Meet My Characters: Harmon and Anissa
Hello Readers!
One of the posts you can look forward to on this blog will be introductions to my books and the characters in them. I thought I'd start off with one of my favorite couples from a story I've been writing for years.
Now, sometimes my characters don't quite behave how I think they ought to, and they may change over time and through different drafts of their story, but the basic foundation remains the same. That's how Harmon and Anissa have been. Their book is going to be the first in a series of three books, and I'm writing all three simultaneously, so they often get little changes worked in as I write to accommodate their story plot. But, for now, here they are as I have them currently!
Meet Anissa.
As the oldest of a widow's two daughters, Anissa feels like the burden of taking care of her mother and sister falls solely on her shoulders. While she is young (early twenties) Anissa is mature beyond her years, thanks to a past that has only brought her pain. She's extremely sensitive- the least little thing will set her to worrying- and she tends to be the quiet observer when in church or at family gatherings. She never quite feels she is good enough, and doesn't seem to see the attractive qualities everyone else sees in her. She doesn't see herself as the generous lady everyone sees, but as a dutiful daughter doing what is required. She doesn't see a smart young lady who tries to put everyone before herself, she sees people in need and no one willing to help. Her best friend is her cousin Elizabeth- her complete opposite- and she relies on Elizabeth to bring a smile to her face when her past or current events are stressing her. Her sister Mallory can be a trial at times, but Anissa would defend both her mother and sister with her life, if need be. She tries quietly to serve her Lord and be the good daughter she knows her mother needs.
Now meet Harmon.
There are some things that change our lives on the outside and leave scars on the inside, then there are things that leave scars on the outside but change us inside. Harmon's life was changed when he and his brother were in a car accident when they were children. He doesn't see himself as perfect- quite the opposite- but since God spared his life, Harmon intends on using his life to serve God. He's just started to fulfil his calling to preach at the beginning of the story, and is looking for God to open doors for him to serve. Though scarred on the outside, Harmon bears no scars on the inside. He is intent on using every opportunity to share the gospel. Volunteering to fill in for a pastor friend is more than the blessing he thinks it to be, because it is what will bring him to his future wife's church!
I don't want to give away their story, but I will say that Harmon and Anissa, though their lives could be seen as completely opposite, are the perfect match. Anissa is solemn and quiet, Harmon is outgoing and cheerful. Where Harmon sees flaws, Anissa sees strengths. And the fact that Anissa has prayed for a preacher husband since she was a young teenager... well, that's just an added blessing.
Writing their story was one of my favorite things to do. I love the comic moments of their budding relationship- Harmon babysitting her pastor's mischievous dogs, Anissa burning a cake so bad she filled the kitchen with smoke- and the bittersweet moments- when Anissa shared her painful childhood with Harmon- and the fact that the story didn't even turn out how I first intended it to when I started writing!
Anissa does have quite a few of my own characteristics and memories worked into her being- I have burned cakes that badly more than a few times- and so it was easy to write her character. Harmon, I had a little trouble with at first, but gradually I was able to build his character up in the way I needed for the story. It was a joy to write their story, and I can't wait to get it finished so I can find out what everyone else thinks as well.
One of the posts you can look forward to on this blog will be introductions to my books and the characters in them. I thought I'd start off with one of my favorite couples from a story I've been writing for years.
Now, sometimes my characters don't quite behave how I think they ought to, and they may change over time and through different drafts of their story, but the basic foundation remains the same. That's how Harmon and Anissa have been. Their book is going to be the first in a series of three books, and I'm writing all three simultaneously, so they often get little changes worked in as I write to accommodate their story plot. But, for now, here they are as I have them currently!
Meet Anissa.
As the oldest of a widow's two daughters, Anissa feels like the burden of taking care of her mother and sister falls solely on her shoulders. While she is young (early twenties) Anissa is mature beyond her years, thanks to a past that has only brought her pain. She's extremely sensitive- the least little thing will set her to worrying- and she tends to be the quiet observer when in church or at family gatherings. She never quite feels she is good enough, and doesn't seem to see the attractive qualities everyone else sees in her. She doesn't see herself as the generous lady everyone sees, but as a dutiful daughter doing what is required. She doesn't see a smart young lady who tries to put everyone before herself, she sees people in need and no one willing to help. Her best friend is her cousin Elizabeth- her complete opposite- and she relies on Elizabeth to bring a smile to her face when her past or current events are stressing her. Her sister Mallory can be a trial at times, but Anissa would defend both her mother and sister with her life, if need be. She tries quietly to serve her Lord and be the good daughter she knows her mother needs.
Now meet Harmon.
There are some things that change our lives on the outside and leave scars on the inside, then there are things that leave scars on the outside but change us inside. Harmon's life was changed when he and his brother were in a car accident when they were children. He doesn't see himself as perfect- quite the opposite- but since God spared his life, Harmon intends on using his life to serve God. He's just started to fulfil his calling to preach at the beginning of the story, and is looking for God to open doors for him to serve. Though scarred on the outside, Harmon bears no scars on the inside. He is intent on using every opportunity to share the gospel. Volunteering to fill in for a pastor friend is more than the blessing he thinks it to be, because it is what will bring him to his future wife's church!
I don't want to give away their story, but I will say that Harmon and Anissa, though their lives could be seen as completely opposite, are the perfect match. Anissa is solemn and quiet, Harmon is outgoing and cheerful. Where Harmon sees flaws, Anissa sees strengths. And the fact that Anissa has prayed for a preacher husband since she was a young teenager... well, that's just an added blessing.
Writing their story was one of my favorite things to do. I love the comic moments of their budding relationship- Harmon babysitting her pastor's mischievous dogs, Anissa burning a cake so bad she filled the kitchen with smoke- and the bittersweet moments- when Anissa shared her painful childhood with Harmon- and the fact that the story didn't even turn out how I first intended it to when I started writing!
Anissa does have quite a few of my own characteristics and memories worked into her being- I have burned cakes that badly more than a few times- and so it was easy to write her character. Harmon, I had a little trouble with at first, but gradually I was able to build his character up in the way I needed for the story. It was a joy to write their story, and I can't wait to get it finished so I can find out what everyone else thinks as well.
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