Someone asked me the other day where the inspiration for my character Eli Baker, in the Shadows Series, came from.
I suppose the answer would be from several people and characters I have known and/or seen in movies, but the main inspiration came from Charles Bronson and a movie called Death Wish. In that movie, and in sequels, Bronson plays a character named Paul Kersey, and out of revenge for unthinkable things done to his family, Kersey sets out to wreak havoc on the local criminal community.
I liked that concept of uncontrollable rage AND the idea of roaming the underworld, wiping out the bad guys, and being so good at it as to be almost immune from harm or prosecution.
But I wanted that Kersey character to have more depth, and for depth I turned to a fictional police officer called Dave Robicheaux in the James Lee Burke novels. I loved the way Burke’s characters were philosophical as they waded through the detritus of society.
And finally I wanted a paranormal/supernatural element to it all, so I put Eli Baker in touch with the spirits of victims of violent crimes, and in turn his battles were actually against Evil itself, an ongoing battle between Eli Baker (Good) and the Evil character. Neither can be killed as they are locked in a battle which truly has no end.
Put it all together, heat at 350 for an hour, and you have my central character Eli Baker.
AND THEN SOMEONE ASKED
Do you really believe there is an Evil being, Bill? And to that I say I am certainly open to the concept. It would appear no stranger than believing in a character who represents ultimate good . . . aka God . . . so why not Evil? It seems to me if you are going to hang your hat on the concept of God, you certainly should be open to the concept of Evil.
Was Ted Bundy mentally ill, or was Ted Bundy the personification of Evil?
How about the Green River Killer?
How about Hitler?
I guess we will all find out when we die. Until then, I’m going to turn Eli Baker loose and let him do battle with Evil. I sleep better knowing he’s on the job while I sleep. Lol And he’s in one hell of a battle in “The Magician’s Shadow,” my latest due out in January.
AND THEN SOMEONE ASKED
How much longer are you going to write, Bill?
That’s like asking how much longer I’m going to breathe.
I am a writer. This is what I do. I love creating. I love communicating in this way. I love building a legacy of the written word.
Why in the hell would I stop?
Have a great week, unless you’ve made other plans!
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 