Let’s talk about passion, and how your characters show it. It’s a given that they have a passion for justice, otherwise they wouldn’t be sleuths. But how does their passion manifest itself? Do they jump in, or are they more contemplative? Do you have an example in your upcoming book or series?
Edith/Maddie: What a great question! In Murder at the Taffy Shop (releasing March 31), one of Mac Almeida’s best friends finds the body and soon enough becomes a suspect herself. Mac quickly gets passionate about clearing Gin’s name. Mac thinks of herself as a person who keeps her life orderly. She’s starting to discover that murder is never orderly.
Jessie: A passion for order seems like a good motivator, Edith! Passion plays out differently for my sleuths, Beryl and Edwina. Beryl is a bold and daring sort of person who throws herself headlong into new adventures all the time. For her, feeling passion is a bit like breathing. It is simply something that one does. She does get easily distracted by the next new passion, however! Edwina, on the other hand, is more inclined to make a more careful evaluation before giving her energy to something. But once she does, she is in it for the long haul.
Sherry: Jessie, I love your descriptions of Beryl and Edwina — the way they contrast and compliment each other is one of the things that makes the series so great. Chloe in my new series lives by words her father said to her: A promise made is a promise kept. So when Chloe makes it promise she passionately follows that promise until it’s fulfilled. Sometimes to her detriment.
Barb: What a great question. I think above all else Julia Snowden of the Maine Clambake Mysteries is loyal. She’s loyal to her family (even her pain in the neck brother-in-law), her friends, her business, and her town. So when something threatens one of them she jumps into the action hoping to be part of the solution.
Julie: Lilly is a slow boil. She doesn’t show her emotions outwardly, but she’ll always remember what got her started.
Readers: What are you passionate about?
Great answers.
I’m becoming very passionate about greyhound rescue, including all the associated breeds, such as Spanish greyhounds (also called “galgos”). Such terrible things that happen to these beautiful, gentle dogs. 🙁
I love seeing you post about your greyhound on Instagram. A wonderful thing to be passionate about.
I’m passionate about mysteries. 🙂
Seriously, I’m trying to figure out what I am passionate about that doesn’t sound like a cliche like family.
I’ve been thinking about that as well. I don’t think family is a cliche, FWIW.
I am passionate about helping ease loneliness in others. Having my dad in assisted and memory care, I know there are those who need to be remembered when they can’t remember things well. I send friends in assisted living weekly postcards with a quote or a poem just to help them know that someone is thinking of them. It is a small thing, but I love doing it.