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Lee Stone wrote:

gali wrote:Great questions and I will add another one.

I found Slacker a unique character. Is he based on a real person?

I realized that I didn't really answer this very good question. My visual and perceptual image of Slacker is embodied by actor Owen Wilson. Specifically, Owen as he presents himself in my all-time favorite comedy, "Wedding Crashers." I think it is valuable, even essential, to have a tangible image of a main character. To convey that visual to my reader, I even referred to Slacker's bent nose as an "Owen Wilson." I attempted to establish Jerry Porter's identity immediately - referring to him as "George Costanza-like." Costanza was a Seinfeld character.

Lee Stone wrote:

bookowlie wrote:Thanks for the info. The setting was like an extra character in the story. There are two characters (no spoilers yet!) where I wonder if they will stay away forever or will move back. I was disappointed when they decided to move.

If you are referring to the two girls who drove off together, they are the principal characters in "Barracuda."

Lee Stone wrote:Future Slacker adventures will be determined by where I want to visit! I'm going to Costa Rica in December. I am currently writing in an entirely different genre ... young adult contemporary. "The Student Council." Why would a sixteen-year-old want to burn down her high school? For young Amy Westin, the answer was simple: because of all the good that could from it!

Lee Stone wrote:I love fishing and am fascinated by people who are obsessed with any particular thing. While we, as a society, tend to favor raising children to be well-rounded, it's also undeniable that obsessive people tend to be the very best at what they do. I used fishing because I knew more about it than skiing, music, business, or astrophysics!

bookowlie wrote:I agree. It's always interesting to discover the inspiration behind an author's book.

Lee Stone wrote:I love fishing and am fascinated by people who are obsessed with any particular thing. While we, as a society, tend to favor raising children to be well-rounded, it's also undeniable that obsessive people tend to be the very best at what they do. I used fishing because I knew more about it than skiing, music, business, or astrophysics!

Aithne wrote:Do fishermen really have a following something like rodeo cowboys in Texas? I struggle to see fishermen having that appeal, considering the heat, sweat and smell of working on the ocean and gutting fish, etc. I find it interesting you would pick a fisherman as a 'benevolent hero', too. It's an unusual choice. Any particular reason behind it?

-- 07 Nov 2015, 19:28 --

Lee Stone wrote:I love fishing and am fascinated by people who are obsessed with any particular thing. While we, as a society, tend to favor raising children to be well-rounded, it's also undeniable that obsessive people tend to be the very best at what they do. I used fishing because I knew more about it than skiing, music, business, or astrophysics!

My pardon, looks like my question has mostly been answered already! Still doesn't explain the sex appeal, perhaps, but explains the topic choice. Write what you know, eh?

On fishermen having the female following of rodeo cowboys: Aithne, you are the very first reader to ever comment on that! The answer is simple. Of course they don't! My joy in writing that ... remember, the story is told from Slacker's perspective ... is to show the pride fishermen take in doing what they do and the over-inflated self image of some. It tied right in with Slacker saying he never tired of hearing that he was the best fisherman. Slacker's actual "success" with ladies was tied to his fame and notoriety, not so much with being a fisherman. I was laughing over the keyboard when I wrote that - hoping readers would be amused more than confused.

Lee Stone wrote:From a broad perspective, I wanted to create a character and experience that a reader would not forget a day or two after finishing the book. The End of the Road Motel. The Rusty Hook. The Ayudame. These are places and things I wanted to plant in a reader's mind forever.

I live in South Florida and visit Key West. Dozens of authors publish Key West mysteries. There's a new one every other day. Murder victims are everywhere, like flies on a window sill. In truth, it's one of the most peaceful towns anywhere ... one murder every few years. I wanted to represent the town properly.

As to the characters, Jerry Porter said it all early in the first chapter. People move to Key West to be themselves, find themselves, or reinvent themselves. Jerry fit into the latter category (you came to find out). Slacker believed himself to be in the first category, but wound up in the second, thanks to Jerry.