MC Blogfest: An Interview With Ben Regan, My Fiction Character

I have a guest today, kind of. Author Elizabeth Mueller is hosting a MC blogfest, inspired by Character Therapist Jeannie Campbell. I blogged about Jeannie recently, if you write fiction following her blog is a MUST.

Jeannie recommends that writers get into the heads of their main character and have the MC answer three questions. Doing so is going to give greater depth to your character and perhaps reveal more for your story you didn’t even know about. I love doing things like this because it really helps. Today Elizabeth is taking that exercise and having fun with it through a MC Blogfest. Prizes are available so join me and link up today.

With that, let’s meet my main character from my work in progress (WIP) Spectcular Falls. Ben Regan is the village grocer and councilman in fictional Speculator Falls, NY. This is a setting in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate NY based on my favorite place in the world, Speculator.

Ben’s family has a long history with Speculator Falls so he doesn’t take kindly to new folks barging in trying to change everything. Right now he keeps butting heads with newcomer Jenna Anderson, an Ohio young woman who moved to Speculator Falls to be the new senior center director after one phone interview.  A little problem…Ben is working hard to shut the center down for good.

So Ben, what is your greatest fear?

Ben: Loss and change.

Care to expand on that?  I know you’re fidgeting in your chair but there is no time frame here.  Share away.

Those that live in Speculator Falls know my story. Anyone else is a tourist in my book but tourists keep my business alive.  About eighteen months ago my grandfather, John Bivins, passed away. He was the heart and soul of Speculator Falls. His death was cruel. Before he got sick I watched him after he visited the senior center. So many of his friends were in poor health and then next thing you knew, the center was closed mornings for funerals. I hate loss. I hate that the former director of the senior center thought she was too good for Speculator Falls and left. That was like another death to me.

Let’s talk about something happy. What is your biggest accomplishment, Ben?

There are two. I take my job as co owner and manager of J.B.’s grocery story seriously. Grandpa built and ran that place for decades. I pretty much grew up there. I’m happy that business is great, I feel like I’m honoring grandpa by taking good care of the store. I’m thinking about an expansion but I’m nervous about it. A lot of risk, not sure about it so I can’t count that as an accomplishment yet.

The other accomplishment is my house. It’s log cabin style with a wrap around porch on top of Panther Mountain overlooking Pieseco. I built it with grandpa. It’s my sanctuary.

One more question. What’s your biggest regret?

Hmmm. Letting my grandmother near a computer and a phone. That’s all I’m saying on that subject.

Ooookay Ben, that’s cryptic. I guess we’ll have to read more when the time comes. No clues?

I’ll give you two words and then I have to go.  Ready? Jenna. Anderson.

Ben, thanks for your time. I learned a lot through this.

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