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Characters for Country Dramas 4/1/2012 7:22:38 PM
Characters. Where do they come from. How do we find them?
I can only speak for myself. The characters for my Country Dramas came from real life. I of course add a huge dose of imagination to make them my own. The Aristocrat from the second Novel, Valley of the Eagle was not difficult at all.
I have been acquainted with two individuals of the aristocrat ilk during the years on cattle properties when my children were young.
These Australian-cum-English aristocrats are usually not terribly wealthy. They do a lot of pretending with the plumb in the mouth and they present a well-practiced stylish demeanour. Neighbors usually smile secretly and give them a cheery hello while trying to ignore their flamboyant over-dressing at the country racetrack or charity ball.
One family I knew took the act of aristocracy very seriously indeed. They were born in Australia but kept the traditions from a previous generation. They were lonely with their children at boarding school and asked the jackaroos to join them for dinner in the evenings; but there were rules.
They were very conscious of their status as master and mistress of their estate, even when mortgaged to the hilt, and in reality,had much in common with the neighbor over the hill.
They presented themselves in evening attire for dinner every night without exception. The ringers likewise were expected to be decently presented, preferably with a jacket; the business shirt and tie mandatory. All would be required to stand to attention when the owners entered the dining room. If their workers refused to acknowledge them in this manner, the worker in question would be dismissed on the spot. Needless to say they had a huge turnover of workers, some only remained a couple of weeks.
There was a similar family from English heritage living a few miles from one our properties. This other Australian-cum-aristocrat would throw off the toffy clothes immediately after dinner (much to the chagrin of his stylish wife) to sit comfortably in his working clothes to watch television. Poor man, he did try to keep up appearances; but it was all too much.
The Series; the first novel. COLOURED SANDS
the second novel. VALLEY OF THE EAGLE
the third novel. THE TAN PEOPLE - a journey into truth
