I’m not talking about the Stephen Moyer’s version of the Famous Bill Compton of HBO series, True Blood, although I think, Moyer does a fine job at capturing Bill. What I’m referencing is the Original Bill Compton from Charlaine Harris and her best-selling Sookie Stackhouse novels. Like all characters in the series, Bill has his purpose, but for my character feature, I’m not discussing his broodiness, lust for Sookie, or even his importance in the novels. I wanted to highlight him today because Harris does this hilarious trick with him in her books that makes me roll every time.
Vampire Bill is forever “popping” into scenes, and I can’t get enough of it. For me, these “pop-ins” are equivalent to the cello playing in the spin-off True Blood series. Nah…scratch that. The cello playing gets old. The book pop-ins are timeless. Here’s an example of his character trait from Book 2, Living Dead in Dallas:
“I couldn't make up my mind, so I hopped in the shower. Thinking about Fantasia made me tense. The vampires who owned it were part of the vampire power structure, and once they’d discovered my unique talent, I’d become a desirable acquisition to them. Only Bill’s determined entry in the vampire self-governing system had kept me safe; that is, living where I wanted to live, working at my chosen job. But in return for that safety, I was still obliged to show up when I was summoned, and to put my telepathy to use for them. Milder measures than their former choices (torture and terror) were what “mainstreaming” vampires needed. The hot water immediately made me feel better, and I relaxed as it beat on my back.
“Shall I join you?”
“Shit, Bill!” My heart pounding a mile a minute, I leaned against the shower wall for support.
“Sorry, sweetheart. Didn’t you hear the bathroom door opening?”
“No, dammit. Why can’t you just call ‘Honey, I’m home,’ or something?”
This is one example of many and like I said, it never gets old. I’m in awe of the talent that Charlaine has and how she artfully weaves these little tropes or traits into her characters. It’s such a master skill, truly.
Anyway, as a writer, I often think about little details like that. What about you? Have you nailed a character in such a way?
Mina B.
“Shall I join you?”
“Shit, Bill!” My heart pounding a mile a minute, I leaned against the shower wall for support.
“Sorry, sweetheart. Didn’t you hear the bathroom door opening?”
“No, dammit. Why can’t you just call ‘Honey, I’m home,’ or something?”
This is one example of many and like I said, it never gets old. I’m in awe of the talent that Charlaine has and how she artfully weaves these little tropes or traits into her characters. It’s such a master skill, truly.
Anyway, as a writer, I often think about little details like that. What about you? Have you nailed a character in such a way?
Mina B.
