Most of my characters have absolutely no connection with any real living person, although I do occasionally borrow someone’s face and then rearrange it. For example, Gideon in ‘Loving Judah’ was inspired in appearance by the historian Michael Wood, however he became blonder, his face sharper featured and his eyes bluer.
One of the characters in ‘Loving Judah was inspired however, by the true story of a well-known person who seemed like a young Prince Midas, everything he touched turned to gold, every obstacle in his path disappeared as he approached. He was popular and respected not only in his own country and not only among his peers, colleagues and fellow-professionals, but by most people who met him. Suddenly, catastrophically, he was revealed as a liar and a cheat, and in many ways a bully and a coward; this real person had done not one stupid and dishonest thing, but countless, over several years and drawn others into his web of deceit and corruption.
My character, and you will have to read ‘Loving Judah’ to find out who it is, had never wanted or sought the glamour he had attracted; he made one stupid error of judgement, did one dishonorable act and from that a series of events unfolded which brought him tumbling off the plinth of respect and worth where others had placed him.
As I mentioned before, this novel deals with loss, and it is not just loss through bereavement or failed relationships, but loss of the status and respect this character had. Aislin, my main character has to build a new life without her beloved step-son, and without other people dear to her; the golden boy with feet of clay has to find a way of coping with what he has lost and finding out who he really is.
Lois Elsden 