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• Wow. I'm just astounded at how these characters reveal themselves to you, Cindy. What a process. It must be fun on your end to see where they take you! (It's fun on our end, too.) (NT) -- E, 19:49:00 07/08/09 Wed
  • It keeps the process exciting, I like to map certain things out, so I have the historical context straight, but I am happy to let the characters reveal themselves as they see fit. (NT) -- celtgirl, 22:15:54 07/08/09 Wed
  • I was thinking the same thing, E. Cindy, I wish I could get inside your creative mind! I imagine it to be an amazing place with the characters fighting for your attention or sitting back waiting for another to finish their parts and then grey figures that are sitting on the fringes slowly moving toward the main stage and identifying themselves to you. I am hoping it looks a bit like Jamie's study with lots of books there. *g* (NT) -- Lil, 22:23:18 07/08/09 Wed
    • I'm not sure my creative mind would be that fun of a place. :) It's pretty messy most of the time, like a pot boiling over and occasionally something flings itself out of the pot and says, 'write me!'. Normally Jamie is my quicksilver lad, here and gone in a matter of days, while Casey is my constant who sticks around for long periods of time. With much of this book, it's been the reverse, Jamie's sticking around and Casey's being elusive. Pat has only popped his head up a few times. (NT) -- celtgirl, 22:34:11 07/08/09 Wed
      • I find it fascinating Cindy! Do you wait till Casey says something to you or could you start thinking about him and talking to him and then he appears? (NT) -- Tracy, 07:43:26 07/09/09 Thu
      • So maybe its a bit more like Maggie's kitchen the night of the dinner with Lucien? *g* (NT) -- Lil, 08:14:29 07/09/09 Thu
        • Maggie and I have so much in common. (NT) -- Elaine, 09:39:33 07/09/09 Thu
        • Ha- Nalana, definitely. I always think it's a process where things stew on the back burner (subconscious) for a long while and slowly emerge into the consciousness when they are ready to be written- hence sometimes I have to drop everything and write a scene that simply needs my attention there and then. (NT) -- celtgirl, 09:51:47 07/09/09 Thu
          • How lovely - I just find that to be delightful. (NT) -- Elaine, 10:31:13 07/09/09 Thu
          • For certain, I'm pleased as can be that his Lordship has resided in your head so much lately. That makes me even more eager to get my hands on book 3! (NT) -- Denise, 18:52:04 07/09/09 Thu

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• Ahhh Lawrence. He was a special soul, wasn't he? I was so happy that he came into Pamela and Casey's life and more devasted when he departed. Another one of Cindy's characters that stays with me. (NT) -- Tracy, 06:53:45 07/09/09 Thu

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• I see two primary conflicts in EU. The inner conflicts as each of these people start on new paths to find themselves - Casey fresh out of jail, facing his activist history, and in love, Pat out of college and finding his way in his political activities/dreams, Pamela starting over after her father's death and in a new country with all of its differences from the U.S. and Jamie starting over after his father's death and finding his place in his father's footsteps and reconciling that with his political activities. And I think that they are all in conflict with the political/social constraints presented them in N. Ireland. (NT) -- Lil, 08:23:44 07/09/09 Thu

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• I think because this is such a complex book with so many fully-drawn characters there isn't one central conflict that's tied to any one of them. The conflict in Northern Ireland -- between hard-line Unionists and those who want a different future for their country, is the central conflict to me. It's brought all of these diverse and wonderful characters together, it shapes their lives by having them make choices they would not have made in a more peaceful time and place and changes their lives whether they wish it to or not. (NT) -- Carla, 08:30:05 07/09/09 Thu

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• As a reader, it makes me wonder which choices I would make if my country were in similar straits, would I have the courage and fortitude of Casey, Pamela, Pat & Jamie to face such troubles head-on, or I would I have been on a plane out of there. It also makes me think about the depth and ferocity of hatred and violence people are capable of unleashing on each other out of prejudice, ignorance, greed and fear. And of the goodness and love that is still possible in the midst of such evil. (NT) -- Carla, 08:30:24 07/09/09 Thu
  • Carla, reading your answer made me think about those who did leave Ireland. How were they regarded - as cowards for running away to America or not thought of that way at all? (NT) -- Tracy, 09:11:40 07/09/09 Thu
    • In America, I can tell you how they were regarded at first. >>> -- Elaine, 09:36:14 07/09/09 Thu
    • Economic times were so tough in Ireland at the point at which my story takes place, that I think it was simply part of life that the young emigrated in enormous numbers. I don't think anyone would have considered them cowards, because they knew there weren't alot of options or hope for young people. (NT) -- celtgirl, 09:57:45 07/09/09 Thu
      • I thought that because I wouldn't blame someone for leaving but wasn't sure what happened in reality. (NT) -- Tracy, 11:08:49 07/09/09 Thu

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• OT: Cindy, I was at the post office sending off the payment for the tour and I got to talking with the sales lady and she asked about the books and you so I gave her the titles and where to find you. She even told me to come back and show her the pictures from the tour! (NT) -- Tracy, 09:12:54 07/09/09 Thu