Help! I met this guy but was it a date?

Sloan’s busy working on her manuscript today, so she asked if I’d like to do a guest blog. I have a feeling I’m going to owe Sloan a lot (she’s writing about me in her serial story More Than Just a Good Book), so I figured I’d better say yes.

My name’s Scott Murphy. Right now I’m going to college in Ohio, but I’m originally from Elmore, Michigan, a rural small town where I grew up with my dad. It’s the kind of place with massive oak trees lining the streets, evenly trimmed green grass behind every picket fence, and a volunteer fire department which includes the town mayor, the local barber, and the president of the bank. Yeah, it’s that kind of picture-postcard town where everything looks perfect. A little too perfect. Because nothing really is when you take a closer look.

I guess this is the part where I’m supposed to say what this blog is about. The thing is, I’ve been really nervous about this. I don’t like being in the spotlight, and when I sat down to write this post earlier today, I drew a blank on what to talk about. I’m still in college. I haven’t done anything with my life yet. What do I have to say? But I made a promise, and I don’t like going back on my word. So here I am.

I guess the problem is my brain’s been preoccupied with this amazing guy Mark who I met where he works at the university library. I’m not sure “met” covers it, though. I was going to say, we went on a date the other night, but you know, I don’t know if it was a date.

We had sex. Twice. Amazing-I’m-going-to-be-thinking-about-that-for-the-rest-of-my-life sex. Once at the library (yes, INSIDE the library. Can you believe that? I still can’t). Then later at his apartment.

Before that, he’d shown me around the library’s comic book archive. Then after the sex we talked. Some. He told me what his plans are for after graduation, and I told him something no one knows about me except my dad.

But is that a date? Can you call it a date when it’s mostly sex? How about if you have sex twice? Do you need to go out for dinner, a movie, or at least drinks first?

I would tell you what happened at the end of the “date” but Sloan might kick my ass for revealing too much. I really don’t want to piss her off. I’d like to get laid again someday. I mean, it’s not like I had much action before she decided Mark should walk over to where I was sitting in the library. Guys like him never talk to me. Not that I’m complaining. It was the best sex of my life. Mark did stuff no other guy has ever done to me before. Maybe that means it’s a date simply because I had a fantastic time with him. I don’t know.

What do you guys think? What constitutes an official date in your book? I mean, if my dad calls, can I tell him I had a date? I think he wants me to find a boyfriend more than I do.

Thanks for the help,
Scott

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Edited to add: Scott Murphy is a fictional character from More Than Just a Good Book. His post and comments are meant to be a fun teaser of my work. I hope you enjoy reading this from Scott’s point-of-view.  -Sloan

More about Matthew Stewart

I’ve already posted some of my original character details and pictures for Luke and Richard (from More). Now I’m sharing about Matthew.

These are directly from the original character sketch sheet, including the photos I used for inspiration before writing the book.

Matthew Stewart

Photos for Inspiration
The final result of what a character looks like may be nothing like the photo, but an image gives me something to visualize, making him a bit more real.

(c) istockphoto, RobertDodge, 2007

Sampling of Character Sketch & Personality Traits

  • Full name: Matthew Stewart
  • Nickname: his mom calls him Matty.
  • Works at a music/book store in the mall.
  • Lives with his mom whom he adores.
  • His parents are divorced. Hasn’t seen his father since the man left, when Matthew was in high school.
  • Came out in high school.
  • Doesn’t like Chinese food. Loves Italian.
  • Doesn’t have much in the way of a savings account.
  • Strengths
    • Lively, energetic, funny (despite his shyness)
    • Always has a smile
    • Laughs a lot
    • Empathetic
    • Inquisitive. Curious. Asks questions.
  • Weaknesses
    • Shy, nervous, self-conscious
    • Trusts too easily, even when others have failed him
    • Doesn’t speak up when he should
    • Speaks with uncertainty
    • Has issues with people who drink alcohol around him.
  • Zodiac Sign: Scorpio (Source)
    • Life Pursuit: To survive against all opposition
    • Scorpios lead fate filled lives and have intense and dramatic personal relationships.
    • Old and wise beyond the average, Scorpios often know all the answers, except sometimes; they too often have difficulty finding what they need to develop their own happiness.
    • Coming to grips with their extraordinary emotional depths and sensitivity isn’t easy for those around them.
    • They are different from all other zodiac signs and this difference has them walking, working and loving to a different beat.
    • Their eyes often blaze with feelings that words never express, and beware on the days or nights they hide their feelings behind dark glasses, there is likely to be a storm of some kind brewing.
    • They often wear a mask. Too often they say “no” when they really mean “yes.”
    • Once they find true love they can be the most faithful dedicated of all partners.
    • When they are negative about something or someone, or critical of themselves, they can tend to get in their own way.

All my blog posts with behind the story information are also archived on my website at www.sloanparker.com

Hope you enjoyed a look at some of my initial ideas for Matthew.
Sloan

 

Image source (first picture): I can’t recall from where I purchased or downloaded this one. If you hold the copyright and wish to have it removed, please contact me.

More about Richard Marshall

Here are some more behind the story details about More, specifically some of my first notes for the character of Richard Marshall. These are directly from the original character sketch sheet, including the photo I used for inspiration. (Side note: The final result of what a character looks like may be nothing like the photo, but an image gives me something to visualize, making him/her a bit more real. Also, some of the character traits change as I write the story. Some become no longer relevant.)

Richard Marshall

Photo for Inspiration: This is not exactly what he ended up looking like in my mind (especially the hair), but here’s the first photo of Richard.

(c) istockphoto, jpmediainc, 2007

And here’s his bod.

(c) istockphoto, Storman, 2007

Sampling of Character Sketch & Personality Traits

  • Full name: Richard Marshall
  • Graduated from NYU with an MBA
  • Doesn’t hide who he is for any reason.
  • Sleeps naked.
  • Neat, orderly, tidy.
  • Clears his throat when he has something to say he doesn’t want to mention.
  • Does not apologize for who he is. Or what he does.
  • Strengths
    • Confident
    • Successful in business
    • Caring
    • Loyal
    • Conscientious
    • Smart
  • Wants to make the world better for those he cares about. Does it by changing their immediate world, affecting change in their daily lives.
  • Fears most: Losing people he loves. Not being what they need and watching them walk out. Not being successful, losing business.
  • Zodiac Sign: Leo (Source)
    • “Life Pursuit: To lead the way”
    • “Love triumphs over all for this sign, which is ruled by the heart and operates from this dimension too. Leo’s are born fortunate.”
    • “Charismatic and positive-thinking they attract…an abundance of friends and opportunities.”
    • “Once a Lion is committed to a relationship, they are totally devoted and faithful. Should their heart or trust be broken they never forgive or forget.”
    • “For a Leo, when a relationship is over, really over, it is over for good.”
    • “The second soul-evolution of the Leos is the Lion, King of the Jungle, ruled by ego but always protective and sustaining of those they love.”

All my blog posts with behind the story information are also archived on my website at www.sloanparker.com

Hope you enjoyed a look at my initial ideas for Richard.
Sloan

More about Luke Moore

Late post again this week. Sorry guys. Writing is coming along nicely, though. New ideas are flowing again. And if you didn’t see it, this week I blogged about writing when the muse is asleep at Loose Ends.

Speaking of ideas…

Today I’d like to share some of the behind the story details about More, specifically my first notes for the main character of Luke Moore. These are directly from the original character sketch sheet, including the photo I used for inspiration. (The final result of what a character looks like may be nothing like the photo, but an image gives me something to visualize, making him/her a bit more real. Some of the traits change as I write the story. Some become no longer relevant.)

Luke Moore

Photo for Inspiration

(c) istockphotos, InkkStudios, 2007

Sampling of Character Sketch & Personality Traits

  • Full name: Lukas Moore
  • Zodiac Sign: Taurus
  • Best Friend: Walter Simon
  • Parents: are well-off. They have live-in staff.
  • Sleeps in his underwear
  • A programmer
  • Likes things that are logical with one solid solution
  • His apartment is in a low-rent area. It’s small and shabby, but he doesn’t need much. He spends his money on the security system he’s put in place.
  • He doesn’t have much in the way of possessions. He moves a lot. He likes to keep his life simple. Uncomplicated. Physical stuff just bogs a person down. Ties them to a time and place. He doesn’t want to be tied to anything.
  • Doesn’t own a car
  • Independent, self-reliant, private
  • Detached
  • Successful at work
  • Logical
  • Determined
  • Strong willed
  • Thinks only of himself (unless he’s in bed with someone).
  • Focused on self-preservation (and winning against his father) to the point of keeping everyone at a distance, even his best friend, Walter, at times.
  • Fears most: Being like his father

All my blog posts with behind the story information are also archived on my website at www.sloanparker.com

Hope you enjoyed a look at my original ideas for Luke.
Sloan