So a little while back, one of my awesome readers (who is a writer herself) tagged me in a fun writing prompt called: What My Characters Would Think of Me.

Now, I must confess I’ve never participated in blog writing prompts where you tagteam other writers. The old fuddy-dud in me, considered it was a bit too reminiscient of Facebook tagging, which I notoriously rebel against. But when it comes to blogging, I see it more for what it really is…

Comaraderie and support for fellow authors and writers.

With that in mind, I’m going to jump right into the rules of the game:

• Link back to whoever tagged you. (I’m looking at you, Eowyn Unpopular!)
• Link back to the original tag. (Isabelle Knight)
• Share the Graphic below on your blog.
• Share one hilarious fact about your WIP.
• Share what at least four of your characters (the Main Character, the Villain, the Lovable (or perhaps Sarcastic or whatever their personality is) Side Character, and A Character of Your Choosing) would think of you.
• Tag at least five people who would enjoy taking part (you can tag more if you want).

Well, I have multiple WIPs going right now, so this proves somewhat challenging. But I’ll focus on my third novel, Stone of Division, which I am currently prepping for revision to republish in a second edition.

I love humor and feel that interjecting it, especially in emotionally heavy novels, not only entertains readers, but motivates them to press on through the darker stuff with that subtle hint of hope.

In Stone of Division, there is a scene where my primary protagonist, Brendan of Desmond, is faced with a legal dispute to settle between to comical characters: the High Sencaidh of Cashel, and his squatter friend.

As a head nod to such endearing secondary characters that we’re all fond of, I pictured the old Sencaidh as a kind of Michaleen Oge Flynn, from the Quiet Man, but with a frizzing ring of wild, white, hair about his balding pate, and a healthy girth from enjoying the rich food he so deeply loves.

The squatter was none other in my mind than James Nesbitt’s Bofur, from the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Of course, he’d look decidedly less dwarvish, being a tall, lanky Irishman, but still bearing that grand mustache and rollicking Irish lilt.

Imagining those two going at one another exchanging their verbal blows, “You straw man!” or “ye stump-shanked ale-wafter!”, always brings a smile to my face.

The Main Character

That would be Brendan of Desmond, AKA Brendan mac Gara.

Well, aside from him being decidedly irritated witih me for all the trouble I’ve caused him (we’ll pretend he doesn’t know about all these things, and credits them to fate), Brendan would likely be grateful that he has another ally in me, and conspire with me about any missions he’s tasked with in the future. We might also bemoan the lack of artistry in bardic storytelling these days. To which he would likely reprimand me that I need to be spending more time building up my memorization skills so that I can recite stories from memory like a true bard.

To which I would respond, “Hey, buddy, I’m not the one with a photographic memory. Lest you forget it’s not so easy for the rest of us mere mortals.”

The Villain

The dastardly Faelon of the Ui Oenegusso. Ah, yes. He would likely seek my demise, since I brought about his. But to be fair, I gave him a good long stretch, and a couple near miraculous saves–dare I say resurrections–before he met his grizzly end.

The Loveable Side Character

There are always a number of these in the story. But Svava (Alena), would be the most loveable. At least to Brendan.

Admittedly, I’m a sucker for romance, so Svava would be grateful to me for giving her a second chance at that, and with such a handsome Brehon to boot. But I have a feeling she’d gripe at me about her older brother Tiarnán. I mean, he went from resolute protector to thorn in her side, in no time flat.

We’d probably need a long sit-down before I could get through to her the true nature of her brother’s own wounds, which led to his protective antagonism against Brendan. Plus, lets face it, Brendan orchestrated a few things that earned him trouble with Svava’s family. So he had a sound thrashing coming.

A Character of My Choosing

One of my favorite characters is Gideon mac Davan, and his personality really comes out shining in this novel. I had a great deal of fun developing him in Stone of Division.

Gideon, like many others, would be irritated with me at times, and rightfully so. I put him through the refining fire in the past few books, and this one is no exception. But a hero doesn’t come out shining until he’s been burned and burnished a bit.

We both share common convictions, so he’d know I have his back, and I would trust him to have mine in any rough patch.

So there you have it, Dear Reader. A fun foray behind the scenes of my current WIP, all thanks to fellow writers and lovers of story. Before I close with the tagging required in this adventure, I do want to assure my devoted clan members that I am faithfully working to republish my novels as soon as feasibly possible. The road to Indie publishing is arduous and the process long. You will have noticed that all my novels are no longer available online, and there’s only a few select brick and morter locations holding paperbacks still for sale. I have a small supply left of the old versions as well. So if you’re looking for paperbacks, you can still contact me at mnstroh@mnstroh.com to purchase copies. Supplies are limited, though, and once they’re gone, they’re gone. God willing, my hope is to begin releasing revised and new editions of novels in the Tale of the Clans series starting in 2027. With that, I’m tagging some fantastic authors to carry on this fun adventure into our WIPs. They are, of course, under no obligation to continue the game. Many are deep in their own deadlines, preparing to bring new novels to light. But I would be remiss if I didn’t point you to them and their fantastic books!

• Johnnie Alexander — Award-winning, Bestselling novelist of Historical & Contemporary Fiction
• Sophia L. Hanson — Author, Editor, World Builder
• Crystal Caudill — Author of Dangerously Good Historical Romance
• Kathy Brasby — Author extrodanaire and former journalist
• Rachael M. Colby — Award-winning writer and soon to be author!