Happy Monday! Today I'm choosing happiness! I hope you are too.
Because I'm choosing happiness today, I decided to talk about one of the happy things I do when plotting a book. I cast my characters.
That is, I search the internet for photographs to represent the characters in my book. And not just the characters, but the settings and clothing as well!
This past week, my first full-length Regency novel, The Lost Lieutenant, released. I am excited about this story, and I thought I would show you some of the photographs that I chose to illustrate the story as I plotted it out.
Out of an abundance of caution, I have removed the pictures I posted here. I don't wish to violate any copyright laws. Instead, I have posted the pictures to a Pinterest Board, that you can visit by clicking on this link:
https://www.pinterest.com/ericavetsch/the-lost-lieutenant-inspiration-pics/
This is Johnny Lee Miller, who played Edmund Bertram in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. I chose him as the template for my hero, Evan Eldridge, because A) I like Johnny Lee Miller and B) he fit what I thought Evan would look like when he wore his "earl persona."
This is Frances O'Connor, the template for my heroine, Diana Seaton. She has just the right amount of strength and vulnerability, especially in this photo, to depict my heroine.
Diana and Evan together as the Earl and Countess of Whitelock. :)
I needed some ideas and inspiration for the dilapidated manor house that Evan inherits: White Haven. In the story, he's got to get the manor remodeled and repaired in time for a visit from the Prince Regent, and it's a monumental task.
In my mind, a totally restored White Haven would look something like this beautiful Georgian manor house.
And what Regency historical is complete without the right wardrobe? Empire waistlines, pelisses, spencers, breeches, Hessians? My heroine is the daughter of a Duke and is being introduced to society, so Diana needed snazzy clothes. And my hero is a former member of the 95th Rifles, whose uniforms were green with pewter buttons. He also got a complete makeover to turn him into a gentleman (with varying results.)
My question for you is: If you are a writer, do you 'cast' your characters with photographs?
If you're a reader, does it help you visualize the characters to see the photos they are based upon?
Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she is married to her total opposite and soul mate! When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/ where she spends way too much time!
You can Order The Lost Lieutenant at: https://amzn.to/32NYANi and pre-order The Gentleman Spy at https://amzn.to/2qOjkHD
About The Lost Lieutenant:
He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?
Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.
Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.
Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith.
About The Lost Lieutenant:
He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?
Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.
Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.
Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith.
There are several giveaways going on right now involving The Lost Lieutenant:
A JustReads Tour giveaway that includes a $25 Amazon or B&N gift card and a Bible Verse sign:
And: from I Read With Audra Publicity Tours:
Hi Erica:
ReplyDeleteI'm curious about your heroine's age. I read that it was the parents who decided at what age a given daughter would come out. Some were very young if mature for their age. I imagine it was something like the NFL football draft, where given the available talent in various positions, some juniors and sophomores enter the draft early. For them it's a better year (draft) in which to come out.
I don't like to see photos of characters because I want to imagine that characters look like what I want them to look like. There is some debate about this as some editors like to show the backs of characters on covers while others choose to show the faces.
Of course, if the face is shown and the heroine looks just like my favorite type, I may well buy the book just based on the cover alone. It is a toss up.
I've long had a theory on casting. Some authors say they really don't get going on a novel until the fifth chapter or more. They say they have to get to know the characters first and then they can really get going on the book. My view is that if a character is not right for the part and keeps objecting to things, then I will go to central casting and get a better suited character. They are out. No character is going to dictate to me.:)
One author told me the reason she had three major characters with names that all began with "R", Robert, Roger, and Richard, is that the characters insisted on those names. I gave up on that book because I could not remember who was who. I don't read to be stressed about names.
So what do you think of all this?
Vince
Vince this is me, too. I used to not want people on my covers because of this. But they do people now and I've learned to accept it.
DeleteHi, Vince, it is my understanding that the parents did decide when to allow their daughter to be brought out in Society. Fifteen to sixteen was on the early side, older than 22-23, you were getting a bit long in the tooth for a debut.
DeleteEveryone has their own ideas about depicting the hero or heroine on the cover. I don't mind, but I also don't mind disregarding what's on the cover if I have a different image in my head.
Naming so many characters with similar names is just asking readers to toss the book aside, IMO. Too much work to enjoy the story.
In Jan Karon's Mitford series, she had two characters named Esther. That got a bit confusing at times, but it also sometimes worked into the story line to get them confused.
DeleteI'm so glad you posted this today! I'm in the middle of reading The Lost Lieutenant now, so it's interesting to see your visualizations. I'm loving it, Erica! It's 12:30 a.m. here, and I'm losing sleep because I don't want to put it down!
ReplyDeleteWinnie! I love to hear that a story is keeping people up! :)
DeleteErica is the master of historical research. Anytime Erica talks about research, I'm taking notes!
DeleteOh, I want that white dress with the roses.... stinkin' gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love how you bring the visualization to life, Erica. I love historicals. Always have. There's something about the quietness of life, even a strained life in servants' or workers' jobs, without the machinations of modern times that lends itself to deepening the story.
Wonderful!!!!
Ruthy, good points. I like historicals because of the sheer volume of difficulties and problems these people had to go through, everything from giving birth on the Oregon Trail to a Regency heroine silently dying inside because she can't have the man she loves for whatever reason. Contemporary people have issues too, major ones, but we have more tools to fight with.
DeleteRuthy wouldn't it be fun to get to wear gorgeous clothes like that? I probably still wouldn't get out of my pants to put one on. I wonder if that's why weddings and proms are so over the top. IT's out only chance to dress like a princess.
DeleteI always think Historicals are a push-pull. Life was simpler...and yet, was it? I don't need a lady's maid to get me into elaborate, complicated clothing (several times a day in some cases) and I love air conditioning and my microwave oven...and yet it is those differences in how they lived that intrigues us as readers and writers of historical fiction.
DeleteErica you KNOW we wouldn't get to be the lady...we'd be the maid helping her get dressed. Or worse, the cook's helper killing rats in the kitchen!!!
DeleteI guess that's my way of saying, I'll take modern times.
DeleteI love the idea of casting characters and I do sometimes for myself, but I am not a very descriptive writer. I agree with Vince that I kind of like to imagine my own versions of the characters, so I try to leave a lot up to the imagination when I write, because that's the way I like to read. This is a fun post, Erica, and I'm with Ruth: that white dress is divine!
ReplyDeleteGlynis, sometimes finding the right 'face' helps me to flesh out the characters, imagine their mannerisms, their personal quirks that make them unique. I tend to be a fairly descriptive writer, so I like to know what people look like! :)
DeleteHi Glynis:
DeleteI think there is a danger when a picture is shown because whenever I see a Hallmark Romance movie, if the heroine is not Emilie Ullerup, for a blonde, or Danica McKellar, for dark hair, I am disappointed. You can like a picture too much! Besides almost all the heroines in the books I read look the same in my mind. Just what I like.
Vince
Hi Erica,
ReplyDeleteI love casting my characters. I keep a secret Pinterest board at first to play around with the different characters. I also like to see my characters together, so I often pick couple from movies like you did. It helps me to see them together.
I also enjoy creating their homes. I don't know why it's so fun for me, but I have fun creating their family rooms, front porches and kitchen.
Thanks for sharing, and congratulations on The Lost Lieutenant!
Jackie, I love the idea of a Pinterest board! One thing I haven't tried. I also create their homes in my head, and sometimes their towns. I want to know everything about my people.
DeleteJackie, YES to finding couples in movies to use as heroes and heroines! It makes it much easier to 'see' them together!
DeleteAnd don't we learn so much about people from their homes? If I can imagine where someone lives, what they have around them, what they treasure, I can write about them with more depth.
Hi Erica, I enjoyed this post about casting characters and yes, it helps me to visualize the characters if I have a photo of them. While reading books, sometimes the author holds back a bit about describing their characters, so readers can use their own imaginations. And, I love the restoration of dilapidated houses as part of the plot!
ReplyDeleteHi, Karen! The restoration of White Haven was one of my favorite parts of the story. I would love to have the chance to do something like that...aside from the dust, the hard work, and the expense! ;)
DeleteNow that I've seen the pictures, I need to reread Lost Lieutenant.
ReplyDeleteBut it's destined to be on my keeper shelf so that's no problem.
<3 <3 <3 Mary!
DeleteErica, sounds like a great read. I like the Regency period. Everything was so circumscribed and patterned, yet some real flesh-and-blood characters lived within those rules.
ReplyDeleteI've always used real people for my models. Sometimes the actor fits the mold after I've created the character and even written the book, as with "Westward Hope." I already knew what Caroline and Michael would look like, and was delighted to "fit" them with a young Tom Selleck and a young Olivia DeHavilland. Pace and Oona in "Settler's Hope" were also pretty easy, I already knew what Pace looked like from "Westward Hope" (a young John Wayne in one of his "disaffected loner" roles), and after Oona took shape it was easy to fit her with the face of a young Anne Hathaway. My publisher read my mind on last December's Christmas novella and came up with, Nyle DeMarco from "Dancing With the Stars" and Kristin Bell! White Bear, the male protag in the third Western Dreams book, was easy, Michael Greyeyes who played Crazy Horse in the 80s, but the verdict is still out on the heroine Jenny Thatcher. All I know is she's tall and blond. I've posted some of this stuff on Twitter and my Facebook page, check them out if you're bored.
Making good progress on my WIP, tentatively titled "Redemption's Hope," Thank you COVID 19, might as well thank it for something. Will probably have to cancel my only scheduled public appearance, a Historical Society talk Maty 21, on account of I don't think New Hampshire will be "open" by then. Going to call this half of 2020 a wash and work on craft for a while.
Cleaned out some files yesterday, mostly from my nonfiction work. Threw out clips from magazines that don't even exist any more. Yeah, it's been that long. Sigh.
My husband and I were supposed to finish our taxes yesterday but instead we watched church online, got takeout and spent the rest of the day merrily ordering stuff off the Internet and watching 80s science fiction shows. I also baked brownies.
You do what you have to...
Kathy Bailey
Making it work in New Hampshire in the rain
Tom Selleck and Olivia DeHavilland? I'm in!
DeleteIt must feel good to clean out some old files and get things organized! I should do some of that around here!
kaybee, I told my editor years ago to just assume all my heroes looked like Henry Cavill...you know, superman? Unless I specifically told her different.
DeleteShe totally got that. :)
I love that monogram, Erica. I'm jealous of it. I've tried to create one (too much spare time, maybe?--I mean me not you!) :)
ReplyDeleteBut I can never get one I really love. I keep thinking horseshoes. MC two horseshoes for the M one sideways horseshoe for the C. But it always looks clunky.
I can introduce you to my graphic arts designer! :) I love her...and she's my niece!
DeleteHi Mary:
DeleteWhen you mentioned a graphic for your work I immediately saw a "MC" cattle brand on a book with the title, "Romantic Comedy with Cowboys". This theme would allow a business card to look like a book, with the book's title, "Romantic Comedy with Cowboys".
I've never seen a card like this but I think it would be quite memorable if given out at a writing or fan convention. In fact, you may be the only author whose brand is literally a brand! (It could even be still smoking from having just been applied. A smoking hot author!)
BTW: you have a very attractive website with great links to your other sites as well as an ideal photograph. It's an A+ site. You really need to link to this site from your name on Seekerville, (to the right of the page) and not that nondescript site where it is linked to now.
I just love to think marketing.
Vince
I love the Brand idea, Vince!!! I got hooked on the horseshoe idea because my initials work pretty well with that. But I've never been able to create anything from that. I have just lived without a monogram but seeing Erica's reminded me I want one!
DeleteI went and put my website in my Blogger ID that those names on the side are attached to. I can't find a way to go directly to my website.
Whoa you are related to a graphic arts designer? I will keep this in mind.
ReplyDeletePlease do! She's great!
ReplyDeleteI love the monogram too! Your new release looks wonderful, Erica!!! Love your stories!
ReplyDeleteMy characters appear in my head, although I do send the Art Department photos of how I "see" them...yet, the pics are for their use, not mine. And I'm a visual person so I always think doing a collage or picture board for each story might be good. Still haven't done one though. We all attack stories and characters in different ways, don't we!
Hugs!
Hi Debby:
DeleteI agree with you about having your characters appear in your head. After all, how many times have you been happy after seeing a favorite radio personality for the first time after you've listened to and enjoyed that person for years? For me: never.
I'm a big fan of the 'theater of the mind' which really likes being right. ;)
Vince
Debby, you could always make a secret Pinterest board, viewable only to you. I love looking at photographs, because sometimes it helps me come up with the right descriptions.
DeleteErica, I love your inspiration photos! Those gowns are GORGEOUS! And the models/characters aren't too shabby either. hahaha
ReplyDeleteI love this idea of having a Pinterest board for inspiration. I haven't really done this, but I have set up light boxes at one or two of the photo sites like Crestock to have photos that I think would make great covers. It also helps me to envision the story world and to get a feel for the story.
Missy, I love looking at the Regency gowns, and I think I would like to wear one for awhile, but then I'd like my regular clothes! I think it would be great fun someday to attend the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, to see all the lovely costumes.
DeleteI love using a Pinterest board as I create my characters. It helps me to visualize my characters and keeps me consistent as I write.
ReplyDeleteBut my main problem is remembering to switch the board from secret to public when I've decided on all the details. I'll put that on my to-do list today for my October release!
And I can't wait to read The Lost Lieutenant!
Jan, I use the pictures to help keep me consistent too. Especially if I have seen the subject in a movie. I can envision movements and mannerisms that way.
DeleteErica - I'm reading The Lost Lieutenant right now and it's FANTASTIC!!! I'm only 3 chapters in, but so far, you've got my attention. :)
ReplyDeleteWhen creating characters, I like to imagine them exactly as they are in my head. I find that if I search for photos, characters look "too perfect" and I like writing ones with imperfections. After I've created my characters, sometimes I'll go on a photo hunt for fun. It's amazing what you can (and cannot) find.
Lee-Ann, I'm so glad you're enjoying The Lost Lieutenant! :)
DeleteSometimes I have to get to know a character before I seek out a photograph to represent him or her. Sometimes if I look at pictures too early, I lose sight of what I thought the character looked like in the first place!
I haven't written enough to know if i do or don't. I saw a picture I thought was my MC so I saved it! I haven't intentionally searched pictures out. I did recently read a book and I was disappointed I felt as though I couldnt visualise how the character's looked.
ReplyDeleteTonya, the beauty of trying out different writing ideas is that you get to toss the ones that don't work and modify the ones that do until they exactly fit what you need. I've taken lots of classes that, at the end, I think, "Well, that isn't me at all. I don't know how I would make that work." And that's fine. Because every writer is different. Pictures work for some, like me. Character interviews work for others...and I canNOT get the hang of those. :)
DeleteThanks Erica! I'm going to give it a shot :) always worth and try & I do love Pinterest! I haven't gotten to into character interviews, either.
DeleteI haven't looked up pictures for my characters. I have pictures in my mind of what they look like, but not usually an actual person. I loved the pictures on your Pinterest page. The dresses are especially pretty.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sandy, I haven't always had pictures for my characters, but I felt like once I started doing it, I had a better grasp on who the people in my story were supposed to be. :)
DeleteHi Erica:
ReplyDeleteThe last book I read with the word 'lieutenant' in it was "The French Lieutenant's Woman" and I'm still mad at the author for writing three different endings, the order of which was chosen by lot so the reader could not say the last ending was the one the author intended, in fact, so mad I never read another one of his books. Please tell me that "The Lost Lieutenant" does not have three different endings!
Vince
No, just the one. :)
DeleteCongratulations on the new release, Erica! Love that cover. And yes, I do cast my characters. I'm a visual person, so I have to really see what they look like. If they're in movies or on TV, even better, because then I can see facial expressions and mannerisms. Of course, it's inevitable that I end up spending hours searching for the right person, but we do what we have to, right?
ReplyDeleteI've been known to fall down the rabbit hole of character research a time or two! :)
DeleteIt looks like lots of great books are being released now! I have been blessed with the opportunity to read Sharee Stover's "Untraceable Evidence " and it was fantastic!
ReplyDeleteIsn't she a great 'edge of your seat' suspense writer? Thanks for stopping by!
Deletehello Erica ..
ReplyDeleteI can find new ideas from your site. This gives me additional knowledge and good information. Thank you for the information and always success :)
allow me to share this site with many people so that I can add to my knowledge, and don't forget to visit us again at
Jasa Sablon
Thank you Hope you are always healthy
Sounds like such a great book Happy Release Day!
ReplyDelete