Multiple Personality Disorder

There is a theory that in every great piece of fiction lies a kernal of truth. My novel (considered great by my standards) is no exception to this. It has been questioned on more than one occasion if any of my six characters are based either on myself or on people I know. The answer is yes. They are all in some way a part of me: well four of them are.

Lauren, the most obvious if not by name or physical description, comes into the lives of the other five characters after something dark happens to her. Instead of facing this dark event she chooses to run away in an effort to escape it. The pre-ceding event, rather events because its more than more one, are based on specific things that happened to me when I was sixteen years old. The essence of who Lauren is is who I was or in some ways still am today.

Reed in so many ways is who I want to be. Not literally a sex-obsessed, pot smoking, porn addict, but someone who is bold and fearless. Although he could be considered selfish and impulsive, Reed is raw and lives life for himself. He isn't caught up in what others think of him, he just travels the best path he chooses for himself. Reed is about action, experimenting, and isn't afraid to ruffle a few feathers. He says what most people are thinking but too self selconscious to say themselves.

Perry is the ultimate selfless person, always putting himself last. Perry will give so much of himself until there is nothing left. He's a people pleaser which turns him into a bit of a doormat at times. Perry enjoys the simple things in life and works hard for anything he has, nothing has been handed to him. My life has been full of constant challenges and struggles, so I believe I reflect that in Perry. Although Perry doesn't let it get to him the way I do.

Caleb above everything else is a dreamer. Caleb could spend countless hours thinking about all the wonderful things in life he wants to do, but that's all he does...day dream instead of going for it. Unfortunately this costs him a lot of good opportunities as life passes by him. I go through phases of being Caleb myself. Caleb, like me, can come up with all the excuses in the world to not do something instead of seeing all the reasons for actually going through with it.

Then there are two that are based on people I know, but to protect the innocent I will not disclose real names. Tyler has the most charmed life: good looking, intelligent, athletic, wealthy, and naturally excells at everything he does. The problem is Tyler knows how awesome he is which makes him pompous and condescending at times. He also doesn't appreciate all he has because it's been handed to him for the most part. Danielle (Dani) doesn't know how to love, is a complete tomboy, and brass with her words. Dani has plenty of opinions about others but she can't seem to figure out her own shit. She has personal space issues and a higher sex drive than the other five characters combined.

It is the combination of these six characters that drives the story and I couldn't picture it any other way. They frustrate yet inspire one another. And each of them has a specific journey they must travel. In writing this book I spoke in all six voices changing the POV, so in a way I felt like I had six different people running through my brain at any given point. Silly? Crazy? Maybe it's just the making of a great novelist. Who knows? I'm just beginning my own journey at this point.