Angel of death – Behind the scenes part 2 Main characters

Hello, I'm delighted to have you here. In this blog, I'd like to share some insights about the characters in the book. I won't delve into their specifics, as I wouldn't want to spoil your reading experience with any spoilers. Instead, I'd like to discuss them from my perspective.

When I first began writing, my image of Azrael and Aiden was somewhat hazy. I knew who I wanted them to be, but the details were still forming—like a blurred photograph gradually coming into focus. In my mind, I pictured a blonde, breathtakingly beautiful woman and a tall, sturdy soldier—a battle-hardened elite with a beard, bearing the scars of countless struggles.

What intrigued me was how these characters evolved organically throughout the story. I didn't take notes about them separately or build them outside the narrative. I let the story unravel and followed its lead. Often, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the turns it took. The same applied to the characters, shaped by the situations they encountered.

I must confess, my favorite character isn't Azrael or Aiden. It's Lucy. Initially conceived as a plot device to inject tension and disrupt stagnation, Lucy, who was meant to be a 'bad guy,' revealed herself to be one of the 'good guys' in a surprising twist. By the second half of the book, she had become one of the central characters.

This is the part of the writing process I relish. I sit here at my PC for hours, typing away. Then, when I pause and read, I'm just as clueless about the next sentence as you would be. It's a delightful experience that brings a smile to my face every time. The same holds true for the characters. As you pen their stories, you later look back and witness their growth, observing how they respond to other characters, the world, and the events around them. It's truly magnificent.

Of course, it's not without its challenges. I might have envisioned a scene a certain way, but it takes a 180-degree turn, leaving me astounded. The same goes for the characters. I might have had a plan for how they should react or what they should say, but then something happens, and everything takes a different direction.

Let's turn our attention to Azrael. We know she is the Angel of Death. Drawing from my research on Wikipedia, she is purported to be one of the most powerful, at least according to some ancient scholars. I incorporated this into one scene and subtly referenced it throughout the story. As you read, you'll notice that I stripped her of anything overtly supernatural. There's a deliberate reason for this. While my book falls under the fantasy genre, it was the characters and the story itself that I wanted to take center stage. I didn't want to rely solely on fantastical elements.

That's why you won't find her engaging in anything 'angelic,' at least not yet. There's a progression in store for her. But I aimed for her to be a relatable person, as Aiden aptly describes her towards the end of the book.

Aiden, on the other hand, revealed a complexity that surprised me. He's the kind of character who truly shows his colors when placed in a situation. His personality is even more striking in contrast to Azrael's. He can shift from a teddy bear to a grizzly bear in the blink of an eye, making him unpredictable, even for me.

Writing Aiden can be quite a challenge. Especially in scenes rife with action and tension, I can never predict which direction he'll take. Will he diffuse the situation or unleash his inner tempest, leaving destruction in his wake? Yet, it's precisely this unpredictability that keeps the narrative engaging and allows me to discover what comes next.

Now, let's talk about Adonai. He is Azrael’s father, and as you'll discover in the book, he is something more. The name 'Adonai' stems from my research on Wikipedia, known as one of the seven names for God.

Adonai is a character of considerable complexity, intentionally left somewhat veiled in detail. After all, we're discussing God here. Writing scenes with Adonai presented a unique challenge, not so much due to his intricacy, but rather because he is, in essence, God in the context of the book. While I hold my own beliefs and acknowledge that this is all fiction, there's a line to be drawn between fiction and real-world beliefs and sentiments.

Hence, Adonai stands as my most intricate character, demanding a delicate balance between the world of the book and the world outside, touching upon the beliefs and emotions of real people.

And here we find ourselves at the conclusion of my character creation process blog. I'm truly glad you've journeyed with me thus far, and I hope you've gleaned a glimpse into my writing process. In my forthcoming blog, I'll delve into the intricacies of the world I've meticulously crafted and elucidate my reasoning behind the chosen locations.

Thank you for your company, and until next time.

Warm regards,

Tihomir