It’s hard to believe it’s already Friday, but in the same breath I’ll say it’s been a long week. Regardless of how fast or slow, it is time for another Marketing for Romance Writers 52-Week Blog Challenge post. We use the Hashtag #MFRWauthor.
Week 16: Family, friends, and pets I’ve written into my books.
Let’s begin.
Family:
In one of my books, a character is in martial arts. She’s a test away from getting her black belt in Tae Kwon Do. My son is a second-degree black belt. I brought his character into this book for a brief scene. As a black belt, he teaches classes, so he advised me on what would happen when a new student comes to observe a class to see if they might be the right fit.
Friends:
Many of my heroines have best friends. I base their relationship on my own relationship with my best friend though I’ve never brought her into the book as herself. Those of you who have been around a while, might remember my best friend passed away not long ago.
Another character is based on a friend’s mother though I haven’t used her name nor have I written in any of the things she had done to her daughter. It was only the idea for this particular fictitious mother’s attitude to be patterned after this mother. And, no, it isn’t Judy Carlson for readers who are familiar with my Double Dutch Ranch Series. Quite the opposite of Judy, in fact.
Fur Babies Large and Small:
By now, anyone who knows me, knows I wrote my dog Kasha into Whispers of Forever: Mending
Christmas because I knew her days were numbered, and I wanted to do it as a tribute to her. I’m so glad I did because now she’s gone, but she lives on in my books. She’s mentioned in Finding Kimber and Hooked by Sundown, too. I can see her in future books even if she’s doing nothing more than wandering around the barn or having a character reach down to pat her.
One of my senior and most gentle horses in the Double Dutch Ranch Series is based on an elderly horse from the stable where I used to spend time.
I don’t know if I responded to this topic correctly by saying some characters are based on real people. If not, then the only real family/fur baby members I wrote into a book is my son and the real animals are Kasha and the horse. How about you, authors? Do you use animals in your stories? Readers? Do you like reading books with fur babies in them? Do you think it brings something to the story?
Please join us on this Blog Hop by visiting other participating authors HERE.
Enjoy Your Weekend!
Thanks for reading.
Featured Image: Pixabay with some editing by yours truly. Little girl and horse: Dreamstime. Kasha: Image and graphic by me. ❤
Mary J. McCoy-Dressel 
10 thoughts on “#AmWriting Better Watch Out: Family, Friends & Pets in Books #MFRWauthor”
davidprosser
Lovely post Mary J. I ten to think of Oscar less as a fur baby and more of a fury baby but he was mentioned in my books sand had his own book in fact, Like Kasha, he’s immortal now.
xxx Massive Hugs xxx
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Haha, “fury” baby is cute, David. I remember when you posted some of Oscar’s antics. Fury is a good description. 🙂 Thanks for visiting.
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D. Wallace Peach
Lovely post, Mary, and I also write fur babies into books… sometimes. 🙂 In my case, it’s usually to add some comedy. My pets have all been very silly animals. How sweet that Kasha lives on in your books.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Diana. Our furry friends can bring so much joy in real life. They might as well be in books, too. I like the idea that you write them in for comedy. Comedy seems to come natural for some animals. Or what we think is humorous, anyway. 🙂 I’ve had many humorous moments with my fur babies. Ah, pleasant memories. ❤ Happy Writing!
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Holly Bargo
I like that you include the antics and characteristics of your real relationships, if not necessarily the people themselves. I think that would serve well if you’ve lived an eventful life.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Holly. I feel like bringing in real characteristics can help to make a well-rounded book character, quirks and all. Sometimes real people think the character might be them when it isn’t. That’s hard to explain. Thanks for stopping by.
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Helen Henderson
Fur babies are always welcome characters, even if you don’t like that particular kind of animal. It makes the human characters more human.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
You know, Helen, you hit the nail on the head. Forgive the old cliché, but you’re right about it making human characters more human. A character in one of my books said as much when she saw her cuddly dog in her hero’s strong arms. Thanks for commenting. I love your magical equines! ❤
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Teagan R. Geneviene
That was intriguing, Mary. I haven’t done any of that. Granted I tried with that failed blog series a while back… but it wasn’t about anything good, and I just couldn’t re-live it.
Although… my “Mordor” nemeses, well I’m just itching to put them in a book. 😈 Hugs.
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Mary J. McCoy-Dressel
Thanks, Teagan. I believe many authors are waiting to stick their nemeses into a book. 🙂 No, I wouldn’t want to relive something awful. However, I did in one book, but the story called for realism. Thanks for visiting. Relax and enjoy your weekend.
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