Tag Archives: characters

Galvin – The Old Mill

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Galvin is… Well, Galvin is Galvin.  There is no better way to describe him than that.  Some would say he is “a character” or “a bit of local color”.   Others might shake their head and mumble “eccentric” or “oddball” while still others would say “every town has their Galvin.”  Gill isn’t so sure – he has never met anybody quite like the strange, little old man. 

Strange, of course, is a matter of opinion, but “little” fits to some extent.  Galvin is small and wiry, perhaps 5 foot 6 and 115 pounds, maybe less, but surprisingly strong.  In ways, “old” is more attitude than age.  Galvin is in his mid-60s, but has always tried to put himself up as older and more experienced.  And there is something about him that if you didn’t know, you might place him closer to 80 than 60.  Yet he is active and agile, spry as a 22-year-old.

Galvin loves to tell tall tales and can spin quite a yarn.  On the other hand, doing a little research you might find that some of his most outrageous claims about the town’s history are true.

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The Firstborn – the Fireborn

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The Firstborn

In the shadowy area where myth and history collide…

A thin man with a very white complexion stepped out from behind a stack of boxes.  His red hair stood on end like a flame.  Elliot thought the man looked very familiar. 

“At last we meet in the flesh, Dr. Everett-Jones,” the flame of a man said.  “Impressive how you ran that gauntlet.  In just a few weeks you’ve turned into quite a soldier with a deadeye aim and nerves of steel.”  The banging on the door behind him increased its tempo.  The door surely couldn’t last much longer.  “Yes, impressive, but the lesser-born are inferior combatants, aren’t they?  The fireborn are much hardier.  My friends will be here momentarily and we’ll see how you fare!” 

Elliot suddenly recognized the man from his dreams.  He raised his gun and shot him, knowing he wasn’t a normal ‘regular’.  Elliot ran through the boxes and opened a door on the far side of the room.

“Did you think you could be rid of me that readily?” the flame asked.  “You look surprised.  Why do you think you can kill me so easily?  I died and was raised half a millennia before your god performed the same trick.  I’m not dead and I’m not alive.  I can’t be killed.  Oh, but I can kill you!  Perhaps I’ll play with you a little first.”

The door finally gave way.

“Play with this.”  Elliot said as he shot the man once again. Continue reading →

Introducing Elliot – The Fireborn

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Elliot-01

In the shadowy area where myth and history collide

The late, great archeologist, Dr. Everett-Jones would be proud that his son has kept the distinguish family name at the forefront of the field.  The younger Dr. Everett-Jones’ renowned name is recognized around the world, even by those not in the field.  Some claim he is archeology’s greatest mind since his father passed away.  Others believe he has even surpassed his father, bringing the Everett-Jones legacy to a new height.

Dr. Elliot Everett-Jones is not that son.  Actually, that would be his brother, William.

Although Elliot’s name is known in the circles of his chosen profession, history, his name is not spoken in hushed tones.  There are some who think of his name more in giggles, though others are devoted fans of his whacked-out theories.  To some he is better known for his works of fiction.  Too many in his field think that even his “serious history” is pure fiction. Continue reading →

The Unwritten Backstory

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First step on a long winter's walk - Photo by Trent P. McDonald

The stereotypical author is often pictured hunched over a beat-up old typewriter creating his or her magic on the spot, pounding ideas furiously onto the keys.  Of course today the “typewriter” has a softly glowing flat screen.  Well, this picture isn’t me.  I do most of my writing during my frequent walks.  Time banging on the computer is needed mostly to transfer the already written story from my brain onto the page.  Sure, I do a lot editing on the PC, but for a major revision I once again put on a comfortable pair of shoes and head out the door.  Storyline, major plot points and even the nitty-gritty of word choice are worked out on foot.

During my strolls I tend to think beyond the finished product, particularly when it comes to short fiction.  I often create a much larger, more detailed story and then whittle it down.  A lot of what gets cut might be called “backstory”.  Although deleted, it’s always kept in mind, influencing the final work. Continue reading →