Since I commented on Holland's characterization last week I'll assume this author's note is for me, and I'm touched. 😉
In seriousness, I've written characters I didn't like before, and it's not easy. Hell, I've written characters I DO like - my "hero" character, even, who might have held a few attitudes I disagreed with. One character - European - who was a "hero" character was racist, and, when in his first encounter with Asians he said, "their eyes were malformed," I stopped for several minutes deciding if I was going to keep that horrible line. I did, but the next time I had a viewpoint character encounter Asians for the first time... Well, he was much more egalitarian, and said many nice things about the Japanese. I'll note this was a Cutlass narrative and the same chapter in which I checked with Laura if she'd be cool with me characterizing one of her characters - serving as occupying Governor of Japan (and now NPC) - as having largely assimilated into the Japanese culture. She thought about it, and said, "Sounds good to me!"
But, years later, I still feel icky about the "malformed."
Speaking of icky - Hutchinson! Yeesh. Mostly saying the "right things," but I don't trust him.
Nice hints of exposition. Killed Washington, eh? And what is the "Council of Five?" We probably won't find out, but it's always fun to get those historical clues.
Since I commented on Holland's characterization last week I'll assume this author's note is for me, and I'm touched. 😉
In seriousness, I've written characters I didn't like before, and it's not easy. Hell, I've written characters I DO like - my "hero" character, even, who might have held a few attitudes I disagreed with. One character - European - who was a "hero" character was racist, and, when in his first encounter with Asians he said, "their eyes were malformed," I stopped for several minutes deciding if I was going to keep that horrible line. I did, but the next time I had a viewpoint character encounter Asians for the first time... Well, he was much more egalitarian, and said many nice things about the Japanese. I'll note this was a Cutlass narrative and the same chapter in which I checked with Laura if she'd be cool with me characterizing one of her characters - serving as occupying Governor of Japan (and now NPC) - as having largely assimilated into the Japanese culture. She thought about it, and said, "Sounds good to me!"
But, years later, I still feel icky about the "malformed."
Speaking of icky - Hutchinson! Yeesh. Mostly saying the "right things," but I don't trust him.
Nice hints of exposition. Killed Washington, eh? And what is the "Council of Five?" We probably won't find out, but it's always fun to get those historical clues.