New characters

So, we got a new puppy last week. He’s a cutie, a yorkie-shu (yorkie/shih tsu). Introducing him to the family was easy. The three year old poodle, not so much. He’s having to learn to share. Attention, toys, you name it. And I’m having to learn to cope with twice the duties, doody duty, bath duty, walking, feeding, doody and bathing. Four times as much hand washing. Egads. He doesn’t act like a normal puppy. Except that he’s playful. I think he thinks he’s a cat. He slinks in a feline manner, but he nips like a dog. My sweet miniature poodle doesn’t share well. His favorite toy, a black and orange bone that used to squeak, is now a source of teasing by the 5 month old. The baby will grab it, prance in front of the poodle and when the poodle sees it, there’s a chase. Then play fighting commences. 

It’s all rather entertaining. 

So how do you manage when a new character comes into the story. You may have anticipated the arrival, or maybe not. I’m not talking secondary characters that are only in a few scenes. I’m saying characters that seemed innocuous at first but suddenly you need a new book for that character. (Take Cager Abrams, who shows up in Constance of the Carolinas only to be the hero in Genevieve of Georgia. [another aside, i hope the publisher likes the names of each of my colonial series, 13 in all.])

Have you had this happen to you? A character be more than meets the eye?

Tags: Colonial series, Leigh Royals, new character, new puppy, Writing