Of Dogs and Character Traits

By Liz, wishing for spring in chilly CT

I was having a conversation with my fellow Wicked Sherry Harris recently, and of course the dogs kept coming up. I mean, how could they not? Look at how cute they are…

In any event, in thinking about their different personalities, it occurred to me that they are the perfect example of a great antagonistic pair in a cozy novel. And my other fellow Wicked, Barb Ross, once pointed out that these two were like the dog version of Jessie’s Beryl and Edwina – one trying to live within the norms of society, and one, well, not. Can you guess which is which?

So what makes a great pair? Here’s a few of my top traits, translated into dog speak:

• They have many differences of opinion, but they can totally team up when they need to. Like when there’s a bowl of cat food nearby and they have to work together to reach it.
• They’re each working toward the same goal, but they have different ways to get there.  For instance, that same bowl of cat food – one will make very stealthy attempts to possess it, while the other doesn’t care what she has to do or who sees her (like jumping on the counter), as long as she wins.
• They keep things interesting with their individual quirks. How boring would life be if everyone was the same? The best pairs have opposite character traits that make the days lively. Like one who sleeps all day, and one who finds trouble in every corner of the room.
• They both have flaws and redeeming qualities. It’s easy to imagine one is an angel and the other a devil, but nothing is that black and white. Both these girls have good and…challenging traits. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
• They look out for one another. These two have their differences, but if one of them was in trouble, the other would come to her defense. I’ve seen it happen, and it’s pretty awesome.

Readers, do you have a favorite pair of characters in a series? Tell us below.