One of the first minor characters I ever created was Zeke Sullivan. He evolved from a name into a dear man. He doesn’t get a lot of “face time” in the Aggie books, but he’s still there even when you don’t see him. You can almost feel him in the background, ready to lend a helping hand if asked. Isn’t that what good friends are for?
How he ended up a used car salesman, I will never know. I never explored that part. Was he putting someone through school? Did he just do it in the off season when he didn’t have as much to do around the farm (I’m howling at that idea)? Yeah. I don’t know where or why he began to do it. For some reason, it never came up in my mind much less in the books. Even now, I’m clueless.
So many of my characters feel like old friends to me, but I have a special fondness for Zeke. Funny thing is, I have zero thought for his wife. She’s just there–flat. She exists because she has to. I could care less if there was a funeral for her tomorrow. Well, that’s not true. It’d hurt Zeke. I wouldn’t want that. Otherwise, I’m just not that interested in her.
I wonder what makes one character capture your heart like that. He’s not BIG enough to really do that, but he has. Writing never ceases to amaze me that way.
lol Maybe that’s just like people… there are some people you just LIKE. Even if they don’t play a huge part in your life, you just like them and you’re glad they’re there.