This week for #HistFicThursdays, I'm delighted to be teaming up with The Coffee Pot Book Club to welcome Mercedes Rochelle ! Today, I'm shining a spotlight on her brilliant audiobook of The Agincourt King . So, let's meet the book... From the day he was crowned, Henry V was determined to prove the legitimacy of his house. His father's usurpation weighed heavily on his mind. Only a grand gesture would capture the respect of his own countrymen and the rest of Europe. He would follow in his great-grandfather Edward III's footsteps, and recover lost territory in France. Better yet, why not go for the crown? Poor, deranged Charles VI couldn't manage his own barons. The civil war between the Burgundians and Armagnacs was more of a threat to his country than the English, even after Henry laid siege to Harfleur. But once Harfleur had fallen, the French came to their senses and determined to block his path to Calais and destroy him. By the time the English reached ...
Writing Personifications
Most of us talk to people not inanimate objects, or else (in
the case of people like me) we talk to both.
But sometimes inanimate objects are central to a story’s plot. For example, if you’re writing a mystery or
crime novel, your characters want to maintain a certain air of unknown. They will probably become known for the coat
they wear, or the car they drive. As
authors we can throw our readers a hint by personifying these inanimate objects.
When I think of the power behind a good use of
personification, I always think of the parable of the blind men and the
elephant. It’s our human approach which
makes us see things in a certain way – within the confines of our own
understanding.
Metaphors are central to writing this way. Don’t say:
the car had wing mirrors like ears, ready to hear its master’s voice
Instead go for:
the car’s wing mirrors were ears, ready to hear its master’s voice
the car had wing mirrors like ears, ready to hear its master’s voice
Instead go for:
the car’s wing mirrors were ears, ready to hear its master’s voice
Here are a few things about personification:
- That reminds me... Most things remind us of someone, even if it’s a totally obscure link. This is when our minds start to imagine seeing people in things.
- But... personifications don’t have to be linked to real people or characters. Often when we see a face in something, or imagine an object having a mood, it’s not a link to a real person so much as a characteristic.
- The ultimate Red Herring! Your character’s preconceived ideas based on these personifications can throw readers way off the scent. They’re a great tool in thrillers, mysteries and crime novels.
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