Almost everyone who’s done serious writing sooner or later will say, “I couldn’t get So-And-So to do that." I like hearing such a response because it means the writer has taken the time and trouble to create a multidimensional individual for the novel. That is something I strive to do, and in aid of that (along with the sharp eye of a good critiquer), I go to the trouble of creating a pretty deep character profile of my protagonist and usually of the principal antagonist, as well. In a continuing series such as THE ZOZOBRA INCIDENT, THE BISTI BUSINESS, and upcoming THE CITY OF ROCKS (Martin Brown Publishers), I also do profiles on the recurring characters in the series, although these secondary characters do not receive such extensive treatment.
I
thought it might be interesting to show the profile of the lead character
in the above-mentioned series, a confidential investigator named Burleigh J. (do you blame him for using his initials?) Vinson.
Warning: As with most things, events and personalities evolve a bit over time,
so any changes penciled in during the writing of the three books do not appear below. You’ll
also see detailed descriptions of such things as BJ’s home, office,
and automobile so I can be consistent about such details. Let’s take a look:
CHARACTER
PROFILE
NAME OF
STORY/NOVEL/WORK: THE B. J.
VINSON SERIES
CHARACTER’S
NAME: Burleigh
J. Vinson
ALIAS/NICKNAMES: BJ
and Vince
DOB/POB/AGE: September
12, 1972 (33, almost 34 at the time of
Zozobra)
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
RACE: Caucasian
ETHNIC
GROUP: Anglo
(English)
HEIGHT: 6”
WEIGHT: 170
lbs
COMPLEXION/SKIN
TYPE: Sandlewood – light brown
BLEMISHES: A
lentigo, a brown spot on his right cheek no larger than a mole
EYE TYPE
& SHAPE: Deep-set
EYE
COLOR: Apple
green or light green
NOSE: English
–narrow
HAIR
COLOR/STYLE: Mocha – Used to wear it in a Marine razor cut, now touches
collar
FACIAL
HAIR: None
HEAD
SHAPE: Oval
MOUTH: Broad
with full lips
CHIN: Firm
chin, almost stubborn, with a cleft
CHEEKS: Hollow,
but not gaunt
TEETH: Pearly,
the front uppers just miss being bucked
FACIAL
TYPE: Aristocratic,
which he considers funny as his people came from
shepherds and barkeeps.
Chiseled features.
BODY
TYPE: Lean,
but athletic from years in the military and the police gym
NECK: Obvious
Adam’s apple
SHOULDERS: Square,
still retains military bearing
HANDS
& ARMS: Corded arms and surprisingly long, sensitive hands
CHEST: Defined
pecs, sprinkling of light hair between nipples
BELLY: Flat,
first hint of love handles at his sides
LEGS
& HIPS: Leggy, runner’s muscles
FEET: Like
his hands, are long
VOICE: Throaty
baritone that fluctuates with mood and conditions
DISTINGUISHING
PHYSICAL FEATURES: Bullet scar on inner
right thigh, lentigo on right cheek, cleft chin
PHYSICAL
CONDITION (Fit, Unfit, other): Fit
PHYSICAL
IMPERFECTIONS (Would like to change most):
He would prefer a heavier frame
CHARACTERISTIC
GESTURES/ TYPICAL BODY LANGUAGE: Often
emphasizes his words with a shrug. Leans forward when intense. Muscles sometimes
bunch when he’s under stress
PERSONAL HISTORY
RELIGION: Presbyterian
PERSONAL
BACKGROUND:
DOB:
9/12/72
POB:
Albuquerque, NM
1978 – 1990 – grade, Jr. High, and
High School in Albuquerque
1990 – 1992 – Albuquerque
Technical-Vocational Institute (AA Lib Arts)
1992-1996 USMC – Military Police
1996-2005 Albuquerque Police
Department
2000 – Completes BA in History at
UNM by attending classes at night school
June 2001 – makes detective at APD
4/12/02 – Meets Del Dahlman
1/31/03 – Both parents die in
automobile crash on I-40 in Albuquerque
3/15/03 – Dahlman moves in with him
5/10/04 – Shot in the right thigh as
he tries to apprehend a suspected murderer
5/10/04 – 3/20/05 – Hospital and on
recuperative leave for his wound
3/20/05 – Medical retirement from
APD
6/21/05 – Del Moves out
9/15/05 – starts B. J. Vinson,
Confidential Investigations
FAMILY
BACKGROUND/LINEAGE (Family Tree, description & ages of immediate
family): Robert and Frances Burleigh
Vinson, both 65, are retired Albuquerque Public School teachers. Conservative
in nature, Robert nonetheless makes a loan to a struggling new Albuquerque
business that goes on to become Microsoft. They leave an estate worth
$12,000,000 after inheritance taxes when they die in Jan 03
There was an older brother who died as a child. The Vinsons
had no other children
YEARS OF
SCHOOLING: See personal background. Good
grades, a 3.8 grade point average.
Special
Occupational Training: Marine Corps Provost Marshall’s training, APD police
academy
SKILLS,
ABILITIES, & TALENTS: Reads people
well. Is a careful observer.
AREAS OF
EXPERTISE: Good investigative skills.
Well versed in local history. Decent marksman. Did light boxing in school. Good
swimmer.
OCCUPATION: Licensed confidential investigator operating
from a suite of offices on the third floor of a historic five-story white
concrete block building with an open atrium that goes all the way to the roof.
The building is located on the SE corner of 5th and Copper NW across
the street from the main Albuquerque library.
PAST
OCCUPATIONS: See Personal Background. As
a child and youth, had paper routes, took tickets in local theater,
projectionist in theater
MILITARY
EXPERIENCE: Four years in USMC, Provost
Marshall’s Office. Mustered out as a First Lieutenant. Saw no combat. Spent
entire time in Southern California
HOME: Inherited Residence from parents at 5228 Post
Oak Drive NW, Albuquerque, a ‘50’s contemporary, cross-gabled home with a stone
foundation and red brick walls with tall windows and white trim. Symmetrical,
fronted by a wide, low-ceilinged porch enclosed by a stone balustrade topped by
a wooden railing high enough to prop one’s feet on it while sitting on a porch
rocker. Square, tapered pedestals set into the stone balustrade support a heavy
roof at the corners and on each side of the concrete front steps. Pale Shrub
roses and English Legends line the front of the house while Heirloom roses bank
the driveway up the left side of the house all the way to the detached garage.
The home has a basement with small casement windows.
NEIGHBORHOOD: An older neighborhood settled in the ‘50s by
middle class working people. It is now somewhat of a geriatric neighborhood. BJ
is by far the youngest resident on his street.
PERSONALITY/IDENTITY
PERSONALITY
TRAITS (Select one or more): Extrovert, Intelligent,
Type A
SHORT-TERM
GOALS: Works to make a success of his
business. Although he doesn’t need the money, he wants to feel productive
LONG-TERM
GOALS: Searching for a long-term
relationship with a life partner.
SHORT
TERM NEEDS: Needs to find a candidate
for such a relationship.
LONG TERM
NEEDS: Has to do water therapy on a
fairly regular basis to avoid limping from the gunshot wound.
QUIRKS: Loyal to a fault. Usually takes him a long
time to develop friendships; also takes a long time for him to let them go.
Stubborn.
IQ: 129
TEMPERMENT: Calm, pleasant, but not overly social.
METHOD OF
HANDLING ANGER OR RAGE (Throwing things, repress, etc.): Internalizes and analyzes. Dissipates anger
with physical activity such as swimming or indulging in his passion for
history.
ADMIRABLE
TRAITS: Loyalty. A good work ethic. Fits
into almost any social strata, from working the trenches to operating in the
boardroom.
NEGATIVE
TRAITS: Sometimes allows his “gut” to
override his other senses. He shies away from danger because of the shooting,
but plucks up enough courage to go through with the job in spite of it.
BAD
HABITS/VICES: He smoked, but gave it up
in 2003
MOST
PAINFUL THINGS IN CHARACTER’S LIFE:
Dealing with his homosexuality in his younger years, but he’s come to
terms with it now. Split with what he thought was his life partner. Dealing with a gunshot wound and its aftermath.
EVER BEEN
ARRESTED? (If so, for what/
results?): No
IMPORTANT
POLITICAL OR SOCIAL ISSUES: Tacitly
supports gay rights, but does not actively advocate them
OPINION
ON ABORTION: Supports a woman’s right to
choose
OPINION
ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: As a history
buff, he’s careful about the environment. Believes in global warming, for
example.
OPINION
ON HOMOSEXUALITY: He is homosexual. He
fought it in his teens, but has come to grips with his orientation and is
comfortable with it. He is not in the closet, but does not advertise the fact
he is gay unless there is a valid reason to do so. He is masculine in his deportment,
so casual acquaintances often do not know he’s gay. Monogamous. Prefers
masculine partners. Turned off by flamboyant behavior. He doesn’t consciously seek
out the company of other gays, but doesn’t avoid them, either. He does not like
gay bars; in fact, he doesn’t particularly like bars in general.
OPINION
ON MILITARY: Pro – volunteered for the
Marine Corps despite his homosexuality in order to prove a point to himself.
Found it a positive experience.
OPINION
ON CRIME AND GUN CONTROL: As an ex-police
officer, he’s anti crime, pro-gun control, especially on the matter of assault
weapons
POLITICAL
PARTY: He’s an independent, but tends to
be socially liberal
INCOME: The investigations business earns him a
decent living, but he derives a satisfactory income from his family trust. He
has a personal income of over $120,000 per year. Trust income is larger.
SENSE OF
HUMOR: Wry. Doesn’t object to off-color
humor, but doesn’t like it dirty.
FEARS: The gunshot wound he suffered still haunts
him.
HOBBIES
AND OUTSIDE INTERESTS: history. He likes to take road trips around the state.
SPORTS: He played football in high school and follows
the sport casually, enough so he can discuss games in a bar situation. Swims
and golfs. Shoots in high 80’s.
FAVORITE
PASTIME: Relaxing with friends and
taking short trips to historical and natural sites of interest around the
state. Occasional rounds of golf, swimming.
ATTITUDE
ON ALCOHOL (Drinks, How often, favorite drink):
Limits himself to 2 alcoholic drinks at any one time. He strictly avoids
drinking while on the job. If he’s caught in
a social situation while working, he has one drink and then switches to a non-alcoholic
drink
FAVORITE
MEAL: Green chili chicken stew
CLOTHNG
STYLES/FAVORITE OUTFIT: Prefers casual
clothing—slacks & pullover shirts. Not a natty dresser, but always presents
a good image.
SPEAKING
STYLE: Generally soft-spoken, speaks
casually, but doesn’t rely on the vernacular too heavily. Tends to drop the word I at the beginning of
a sentence. “Wouldn’t want to do that.” Rather than, “I wouldn’t want to do
that.” Speaks limited Spanish, and often uses Spanish nouns for certain things.
PHILOSOPHY
OF LIFE: Live and let live
TYPE AND
NUMBER OF CLOSE FRIENDS: A lot of
friendly relationships, but few close friends who tend to be professional or
friends from his past
BEST
FRIEND: Detective Gene Enriquez, his old
APD partner
OTHER
FRIENDS: Hazel Harris, his secretary and
surrogate mother, Charlie Weeks, a retired cop who helps out in the business. A
few old school friends.
CAR/COLOR: A 2003, four-door Chevrolet Impala, white
w/tinted windows. In first novel replaced by a 2007, white 4-dr Impala SS w/303
h/p, 5.3-liter V8 engine with Active Fuel Management technology that regulates
between 8-cylinder and 4 cylinder operation.
DRIVE
FAST OR SLOW/OBEY TRAFFIC LAWS: Pushes
highway speed limits by a couple of MPH, but generally obeys all other traffic
laws.
CHARACTER
GROWTH BY END OF STORY, CHARACTER CHANGES, LESSONS LEARNED: Grows enough to let go of a failed
relationship to the point he can do business with the man who wronged him. This
frees him to begin a new relationship.
###
So,
dear readers, I hope I kept him true to himself? If you find otherwise, please
let me know.
Next week: I haven’t the
foggiest.
New posts are published at 6:00
a.m. each Thursday.
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