To help with the wait, we are release a series of posts about the stories. Today Sara Dobie Bauer talks about dressing her characters.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”HR 30%” _builder_version=”3.0.73″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” saved_tabs=”all” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” global_module=”3593″]<\/p>\n
\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n
<\/h3>\nCharacter Costumes: Why Clothes Matter<\/strong><\/h3>\nBy Sara Dobie Bauer<\/p>\n
There\u2019s something about a man in a nice suit. Something like sex. Granted, I\u2019ve always had a thing for fashion. When I was way younger, going through my goth phase, I expressed myself emotionally by wearing huge Kurt Cobain t-shirts and combat boots. In other words, not much has changed.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.penandkinkpub.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/MenInSuits.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
While prepping to write the Enchanted series, I\u00a0started my character bios. If, as an author, you don\u2019t write full character bios, I suggest you do. Important information can range from first kiss to favorite ice cream to phobias. Know your characters, and they\u2019ll be more complex characters. But I digress \u2026<\/p>\n
A big part of my character bios for my three-part Enchanted series, \u201cDestiny\u2019s Dark Light,\u201d had to do with clothes. What do clothes say about a person?<\/p>\n
My light witch lead, Cyan Burroughs, for instance, wears an old leather jacket all the time. This says a lot about her without saying anything. It says she\u2019s a bit of a tomboy. It says she\u2019s a bit of a badass. It says she doesn\u2019t necessarily obsess over current fashion trends because Cyan is too busy preparing for a big witch war to care. I never say any of this literally, but it can all be inferred.<\/p>\n
See? The power of costume.<\/p>\n
The romantic interest, Liam, is a successful sommelier and restaurant manager in Charleston, South Carolina: a very posh position. He wears expensive, tailored suits all the time\u2014and yeah, he\u2019s sexy as hell, but he also has good manners and is really smooth at charming people. Part of this has to do with his attire, because who\u2019s going to feel weak in the knees around a guy in a torn, wrinkled, ill-fitting suit? Liam\u2019s bespoke suits speak volumes.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.penandkinkpub.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/DDL-Costumes.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n
I could tell you more. I could tell you Cyan\u2019s potion-happy mother never wears shoes. Cyan\u2019s psychic aunt wears too many bracelets. Cyan\u2019s super strong daddy wears a Carhartt jacket every day. In each example, the choice directly reflects on character.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve read authors who scrimp on costuming, and it makes it harder for me to picture the protagonist. I want to picture the protagonist. I want to picture the whole fictional world, so costuming is just as important as setting and dialogue and conflict. Each of these aspects of a novel is a piece of the puzzle, and if you forget one, the puzzle won\u2019t fit together.<\/p>\n
Next time you pick up a new book, pay attention to the clothes and guess what the author is trying to say. You\u2019d be surprised; character costumes say a lot \u2026 if only you remember to pay attention.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”HR 30%” _builder_version=”3.0.73″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” saved_tabs=”all” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” global_module=”3593″]<\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.94″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.penandkinkpub.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Sara_Dobie_Bauer-smaller.jpg\")
Sara Dobie Bauer is a writer, model, and mental health advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. Her short story, \u201cDon\u2019t Ball the Boss,\u201d was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, inspired by her shameless crush on Benedict Cumberbatch. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she\u2019d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. She is a member of RWA and author of the paranormal rom-com Bite Somebody, among other ridiculously entertaining things.<\/p>\n
Find her online:<\/p>\n
Website<\/a><\/p>\nTwitter<\/a><\/p>\nFacebook<\/a><\/p>\nInstagram<\/a><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”HR 30%” _builder_version=”3.0.73″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” saved_tabs=”all” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” global_module=”3593″]<\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Magic Ember Cover” src=”http:\/\/www.penandkinkpub.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enchanted200x300.png” url=”http:\/\/www.penandkinkpub.com\/home\/books\/enchanted\/2-magic-ember\/” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ show_bottom_space=”on” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” border_style=”solid” force_fullwidth=”off” saved_tabs=”all” global_module=”5077″ \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Magic Ember Buy Links” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ module_alignment=”left” show_bottom_space=”on” background_layout=”light” saved_tabs=”all” global_module=”5078″]<\/p>\n
Available February 20th<\/strong><\/p>\nPre-order now!<\/p>\n
Amazon (US<\/a>) (CA<\/a>) (UK<\/a>)<\/p>\nOr go here now<\/a> to read more<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.94″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n
Get caught up before Magic Ember comes out! Claim your copy of Magic Spark today!<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Magic Spark Buy Links” _builder_version=”3.0.92″ module_alignment=”left” saved_tabs=”all” show_bottom_space=”on” background_layout=”light” global_module=”4782″]<\/p>\n
Available Now<\/strong><\/p>\nAmazon (US<\/a>) (CA<\/a>) (UK<\/a>)<\/p>\nRead for free on Kindle Unlimited<\/p>\n
By Sara Dobie Bauer<\/p>\n
There\u2019s something about a man in a nice suit. Something like sex. Granted, I\u2019ve always had a thing for fashion. When I was way younger, going through my goth phase, I expressed myself emotionally by wearing huge Kurt Cobain t-shirts and combat boots. In other words, not much has changed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While prepping to write the Enchanted series, I\u00a0started my character bios. If, as an author, you don\u2019t write full character bios, I suggest you do. Important information can range from first kiss to favorite ice cream to phobias. Know your characters, and they\u2019ll be more complex characters. But I digress \u2026<\/p>\n
A big part of my character bios for my three-part Enchanted series, \u201cDestiny\u2019s Dark Light,\u201d had to do with clothes. What do clothes say about a person?<\/p>\n
My light witch lead, Cyan Burroughs, for instance, wears an old leather jacket all the time. This says a lot about her without saying anything. It says she\u2019s a bit of a tomboy. It says she\u2019s a bit of a badass. It says she doesn\u2019t necessarily obsess over current fashion trends because Cyan is too busy preparing for a big witch war to care. I never say any of this literally, but it can all be inferred.<\/p>\n
See? The power of costume.<\/p>\n
The romantic interest, Liam, is a successful sommelier and restaurant manager in Charleston, South Carolina: a very posh position. He wears expensive, tailored suits all the time\u2014and yeah, he\u2019s sexy as hell, but he also has good manners and is really smooth at charming people. Part of this has to do with his attire, because who\u2019s going to feel weak in the knees around a guy in a torn, wrinkled, ill-fitting suit? Liam\u2019s bespoke suits speak volumes.<\/p>\n
<\/h3>\n
I could tell you more. I could tell you Cyan\u2019s potion-happy mother never wears shoes. Cyan\u2019s psychic aunt wears too many bracelets. Cyan\u2019s super strong daddy wears a Carhartt jacket every day. In each example, the choice directly reflects on character.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve read authors who scrimp on costuming, and it makes it harder for me to picture the protagonist. I want to picture the protagonist. I want to picture the whole fictional world, so costuming is just as important as setting and dialogue and conflict. Each of these aspects of a novel is a piece of the puzzle, and if you forget one, the puzzle won\u2019t fit together.<\/p>\n
Next time you pick up a new book, pay attention to the clothes and guess what the author is trying to say. You\u2019d be surprised; character costumes say a lot \u2026 if only you remember to pay attention.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”HR 30%” _builder_version=”3.0.73″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” saved_tabs=”all” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” global_module=”3593″]<\/p>\n
\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.94″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n
Sara Dobie Bauer is a writer, model, and mental health advocate with a creative writing degree from Ohio University. Her short story, \u201cDon\u2019t Ball the Boss,\u201d was nominated for the Pushcart Prize, inspired by her shameless crush on Benedict Cumberbatch. She lives with her hottie husband and two precious pups in Northeast Ohio, although she\u2019d really like to live in a Tim Burton film. She is a member of RWA and author of the paranormal rom-com Bite Somebody, among other ridiculously entertaining things.<\/p>\n
Find her online:<\/p>\n
Website<\/a><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”HR 30%” _builder_version=”3.0.73″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” saved_tabs=”all” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” global_module=”3593″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Magic Ember Cover” src=”http:\/\/www.penandkinkpub.com\/home\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Enchanted200x300.png” url=”http:\/\/www.penandkinkpub.com\/home\/books\/enchanted\/2-magic-ember\/” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ show_bottom_space=”on” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” sticky=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” border_style=”solid” force_fullwidth=”off” saved_tabs=”all” global_module=”5077″ \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Magic Ember Buy Links” _builder_version=”3.0.89″ module_alignment=”left” show_bottom_space=”on” background_layout=”light” saved_tabs=”all” global_module=”5078″]<\/p>\n Available February 20th<\/strong><\/p>\n Pre-order now!<\/p>\n Amazon (US<\/a>) (CA<\/a>) (UK<\/a>)<\/p>\n Or go here now<\/a> to read more<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.94″ background_layout=”light”]<\/p>\n Get caught up before Magic Ember comes out! Claim your copy of Magic Spark today!<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Magic Spark Buy Links” _builder_version=”3.0.92″ module_alignment=”left” saved_tabs=”all” show_bottom_space=”on” background_layout=”light” global_module=”4782″]<\/p>\n Available Now<\/strong><\/p>\n Amazon (US<\/a>) (CA<\/a>) (UK<\/a>)<\/p>\n Read for free on Kindle Unlimited<\/p>\n
\n