The SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS column on Mondays and Wednesdays is a place at Shannon Muir’s author website showcasing books from a variety of fiction genres, with an emphasis on interviews and guest posts from other authors. One thing Shannon firmly believes in for readers not only to learn about new books available, but about those who craft the tales behind them. As its name implies, SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS weekly column features writers from all genres of fiction who want their potential audience to get to know them, and their works, better.
Today, we look at the book, SPARK.
DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to SHANNON MUIR’S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS by Breakthrough Promotions. None of it reflections opinions of Shannon Muir. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.
About the Book
ISBN-10: 1732553106
ISBN-13: 978-1732553101
Publisher: J. T. Bishop; 1 edition
Series: Red-Line: The Fletcher Family Saga Book 3
Paperback: 380 pages
August 15, 2018, $14.95
Genre: Paranormal Suspense
Also available in e-book format
Eve Fletcher is on the run. She’s hiding from the men who’ve killed her boss. But she’s not alone. A man she barely knows is with her, and she must decide whom to trust. But Eve has more than her life at stake. She’s protecting secrets too. Secrets that if exposed could risk not only her, but her entire family. But everyone has secrets, including the man who refuses to leave her side. With time running out, Eve must choose whether to bring her boss’s murderers to justice. But she’s falling for the mysterious man with his own suspicious motives. Can she risk loving him or will his presence threaten the family she’s trying so hard to protect? Family whose survival depends on keeping secrets.
If you haven’t read any J.T. Bishop books yet, you must. She’s a brilliant up-and-coming author. Her writing is vivid and captivating, her immersive story well-plotted, and her characters relatable and unique. – NY Literary Magazine review of Curse Breaker
Other books by J.T. Bishop:
Red-Line: The Shift
Red-Line: Mirrors
Red-Line: Trust Destiny
Guest Post by the Author
How I find my characters, or should I say, how they find me
I get asked frequently about the characters in my stories. Do I base them on other people? How do I determine their personality traits? How do I pick their names? Do I know them all ahead of time before I start to write?
All good questions. And there are a variety of answers. Yes. Sometimes I base them on other people, but most of the time I don’t. If I based them on someone either real or fictional (fun fact- my main character in my original trilogy is based off Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes), then their personality will spawn from that, but if I haven’t, then I just rely on my instincts. You know how a person needs to act in order to draw out the drama and the excitement of the story. But other times, you just need a kind heart or an ordinary character for your bad guy to bump up against. I play with that when the time comes to write a scene and see what works better. As a writer, if you have a vision for what you want to happen, the characters will often create themselves. They’ll simply appear in your head and you’ll write them naturally. That’s one of the fun aspects of being a writer. Just seeing what shows up.
A character’s name will often pop up on its own. When that happens, it’s usually perfect. Other times, I’ll hear a name when I’m out doing whatever, and I’ll like it, and if I remember it (jot it down if you can), then I’ll use it in a story. I’ve done that a few times and discovered some really cool names. There have been challenges when I struggled to find a name that clicked, so I found a random name generator and I’ll sort through it until I find something I like. I try not to spend too much time on it though. Once I have the name, I stick with it. No changing at the last minute. Mainly because once I’ve created that character and named her, it’s hard to see her as someone else afterwards.
Do I know all my characters before I begin? Yes and no. I know the main characters, but there have been many times a secondary character will show up while I’m writing and wave at me as if to say, “I’m here now.” And I immediately write them in. It’s those characters that often become the most interesting and offer the most value. I never ignore them. Inevitably, they play beautifully into the storyline and become just as beloved as the others. Those are the times when my characters find me.
If you’re writing your story and looking for your characters, be open to what shows up. You might surprise yourself. Character writing and development is one of the great gifts of storytelling, and if you’re doing it right, your story will be just as unforgettable as the people in them.
Any questions on how to find a character, or can you offer your own advice? Comment below and let me know!
J.T. Bishop
About the Author
Born and raised in Dallas, TX, J. T. Bishop began writing in 2012. Inspired by a video that theorized the meaning of the end of the Mayan calendar, J. T. began the Red-Line trilogy. The video surmised that the earth was the central hub of activity for extraterrestrials thousands of years ago. J.T. didn’t know whether that was true or not, but it did spawn an idea. What if those extraterrestrials were still here? Two years and a lot of work later, the first three Red-Line books were complete, but she’s not done. The Red-Line saga develops as she continues to write new books.
Website URL: https://jtbishopauthor.com/
Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/jtbishopauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jtbishopauthor
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judybishop99?trk=hp-identity-name
Buy link for Spark
Buy link for High Child
Buy link for Curse Breaker
