The first line of Miracle Lane, my next Miracle Interrupted story (which should be out next month) says:
The thin man wearing the tan constable shirt with the brown slacks at Nia Beaudine’s front door was a liar.
My characters lie to each other. And my writer friends and I make up characters and tell stories about them. In other words, we lie. Right now I’m reading Making Your Mind Magnificent by Steven Campbell. According to Campbell, the biggest lies we tell are to ourselves. The ‘I’m not smart enough’ lies. Or ‘I’m always late’ lies. Or ‘I can’t stop eating sugar/drinking coffee/whatever’ lies.
My older sister used to drive the rest of the family crazy with her extreme lateness – an hour or more. I used to think this was a sad way for her to control other people in a life where she didn’t have much control. But after reading the first 8 chapters of the book, I realize she saw herself as a person who was always late. Whereas I see myself as a person who is usually on time.
Not that I see myself as perfect. I have my own self-talk that I plan to change. Most people do. And it’s not just because we tell ourselves lies. We also see ourselves in a way we’re not. And the worst part is we believe this. (Lucky for me, dark chocolate really is a powerful antioxidant.)
In Miracle Lane – and in most of my books – my hero and heroine see through each other’s lies. Instead of ugliness, they see beauty. I’m not talking about the outer appearance but their characters. Their humor, irony, uniqueness, sweetness… Whatever it is that makes one person look at another and their heart smiles.
Most great romances do that, in real life and fiction. Definitely my fellow bloggers do this in their books.
If you’ve ever read a Georgette Heyer book, this is something she excelled at. Her characters weren’t perfect, but they loved each other because of the very things other characters in the book would consider flaws. When you finished a Georgette Heyer book, it was with the conviction that the the love story continued after the last word in the book. That in thirty years, the couple would still appreciate each other’s foibles, instead of wanting to hit their spouse over the head with the nearest parasol or sword hilt.
Can you think of characters in a book – or movie or TV show – that have this total acceptance?
ohhh, I’m going to have to check out that Making your Mind Book. I’m constantly looking for ways to improve.
Not in a book, but in real life one of the biggest lies I’ve always heard was “I’m not smart enough to go to college.” Especially where I’m from there are so many people who are stuck in miserable lives but they don’t think they can improve them.
Lori, someone I know is so needy that she’s in one abusive relationship after another. She doesn’t realize that she deserves more. And that there’s nothing wrong with being alone. That’s the worst lie. It’s so sad.
It makes me want to write about a character like that and show her metamorphosis. Only my characters have strength of mind right from the beginning. I don’t know if I could stand to be in a whole book with someone like that. Maybe if she were already in the process of changing when the book starts… (Hmmm. The brain cells are sparking.)
Great topic, Edie. I love all your novels and I’m sure I’ll love this one too!
I think Susan Elizabeth Phillips does a great job with characters who lie a lot to each other but can always see through those lies and love the other person anyway. Her books are hilarious and filled with drama as well. Like the perfect soap opera for the mind.
Your post made me think of the movie Galaxy Quest, where a group of Star Trek-like actors actually end up saving the world from real aliens. They’ve all been *lying* as a job and then the tables turn and they have to step up and fill the roles of their characters. Love that movie!
Misty, I was actually going to mention that a character in one of your books is Satan, who’s the biggest liar of all. Yet you make him lovable.
I loved Galaxy Quest! And the ending, with the aliens… That was heartbreaking yet at the same time uplifting. What a great example.
Edie, I’m sure there are plenty of great examples, but the one which springs to mind at the moment is the characters on The Parasol Protectorate. Both the main protagonists are very difficult people, but they love each other anyway.
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Michelle, that is a great example. That series has wonderful and unusual characters.
One that I just thought of is Jennifer Crusie’s characters. They have character flaws that are make them hard to love. Yet it’s the flaws that make them lovable. It’s kind of like my beagle. She came to us old and overweight, yet I love her dearly – maybe because she needs me so much. And she’s cute. I’ve got to admit that cute helps.
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Edie,
What a marvelous post!
Character on TV at the moment is Brenda in the Closer. Her husband and some of the others in the cast know her weaknesses along with the lies she tells herself but still believe in her. That was the first to come to mind, probably because I plan on watching the new episode tonight.
In books, I think of Eve and Rouark in J.D. Robb’s Death series. You just know they understand the others quirks and love them in spite of them and perhaps even more.
I admit I’m drawn to these types of relationships and think they can last a lifetime if those involved love the flaws as much as the perfections which make up the unique person.
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Casey, my husband and I are big fans of The Closer. This last episode with Provenza and Flynn was classic. I think it’s supposed to get darker, and I’m dreading it. My husband and I don’t know if we’ll like the new captain as much as Brenda – just because she doesn’t have enough quirks and foibles.
I think most books that we read and write have a ton of lies in them. It’s human nature to both tell ourselves those little lies and to tell them to others. Usually to make yourself look better. I can’t think of examples (written or cinamatic) off hand but I liked the Galaxy Quest example.
LIz, in your current book, your heroine has been telling a ton of lies to herself. It will be fun to see her finally realize she’s a liar. lol
Hi Edie,
As someone who has read an early draft of your new book, I know it’s great. Your fans will agree. I also agree with premise that the biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves! It’s hard to see, hear or accept the mind speak we sabotage our own actions with.
As a writer, it’s important to separate those lies we use in our books, and those we use on ourselves! But we like challenges, right?
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Dale, I am completely honest when I say that book will be even better when I revise it. That book will shine.
As I wrote this blog, I was thinking of your two YAs, Vampire in Denial and Vampire in Distress. They’re built on lies that people tell each other and themselves. Lies upon lies. That’s why they’re so twisty and exciting!
Edie,
I *loved* this post and the interesting perspective you brought to the idea of lying to oneself and to others! I’m finding that so much of dealing with life is actually a big mind game — the way we perceive the world around us and the stories we tell ourselves about it — so this is really fascinating. I’ll have to check out that S. Campbell book.
One novel I read (Sue Miller’s While I Was Gone) gave me a lot of insight into characters telling lies to themselves and how they justified it. There wasn’t a sense of total acceptance at the end, but I do think there was a sense of greater self understanding…
Marilyn, I think we see ourselves as the stars of our own story. And isn’t that the truth? You’d think if we’re our own stars, we would write ourselves better roles.
That’s something I’m going to try to remember in the future. Thanks for loving my post. I love you as a starring character in your own books. You’ve got a great story to tell!
Great post, Edie. The lies we tell ourselves was a central premise for my book, Lying Eyes. I’m crazy about deception in books and movies. Not so pleased when I discover it in real life. One of my favorite book series features Dorothy L. Sayers’s Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane. Harriet sees herself as a forward-thinking, independent and emancipated woman. Peter simply loves her and wants to marry her. Uncovering her deep-seated fears throughout the series gives a beautiful layer of meaning to the books.
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Amy, I should’ve thought of Lying Eyes. It’s even in the title. lol I’m not pleased with it in real live either.
Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane were a great couple. One of these days I should reread all the books.
Great post, Edie!! I’m afraid I still have conference brain, so can’t think of a specific book or movie, but I agree, I love characters that love each other and see each other clearly for what makes them imperfectly perfect!!
Virna, I just thought of When Harry Met Sally as two imperfect characters who were perfect for each other. I’m already missing Norah Ephron.
I wish I would’ve been to the conference. I would’ve loved to have met you in person.