.

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  5. Welcome Sylvie and congrats on the book!

    I agree characters can be much more memorable than setting or plot - they are often the first thing I remember about a book. I like strong characters who set their own path, but not ones who are perfect.

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    1. Hi Liz! Can you like a character who makes mistakes?

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    2. Oh absolutely. With one caveat: I don't want to see a character make the same mistake a billion times. She should learn something and grow from the experience.

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    3. I think an example might of this might be the narrator (who remains nameless) in Rebecca. She is shy, awkward, and inexperienced, and lets everyone walk all over her, but by the end, she has matured from her experiences.

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  6. Characters are everything to me in my reading. Mostly, I want them to be someone worth spending my time with, as I imagine them into being real people for the time I'm reading about them.

    Sylvie/Keziah: your premise for The Hawthorne School sounds intriguing, but I do hope little Henry doesn't get horribly hurt or damaged at the school; that would be too hard for me to read about.

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    1. Hello Amanda, I hear your concern loud and clear. And no, he does not. I will spoil just that much. I have a personal rule in my fiction: no children or animals can be harmed. I
      That is a clear boundary for me.

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    2. Oh, Keziah: Thank you for this assurance! Now I shall find your book with pleasure...

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    3. I also appreciate the assurance because I was not sure I could read this one.

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    4. Danielle, absolutely! It's creepy, but it's not a horror novel by any stretch. It's psychological suspense.

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  7. You are so right, Sylvie, that characters are everything. I still think about favorite characters I met as a high schooler. They are still very much "alive" for me even if I can't recall their names. (It will come to me later I'm sure.)

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    1. Hi Judi, same here! Some of the characters' names I have forgotten, but as in the Oprah Winfrey quote, I will never forget how they made me feel.

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  8. All of the above!

    Faye Kellerman's characters, especially Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, are compelling and memorable. Nero Wolfe and his sidekick Archie Goodwin are unique and fascinating characters.

    Most people think of Sookie Stackhouse when they think of Charlaine Harris's books, but for me her series of Harper Connelly stories, about a woman who was struck by lightning and can now locate dead bodies and communicate with them, is far more compelling. Harper is such a raw, complicated, and vulnerable person, I wish Harris had written more of those books.

    And then there's Norbert Zelenka. Who can forget him?

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    1. Oh, Karen, you warm my heart, remembering Norbert here!!!! Thank you! The character of Harper Connelly sounds really good. I have yet to explore that series. Thanks for the recommendation.

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    2. It's a very dark series, be warned!

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    3. I can go kind of dark. I don't like violence or grossness, but a looming threat can be very absorbing and strangely satisfying--especially if things turn out well in the end.

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  9. This is one reason I can re-read books with pleasure--I often forget details of the plot, but the characters draw me back. Tony Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn is one of my favorite characters. He's not handsome, he's not quick with a quip or a gun, he's slow and thoughtful and observant. A man moving between two worlds. Ian Rutledge is another favorite character--definitely wounded in more ways than one, trying to make a life for himself--yet defining that life so narrowly because of what he's gone through. Every time I pick up a new one, I hope for at least a few moments of happiness for him. Many, many others. And Joan, you beat me to Scout--I love that little girl's voice and heart.

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    1. Hello Flora, yes, Scout is memorable, and somehow whenever I think of her I think also of the character Frankie in Carson McCullers' Member of the Wedding. I feel that's another example of getting a child's point of view exactly right.

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  10. Oh, just the description gives me chills. The influence of school officials is powerful and subtle . . . scary stuff.
    I spent far too many years admiring Scarlett O'Hara, then realized Melanie was actually stronger. Yes to Alice and Scout <3

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  11. Hello Mary! How interesting, your "relationship" to both Scarlett and Melanie, and realizing with time the value of Melanie. It sounds like the way we come to understand real people in our lives. I say that's strong fiction, that can create characters that go through life with you that way.

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  12. I agree, character trumps (and should drive) plot... I can't remember a single plot of a Kinsey Milhone novel but all KINDS of wonderful details about the character (cuts her hair with a nail scissor... has one little black dress... eats in a hungarian restaurant...)

    Congratulations o the new book, Mary - sounds so intriguing.

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    1. Hi Hallie, yes, those little details stay with us! Funny, isn't it? Remember Miss Haversham in Charles Dickens? She had been jilted at the altar and now was an old lady in a crumbling wedding dress sitting in a cobwebby room where nothing ever changed and obsessed with her own bitter thoughts. Just thinking of her, I can still see the dust motes in the air and hear her whispering to the little girl, "You can break his heart." I remember that as clearly as anything that I ever saw in real life!

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    2. You made me think of Barbara Havers. I remember exactly how she was and that she put always herself in trouble but, like you, I can’t remember the plots of Elisabeth George’s books.
      Only, I always wanted more of her in the stories.

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  13. Characters are so important. If one takes place in my heart, I’ll return to her or him , especially in a series . It is more powerful if there are many of them like Armand Gamache, his family, his crew and the people of Three Pines. The same with Gemma and Duncan, their family , friends and crews.
    So many live within me that it would be very long to list.

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  14. Hi Danielle,
    I remember Louise Penny saying that when she created Gamache, she wanted him to be someone she would be happy to be married to.

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  15. Rebecca is an all time favorite of mine! Congratulations, Sylvie! Gothics have always had a special place in my reader's heart. Can't wait to read The Hawthorne School.

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  16. Hi Jenn, Thank you so much! I love gothic stories, too. I hope you enjoy The Hawthorne School!

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  17. Congratulations, Sylvie on your latest. Gothics were my gateway into the world of mysteries. I loved them, and still do for the aura of pure possibility they create. Looking forward to The Hawthorne School.

    Completely agree about character being the most important aspect of writing.

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  18. Hello Kait! I hope The Hawthorne School gives you that aura you love. And what were some of your favorite gothics?

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  19. Congratulations, Sylvie, on The Hawthorne School! So deliciously creepy, with an irresistible cover, and very high stakes. I'm already worried about Henry!

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    1. Hi Deborah, thank you. I am thrilled with the cover. It captures the mood perfectly. Yes, Henry is in danger. And I will spoil just so far as to say, good wins out!

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  20. I'm so happy to see the return of the gothic! I remember racing through innumerable paperbacks with the dark looming mansion - single light - woman in the filmy dress fleeing covers as a tween and teen. Gothics hit that perfect intersection between horror, mystery and romance.

    Looking forward to reading THE HAWTHORNE HOUSE!

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    1. Oh, for heaven's sake. THE HAWTHORNE SCHOOL. Sorry.

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    2. Ha! It's all good. Yes, The Hawthorne School. I agree, perfect escape. I used to love Victoria Holt, and Dracula by Bram Stoker, but most of all, the queen of gothic (in my opinion): Daphne DuMaurier.

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  21. Sylvie, congratulations on your new book. The Hawthorne School sounds just as Debs described, "deliciously creepy." And, that cover is stunning. It is absolutely going on my TBR list.

    Characters provide me with so much enjoyment. I'm a big series reader, so I have lots of characters in whom I'm invested. Julia has given me Clare and Russ, Debs has given me Gemma and Duncan, Lucy has given me Hayley and Miss Gloria, Rhys has given me Georgie and Molly. There's my other favorite series, too, with Ruth Galloway from Elly Griffiths, Inspector Gamache from Louise Penny, and so many more. For me, characters are the reason for returning again and again to a series. Now, I have to stop because my husband won't stop interrupting me.

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  22. Thank you, Kathy, for adding The Hawthorne School to your TBR list!
    So true, about the characters that keep you coming back to a series. I even think back to childhood. The Bobsey Twins and Nancy Drew. Later on, Sherlock Holmes, and on and on.... It's delightful to see a character grow over several books!

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  23. I just listed about 20 and the in progress comment disappeared. Bah. I’ll just say Holmes.

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    1. Holmes! Yes. He has fascinated generations, and every actor who plays him, does it differently.

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