The Perfect Woman

My answer would be that, while I occasionally do use symbolism in my books, usually in themes or events, my characters do not symbolize anything.  They are simply ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.  As I said in a previous blog, I like to put myself in my heroine's shoes.  I create problems and obstacles for that heroine, and then I ask myself: what would I do in this situation?  I suppose this is where Barbara Wood the author sometimes enters the story.  Most writers will tell you that fiction is autobiographical.  The writer cannot help but put a little of herself or himself into the story, because, let's face it, although we are crafting an invented tale, we are drawing upon our own real life experience, as well as our own personal well of emotions, memories, and conditioned responses.

I had not set out to make Joanna and Pauline two halves of a super-woman, just two women who seemed realistic and alive, and who would reasonably, in real life, become friends - ordinary women whom we already know, or would like to know.  I think this is what makes a story good, and interesting.  I enjoy reading novels that feature characters who are believable and, above all, likeable.  

But, you might ask, what about thoroughly detestable characters whom we also seem to like?  Those would be called "villains," and a topic for another blog.