Suspense
Date Published: Release date: February 6, 2017
Patrick Corman, loner, ex muscle for a call girl service, struggles to stay alive and care for his institutionalized daughter. But now the danger isn’t coming from the streets. He needs a heart transplant. Shocked when, with only months to live, a mysterious benefactor offers him ‘the deal of a lifetime’, he sees it as a solution, even after reading the fine print.
When his former crime boss suspects that he is revealing information about her, and a young newspaper reporter sees him as her chance to get her own by-line, Patrick’s life and death struggle escalates. For her part, reporter Katherine Alderson keeps secret what she knows about his transplant, unaware that Patrick has his own secret, hidden in the fine print of the deal he agreed to.
Patrick’s new heart draws them together and into a conflict neither could have imagined when they discover someone has delved into their lives, using them as pawns in his own political game. Fighting to stay alive, one shocking revelation follows another, exposing the best and worst in both of them.
Here are some thoughts, from some knowledgeable people, on a very important aspect of writing – creating a great protagonist.
One of the keys that Michael Hauge stresses is to very quickly create identification , in your reader with the hero or protagonist. To do this he suggests a variety of techniques. One is to make the reader feel sympathy for the hero for any one of a variety of reasons: a past disaster, a broken heart or an illness. Another one is to put the hero in jeopardy so that the reader worries about him. This is even easier if we have made the hero likeable. Preferably not perfect, for he must have flaws to be believable, but there must be some traits that encourage us to like and root for him. Perhaps they are equipped with a lightning sense of humor. Another: make the hero powerful. Power impresses, we identify with it. However, don’t forget his Achilles heel.
Hal Croasmun, of Screenwriting U, suggests that you make sure your protagonist is inherently dramatic. The drama comes from their core character. Are they a naturally dramatic character who brings tension to every scene in your book because of their characteristics? He suggests that in doing so, dramatic characters create dramatic situations, and are more interesting, engage the reader or audience more quickly, and are easier to write. I like that last idea. How do you do this?
Give your character a trait that creates conflict, such a being constantly cynical or selfish.
Give him a flaw. Perhaps he is bitter about something that happened to him and it colors his response to everything, thus creating drama.
Give him a serious dilemma or problem that will create the drama you are looking for.
Give him a motive (obvious or hidden) that might create dramatic subtext in your scenes.
For more tips on writing or to check out my novels visit at: http://danielside.com
Creating a Great Protagonist
Here are some thoughts, from some knowledgeable people, on a very important aspect of writing – creating a great protagonist.
One of the keys that Michael Hauge stresses is to very quickly create identification , in your reader with the hero or protagonist. To do this he suggests a variety of techniques. One is to make the reader feel sympathy for the hero for any one of a variety of reasons: a past disaster, a broken heart or an illness. Another one is to put the hero in jeopardy so that the reader worries about him. This is even easier if we have made the hero likeable. Preferably not perfect, for he must have flaws to be believable, but there must be some traits that encourage us to like and root for him. Perhaps they are equipped with a lightning sense of humor. Another: make the hero powerful. Power impresses, we identify with it. However, don’t forget his Achilles heel.
Hal Croasmun, of Screenwriting U, suggests that you make sure your protagonist is inherently dramatic. The drama comes from their core character. Are they a naturally dramatic character who brings tension to every scene in your book because of their characteristics? He suggests that in doing so, dramatic characters create dramatic situations, and are more interesting, engage the reader or audience more quickly, and are easier to write. I like that last idea. How do you do this?
Give your character a trait that creates conflict, such a being constantly cynical or selfish.
Give him a flaw. Perhaps he is bitter about something that happened to him and it colors his response to everything, thus creating drama.
Give him a serious dilemma or problem that will create the drama you are looking for.
Give him a motive (obvious or hidden) that might create dramatic subtext in your scenes.
For more tips on writing or to check out my novels visit at: http://danielside.com
Daniel is a retired school teacher who has written and produced many school plays, built his log home, restored a classic car, and spent many summers canoeing with his family in northern Ontario. Daniel’s other novels are A Lesson in Revenge and The Reedsmith of Zendar. All three novels are available on Amazon.
Contact Information
Website: http://danielside.com
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/danielside
Twitter: https://twitter.com/daniel_side
Email danieldside@gmail.com
Purchase Links:
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For February, heart month, the money raised through the sale of CHANGE OF HEART will go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
“We are delighted that Daniel has chosen the Heart and Stroke Foundation as the charity ofchoice,” says Avril Goffredo, VP, Community Engagement, Heart and Stroke Foundation. The funds raised from this event will help us invest in research and continue our programs in prevention and survivor support, allowing us to save lives and create more survivors.”
Visit Daniel’s personal fundraising page.
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