Introverts and Extroverts in Protagonists
By Amanda Flower
I love to take personality quizzes online. I find their declarations about my psych fascinating, whether or not I agree with the results. I’ve taken a number of quizzes lately. The number tends to increase with the approach of my book deadline as my ability to procrastinate as the deadline approaches hits expert level. The closer the deadline, the worse the procrastination becomes, and there is no better way to procrastinate than to take a quiz that will tell you what Disney princess would be your best friend, right?
Recently, these quizzes have been telling me I’m an extrovert, which I find especially interesting since I was just about the shyest child in the world growing up. I think the great contributing factor to this personality shift, assuming it’s true, is my becoming an author. Nothing has forced me to come out of my shell more than writing, which seems odd since it is at its core such a solitary profession. However, I find the more readers read my work, interact with me on social media, and come to my books signings, the more comfortable I become with my extrovertness, if you can even call it that.
Thinking about my own personality, makes me think of the varied personalities of my protagonists. It’s hard to believe that there are six now with more on the way. With so many main characters populating my mind, it’s a wonder I can keep them all straight. When creating new protagonists, I am very careful to make them different from each other, not just physically but mentally and psychologically. Here’s a little peek at what makes them unique.
India Hayes from the India Hayes Mystery Series
India is an introvert with an edge. India is fiercely loyal and intelligent, but she’s not afraid to take someone to task if she thinks they are doing something she finds wrong or idiotic.
Chloe Humphrey from the Appleseed Creek Mysteries
Chloe is an introvert too but in a much different way than India is. She’s the sweet girl next door who just wants to do the right thing. She’s pure of heart really.
Angie Braddock from the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries
Angie is definitely an extrovert. She means well, but she is too curious for her own good and wants to fix everything and everyone. She sometimes has poor judgement on how to make things better, but she means well and the fallouts of her mistakes are hilarious.
Andi Boggs from the Andi Boggs Mysteries (for kids)
Andi is an extrovert. Because of the independence her parents allowed her, she is capable to do much on her own even at the young age of twelve. She wants to find adventure and new friends wherever she goes. She not afraid to stand up for what she thinks is right even if that requires to standing up to an adult.
Kelsey Cambridge from the Living History Museum Mysteries
Kelsey is a goal-driven introvert. She has a plan, and she wants to execute that plan as quickly and efficiently as possible so she can move onto the next task. She has a clipboard and knows how to use it. The only person who gives true pause in her mission to save Barton Farm from financial ruin is her young son, Hayden.
Violet Waverly from the Magical Bookshop Mysteries
Violet is an introvert. She’s even wounded to some extent from events in her past. What happened to her as a teenager makes her cautious. It’s hard for her to trust others and herself, but she wants to trust and she learns she can change.
So which of these protagonists am I most like? There is a piece of me each of them, some more than others. Which one am I most like? Well, that just depends on who you ask…
Happy Reading!!
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GIVEAWAY
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Amanda Flower, a three time Agatha-nominated mystery author, started her writing career in elementary school when she read a story she wrote to her sixth grade class and had the class in stitches with her description of being stuck on the top of a Ferris wheel. She knew at that moment she’d found her calling of making people laugh with her words. Amanda is a librarian in Northeast Ohio. She also writes as USA Today Bestselling Author Isabella Alan. Her next release it CRIME AND POETRY coming April 5, 2016.
www.amandaflower.com
Amanda Flower
@aflowerwriter
ANDI UNSTOPPABLE, Now Available!- 2015 Agatha Award Nominee
CRIME AND POETRY, April 2016
THE FINAL TAP, May 2016
Writing as USA Today Bestselling Author Isabella Alan
MURDER, HANDCRAFTED, June 2016
I'm 3/4 of the way through Crime and Poetry and love it!!
ReplyDeleteYour guest post with Amanda Flowers is fantastic. Thank you for sharing :)
Saph
It is amazing to me what you learn about Authors on test blogs! Thanks for the insight.As for me it depends on the day and what I am doing.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me what you learn about Authors on test blogs! Thanks for the insight.As for me it depends on the day and what I am doing.
ReplyDeleteI've had my eye on this book for awhile now. Glad we're finally getting closer to release day!!
ReplyDeleteI've had my eye on this book for awhile now. Glad we're finally getting closer to release day!!
ReplyDeleteI love to get to know the author..to know how they think and feel,makes me appreciate the book more..if that makes sense to you..lol.. I won a copy of this book on Goodreads and read it right away. It was the first book that I have ever read from Amanda, and I loved it..the fun characters..living tree in a book shop?..a talking AND thinking crow...and the books "picking" out their buys..lol how could you not fall in love with it/ and when I saw the picture of the bike with the pink basket ..it was like yesss,that's the one in the book..lol I cant wait to read more of this series and so glad that I found her thru another author's event..
ReplyDeleteI like your description of your extrovertness. I really am an introvert. Sometimes I think I really want to go to book conventions but I am too shy. Even though you authors are so fun! Someday I will get the courage to come to one. Thanks for the info about you!
ReplyDelete