CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

The original Charlie Barker

My friend Beth calls Bear Claus, my holiday novella, ‘Bear Lite’ since it is not quite as dark as my full length novels … even a seasonally depressed grinch like me doesn’t want to rain on your Christmas.

There are a lot of characters in the PI Bear Jacobs series. I suppose this is because it actually started with Fun House Chronicles. Many of the folks who appeared there have just moved along with me.

With each new story, I learn more about them. For instance, I didn’t know until Bear Claus that Lily had once been a dealer in Vegas. The biggest expansion of character in this novella is in Bear’s roommate, Charlie Barker (who was named for my dearly departed dachshund). I already knew Charlie fancies himself a lady’s man. And that he has sores in a very private place. But in Bear Claus, I discovered he is a pretty good handyman, a decent cook, and a woeful failure at holding his booze.

BTW, Bear Claus is $2.99 on Amazon. But if you wait til November 14 or 15, you can get it free. Consider me Mrs. Claus if you must, but never say it to my face.