The evolution of Charlotte and Jane

I confess that when I first started writing My Particular Friend my only thought was: “Ooh! Combine Jane Austen and Sherlock Holmes.” So Sherlock Holmes became Charlotte House and John Watson became Jane Woodsen (whom I thought to be a stand in for Elizabeth Bennett). Easy peasy. But that simple assignment of roles lasted about one page. Very quickly I found that my characters didn’t really want to be delineated by Holmes or Elizabeth.

For instance, I immediately started writing Jane as a shoplifter but then stopped and thought, Would Elizabeth Bennet become a shoplifter? I have to admit this was pretty hard to envision but I tried to console myself with the practical nature of Austen’s heroines (possibly with the exception of Emma). Austen characters do not fall to pieces when the going gets rough. Could anyone, for instance, better exemplify the British stiff upper lip than Elinor Dashwood? After her father’s death, she realizes their straitened circumstances and methodically goes about finding her family a new home. After her hopes with Edward seems dashed, she puts aside her own torment to support her sister. And what about Anne Elliot? On whom does everyone rely when Louisa Musgrove is injured? Even think of Catherine Morland. When she is thrown out of Northanger Abbey and has to travel alone she bears it with fortitude.

So I think an Austen character does what needs to be done. In order to secure a position, Jane Woodsen must be presentable. No one wants to hire an unkempt governess. She has, for reasons I have yet determined, come to Bath with little but the clothes on her back. And so she makes up her mind to steal in order to work. So I realized Jane is not just Elizabeth Bennett but all the Austen characters. She may, in fact, be more closely related to Catherine Morland for her love of romance and adventure. But then I allow Jane to have a little — a very little — petulance that brings her closer to Emma.

Turning to Charlotte, I originally just thought of her as Sherlock Holmes in a dress. She shared Holmes’ intelligence and his quirks, but she quickly developed her own peculiar insecurity. She wants friendship but she doesn’t believe that relationships last and continually tries to strain the limits of friendship. Without my knowing it, she became more Gregory House (she shares his cynicism) than Sherlock Holmes.

Another thing I couldn’t forsee is that Charlotte also has things in common with Emma, for instance her wealth and social position. And neither Charlotte nor Emma need to work but they have lively active minds and would suffocate without an occupation. Charlotte’s occupation, making certain that love will overcomes all obstacles, is similar to Emma’s matchmaking. And both characters like to think they can control people, Charlotte with more success.

So I hope that Charlotte and Jane will be seen as more than just Sherlock Holmes and Jane Austen, even though that is the natural one-line description or elevator pitch and I hope you will enjoy the evolution of their characters.