Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

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  2. Peg says

    Jo March from Little Women and Francie from A Tree Grows in Brooklyn…

    They are both strong women. They’re both writers. And they both have a way of moving forward, no matter what.

    If I could invite them to dinner, I would.

  3. starduster says

    My favortie character? Why my own of course. Call me narcissistic…I don’t mind. But my favortie character is August from the August Webster series.

    What about you authors out there. Do you have a favorite character you have created?

  4. Anonymous says

    I felt good and all washed clean of sin for the first time I had ever felt so in my life, and I knowed I could pray now. But I didn’t do it straight off, but laid the paper down and set there thinking — thinking how good it was all this happened so, and how near I come to being lost and going to hell. And went on thinking. And got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me all the time: in the day and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a-floating along, talking and singing and laughing. But somehow I couldn’t seem to strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind. I’d see him standing my watch on top of his’n, ‘stead of calling me, so I could go on sleeping; and see him how glad he was when I come back out of the fog; and when I come to him again in the swamp, up there where the feud was; and such-like
    times; and would always call me honey, and pet me and do everything he could think of for me, and how good he always was; and at last I struck the time I
    saved him by telling the men we had small-pox aboard, and he was so grateful, and said I was the best friend
    old Jim ever had in the world, and the ONLY one he’s got now; and then I happened to look around and see
    that paper.

    It was a close place. I took it up, and held it in my hand. I was a-trembling, because I’d got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I
    studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself: “All right, then, I’ll GO to hell” — and tore it up.

  5. Mary says

    Elizabeth Bennett
    Mr. Darcy
    Aslan
    Karana- Island of the Blue Dolphins
    Merlin- in several different books

  6. Laurel says

    Starduster:

    Of course! But mine’s not quite ready for prime time. My favorite is actually a supporting character and I’m gratified that several of my beta readers have liked him best. They want to know if there is more of him in the next book.

  7. Val Serdy says

    Only one? That would be like which single book would I want with me on a desert isle…

    I have a stack of books I can only read when I’m sick or depressed or otherwise in need of extreme comfort because I have already read them too many times. My fave characters come from those books:

    Ista from Paladin of Souls.
    Anabel Greene from Just Listen.
    Miles Vorkosigan.
    Kyra Sedgewick from Stranger at the Wedding.

    Considering I’m writing YA, I feel like I should have more YA characters in there! Off to do more reading then…

    Val

  8. Robena Grant says

    All time favorite: Elinor Dashwood, Sense and Sensibility.

    Recent favorite: Aminata Diallo, Someone Knows my Name (also titled The Book of Negroes in Canada)

  9. Eva Ulian says

    At the moment my favourite MALE character is Agatha Christie’s Detective Poirot.

    My favourite FEMALE character is Jean Brodie in Muriel Spark’s “The Prime of Miss Brodie”.

  10. starduster says

    To post or not to post. Every time I try…my comments are not posted. I will try once more if it does not work this time, then no more forever…I promise. My favorite character…my very own of course. August from the August Webster series. Call me narcissistic I don’t mind. Have you writers out there created a character you are wild about?

  17. Ink says

    Stardust,

    I’m sure we all have. Otherwise what’s the point? 🙂

    My best,
    Bryan Russell

  19. Anonymous says

    Perry Mason is my favorite, based on teen years, when my Mom read mystery stories a lot.

    Today, I must say main characters in any book by Fannie Flagg.

    Amongst works in progress ala a writer’s group, my favorite main characters are in a Biblical novel, a vamp extravaganze, and a fireman’s story.

    Every week, it’s a pleasure to listen to the latest chapters in these manuscripts. To be sure, it is a privilege to listen to every character shaped and formed, then come alive on pages.

    Mary Jo

  21. DCS says

    Bond. James Bond.

    I don’t know if that phrase was written by Ian Fleming or was just in one of the early Bond films.

  23. pilot says

    I find it amazing as to how many SF and/or YA characters have been posted. Is it because that’s what the majority reads or is it a reflection on the age group of those answering this post? Regardless, here and there I’ve found some interesting choices.
    Nathan…. How about opening one for favorite authors and/or books?

  24. thoughtful1 says

    I had an idea from all these posts. When looking for a literary agent to represent you, why not ask, “Who’s your favorite novel character?” in what ever genre you are hoping to get published? It is a mighty revealing question isn’t it. Might tell you who would like your characters. Of course would have to have a couple of positive responses from query letter, no?:)

  28. Court says

    Toss-up between:
    Roland of Gilead (“Dark Tower,” Stephen King),
    Atticus Finch (“Mockingbird,” Harper Lee),
    Hamlet (Shakespeare),
    Eowyn (“LOTR,” Tolkien),
    Lestat (Rice’s vampire novels),
    Lucy Pevensie (“Narnia,” C.S. Lewis),

    and I’d better stop now. Way to generate comments, Nathan. ;o)

  31. JR says

    Claude Frollo. He’s the only character I know that so perfectly embodies multiple, opposing extremes: love and hate, science and faith, kindness and cruelty. And he drove that entire story, all by his pretty little self. No wonder he went mad.

  32. Yamile says

    I have to add:
    Sorcha, from the Sevenwaters Trilogy (Juliet Marillier). What a woman!
    Llewelyn Fawr, Here Be Dragons, Sharon K Penman (when I see him in Heaven, or Hell for my adulterous thoughts, I’ll marry him)
    and also Francisco D’Anconia.

  33. thoughtful1 says

    Way to get us craving all our favorite books, Mr. Bransford! I think I will start with Hunchback, then reread To Kill a Mockingbird and The Once and Future King. Hmmm. So much pleasure to anticipate.

  34. J. M. Strother says

    I cast my lot with Sherlock Holmes, probably because he was the character who spanned more of my formative reading years than any other.

    Close runners up are Sam, from the Lord of the Rings because, “they wouldn’t have got far without old Sam, would they dad?” and Harmonie from Harry Potter because I have two girls and she’s a great role model. It really is OK for girls to be smart. You go girl!
    ~jon

  36. Ita says

    Miles Vorkosigan (LM Bujold)

    Sam Vimes (Terry Pratchett)

    Mary Russell (Laurie King)

    Jessica Trent(Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase)

  38. R. Chazz Chute says

    It’s tough to nail down one, but Tyler Durden of Fight Club popped into my brain right away.

    Except for a couple minor changes, the film is as good as the book because it is the book, with tons of dialogue and scene lifted straight to the screen.

    ~Chazz

  40. Agnieszkas Shoes says

    Miu from Murakami’s Sputnik Sweetheart – the scene where she sees herself on a ferris wheel and her hair turns grey is the kind of hair standing on end moment every writer longs to capture. It is the perfect externalisation of a feeling we all at some stage undergo. Just marvellous.

  42. Anita Saxena says

    Severus Snape
    The way the reader’s perception of the character changes from book one to seven
    We actually end up sympatizing for him by the end.

  43. Mara Wolfe says

    I am tied between Eowyn from Lord of the Rings, Talia from the Heralds of Valdemar, and Wang Lung from The Good Earth.

  47. ros says

    I LOVE that the first answer is Sid Halley. He is a great character from the hand of a good (though I don’t think I would say great) author.

    My problem with the question is what do you mean by favourite. The character I’d most want to be friends with? The one I’d most like to fall in love with? The one I think is most interesting? The one I think is best written?

    I have a lot of favourites. My literary heart was won long since by Lord Peter Wimsey. The character I’d most like to spend time with Anne Shirley. The character I most admire is Fanny Price. The character I find most interesting is Tom Ripley.

  48. Anonymous says

    Elizabeth Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice.” She’s as relevant today as over 200 years ago.

  49. A Writer from India says

    Too many of them are favourites.
    My eternal heroes -David Copperfield and Holden Caulfield, Scout Finch, Fleur Talbot in ‘Loitering with intent’, Taylor Greer in ‘The Bean Trees’, Salim in Midnight’s Children, Bertie (Wooster as well as Pollock, from Scotland Street), Mma Ramotswe from the Ladies Detective Agency series, Lupin in Harry Potter, …..

    If I were to pick just one, there would be a tie between Fleur Talbot and Holden Caulfield.

  50. Anonymous says

    Two words: Sethra Lavode. The woman (dzur/dragon, enchantress, undead…whatever) rocks. Five Hundred Years After, the Viscount of Adhrilanka and most of the Vlad Taltos novels by Steven Brust.