Into the Fire

I love the protagonists in my novels. And shouldn't we love those who we create? Joey Parr (Joseph Calhoun Parr Jr.) struggles through the dysfunction in his family at an early age and as he grows up, he endures an intense loneliness partially from being the youngest of his siblings but also because of his unique personality which makes him feel like he's an outsider in his circumstance. School is not his forte, and his two best friends adapt quickly to it which estranges him to the life he lives even more. I love him because he's a unique individual who struggles in life while inadvertently pursuing the deeper meaning to his existence. He wants to experience real love but has no idea if it even exists. His journey morphs into a spiritual search and ultimately meets his true need. The Famous One is Joey's story told more like a fictional biography of his life.

Protagonists must touch us, reach us, hold our attention, and keep us reaching for the resolution of his/her story. Most of us who read large numbers of fiction can testify there are some protagonists we'd just as soon lock in a closet as read another word about them, their actions, dialogue, or conduct. Others we fall deeply in love with like, for me, Mitch Rapp, Roman Velasco (aka Bobby Ray Dean, aka The Bird), Cole "Tox" Russell, and Lance Michelli. It's not the same ones for all readers, but we all have our favorites. 

Would love to hear who yours are . . . 

(P.S. I know we've talked about this before, but why do you like your favorites?)

Father, apart from you, I can do nothing. You provide it all. Nothing matters without you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.