character lists

Ever wonder how historical series writers keep it all lined up? Character lists provide help for those of us without amazing logistical skills where tons of facts can be instantly attained at a moment of need. Character lists are helpful even when there is only one book. 

Once in awhile I have even given my hero and heroine a birth month based on the characteristics portrayed and which astrology sign makes that most likely. For those of you with no interest or knowledge of astrology, you might be surprised how often the time when one is born can tell a lot about natural traits. The reason for that is not clear to me, but just I have often seen it to be so. Do not confuse a birth chart with horoscopes.

Below is an example of one from my Arizona historical character lists. It has been added onto as books were written and characters added. When I start writing any book, I add in the new characters and their births-- maybe even deaths of some older people-- death is part of life unwilling as we are to see it come to those we love. 

I have had some reservations about sharing with readers these character lists mainly because if a reader hasn't read the books, the list gives away what will happen. Of course, romance readers already know a HEA is guaranteed. For those of you who don't read my books, this is mostly to give you an idea of what you can do if you ever decide to write stories that follow a family through many years. As the little image says, these books go from 1883 to 1906 or will go to 1906 when the last one is out.

On this list, some of these characters never became more than secondary ones but when putting together a character list, it's better to add them in case somewhere down the line, they get their own book. It happens. I do a second such list that has the basics of each major character in any book I am writing. This doesn't require birth dates but personalities and interactions. Some call this kind of information the bible as such are done for screen plays.

CHARACTER LIST FOR ARIZONA HISTORICALS

1837          Charles Provo (exact date and place uncertain)
1838          Jeremiah Taggert b. Illinois; James Redman b. Iowa

1839          -

1840                Rose Jarred b. Missouri

1841                --

1842                --

1843                Roman Alexander Oliver b. Kansas

1844                Raul Cordova b. Mexico

1845                Robert Mitchell b. New York

1846                –

1847                Delbert Sicilla b. West Virginia

1848                –

1849                Maria Jacinta b. Mexico

1850                Constance Banyon b. Maryland

1851                Wei Song b. California

1852                Samuel Ryker (O’Brian) b. Kansas

1853                --

1854                Cordell O’Brian b. Kansas

1855                Joseph Coburn b. Missouri

1856                ---

1857                James Redman m. Rose Jarrod Missouri; Clint Adams b. Nebraska

1858                Abigail Spenser b. Illinois

1859                --

1860                Vincent Coburn b. Kansas; Frances Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas

1861                Priscilla Wesley b. Georgia

1862                --

1863                Ellen Buchanan b. Texas

1864                --

1865                --

1866                Asa Taggert b. Utah; Rafael Cordova b. Mexico

1867                Cole Taggert b. Utah

1868                Jesse Taggert b. Utah

1869                Juan Cordova b. Mexico m. Josita;

1870                Raquel Cordova b. Mexico  d. 1869

1871                –

1872                James Angus b. Illinois

1873                Felipe Valencia b. Arizona

1874                Clint Madison b. Illinois

1875                Eliza Wallace b. California

1876                Gabriel Cordova b. Arizona; Holly Jacobs b. Illinois

1877                Grace O’Brian b. Kansas

1878                Anita Cordova b. Arizona

1879                Alexa Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas; Lily Jacobs b. Illinois

1880                Wei Zian b. Arizona

1881                –

1882                Sam & Abigail meet June and m. June and Nov. Tombstone

1883                –

1884                David Ryker b. Circle R Ranch

1885                Priscilla & Cord talk; Grace arrives in Tucson

1886                cabin—Jan; earthquake May 3; marriage—July

1887                Alice Ryker b. Circle R Ranch

1888                Jesse O’Brian b. Circle O Ranch; Raquel Valencia b. Tucson

1889                Daniel Cordova b. Circle O Ranch Jan.

1890                Ellen m. Robert Mitchell; Jose Valencia b. Tucson

1891                Alica O’Brian b. August Circle O

1892                Roberto Cordova b. December Tucson

1893                Grace leaves for back East; Royce Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas

1894                –

1895                James Redman dies Feb. Tucson; James O’Brian b. Circle O, July

1896                –

1897                Rafe Joins Rough Riders; Margarita Valencia b. Tucson

1898                Rafe mustered out Feb. 15; Grace returns to Tucson June; Marries Rafe Sept.

1899                Donovan Cordova b. November Tucson on the Cordova Ranch; Rose Redman m.Roman Oliver. Tucson

1900               Holly Jacobs meets Vince Coburn in April – marries in July.

1901                Jesse marries Lily

1902                Tyler Taggert b. March- son of Vincent: Joshua Taggert b. April- son of Jesse

1903        -

1904        -

1905        -

more controversial than I figured...

When writing Going Home, I knew I was taking on some controversy when I had my hero fight for the South. This also is the most multicultural book I have written with secondary characters who are Chinese, Jewish, Native American, and half black and half white. What I did not expect was my own country again to be debating the causes of a war that was fought from 1861 to 1865. This was a war though that tore a nation apart and the healing didn't happen quickly even in far off places like Oregon. 

My hero, Jed, faced more than those who hated anyone who fought for the South. Eastern Oregon was caught up in another Indian War-- The Snake War was one of Oregon's most violent. This clip has three men discussing the current and previous situation. They sat on a porch in Eastern Oregon as night made them reflective.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt from Going Home:

“Part of my crew are two Warm Springs,” Jed said as he watched the smoke rise. The moon had just come up and was casting an eerie glow on the other men’s faces. He supposed his also. “I wonder if they will feel safe to return.”

“They might not want to leave their people,” Rand agreed. “The Snakes aren’t any friendlier to peace loving Indians than they are to whites. Right now they want to wipe any sign of us from their land.”

“Again,” Adam said, “I understand how they feel, but I’d have to kill them also to keep my own safe and protect my land. I wish there was a better way for men to resolve their differences.”

Phillips looked then at Jed, met his gaze. “Sometimes there isn’t and yet here we are, sipping a whiskey, smoking, when a year ago, Jed and I would have been trying to kill each other. Rather ironic, isn’t it.”

“You expect the Indian conflicts could end up the same way?” Jed asked with a touch of disbelief even if he wished it to be so.

“Once there is a clear victor.”

“You expect there will be,” Jed said laconically.

“Eventually. Hard feelings or not, this is a problem of land. It seems unlikely to be settled short of a lot of dying. I may not like it, but it’s how the world has always operated. The military tries to make peace but again and again it’s undermined by those who want control. What do you do about that?”

“Peace is found in a cemetery and sent there with a bullet,” Jed said with some bitterness. Two of his brothers had paid the ultimate price as they had tried to secure their land. Just because it had always been that way didn’t mean it should.