Multiple characters

[Naomi Hirahara]

I have my six main characters in my first chapter. Needless to say, it's getting confusing (not in my mind, but perhaps the reader). I have to have all these six in the first chapter. Any tricks of the trade? I do have a listing of the six in the beginning of the book. (The list makes sense, it's not merely a list of characters.)

[Naomi Hirahara]

I miss UglyTown, too, Donna. Jim Pascoe is doing some interesting things in the manga realm, so you'll be hearing more of him.

Keep us posted on how you are handling the meeting of your characters. In the past, I've looked at books as diverse as Barbara Kingslover's THE POISONWOOD BIBLE to Terry McMillan's WAITING TO EXHALE to see how multiple POVs are handled. Thrillers more than mysteries seem to have these point of view shifts. I'm currently reading Valerie Taylor's THE GIRLS IN 3-B. I've been on this 1950s female noir kick. It's so awesome. If you haven't already, I would recommend you check out IN A LONELY PLACE and this Taylor book. I read BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING and the protagonist frustrated the heck out of me, but perhaps because I've seen her qualities in people that I know.

[Donna Moore]

I have THE GIRLS IN 3B somewhere around - it looks like good fun. I know what you mean about BUNNY LAKE. I've never read IN A LONELY PLACE but loved the movie. Then, of course, there's Vera Caspary's LAURA and BEDELIA which are great And for a really good femme fatale, Gil Brewer's A TASTE FOR SIN. Have you read that one?

[Naomi Hirahara]

No, but thanks for the recommendation.

[Eric Stone]

I'd just stick with it, write it out, see what happens and then see what, if anything, needs sorting out once the first draft is done. It could well be that by the end of the book you'll know all six characters so well that you'll be in a better position to clearly differentiate them and make them memorable from the first chapter on.

[Naomi Hirahara]

I think that you're absolutely right, Mr. Ishi.

[Jeannie Holmes]

In my first chapter, I give the antagonist's and the protagonist's POV in separate scenes, but introduce two other main characters through the protag's interaction with them. The fifth main character shows up in chapter two. Each of them gets their own POV throughout the book but I stick to one POV for each scene. All scenes deal in some way with the protag's involvement with the murder investigation so she's always at the center of the reader's attention and the investigation even if she's not present in the scene.

[Naomi Hirahara]

Sounds interesting.

[Jude Hardin]

Send in some guys with guns and kill at least three of them. ;)

BTW, congrats on the Anthony Award nomination for Snakeskin Shamisen!!!

[Naomi Hirahara]

Thanks, Jude!

[I. J. Parker]

Oh, yes. Ditto! Sorry, I'm late.