Afton

I was going to wait until tomorrow to talk about my main character in my novel, but I thought I'd go ahead and share.  I knew what she looked like very early on, but she didn't have a name.  One day I was listening to  a Bruce Honrsby and the Range song "Mandolin Rain".  I thought the line was "Afton, she'd smile...."  which I now know is "I laughed and she'd smile..."  I thought that the name Afton would work well for my main girl.  It's a Celtic name, which is a very important part of the story- and it seemed to "fit" her.  It cracks me up now that I named my central character from incorrect lyrics, but that's the way it goes sometimes! 

I have had people ask me why I went with a girl for my central person in the story.  My answer is this:  There are so many great male heroes in literature, and that's great, but I wanted a girl to be center stage! It has been a journey of discovery to write a high adventure story from a girl's perspective. 

I was talking to my husband last night and we were discussing how in less than two years I have put together characters, animals, places, political issues, and all of the other things this kind of story needs.  ( Including maps and a vocabulary list!)  On the days that I want to throw up my hands and give up, it's good to look at where I've been.  I remember when I had written the first half of the first chapter and Afton and her best friend ran into a clearing and I had to stop.  I had NO idea what was there in that clearing!  It bothered me for days.  When I finally sat down one day and it came to me, I marveled at how in the world I had figured it out.   Now I know that what I saw was the only thing that could have been in the clearing...but at the time it could have been anything. 

My encouragement to you today is to not get so freaked out about where you are heading!  Take a moment to look back and see just how far you have come! 

Tomorrow I will talk about the band RED and why I'm always going on and on and on about them.  There is a good reason.  Check back in and find out!  Until then--take care!