Monday, December 20, 2010

Monday Mulligan Stew-conjuring up a hero

I hit ten titles left in comments and delivered a toy to the place collecting toys and now I've picked a winner of goodies-Terra Pennington. Terra e-mail me at patyjag@gmail.com so I can find out which book you would like and get your mailing address.

If I can get ten more titles before the 24th I'll deliver another toy and pick another winner. (See big red package in the upper left hand corner of blog)

I've currently been reading and researching for the third spirit book. I've just about nailed down the hero and in the process came across a singer I've heard mentioned but hadn't really paid much attention to- Freddie Mercury. I googled actors with mustaches looking for a face to put to my hero. I knew I wanted black hair and a full but well-groomed mustache. I came across a photo that was perfect and it said Freddie Mercury. Then I googled the name and found more-ahem- interesting photos which I quickly wiped from my mind because I liked the first photo. Then I listened to some of his songs. He had a really nice voice. A couple of those will be mixed in with my Native American music as my playlist for Spirit of the Sky.

I don't always find photos for my main characters but sometimes it helps me to get a better feel for the character I'm creating.

When you read a book do you like to build the character in your own mind or see a facsimile on the cover and use that?

18 comments:

Beth Caudill said...

Paty

I love Queen and Freddy Mercury. I tend think of him as more Scifi / Fantasy than historical but that's because Queen did sound tracks for Flash Gordan and Highlander.

He is an interesting fellow.

Keena Kincaid said...

Paty,
Thanks for the smile and laugh on a Monday morning. I, too, typically look for photos to describe my characters--not always actors, but sometimes.

Freddie Mercury definitely has a great mustache. He had a fabulous voice, too. There's a recording of him singing opera. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPx26zj16t0

Anonymous said...

Hello, Paty.
I suspect if you were not familiar with Freddie, you discovered he'd be more of a M/M romance kind of guy. :)
I like to "build my own" when it comes to heroes. I tend to like covers where the H/H's faces aren't visible-- bodies, yes, faces, no.
Freddie does have a great mustache.
Sam Shepard and Tom Selleck have great mustaches too.
Cheers, Kelly
marwhitpinky12@yahoo.com

Isabel Roman said...

Freddy Mercury is a god of music. I was devistated when he died, but the tribute to him was awesome. All of Queen's music is worth listening to, it's just that good. I recently read that Sacha Baron Cohen might play him (with the rest of Queen's permission) in an upcoming movie.

I never associate him with historicals, but that mustache might make me rethink the western hero thing.

Paty Jager said...

Beth, If I were using him for anything other than the picture, he wouldn't be in a historical unless it was a time travel as a secondary character. LOL

Paty Jager said...

LOL Keena, After the initial that's the pic.. and I researched I had to forget what I learned about him other than I did really like his voice. Growing up in a small community with one radio station that played ten year-old country music, I hadn't a clue who he was. Thanks for the Youtube video.

Paty Jager said...

Kelley, yes, after researching him I discovered more than I wanted to know and still keep him in mind for my hero. But the initial photo is what I wanted, and I know Sam and Tom have great mustaches and are great western hero icons, but the photos I looked up of them didn't figure into the hero I had conjured up in my head.

Paty Jager said...

Isabel, I hadn't really listened to Queen to know who they were, but I will be now. I think it was the overall scruffiness of the photo that did it for me. The hero is a cavalry officer on a campaign. so the look just reinforced what I needed.

Moon_Pie said...

wow you must be really young! Freddie was "da bomb" back in the early 70's! I still remember all the Queen hit songs. Sometimes Biography channel runs a story on him, try to catch it.

Paty Jager said...

Moon Pie, I'm not that young. The early 70's I was in middle school, but as stated before I lived in small area that listened to the local radio station that was 10-15 years behind on Country hits. I've since heard of Queen and Freddie Mercury but hadn't really thought about what kind of music they made.
I come form a bluegrass/country musician family. Not me. I played the clarinet and can't sing a note. Other than bandstand on Saturdays I wasn't around any other music.

Grace Elliot said...

Oh Freddie Mercury is just legend! I take it you havent looked too far into his history because he was gloriously gay! A huge stage presence and his music was the backdrop to my youth. So sad that he is no longer with us, but glad that his memory lives on.
Grace x

M Pax said...

I miss Freddie. I was a huge Queen fan. Saw them in concert in the 70's. His voice still gives me chills.

Lilly Gayle said...

I love Queen and was shocked when I learned Freddy was gay. He was so cute...despite the stretchy pants.

Adding Bridled Hearts to my must read list.

Paty Jager said...

Grace, I did look into his history and that's why I'm sticking to just the pic as my hero icon and not Freddie's background. His background wouldn't do well for a cavalry man in 1877.

Mary, I've just started listening to his music and I agree he had a fabulous voice.

Lily, thanks for chiming in and adding Bridled Heart to you list.

site angel said...

Hi, Paty.
Freddie is a handsome model for a hero.
I keep a photo of a guy that looks like my hero handy to inspire me, too!
Happy Holidays.
Whitley

Paty Jager said...

Happy Holidays Whitley! Thanks for stopping by!

Laurie Sanders said...

Hi Paty,

I found your blog via Savvy Authors email loop and visited while putting together the calendar of events that I do every day for my own blog at (http://www.blackvelvetseductions.com/readers_blog/)

I've listed your little contest in my calendar of events on the blog...hope it brings you lots of people who all leave a comment with a title. :-)

Be sure to email me off the blog or visit my blog to find out how to get all of your events, contests, interviews listed in the calendar of events.

Outlaw in Petticoats, Marshall in Petticoats are two of the titles that come to mind after looking at your blog...I know there are a lot more. :-)

Good luck with your giveaway I hope you get to give away a lot of goodies for the foster kids. Having worked for a time as a court appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children I know what an important and good thing this is for the kids who are in foster care.

Paty Jager said...

Hi Laurie,

Thank you for leaving titles and understanding the need for these kids. Also for the mention of your blog. I'll check it out and send you info. Have a Wonderful Holiday!