In Linda Nielsen’s ‘Life Rolls Along,’ Every Character Has a Great Origin Story [GUEST POST]

We love stories populated with outrageous characters! They’re one of the reasons shows like Dallas and Dynasty were such big hits and why novels like Scruples and Chances are still beloved by audiences the world over. Like Judith Krantz and Jackie Collins before her, Linda Nielsen is an author with a real knack for populating her books with unforgettable faces. But what goes into crafting them? Where do the ideas for them come from? With the publication of her new novel, Life Goes On, Nielsen herself dishes on how she came up with two of her favorite characters in this exclusive guest post. Enjoy! —J&H

Often the best characters bounce in and out of life on a daily basis; the trick is to notice them.

Years ago, when I went to aerobics on a steady basis, there was an over-the-top, aggressive stock broker, somewhere in his mid-forties, who annoyed most of the people in class by bragging about his outstanding portfolio based on his exceptional knowledge to make the right market calls.  It was rumored that he kept his youthful collection of baseball cards tucked under his pillow, so after a difficult day he could go home, get them out and play with them, thus relieving his stress level. I thought, huh, this is information to store.

Sure enough, when Paddington Burke, the bizarre son of a wealthy business man, hit the pages of Life Rolls Along, his collection of oddities – though not baseball cards – was taken from that stock broker. Though Paddington doesn’t brag about his ability as a business man – because he has no ability – he does try to steal the heroes’ wife.

A couple years later my aerobics burnout, I noticed a rotund fella who attended the Chamber of Commerce Mixers.  He wore a crooked hair piece, which I fought the desire to reach out and straighten.  I never did, but I added this trait to the Paddington character; only I made it a dramatic black curly hairpiece and watched as he grew into a wealthy, silly, self-serving boyfriend for Delaney Mae Anne von Campe-Covington-Topple. Paddington, to his credit, changed the scoop of the story by adding a new dimension that helped the other players evolve.  This surprised me as I had intended for him to play a minor roll but, as the story took form, he claimed his own personality and wanted more space on the page.  

When I was thinking about an unusual character that could carry the story line forward in a dramatic fashion, I ran across my prototype in the grocery store. I heard a whining female voice loudly berate the clerk for not having her brand of coffee. I didn’t want to turn around, so I reached down to get instant coffee on the lower shelf, and I looked up as she continued to tell the clerk how important she was and how lucky they were that she shopped at their store.  Bam! Terri Sue Ellen, southern belle extraordinaire, was born! I’ve been told that she’s the nastiest character to hit the pages of a book in some time, but she’s so real, with all her faults, her ignorant attitude and her self-importance, she’s hilarious . . . of course she doesn’t know that!

Terri Sue Ellen continues to annoy her public in Life Rolls Along. Never missing a shot at being underhanded, she attempts to control those around her with her lies.  Some readers take her seriously; oh, don’t do that! While others dislike her, they still want to keep reading to see what outlandish idea she’ll embrace next.  

I ask my characters, both kind and loving people, as well as the unscrupulous, to bring attitude and energy to the story.  Their personality conflicts make for a faster moving, often hilarious scene.  I hope my readers enjoy some good laughs along with a touch of inspiration and reflection.  

As Paddington and Terri Sue Ellen’s writer, I’m interested in knowing what you think.  If you have the time, please email me at: eagleslair53@gmail.com or contact me at Author Central at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07CTZCK6W. Thanks for your time!  Your opinion means a lot to me!

Sequel to Because I’m Worth It…

Sophisticated laughs with a down-home twist!

The funny complexities of life pair with devious ideas to destroy a marriage. Skye Topple finds himself embarking on a journey to sort through the shambles of his life’s choices. When the bizarre son of a new business partner covets his wife, he’s willing to move on and makes a series of decisions that could go in his favor . . . or not. How dangerous is he and how far will he go to get what he wants?

An eccentric ruse prevails, sporting wicked humor as the Covington family sells out their affluent consultant firm in an attempt to rise to prominence in the world of real estate.

Linda Nielsen is the author of Because I’m Worth It. A former model, she also founded California Contemporaries, a temporary employment agency in Monterey and served as a military representative with the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce before writing her first book.

As a business owner, Linda found herself mentally storing away bits and pieces of information about the people who passed through her offices over the years, and many of these folks still influence her characters today.

Now retired, Linda lives close to wine country on the top of a mountain in the Sierra Foothills with her husband, seven furry critters, and limited cell phone service. Now she finally has time to write! Find all of her books at her Author Central page, or if you’d like to drop her a line, feel free to contact her via email at eagleslair53@gmail.com.

LIFE ROLLS ALONG
By Linda Nielsen
321 pp. TouchPoint Press. $16.99.