A Secondary Character, First in Readers' Hearts

Which secondary character have you created that you find the most intriguing and memorable? Please share the scene where they appeared and outline the impact they had on the story and on you.

Brenda starting off the week.

So this happens to be a big week for me with When Last Seen, book two in the Hunter and Tate mysteries, newly released on April 1st. This is my twenty-fourth published book but it never gets old :-)

There are a number of secondary characters I could choose to answer this week's question from my previous books, but in recognition of my new book, I'll choose a fellow named Tony, who appeared out of the blue and quickly became a force in Blind Date, first in the series.

One of my main protagonists is Ella Tate, a laid-off newspaper reporter forced to downsize into a cramped apartment in the eaves of a house in a neighbourhood called the Glebe near downtown Ottawa. Ella is of the prickly sort but intelligent and resourceful. She starts up a true crime podcast to help make ends meet. Tony lives in the second floor apartment with his boyfriend Sander, and he makes his first appearance in the series when he waylays Ella.

She was putting on her leather jacket when the sound of excited barking came through her front door. She yanked it open, and her downstairs neighbour Tony’s miniature dachshund, Luvy, jumped up on her legs before scooting past her and racing around what little space there was in the apartment. The dog ended by stretching out on the area rug under Ella’s desk, staring up at her with sorrowful brown eyes, head resting on her front paws.

“Nice try, dog,” Ella said, but Tony leapt up the stairs from the second floor before she had a chance to crawl under the desk to scoop her up. He carried a plate of grapes and sliced melon that he handed to her, saying, “You’re welcome,” as he slid past her into the apartment.

“You and Luvy moving in?” she asked, selecting a piece of cantaloupe. A moan rolled up her throat. The fruit tasted like a sun-kissed July day, juicy and sweet. 

“Thought you could use some male company now that Greg’s vacated. Where did you say the fucker went anyway?” He picked up a pencil from her desktop and twirled it from one hand to the other.

She shut the door and crossed the living room to sit in her desk chair. “Off to find himself, so that could be anywhere with a barstool.”

“He did like the drink. You know you’re probably better off, right, Ella?”

“I miss his half of the rent money.”

“You can do better."

Tony is irreverent with a dry sense of humour and kind as the dickens. He's also heart-broken when Sander moves out and turns his attentions to Ella's social life, taking it on as his personal mission. He worms his way into her investigative career as well and becomes her personal assistant even though she'd rather he not. He's a hairdresser and knows everybody who's anybody with a waiting list for his cuts and colours.

As most reoccurring characters, Tony grows and changes through the books. He starts off somewhat stereotypical, but this perception is turned on its head by the last chapters. I might add that since Tony is gay, I had a sensitivity reader to make certain I got things right.

Tony's impact on the books is clear when I hear from readers. Some have commented that they wished he were real and could move in next door. He proves a foil to Ella and much of the humour in the books originates with him. As for his impact on me, I agree with the readers who love him and wish he were real. I'd like to drop by his apartment for a glass of wine and one of his fabulous meals. If he wanted to trim my hair, update my wardrobe, and show me how to throw a fastball I sure wouldn't say no.

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