This is Day 1 of my Character Reveal series for my next book—title TBA soon. I’ll post a new character and a one-question T/F Quiz each Wednesday until I run out of characters. Those who comment most AND answer the most questions correctly will receive a signed book (bookplate sent separately-50 copies up for grabs) and a chance at 1 of 2 $10.00 Gift Certificates.
At the end of each month, I’ll announce the winners. The books and the CG’s will be sent out upon publication. Sorry, but I can only send books to U.S. However, I have plans for my international readers later. Promise.
To win:
1. leave a comment
2. in that comment answer the quiz question by typing in the correct letter (A, B, C).
Meet Etta Princeton
Pink. That’s the color Etta Princeton—Shoshone Princess—adores. Her nails. Her house. If she had a car, it would be pink, too. She doesn’t need rose-colored glasses to look at the world, that’s how she sees it already. Generous. Kind. Only nineteen, she’s a daughter who listens to her heart and her mom. She’s there for friends no matter what, so everyone should have an Etta in his or her life.
I often thought while writing this book, “how lucky Libby is to have Etta.” And if this story continued beyond these seventy thousand words, Etta and Libby would become the best of friends. I can guarantee that.
When I write a story, I often fall in love with the minor characters as much as I do the main ones. They add the texture and so many opportunities to reveal the MC’s. In fact, I don’t think of them as minor at all. They are the warp to the weft of the story, and without them, I’d have no story at all.
In this new book, Etta is introduced at the beginning, and she plays an important part, helping my MC grow from terribly damaged to whole again.
I think Etta will be one character readers will want more of.
Quiz: What famous book features these minor, but memorable characters? Aragorn, Pippin and Merry.
A. Star Wars
B. Great Expectations
C. Lord of the Rings
J Lenni Dorner says
Sounds like she’d be friends with Jez from my Existence books. (Chapter 8 of book 1 describes the pinkness of her bedroom.)
🥞 breakfast
🍳 second breakfast
C 😉
C. Lee McKenzie says
We should introduce our characters and see how they get along.
Alexa says
Minor characters are the loveliest! In most of the stories I read or watch, they’re the ones that grab my heart the most.
C. Lord of the Rings!!!
Alexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes, I agree. They provide so much texture to the story. Thanks so much for jumping in and discovering my minor characters.
Lisa says
Lord of The Rings. Etta almost sounds too good to be true. Makes me wonder what her back story would be.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I have some ideas, but I haven’t had time to really dig too deeply into her.
Nick Wilford says
The answer is C. I think you’re right saying that minor characters need to be just as well developed. They often provide good ideas and are a sounding board or foil, without them the MC wouldn’t have a journey.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Nick,
I agree. They give the writer so many chances to flesh out their MC .
JQ Rose says
C
Looking forward to meeting your characters. What a clever way to introduce us to them. Etta sounds like a special girl. Anxious to learn more about her.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thank you, JQ. I’ll be interested in seeing how people react to these characters.
Patty Josephine says
C
I love my minor characters too. They have such personalities.
C. Lee McKenzie says
And they’re fun to tuck around the main character, too, aren’t they?
Elizabeth Seckman says
Lord of the Rings.
I also love my minor characters. I think I take more chances with their personalities and add more quirks.
C. Lee McKenzie says
That’s interesting. I’ll have to think if I also do that.
Toni says
C
Jackie says
I definitely want to read more about Etta. I understand about your feelings about your characters that you write about. You would need to in order to write a good book. By the way the answer is C
C. Lee McKenzie says
You’re so right. And when people ask me which one is my favorite, I tell them that’s like asking which of my children I love more. I can’t make that kind of choice. Thanks for joining and playing the quiz game.
Jackie O'Donnell says
I agree! How can you pick a favorite? They are all special in their own way. Sometimes we don’t always agree with our characters, but we love them all the same.
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – I’ve a friend here whose daughter has named her new daughter ‘Etta’ – excellent to read – I’d never come across the name before … now I’ll always relate their Etta to yours … and the character has been set. Congratulations – and C … cheers Hilary
C. Lee McKenzie says
Serendipity! My congratulations to your friend and her daughter. Welcome to the world, Etta.
Sherry says
The answer is C.
I can just picture Etta all in pink. I love she listens not only to her heart but more importantly to her Mom.
C. Lee McKenzie says
She’s a good daughter. I was charmed by her love of pink. She’s someone who’s not afraid to be herself.
Patricia says
The answer is C. Lord of the Rings. I do believe that Etta is a delightful character that I would love to meet.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I hope you will “meet” her, Patricia. You’ll get along famously.
Kathy says
LOTR! And Etta sounds like a wonderful friend for your MC! I can’t wait to hear about the other characters in your book.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thank you,Kathy. It’s fun introducing these people to the world.
Tami says
C Looking forward to more of Etta
Bish Denham says
I believe I may know this story! I’m glad it’s coming out. LOTR is the answer to your question.💖
C. Lee McKenzie says
Yes. I think you might recognize it, Bish. I’ve chewed on this one for a while, haven’t I?
Rebecca Douglass says
C. LOTR. Etta sounds like the friend we all need. Leaves me wondering when the other shoe will drop.
C. Lee McKenzie says
About that shoe…well, we can’t have a good tale without some obstacles, can we?
Liz A. says
Of course, Etta might merit her own book later on… 😉 (And the answer is C, I think.)
C. Lee McKenzie says
Perhaps, but she’ll probably we fifty before this author actually gets around to giving her a story of her own.
Natalie Aguirre says
Etta sounds like she’d be a great main character. And the answer is C, Lord of the Rings.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I think so, too. I love characters who are little quirky and loveable.
Elephants Child says
I have become very, very attached to the subsidiary characters in your books too. I still wonder how some of them got on after I closed the book.
And C. Of course.
Mind you the character in Lord of the Rings I wanted to know more about was the Ents. And more particularly the Entwives.
C. Lee McKenzie says
The Ents were fabulous. Tolkien should have given them a book of their own with the Entwives in the lead. I agree.
Thank you for being such a great supporter. May I clone you?
Elephants Child says
HOW I wish he had written that book.
Clone me? Go right ahead but be warned it is a very mixed bag. Good, bad and decidedly ugly.
Tyrean Martinson says
Ettas, and all secondary characters who encourage the main characters, are wonderful! I love her name and your description of her.
And, the answer, I am pretty sure is C.
🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thank you, Tyrean. I’m heartened by the response to Etta. I may have a good solid minor character in her.
Jemi Fraser says
The Ettas of the world are worth everything! As a teacher, there’s nothing better when you have an Etta in your class – they make every day and everyone better!
LotR, of course!
C. Lee McKenzie says
I bet you breath a sign of joy when you see an Etta show up in class.
Michael Di Gesu says
Hi Lee,
ETTA sounds like an awesome character!!!! And you are right…everyone should have an ETTA in their lives!
Answer to question. C Lord of the Rings.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Let’s go out and find one for each of us! Thanks for the visit, Michael.
Sheri Sudweeks says
C
Looking forward to the title reveal.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Me too!
John says
C Nice description of Etta. BTW, I had an aunt Etta
C. Lee McKenzie says
She was probably as great as my character. Love that name.
Mike Boyd says
This looks like fun, Lee. The quiz answer is C. And in case you ever need one, a pretty cool anagram for Etta Princeton is “ancient potter.”
See you next week.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’ll keep that anagram in mind. It is quite fitting. Thanks, Mike.
Sandra Cox says
C.
You know there are some books I’ve written that I’m more attached to a secondary character than the primary.
Enjoyed getting to know your character.
C. Lee McKenzie says
They do seem to grow on you, don’t they? Thanks for the visit, Sandra.
Mary Aalgaard says
Answer: C
Your book sounds wonderful. You are a terrific author, getting to the emotion of the story and what makes people tick.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I’m so pleased you’re playing the game with me today, Mary. Thanks so much.
Erin Fanning says
Congratulations on your new book! I look forward to reading it–I’ve so enjoyed your previous works! (And the answer is C.)
C. Lee McKenzie says
Hi Erin. We’ve hung out in this business together for quite a while now. Thank you joining me today!
Cathrina says
C. Lord of the Rings.
I love the name Etta!
Good Luck, Lee.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Glad you like the name. Our character name themselves, don’t they? Glad you stopped in today,