tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post557533419105177904..comments2024-03-27T23:13:43.597-05:00Comments on Prairie Rose Publications: Letting Go Of A Beloved Character by Sarah J. McNealLivia J Washburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958199886826207363noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-37708101351242185632016-02-03T15:14:46.877-06:002016-02-03T15:14:46.877-06:00Well I have a little time left with Banjo, Cheryl....Well I have a little time left with Banjo, Cheryl. I'm writing his son, Kit's story right now. Banjo's cousin, Kyle, is facing the death of his father, Teekonka, as well. You have Hank Wilding's story on your desk. Banjo played a very important role in that one. But after Kit and Kyle, it will be time for me to let go. Although the elders are fading from the series, their kids andSarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-78440147231027074952016-02-03T15:01:49.634-06:002016-02-03T15:01:49.634-06:00Kristy, I love the way you said this. As I have be...Kristy, I love the way you said this. As I have begun to read what you and others have to say, I am becoming convinced that a fade away is the best way to go. The characters can always remember him and even quote him as the series moves further into the future.<br />Thank you so much for your input, Kristy.Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-57075048096913354292016-02-03T14:59:01.672-06:002016-02-03T14:59:01.672-06:00Some of this confusion is more about the lack of h...Some of this confusion is more about the lack of historical knowledge on the part of your readers than about your writing. The Wildings, including Banjo, have already crossed over into the 20th century. I remember my dad talking about how it was living in a world (1920's) with people riding horses and automobiles. When Banjo left the ranch in Wyoming to look for his father in NYC, he too, Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-28013864777008136222016-02-03T14:42:57.623-06:002016-02-03T14:42:57.623-06:00That's an idea, Barb. Or I could have him come...That's an idea, Barb. Or I could have him come in dreams sometimes with sage advice. His sons really know what their dad would say, they just might need reminding. They could also comfort themselves with things like :Dad used to say..." Thanks Barb. I'll give this some thought.<br />I appreciate you coming and sharing your idea with me.<br />Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-89649724965486917922016-02-03T14:28:02.439-06:002016-02-03T14:28:02.439-06:00Oh yeah, Doris. Doyle had Moriarty and Sherlock go...Oh yeah, Doris. Doyle had Moriarty and Sherlock go over a cliff to their deaths--but later, brought back Sherlock. He just stopped writing about Sherlock.<br />What's the name of your series, Doris?<br />I could have another character become the patriarch full of wisdom and common sense advice. It wouldn't be the same though.<br />Thank you so much for visiting my blog and commenting, Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-69925168375966269992016-02-03T14:27:05.841-06:002016-02-03T14:27:05.841-06:00Hmmm...good question, Sarah. I have not written a ...Hmmm...good question, Sarah. I have not written a series such as your Wildings so I've never had to face having one of my characters die. I do remember, in Rosemary Rogers's series (Sweet Savage Love was the first in the series--I think there were 3 of those with Steve and Ginny) she wrote about their granddaughter in a later book, not really part of that series, and brought Steve and Cheryl Piersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18116526340220274282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-64500501107290364172016-02-03T14:22:56.495-06:002016-02-03T14:22:56.495-06:00Oh Gail, I think you should give a series a try. O...Oh Gail, I think you should give a series a try. Of course you'll end up in my situation with a character I've come to love too much to let go. LOL I suppose if you limited the series to a trilogy, you wouldn't have to figure out what to do in the event that a character is getting too old to carry on. <br />Thanks so much for coming by and commenting.<br />Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-53713723068922906012016-02-03T14:18:56.755-06:002016-02-03T14:18:56.755-06:00It is, Rain. I stopped mentioning Harmonica Joe an...It is, Rain. I stopped mentioning Harmonica Joe and Lola after I put them on a vacation in The Beast of Hazard. I let them fade away. Banjo is now in his 70's and his time is coming. He is such a profound part of the stories. I don't know if I want to give him a funeral, a death scene, or maybe have a character visit his grave or just say something like "I wish he was still with us Sarah J. McNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17749991094677728042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-43219185570081657542016-02-03T11:18:58.345-06:002016-02-03T11:18:58.345-06:00I've generally avoided the death of a main cha...I've generally avoided the death of a main character. In some ways, I like to believe that they live forever because in that other world where stories reside, I think they do.Kristy McCaffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17363740420272046549noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-40040990282875838752016-02-03T11:10:54.639-06:002016-02-03T11:10:54.639-06:00I think we remember Banjo more because of his name...I think we remember Banjo more because of his name. A unique name for a unique character.<br />No, I've never let anyone die. When the offspring grow up, they might get their own story, but I cannot let the older ones die...they just disappear?<br />I have written novels or short stories about an offspring that was not included in the series. Maybe that's a mistake, because a series--in Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16272417114895975742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-5612573902885050522016-02-03T11:08:14.733-06:002016-02-03T11:08:14.733-06:00Make him a ghost who visits the next generation le...Make him a ghost who visits the next generation leaving little tidbits of sage advice. what's the old saying, "times change people don't." We could all use a little bit of help from the other side now and again.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09396020400398531264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-31715404472813610302016-02-03T10:50:41.314-06:002016-02-03T10:50:41.314-06:00Oh Sarah, it's just like losing a part of ours...Oh Sarah, it's just like losing a part of ourselvees. Even when Doyle tried to kill his character, his readers just wouldn't let it happen. I don't know that I could do it, but I'm early in a series of stories of Agate Gulch. May Banjo continue to be vital into the century mark. Doris McCrawRenaissance Womenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045401344374224512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-36419655269433362962016-02-03T10:33:46.184-06:002016-02-03T10:33:46.184-06:00Hi Sarah! I admire anyone who can pull together a...Hi Sarah! I admire anyone who can pull together a series, especially if it hasn't been outlined ahead of time. Yes, details that are hard to keep track of would be a challenge as well as the basic characters themselves. On the other hand, I hate saying good-bye to my characters and have often thought I should work them into a sequel. You have inspired me :-)gail jennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03191744315185086499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8927727476793944291.post-84923953149329349772016-02-03T09:53:26.359-06:002016-02-03T09:53:26.359-06:00I could face that with St. Louis in the Oregon ser...I could face that with St. Louis in the Oregon series. He is a favorite of a lot of readers, was never a hero as such. I figured I could let him get really old though ;). It would be harder with a hero and heroine but if a writer stays with a series long enough, it does have to happen. Just letting go of names like Banjo and Harmonica for the joy of writing them would have to be tough.Rain Trueaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07994628226501093880noreply@blogger.com