For me one of the hardest questions to answer about my writing is who is your favorite character? While I can’t really pick a favorite, I feel closer to some than to others.
Vincent Dilorenzo of the Ancient Blood series is definitely one of those. He’s a guy I didn’t like much at first, but as he started developing, he became a surprising character. What I like most about him is that he’s fooled so many of the people in his world and he did the same to me.
Having been raised in an upper class family in Ancient Rome, Vincent started out with all the best things in life. He had wealth, power, and the advantages of being an Immaculate vampire (one born of two hybrid vampires, rather than made by an exchange of blood). Vincent indulged his wild side and he committed acts that shamed him. Over the years, he came to hate his privileged background. He learned that wealth, noble blood, and even supernatural powers aren’t the most important things in life.
Vincent became so disgusted by his snobby background and personal weaknesses that he recreated himself as the boorish, smartass tough guy who both irritates yet compels other characters. Vincent has been a warrior, an accomplished practitioner of magic, a concert pianist, a villain and a hero. He’s the character who often says what others are thinking. He’s the guy who likes to overeat, fart, ride motorcycles, make love with his wife, spend time with his child, and risk his life for his friends. Vincent is a contradiction and so much fun to write because there’s nothing he won’t do or say. Just about anything, whether it’s crazy, rude, disgusting, wise or sweet can be in character for him.
Have any characters that you’ve read or written taken you by surprise? What is it that makes you feel closer to them than to others?
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