I’m fascinated by the human condition, which is why there are quite a few different characters in The Reckoning. Almost every character in The Reckoning and Aftermath (the sequel (coming along nicely by the way)) is based slightly (or, in some cases largely) on people I know, or have known.
Many of them are large people. When I write that, I don’t mean physical size, but their mental strength, humility and tenacity in the face of abject danger (be that physical, emotional, mental, or even financial I suppose) is enormous. These are people who will sacrifice something of their life or themselves so that their friends, family and sometimes total strangers, will benefit. And when it’s all over (whatever the hardship may have been) they’ll have returned to their humble, unassuming selves. I am sure you will all have the privilege of having many of these types in your life.
I often watch people and how they act or react. No, that doesn’t mean I’m some pervert staring out my window with a pair of binoculars at night. I’m talking about sitting in an airport waiting for a flight, or sitting in the car, waiting for my wife to come out of a shop. If I find myself in those kinds of situations, I watch passers-by, see how they interact with one another or the world around them. It really is intriguing (well to me anyway). It’s probably the reason the style of my writing is more character driven, than event driven.
But, it’s not all roses and smiles. There are also the cowards amongst us (and when I describe the character of a coward, you will know at least one). Contrary to popular belief, the coward is not a meek individual slinking in the shadows. They are usually outspoken, boastful and never afraid to tell those foolish enough to listen, how amazing they are. It’s a defence mechanism, because they are compensating (or over compensating) for a weakness in their character. When it all turns to custard these loud, boastful individuals will usually be out of sight somewhere, leaving others to do the ‘heavy lifting’, so to speak.
So in both The Reckoning and Aftermath, I have attempted to give tribute to the truly stoic, unflappable people in our lives, and tried to expose the reality of the cowards amongst us.
In my honest opinion, I believe the heroic individuals far outweigh the cowards.
Many of them are large people. When I write that, I don’t mean physical size, but their mental strength, humility and tenacity in the face of abject danger (be that physical, emotional, mental, or even financial I suppose) is enormous. These are people who will sacrifice something of their life or themselves so that their friends, family and sometimes total strangers, will benefit. And when it’s all over (whatever the hardship may have been) they’ll have returned to their humble, unassuming selves. I am sure you will all have the privilege of having many of these types in your life.
I often watch people and how they act or react. No, that doesn’t mean I’m some pervert staring out my window with a pair of binoculars at night. I’m talking about sitting in an airport waiting for a flight, or sitting in the car, waiting for my wife to come out of a shop. If I find myself in those kinds of situations, I watch passers-by, see how they interact with one another or the world around them. It really is intriguing (well to me anyway). It’s probably the reason the style of my writing is more character driven, than event driven.
But, it’s not all roses and smiles. There are also the cowards amongst us (and when I describe the character of a coward, you will know at least one). Contrary to popular belief, the coward is not a meek individual slinking in the shadows. They are usually outspoken, boastful and never afraid to tell those foolish enough to listen, how amazing they are. It’s a defence mechanism, because they are compensating (or over compensating) for a weakness in their character. When it all turns to custard these loud, boastful individuals will usually be out of sight somewhere, leaving others to do the ‘heavy lifting’, so to speak.
So in both The Reckoning and Aftermath, I have attempted to give tribute to the truly stoic, unflappable people in our lives, and tried to expose the reality of the cowards amongst us.
In my honest opinion, I believe the heroic individuals far outweigh the cowards.
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