Want To Be A Book Character?
If you’re staring at the naked guy to the right, that’s Tobias from my upcoming superhero novella From the Ashes (Entangled, August 2012).
Last night I was playing with my new graphics tablet, and whipped out a quick sketch that I really need to refine (especially the clothed version). What I also need to refine, though, is Tobias’s personal history and the secondary characters around him, so as I work on edits assigned by the Great Editorial Goddess K.L. Grady, I’m introducing two new named characters.
And that’s where you come in.
If you’d like to have a character named after you, just comment and tell me why you should be in my book. When the contest is over, I’ll pick one female and one male winner, and name the new characters after them. I may even have the chance to work in a few physical similarities, so if you win I’ll ask you for a couple of traits like hair color, height, etc. Nothing too creepy or stalkerish. A few details:
1. Contest entries close on January 15th, 2012. If I take any longer to finish my edits, K.L. may kill me.
2. Because From the Ashes does involve a m/m relationship and the new characters are involved in the main character’s backstory, the two new characters will likely be in some way involved in the LGBT community, even if they aren’t gay themselves. If that bothers you, don’t enter. (Then again, if you follow me on Twitter and got here from there, I sincerely doubt anything LGBT bothers you after dealing with me…)
3. Only one entry per person.
4. If you’d rather not use your real name, we can create a variant. It does still need to be a normal name a normal person would have, though, and if you use a completely fictional name it rather removes the point of naming a book character after you.
5. If you’re female but would like a male character named after you, or male and would like a female character named after you, let me know in the comments. We can always gender-reverse your first name.
6. Winners will be mentioned in the acknowledgements in the back of the book, just so people who aren’t aware of the original contest will know of your awesomeness.
7. If you’re uncomfortable posting your real name in the public comments, don’t. I can always ask you for the proper name to use via email if you’re selected as a winner. Just make sure you leave a way for me to contact you.
8. Because the characters are part of Tobias’s history, they won’t be taking a prominent role in the main storyline, though they’ll still be very important in demonstrating his character and establishing the base from which he grows. Your comment will have a strong role in determining how I choose to integrate the new characters into Tobias’s past, but I reserve the right to decide what works best for the story and make the necessary adjustments.
A little about From the Ashes:
25-year-old Tobias Rutherford is a villain in a world without heroes, born to a race of superpowered beings known as aberrants, whose mutant evolution gave rise to neurological disorders that labeled them as psychopaths, sociopaths, freaks – and Tobias’s father is the worst of them all. Plotting the demise of mankind from within an empire built on conquered nations, the supervillain known as Blaze uses his son as a weapon, a tool, an extension of himself with no free will and no future other than the one his despotic father has planned. A graduate-level researcher by day, the villainous Spark by night, Tobias does what he must to further his father’s goals – until one night with Dr. Sean Archer makes him question everything he thought he knew about aberrants, his own humanity, and the power he has to shape his own destiny.
P.S. Akismet is still being crazy aggressive, so if your comment doesn’t show up initially, don’t double-post. It’s in there, and I’ll fish it out of the spam filter ASAP.
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My superhero novella, From the Ashes, comes out from Entangled Publishing in August of 2012!
About Adrien
On the Shelf
Dauntless
Jack Campbell
Stuff
Ooh, Me, me!
Why? Because I was a female MSc student in artificial intelligence. Of the 323 students in the computing stream that year, at my uni, there were four women. We exist. But we’re sadly underrepresented in both real life and role model. I’ve worked in enough places where female techies are looked upon as pretty faces, instead of the best qualified person there (in some cases).
We need more female hard sciences role models.
Ooooh, *shoots hand in the air* pick me! ~Dani~
Like me, Dani is a short spunky name.
When said aloud it can be male or female AND it’s not a name typically associated with pop princesses or strippers, unless of course the character happens to BE a pop princess or a stripper and then by all means, go with Brandy, Candy, Brittany, or Tawny.
Dani could be the evil temptress who wears a red cloak, because she’s also kind of a fashion diva, and uses men like the Kardashians use (insert sports or cosmetics reference here).
Dani could also be the young heroine who carries small coins and bits of bread in her tunic to help poor children and. . . geese. She’s lithe so she hides in Tobias’ father’s coat closet, cashew pantry or apple orchard (you’re the boss, you set the scene) until she can steal the magic potion (clearly I’m a Disney fan) containing the elixir that will heal the conquered nations.
Also, Dani is just. damn. cool.
*******End scene********
Bethany means house of dates and who doesn’t like sweet dried fruits or going on a date…
Speaking of dates or at least notable events I got to dress up in white tie like Marlene Deitrich and escort a contestant drag queen in a beauty pageant for charity. I miss college and the fact that I quit smoking and the shoes…I had really shoes that night.
Jen. Because I hunt down goat pictures, tape sporks on their ears, and make angels bad. It ain’t easy being me.
And, like most Jen’s, I’m outspoken and snarky to make up for being so…common.
Yup, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
Why choose me? Because Kira kicks ass, but refuses to compromise who she is (I only drink Dr. Pepper and yes, the jellybeans must be Brach’s Classics-deal with it), a hopeless (hopeful?) romantic.
Sometimes an outsider makes the best confidant and the best way to understand your own desires is to help someone else reach theirs. Her strength and experience in overcoming seemingly impossible odds can maybe help him find his inner strength or the ability to love?
This is how I see her, but hey, you’re the one being published, not me (YET!)
Intelligent, plain looking, with a slightly warped sense of humor, in other words a geek, Kira thrives on adversity and disappointment. It makes her strong enough to survive anything. (I am a roach/twinky – You can not get rid of me.)
As the only woman on the research team, I can see her cursing the day she meets Tobias (unless he shows up like the picture on the right then this book could be very different – but I digress). In him, she sees everything she could be and everything she thinks she wants. Finding out his true secret (overly observant, obsessive compulsive, notices things – Nice mask. Target have a sale?*), where she could be bitter and sabotage Tobias’ emerging humanity, she instead helps him to understand it and his uncertain future.
*Warned you about the warped sense of humor
Kira
My parents told me they thought I was going to be a boy, so they had picked the name “Kalen”. When I popped out female, they threw another “e’” in there and got “Kaleen”
After years of having a complex over knowing my parents wanted a boy instead, I found out the real story behind my name.
My older sister is named Jamie. Turns out my mom has an ex-fiance of the same name. Also turns out that my dad has an ex-girlfriend named Kaleen. I think my Dad found out the origin of my sister’s name and had to get his two bits in.
My parents really put the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional. *sigh*
Sound scandalous? Great reason you should pick Kaleen (or Kalen, I’m over the parent-wanted-a-boy complex now).
I should win because I am awesome. I’m bi, and there are hardly any portrayals of bisexual people anywhere in any media ever. I try to put one in my work anywhere they fit. None of my stuff is published yet… But you will be published. *insert evil chuckle* All according to plan.
I would be a supervillain, but compassion and empathy get in the way. I am serious except while snarking. I try to be an optimist, because pessimism is very depressing.
I have a nice, normal name: Patricia. It has a commonly used male variant as well, so the character you base on me could be male, female, both, or neither. Doesn’t matter. If you dislike Patricia for some reason, you could also call me Ash, but that’s been used to excess already.
In addition, I suspect my cats are ninja timelords, so they just might be offended if you pick someone else. I’ll try to control them, but there ARE ninjas and do spend part of their time invisible.
Not sure I’d make such a good character, although I LOVE your work, but just wanted to drop in and say it’s so good to see you! Miss you!
And congrats on your book!
Luv you, sweetie!
–Carol
Loving these comments! If only Tobias had an evil editor in his past…
Jen the Amazing.
As the author of Harry Poultry and the Dirty Double Street Crosser, I demand you name a character after me.
Need I say any more? It’s in the name.
Also, if you try to spite me by making her some sweet, heroic girl instead of the evil genius she is, I will hunt you down and force generic fried chicken on you.
And it won’t even be fresh.
With a side of brussel sprouts.
I’m just crazy enough to make this threat a reality.
Because I’m made of win. And I know where you live.
<3
M.
Why the initial? Because Margeanne (that would be the real Franken-moniker my parents stuck me with) is too long and would eat up your page space.
Geez, ever since I shortened that sucker by 8 letters (that’s more tiles than you get in scrabble, btw) people have told me I’m mysterious. A total misnomer, ‘cause if there’s one thing I ain’t? It’s mysterious.
Why, I’m the one on the block that strategically places her intimates on the balcony railing to dry just so people will talk about me. Meh, I also trick-or-treat my empty wine bottles on recycling day into my neighbor’s boxes and then hand deliver AA meeting notices to them during the week. I’m very thoughtful that way.
What does all of this have to do with your post? Not much, but for obvious reasons I couldn’t resist the name challenge.
Good luck with this and congrats! It sounds like an awesome read.
M.
Soon to be: Riley Murphy…because, ya know, my ‘full’ real name wouldn’t fit on my book cover. Stupid Franken-moniker!
Just wanted to say your sketches are great!! From the Ashes sounds really good, and I look forward to reading it! You’ve got your work cut out for you, though, all of the above “characters” sound pretty cool.
Love the sketch! That’s awesome.
Because I live in a dream world and it wouldn’t be hard to convert myself into a character. I do it every day. Books, dreams and fantasy have become the norm for me.
My life, the real one is quite average. I play my role as mother, wife and ‘domestic’ quite well, but it’s when night falls that I really come alive. I get to escape to my dream world, my world of fantasy where I get to be whoever I want.
Life can become tedious if we don’t step outside the door and the opportunity you are offering will be an adventure of note! I will get to travel to world I’ve never been to, meet new people and experience new emotions.
Michelle can become Michael – a strong, yet average name. I’d love to become a part of your world.
Alchera4ever
Ok, patience in not one of my best virtues…..who do I get to congratulate?
Oh my goodness, I had almost forgotten how much I love your art. The little details like the wisps in his hair, the way the collar curls a bit, and his amazing almost fragile facial expression make me swoon. It’s such a beautiful sketch! I can definitely see how much your style has evolved from the Nihilism days. ^o^
Peace, love, and chocolate chip cookie dough!