Great fictional characters

 

Sooley….another great character from the mind and pen of John Grisham
Just finished Grisham’s new novel, “Sooley.”  A very entertaining read, in my opinion. I am amazed at the stories that keep coming from him, as I am with many prolific writers.  John Grisham and David Baldacci remain at the top of my list for creating good stories and great characters (along with Lee Child’s Jack Reacher). These inspire me as a novice writer of fiction. As I inch forward (it took Grisham 3 years to write his first, A Time To Kill) with my first novel, I had no idea if I would ever attempt such an undertaking again. However, even before the first one is finished, I have a second one outlined and “thought” about with some detail. It’s all about my man, Clay.

My main character (at this point) is a mid-fifties man named Wesley Clayburn….”Clay” for short.  He is an cast-out preacher/pastor who lives, emotionally and spiritually, on a razor’s edge. He has many losses and sorrows in his past. Most are of his own doing. His closest companion is a pre-war, vintage Martin flat top guitar. Nobody is checking on him to see if he is OK.  However, there is something inside him that he cannot escape…a calling, if you will.  He seems to find situations (or they find him) in which help is needed, and he is uniquely gifted to make a life changing difference.  He is raw.  He is earthy. He lives off the grid.  He is weak. He is strong. He is Clay.

Grisham and Baldacci write many “lawyer” type stories, because its what they know. I am writing about a minister. It comes from what I know and have seen.