37 Responses to “Come See What’s on the Slab!”

1. Cathie Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 11:21 am

   1 Hi Denise!! Oh I think I understand what you mean. Taking a person you’ve seen or an idea you seen and putting your creative writing skills to twisting and adding and expanding it, to shape it either as a character you love or even a villian! I can think of a hero i’d love. He was a great friend long long ago but I idolized him. He’d buy old homes ready to be torn down and he’d refinish so much wood in those houses and do walls over again til he re-built them. Me who never likes doing that stuff, loved to do it with him! Too dressing up in work clothes (yum) and then when we had a good day working he’d want to eat, and I loved how he’d dress up. He was just an guy who could have so many sides to him and I wanted them all!

2. Allison Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 11:22 am

   2 what about someone who is always needing to know what time it is? or someone who carries on conversations in their head and laughs out loud at things no one else understands. just a thought. i guess these could go for heroes/heroines or villians.

3. Jaded_Bee Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 12:30 pm

   3 My friend is one of those people who is in love with vampire and werewolve lore but she passes out at the sight of gushing blood or a bloody wound and she gets queasy and turns pale whenever anyone around her talks about a wound or anything gory. I think it’s funny yet nicely ironic.

4. Emmy Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 2:12 pm

   4 I have this friend who is almost annoying curious, so much so that it became a joke. If we are in a group of family and friends, she hops back and forth between the conversations, always starting with “What happened? What did so-and-so say?” If she walks into a room and people were talking, she asks what they were talking about. If someone is going somewhere, she wants to know where they were going. People playing a game, something on tv, if she didn’t catch it from the beginning she always wants a recap of what she missed and she always misses something because she is into everything. I don’t even know how it got started, but every time she starts asking all her questions, we started saying, “Raise your hand if you fall behind.” It’s annoying, but somehow still cute.

5. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 2:39 pm

   5 Hey, this is all great stuff! *rubs hands together with glee* Cathie, your builder friend’s a terrific character, right there. And Allison, yep that’s exactly it. I particularly love the person who wants to know the time - especially if they have a watch! Jaded_Bee, imagine the idea of a vampire who comes over all funny at the sight of blood. Hmm… Lots of scope there… Emmy, your friend’s “curious” characteristic would would make a fabulous personality trait, because it’s so *real*, you know? I’d love to know why she does it though, the underlying reason/s. Denise

6. Eric Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 3:25 pm

   6 Hi Denise, My pet hate (this week) is the guy in a crowded sandwich shop who insists on being served but doesn’t know what he wants and somehow walks back and forward along the display, in front of everyone, where there is no room, picking his content with a pointed finger. He never seems to feel the looks stabbing into his back. Thank you for all your beautiful writing, Eric

7. SweetNSourGirl Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 4:16 pm

   7 Finally, someone puts it into an easy phrase: Frankenwriter. Though I haven’t gone to IHOP and said “That hostess has heroine eyes!” I’ve observed some behavior that I do happen to umm…borrow. What do I want immortalized in a character? How ’bout a hero who cries and I don’t want to punch him for being such a wuss after he’s done sobbing his eyes out? Yeah, I wanna see someone pull that off with style!

8. Kirra Pierce Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 4:56 pm

   8 Hi Rossetti woman, I keep having this image in my mind about a woman fixated on red spiky shoes…no idea where it’s coming from. lol Kirra Pierce

9. Helen Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 5:12 pm

   9 I have a friend who always looks you in the eye while you are asking him a queston or just talking to him they never seem to stray from your eyes its as if he is scared to look elswhere in case he is taken the wrong way he really is a nice person but it kreeps me out a bit it is almost as if he is staring not looking at you. Have Fun Helen

10. Jenny Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 5:56 pm

    10 On another note thanks for the “Aussie Rules Football boys” link. They are a wee young for me though. It makes one feel pretty old when one looks at those hunks and the first thought is that boy would make a cute son/nephew/etc. — note we are talking healthy relationships here. That’s why I like many of Ellora’s covers like the ones that have been used for Denise’s books because they are more ageless. And that’s probably why taking a piece of a charcter from here and there and everywhere works as well, most readers can relate to a facet of the hunk (I meant hero). Those boys must be getting to me after all. Might have to have another look, hmm, maybe I’m younger than I think after all.

11. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 6:04 pm

    11 Hey Eric, just remember you can revenge yourself on the Sandwich Tragic in your writing! Recommend it. SweetNSourGirl, I think I may have pulled that off, at least I hope so. Every single one of my alphas breaks down at some stage, though not always in company. Brin, Mirry, even Jan who’s a real dom and Fort, who appears to be made of granite. It’s powerful stuff, when the reader is privileged to see that vulnerability.

12. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 6:06 pm

    12 Kirra, I have NO idea what you’re talking about. *whistling a little tune* That woman would make a good character, or possibly a writer. http://www.deniserossetti.com/bio.html and scroll down a tad.

13. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 6:10 pm

    13 Helen, I had a friend who used to do that, but in such a way you felt incredibly flattered by his attention. It worked brilliantly as a seduction technique, he was an inveterate, and successful philanderer. And married, the bastard. And no, it didn’t work on me. He’ll be in a book one day, you can bet on it. *evil grin*

14. Mel Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 6:17 pm

    14 I’m not sure if this is a character trait, but don’t you just hate it when the guy waiting in line at the cinema…canteen…anywhere, idly scratches his balls. I mean, hellooo, if I suddenly started to scratch between my legs - being a woman and all, how would that look??? Onto a far more romantic trait, I love it when a man doesn’t realise just how drop-dead gorgeous he is (none of that hair preening, please!!) and who is really interested in you as a person. Better, when he’s so deep into the conversation (he he), he’s oblivous to how many hot girls are watching his tight buns…

15. Mel Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 6:39 pm

    15 …just a thought

16. Kim Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 6:56 pm

    16 There is this guy at work that has a pierced tongue. He plays with it all the time and rolls his tongue around. One day he showed it to me and his tongue is all ripped up and it has a big hole in it. ewww….. Now, that’s all I can think about when he talks. Not only that, but his teeth are all broken from biting it. I think it’d be good for a book, but just don’t tell the readers about the big hole. lol

17. Pamk Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 7:11 pm

    17 You need a little boy like mine with red hair and green eyes who would take on the devil himself if he thought he was right lol.

18. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 7:36 pm

    18 I know what you mean, Jenny. And yes, it is a bit sad. But there are a few of them (in their mid-thirties and near retirement) who really REALLY do it for me. *cough* Wish they’d put those guys on the calendars. *sigh* You may have noticed all my heroes are over thirty. Except Trey from Gift of the Goddess. And come to think of it, he has a special place in my heart. Or anywhere else he wants whenever he wants. Guess there’s no hope for me, after all.

19. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 7:39 pm

    19 Mel, My Beloved says every man has to have a place to scratch his balls. And it’s at home. Thank Goddess. And yes, there’s something incredibly attractive about a person who’s oblivious to their own beauty. It’s so endearing somehow. I “borrowed” that one for Mirry.

20. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 7:43 pm

    20 Oh Kim, that’s so totally gross, it’s begging to go into a book, exactly as you’ve described it. He must be pretty thick not to realise how the piercing is damaging his teeth and his mouth. Yeeee-uck. Now see, I’m curious. A writer’s besetting sin. Why does he keep it? It must meet some kind of need. Hmmm…

21. Cathie Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 8:09 pm

    21 Yep he is Denise. I miss doing those things. Too you know, the best friends but never a lovers story (that must be why I love those best friends to lovers stories too)! But I got a great one now for almost 25 years

22. Christine Wells Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 8:41 pm

    22 Hi Nise! As someone who has been immortalized in one of your stories, perhaps I should comment on one of the *author’s* personal quirks, hmm???::evil grin:: Congratulations on a fantastic debut! However you go about it, you manage to make your heroes to die for, so you certainly have a recipe for success. And your latest Aussie hero is no exception, darl’!

23. Bettie Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 9:13 pm

    23 A relative of mine does the most delightful malapropisms, for example, instead of describing someone as “livid with anger” he will describe them as “vivid with anger.” Sometimes, I think his malapropisms are a better description of whatever he was talking about than the cliche he’d been trying for, which is why we never correct him, but, instead, fondly keep a list of our favorites.

24. HelenK Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 10:41 pm

    24 Ah those lovely quirks in people- ones that are cute, those that are annoying, and always fascinating for writers. - i know alot of car lovers who have a hanky on hand in case someone puts their prints on it (now this may seem like a very anal thing until you realise how much good paint jobs cost & have slaved to get it done) - guys who always seem to hiking up their pants - guys who think underwear should be seen while wearing pants esp teenagers (ie the pants hang low enough to see the underwear - sorry not a great look - just feel like going up to them and yanking it up — how there’s a quirk that says more about me ) - people who click their pen on and off (annoying) - when greeting others, people who lick their lips before giving a peck on the cheek (yuck) obviously they have dry lips — chapstick anyone? - people whom have about 100 bags and shoes (*cough cough*)

25. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 10:47 pm

    25 Pamk, that little boy of yours is going to be a beautiful man one day. Not only that, he’ll be a man of principles and real worth. You must be so proud of him already.

26. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 10:51 pm

    26 Hey, Christine, my friend! Everyone, what I did was ask if I could borrow part of Christine’s name and her favourite colour. And I made the character a very impressive individual indeed. Okay, if you can guess the name of the character, (which means you have to have read the book). I’ll throw in a set of oversized colour postcards of my EC covers. They’re gorgeous. First in, best dressed.

27. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 10:53 pm

    27 Bettie, what fun he sounds! Do you think he does it on purpose? You have to wonder, especially if they’re good… HelenK, you are clearly a great observer of human nature. Are you a writer, by any amazing chance? *grin*

28. LynTaylor Posted: Dec 13th, 2007 at 11:31 pm

    28 Hi Denise!! Great write up AND some great links (especially our Aussie guy’s *sigh*):D Okay. Character traits, here’s a few: - Hero who is always, ALWAYS washing his hands; - Hero or Heroine who has a serious middle child syndrome; - Hero or Heroine who always has a cigarette right before going to bed (? my hubby does that. I just don’t get it). Then he has to read for a good half hour to get to sleep. I’m yet to read a hero actually breaking wind (to put it nicely ) in a storyline LOL! But I’m sure it’s inevitable. Great to see you here! Cheers, Lyn

29. JC Posted: Dec 14th, 2007 at 12:33 am

    29 I call those little personality traits “realdrops” And I have a list of them on my computer. I’m not going to share my favorites, but here are a fiew. I have a friend that is absolutely gorgeous but walks with a limp, and is very self conscious, so she has lots of nervous habits. My favorite one is when she’s in her room talking with people (just hanging out) she’ll go stand by her bed where she has an oversized pillow that zips up one side. She likes to run her nails over the zipper so that she can feel it on the sensitive skin that joins her fingertips to her nail. I have another friend who has to wear an eye-patch, because of a condition her eye has where it’s really sensitive to light. She’s a bit of an artist, and so she has a huge collection of eye-patches she has made- some beaded, some painted, some really plain, some written on (like the pins or shirts that people wear) and some that are really outrageous and one that is painted to match her skin tone, that looks like her other eye. She coordinates them to her outfits, makes them part of her face instead of an invader.

30. Lorelie Posted: Dec 14th, 2007 at 5:09 am

    30 “. . . there’s a fire in my heart and you fan it, Janet! If there’s one man for you then I am it, Janet! . . .” Jesus woman, now I’m going to have random bits of Rocky Horror running through my head all day. And I have to go make nice with the Colonel at our holiday party this afternoon! Sheesh. I had a friend in high school who used to swirl her cans of soda until the carbonation was gone. Since she was my best friend, I would unconciously mirror her until I realized why my cokes were sucking all of a sudden. I’m not sure which is the weirder habit - the swirling or the mirroring. HelenK - there is absolutely nothing wrong with repeatedly clicking a pen. For some people it’s soothing and they don’t even realize they’re doing it. *clickclick*

31. Jaded_Bee Posted: Dec 14th, 2007 at 12:55 pm

    31 Oh, today I was hanging out with my sister and omething she did reminded me of this post so I thought I’d come back and tell you about her quirks. 1) she hates odd numbers, if there are ice cubes in her drink there has to be an even number or she can’t drink it, seriously. And forget about ice chips…if that’s all that’s available then someone else has to put them in and there has to be a lid to the cup so she can’t see them. 2) she has this thing that if my mom picks something up for her (like from the store) she has to pay her back and my mom doesn’t want her to so she’ll refuse the money. Well, my sister will find places my mom occasionally looks and she’ll hide the money there. 3) she has an intense fear of spiders and aliens. If the smallest spider is near her she will freak out and scream for her husband to come and kill it. And if you make a clicking sound repeatedly she gets freaked..it’s like the noise from signes…that movie gave her nightmares for months-she’s still terrified of it. The first time she watched it, afterward, she had backed herself up in a corner with a spray bottle filled with water. 4) She likes the taste of bacon but not the texture so she’ll order a bacon cheeseburger but she’ll just squish the juice out of the bacon, rub it on the bread and then give it to her dogs or her husband. And lastly, this isn’t one of her quirks but it’s one of my friends’. She folds her tissues into little quares after she blows her nose. Like, she’ll use half the tissue the first time, fold it in half, use half of that and then fold it in half and on and on until it’s a tiny square. And she doesn’t even notice that she’s doing it. That’s all I can think of for now. I’m sure theres more though. My sister has OCD’s like no other. Except maybe me, but I won’t go into my embarassing quirks.

32. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 14th, 2007 at 3:36 pm

    32 Hey there, Lyn! Breaking wind, huh? Hmm… Not too sure about being inevitable. Can you do that heroically, I wonder?

33. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 14th, 2007 at 3:45 pm

    33 JC, Thanks for sharing those insights. You certainly have some fascinating friends. Courageous too - and with such style! I simply love the eye patch concept. Good for her! I’m guessing it’s probably been done before, but it makes a great character trait.

34. Denise Rossetti Posted: Dec 14th, 2007 at 3:54 pm

    34 Lorelei, did you sing “Touch-a touch-a touch me, I wanna be diiiirty…” at the party? Woulda been a hit! That mirroring behaviour is fascinating, isn’t it? Rooted so deep in the pysche we don’t even know we’re doing it. I saw a TV program about it recently, in which volunteers had an “interview” with two actors - a “bad” guy and a “nice” guy. They so totally mirrored the nice guy it was jaw-dropping. But the bad guy - nope, didn’t happen. Jaded_Bee, hope your sister doesn’t read this blog! Ice cubes? Good heavens!

35. Lorelie Posted: Dec 14th, 2007 at 6:04 pm

    35 Lorelei, did you sing “Touch-a touch-a touch me, I wanna be diiiirty…” at the party? Woulda been a hit! Naw, but the party was so freaking dead I was incredibly tempted to jump on the dance floor and do the Time Warp. Instead I opted to leave early via a back door.

36. Kim Posted: Dec 14th, 2007 at 9:03 pm

    36 haha! Denise….I don’t know what that need is and I’m not going to ask. I don’t want to know. He did say that he realized it was going to cost him a lot of money later in life to fix his teeth.

37. kim h Posted: Dec 15th, 2007 at 9:20 pm

    37 someone who sweats a lot when around an atrractive person.