I just found out something that may or may not influence Buddy losing his mother’s house to pay for nursing home fees. An article on the site Care.com gives facts on eldercare law, and is titled, “What You Don’t Know about Elder Law Can Hurt You: An Interview with Stephen Spano” Editor for Care.com, Ronnie Friedland states:
“In Massachusetts, if a grown child cared for a parent for at least two years, making institutionalization of that parent unnecessary, and lived in the same home as the parent, then that home may not be taken to pay for the adult’s nursing home costs. This is something of great significance to many families that a non-CELA may not be aware of.”
If this law was active in 2008, then Buddy shouldn’t have lost the house. Not a problem, as it gives me an opening for another scene. 
I’ve already started checking into how long the law has been active.
The Intelligent Design Theory becomes the topic of an in-depth discussion one evening. It all starts when Father Sean Cody comes to dinner. Ian brings up some interesting points about the process of natural selection.
Amazing discovery! A contact through “Linked In” listed as Geri Higgins contacted me through email. She is President / CEO at PORTFOLIO Kitchen & Home in Kansas City, Missouri. How cool is that! It seems she was at a party recently and a guest told her about my book character Geri Higgins. This is the first time that’s happened.
I have the song “Hiding Place” on MySpace (same version as the link below), but only recently found it to buy. I am thrilled, to say the least, because I’ve always envisioned Lauren and Buddy singing it during the Mass one Sunday for Father Cody’s birthday. On different occasions there is a regular group of orchestra performers who play for the church at Bryan and Lauren’s invitation.
How come Buddy is singing with her instead of Bryan? First of all, the male voice sounds more like Buddy would sound. And second, Bryan is trying to get Buddy over his timid behavior when he sings in front of an audience of strangers. Bryan figures that singing with Lauren (who happens to have a powerful voice), will boost Buddy’s confidence.
Of course Father Cody is delighted. He often requests a few of his favorite pieces after the service when most of the congregation has gone home.
Enjoy
07 You Are My Hiding Place
What would Lauren McFadden be doing on a typical July 3rd? She’d be getting ready for the big 4th of July concert in Boston, of course. I never really make it clear that she plays with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, but sometimes also plays as a guest performer with the Boston Pops. It’s not as if either group has a shortage of cellists. I just like having her play with one group or the other when it’s convenient to the story line.
Cello and Orchids by Tinyfroglet on Flickr
Next weekend, July 8th, marks the opening of the Tanglewood 2011 season. How I wish I could be there.
Not all of my book characters have a real life “model” for looks and personality, but some do. There are actors and everyday people out there who have so inspired me that I just had to use them. I won’t divulge all my little secrets, but here’s one example:
The character of architect John Reynolds was molded after the real-life actor Jim Troesh (a younger version than what’s shown in this article photo, and with dark hair). I first saw Jim on Highway to Heaven”, an old TV series from the 1980′s, starring Michael Landon. Jim played the part of an attorney. When I was creating John Reynolds (around 2002, respectively), Jim Troesh popped into my head.
Why Jim Troesh? I was so impressed that Landon had used an actor with a disability that Troesh’s character stayed in my mind all those years. Think about the time span—the years between (somewhere in) the 1980′s until the time I began writing The McFadden Series. That’s a long time! FYI: Troesh sustained a spinal cord injury at age 14, at the C4-5 level, I believe it was.
Sometimes it takes a tremendous amount of work to create a believable character. Of coarse, having a real living person helps with some of the details. I’ve never seen Troesh in any other role other than the character he played on “Highway to Heaven”. As that character, he has the perfect looks and personality of John Reynolds. In fact, I’ve never considered anyone else for the part.
As for Geri Higgins, who eventually falls in love with John Reynolds in the story, I don’t have a model for her. Sorry about that. I’ll have to rely on my own creativity for her.
There are certain aspects of writing that demand accuracy. One of my biggest pet peeves when watching television is a character that’s been taken out of character. I’m not saying that characters can’t do “off the wall” things now and then, but a good writer will make the diversion believable.
Another pet peeve is poor pretending. Michael Landon was a fantastic actor; everything he produced or starred in turned to gold. I still watch “Little House on the Prairie” reruns in the evening. But I have to look away when Charles (played by Landon) plays the violin (fiddle).
As a violinist it makes me cringe to watch him do such a miserable job of faking it. Michael Landon went to great lengths to see that every detail in the show was proper for that time period. Why on Earth didn’t he take a few violin lessons or at least get some tutoring from a violinist—or fiddler—before making such an awful appearance on the show? He plays the fiddle in a number of episodes and none of the segments where he plays are believable.
Sometimes, writer intrusion throws a character out of sync. I’ve been asked a number of times if I’m going to make a character do this or do that. I don’t “make” them do anything; once a character comes to life he (or she) does his own thing. That’s the fun of writing a novel and it’s where many new writers fall short. Characters are regular people. Each has a past—a history. Each has unique behaviors, a personality, and so forth. Each has an opinion, dreams and goals, and relates to the other characters in a particular way. Each character has his own voice, his own style and mannerisms.
That’s why it’s so important for a writer NOT to take a character out of character. The moment it happens, the reader feels let down.
I’ll write more later; it’s after 1:00 a.m.
Eros and Psyche
In a scene of growing passion, Lauren envisions Bryan as Eros, the Greek god of love. I guess that would make her Psyche, the beautiful Greek princess with whom he fell in love.
