Friends: Our characters need them too.

Sandra here. This past weekend I flew home for a special occasion. Twice a year my high school girlfriends and I get together to enjoy a weekend slumber party. We catch up on all our news and have been doing this for years.

Since we all live in different locations, we take turns finding a hotel in the different areas and hang out for the weekend. One of our favorite places is the Cottonwood Resort in Scottsdale during the summer. You can stay at a posh resort for next to nothing. We get a suite by the pool and you get the idea.

Last week I was in Newport, Oregon. A girlfriend I went to first grade with lives there. We have been in touch all these years, mainly at Christmas. It had been years since we'd seen each other, but once together, it was like old times. We picked blueberries and canned pickles and talked the whole time. How fun is that?

In Arizona, we have friends called the FAST group. FAST is an acronym for our last names. We get together about once a month and either go camping or go for an all day picnic out in the desert. We also traditionally spend New Year's Eve together and take turns at each one of our houses.

Then their are my Seeker Sisters. Our connection is writing. We get together once or twice a year at the major conferences, but are connected daily online.

We started as a support group to help each other through the process of getting off Unpubbed Island. In the process we've met all of you.

I'm sure you can think of other friends connected through church, work, sports, spouse, children, parents, support groups, special interest groups, etc.

All of our friends shape us.

They are essential to our well being.

They are the part of our lives we cannot live without.

Our characters need friends too.

Like our real friends, the friends of our hero and heroine can shape them, deepen their character, show their personality and describe them for us.

The friends I have listed above can each show others who I am. The friends of your characters can do the same thing.

Dialogue between friends can impart information such as political beliefs, moral ethics, religious affiliations, past history, issues of conflict.

Your secondary characters can bounce off their fears, joys, victories, etc. with each other.

And your secondary characters can kick your hero and heroine in the behind. Just like your friends do. (Okay Ruthy, I won't tell on you)

In my romance PRICE OF VICTORY Debra and her friend Cindy (also her trainer) are having a conversation. During this conversation we learn of Debra's reaction to meeting the hero. We learn why she wants to become a pro cyclist. We learn about her personality.

Cindy went on to explain. “Sterling Wade. Isn't he the most?" Cindy sighed as she pushed and poked at Debra’s calf muscles.

Debra flinched at the added pressure. “Not bad.” Wade definitely had appeal, a sense of honor and a caring smile.

"It's not every day you meet a guy like that, and he definitely made it known that he’s interested in you."

"You know I don't have time for involvement now." She should feel indifferent but his flirting had pleased her. Odd. She was usually immune, especially while racing. It must've been the high she'd gotten off her win.

"You need to date more,” Cindy rambled on with the familiar theme.

Debra half listened while sounds of other cyclists milling about outside the van divided her attention.

"I mean, you spend every spare moment either working out or riding your bicycle. You've got to have some fun in your life."

"Riding is my fun,” Debra insisted. “Sure it would be great to kick back and take a few of life's pleasures, but I have to accomplish my goal first.” She couldn't bear to see any more tears in Mamá's eyes. She refused to continue to put her brothers and sisters on the spot with her father’s anger because they financed and defended her. No. She had to do this.

“You're a beautiful woman,” Cindy said. "I mean look at that hair. And your figure is perfect."

How many times had she fought off unpleasant advances while in junior high and high school? In the barrio Debra had learned the hard way that her beauty was best hidden under the guise of a rough tomboy exterior. "That isn't always an asset."

Today please share how you use friends of your hero and or heroine. I will draw a name from the comments and the winner can choose either a copy of PRICE OF VICTORY or one of my children's picture books. Check my website Children's Books By Sandy for children's books that are available.

Since I picked so many blueberries I have a feast featuring the yummy fruit.

For breakfast we have blueberry stuffed waffles, blueberry scones, blueberry pancakes and blueberry syrup, baked apples stuffed with blueberries and blueberry compote.

For lunch (or dinner) we have cornish game hens with sauteed blueberries, Neskowin blueberry salmon, and Blueberry-onion sauced pork tenderloin.

For a lighter touch there is blueberry waldorf salad or a tossed green salad with tarragon blue cheese blueberry dressing or blueberry-shrimp salad with lemon vinaigrette.

For an afternoon pick me up there are blueberry parfaits, blueberry ice cream and blueberry-watermelon frosties.

I baked blueberry pie, but there are plenty more desserts. Check out this Oregon Blueberry website for the recipes.

Have a great day.