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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Crossroads by Cathy Bryant Book Blast (Which Character Are You? and GIVEAWAY)

Which CROSSROADS Character Are You?
by Cathy Bryant
Before I write one word of a new story, I spend a LOT of time getting to know my main characters. I fill out lengthy character charts for each of them, which includes every aspect of their background--childhood, relationships, jobs, personality traits, tough life situations, etc. I also subject them to a battery of online personality tests.
Why do I go to all this trouble? Because if my characters aren't 'real' people to me, I stand no chance of writing them well enough to convince savvy readers that they are 'real.'
Anyway, without further ado, please allow me the privilege of introducing you to the characters of the latest Miller's Creek novel, CROSSROADS.

Meet Mara, the Heroine of CROSSROADS

With each character I create for a novel, I find a picture (usually of an actor or actress) that helps me visualize the character as I write. 
Image result for Crossroads Cathy Bryant which character are youThis unusual picture of actress Julia Roberts was the perfect picture for the character of Mara Hedwig, the heroine of CROSSROADS.
To me this photo shows strength of character as well as a just-beneath-the-surface vulnerability and kindness, all of which describes Mara. She's also maternal, driven, motivated by her desire to provide stability for her little girl, lonely, cynical (especially when it comes to matters of faith), a survivor, and distrusting.
Her public persona is very different from her private persona. In public, she's all about appearances for the sake of her business, so she dresses to the hilt in business attire (yes, even in the back-roads Texas town of Miller's Creek) and drives a Cadillac Escalade to have the appearance of success.
In private, she's much more relaxed and casual in her dress, preferring to let her hair down, wear sweats or blue jeans, and to shuck her shoes. In her not-working hours, her life centers around being a mama to her little girl, Ashton.
Meet Carter, the Hero of CROSSROADS
I used this photograph of actor Geoff Stultz as inspiration for Carter Callahan. Carter is a former soldier, now serving on the police force of Miller's Creek, who is strong in his faith and struggling to raise his teen-age daughter Chloe on his own. The one word that best describes him (as confirmed by his family, the infamous Callahan clan) is protector. When he meets the vulnerable and cynical Mara and her little girl, his life is literally turned upside down.
Why? Because as a protector/defender, he sees it as his job to win Mara back to faith in God. The only problem? He has bought the enemy's lie that he's not smart enough to win a war of words. All his previous battles have been fought with brawn and training, so how could he possibly win the battle of defending the faith to Mara?
Other words that describe Carter are: thrill-seeker, action-oriented, outdoors-man, caring, compassionate, and tender-hearted.
Meet Ashton, Mara's Daughter in CROSSROADS
Image result for Crossroads Cathy Bryant
What is it about kids that tend to steal the spotlight in a book or movie? That definitely holds true for the character of Ashton, Mara's little girl in CROSSROADS.
To play the part, I chose this picture of actress Dakota Fanning. Isn't she cheek-pinching cute???
Words that describe Ashton are: precocious, sweet, smart, charming, and funny. She's one of those kids that has a vocabulary of a thirty-year-old. I derived a lot of inspiration for this character from the role of the little girl Susan in the remake of the movie, Miracle on 34th Street (played by actress Mara Wilson).
In the story of CROSSROADS, Ashton faces a life-threatening illness. Once Carter and his teen-aged daughter Chloe enter her life, she is impacted for the faith. There's nothing like that sweet, child-like faith to serve as the perfect picture of what faith in Christ should be like.
Meet Chloe, Carter's Daughter in CROSSROADS
Image result for Crossroads Cathy Bryant which character are you Spencer Lacey Ganus
There is always at least one character in any story I write that ends up surprising me. Chloe was that character for me in writing CROSSROADS. This photo of actress Spencer Lacey Ganus served as my visual inspiration for the character of Chloe.
Honestly, I think the reason Chloe's character surprised me so much is because teenagers are not normally my favorite people. To me, they tend to be self-centered, rebellious, and smart-mouthed.
Not that Chloe isn't those things. She totally is. But throughout the story she grows into a mini-adult, overcoming some of her own personal hang-ups and obstacles to become a compassion-filled cheerleader and champion for Ashton.
Other words that describe Chloe are: bouncy, moody, searching, and strong-willed. Of all people, Mara becomes the voice of reason for Chloe.
Which CROSSROADS Character Are You?

Now that you've met each of the main characters in CROSSROADS, I hope it makes this little quiz all the more fun. Please let us know in the comments which character you are the most like!
-
GIVEAWAY!!!  
To enter to win a copy of Crossroads simply take the quiz above and comment below 
on which character you are!!!!
Please leave your email address in a safe format (exampleATyahooDOTcom) with your comment, 
but since I goofed and forgot to tell you this from the beginning no worries.  
I will announce the winner here on the blog also!  
So be sure to check back!!! :)
Contest Ends April 21st 
U.S. entrants only please! 

*I have not read Crossroads therefore I cannot give my opinion on it's content. ~ASC

74 comments:

  1. Well it was interesting. Some of the questions didn't really have an answer that applied but I answered the best I could. It says I am Ashton. Guess that means I am young heart if not in age.

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    1. LOL! I know just what you mean! Sometimes there wasn't an option that fit me exactly, but it's still fun! One of Chloe's traits is hard headed so I guess it's pretty accurate to! HAHAHAHA!!! ;)

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    2. Young at heart and hard-headed can both be very good things!!! :)

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  2. I took the quiz and I am Mara. I like Mara. I think you picked a great example for her with Juila Roberts.

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    1. I totally agree Tammy! :) And the picture she found goes excellently with the description of Mara! Thanks for entering!

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    2. I'm Mara too, Tammy! (And I'm okay with that, even though there are characteristics about all of them that I wish I possessed!)

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    1. :D Kindred Spirits! ;) Thanks for entering!

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    2. Of all the characters in the book, Chloe surprised me most during the course of writing the story. Normally teenagers grate on my nerves, but Chloe's character gave me a new perspective. :)

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  4. Replies
    1. Awesome! :) Thanks for entering! Be sure and check back to see who wins!

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    2. I think Mara is difficult for us to understand at the beginning of the story, but once we learn what she's been through, we understand her faith struggle.

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    1. Excellent! Thanks for entering! Make sure to check back to see who wins!

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    2. Are you a hunky hero, Lynn? ;)

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  6. Replies
    1. Woo Hoo!!! Awesome, another Kindred Spirit! :) Thanks for entering!

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  7. Result: You are like Chloe.
    Deanne Cnnamongirl(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for entering Deanne! :) And thank you fro reading my mind! LOL! I goofed and forgot to tell everyone to leave an email addy but you got it anyway! :)

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  8. I got Chloe, but should have gotten

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    1. Should have gotten who? It got cut off LOL! Now I'm left hanging in suspense! :D Thanks for entering Valita! :)

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  9. I got Chloe! Shelia Hall sheliarha64(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Woo Hoo! :) And I'm so glad you read my mind to and added your email addy! :) I meant to ask for it but I goofed! LOL! Thanks for entering!

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  10. Replies
    1. Guess we are more alike than we thought, huh? ;)

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  11. Precocious, sweet, and with the faith of a child, you are most like Ashton, the young daughter of Mara.

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    1. Ah to have the faith of a child. When I grow up that's one thing I really want to have...

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  12. I got Chloe. Thanks for the giveaway!

    mo1202007ATyahooDOTcom

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  13. I got Chloe. I can't wait to read the book and see if that's me. I guess I can be a little moody, searching and maybe strong willed at times.

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    1. I'm Chloe to! :) And I think it's pretty accurate for me to! LOL! I hope I have a Compassionate heart to! :D Thanks for entering Amy!

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  14. Ashton... I always thought I was a little girl at heart. Now it's been proven! LOL

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    Wanda Barefoot
    abookloversretreatATyahooDOTcom

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    1. LOL! Don't you just love when these quizzes confirm what you thought about yourself all along...when it's a good thing! LOL! Thanks for entering!

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  15. I'm like Ashton.
    melissa dot snoopy at yahoo dot com

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  16. Mara

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  17. It says I'm lime Carter, to which I agree....I am a fierce protector of those I love :)

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    1. Geeze, I just saw my typo....lol!! That's suppose to read "like" NOT "lime"...haha!!

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    2. Yay another Carter! :) Thanks for entering Trixi!

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    3. :D No worries! I read what you meant not what you typed! LOL! Happens to me all the time! My brain wants one thing, but my fingers do another! HAHAHA!

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  18. It said I am most like Chloe. I suppose I can see that.

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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