Melissa Ferguson, author of The Cul-de-Sac War (our Book of the Month, by the way), shares an in-depth look at the memorable and amazing cast of characters within her new rom-com!
Every time I write I book, I write a looooong overview. This starts with title ideas, then moves on to taglines, book and movie comparisons, sentence-long descriptions, takeaways, back cover copy blurbs, plot, settings, and so on. Then, taking up at least half the space, are my character descriptions. Each and every character gets shaped in that section—and continuously gets shaped along the way (especially when they start to reveal to me their funny little quirks as I’m writing).
So, to tackle just a piece of that overview today, I want to share about the characters of The Cul-de-Sac War. Who are they? What do they look like?
Here’s your behind-the-scenes look...
Get to know: Bree Leake
Can’t live without…
Her best friend, Cassie (from The Dating Charade!), and their frequent calls
Strengths :
Carefree, free spirited, makes friends easily, confident, known for adjusting well to new situations
Vulnerabilities:
Never has found true contentment and afraid she never will—not in jobs or locations or relationships. Bounces from one job to another searching for contentment and is starting to wonder if something is wrong with her.
Get to Know: Chip McBride
Ah, Chip. You know, one thing that was so great about writing Chip was that he has the same job as my husband (I even stole my husband’s company name, Redpoint LLC!). So, who is he?
Can’t live without…
His 230-pound slobbery, well-meaning English Mastiff
Strengths:
VERY similar to Bree—easy going, willing to do almost anything for a laugh, charms everyone, very athletically inclined (road and mountain biking/rock climbing)
Vulnerabilities:
- Competitive: Can’t be outdone
- Sometimes too easy-going
- Wants to prove to father and two older brothers that his primarily work-from-home construction company he began running three months prior is successful, even if he is very small compared to the successful McBride Builders company his father and brothers run—which Chip recently left
Get to Know: Russell (the dog)
That sweet, crazy dog that adores Bree.
Get to Know: Evie
Evie was, without a doubt, my favorite character to write. Every time she popped up in a scene she gained a new, outlandish quirk. And surprisingly enough, I loved her growth just as much as the growth of my main characters.
And we can’t forget the best buddy,
Get to know: Birdie
And, because the setting of The Cul-de-Sac War is so vital to the story, I’m going to give you a little bonus . . .
There you have it! If you haven’t had a chance to check out my book yet, head to my website here to learn more, and check out where you can grab your copy. I also am offering autographed copies in partnership with an independent bookstore in my area, so if you like signed books and supporting indie stores, click here! And as always, I am very active on Instagram, Facebook, and on my newsletter, and would love to “meet” you there.
Also, if you love audiobooks, the audiobook for The Cul-de-Sac War is awesome! You can listen to chapter one right now:
Warmest Wishes,
