Living Legends

 

“Men like Felix. Men like…” She rested her glass against her lower lip, nails tapping at its outer curve. Ting, ting, ting. Her throat moved, as she swallowed. “Men like Remy. They invite challenge."

The scene I'm writing at the moment is one in which Ava is having a talk with Remy - her Remy, aged eight, confused and unhappy about what's happening, but as serious and stoic as ever - and it struck me today that not only is Mercy a character within the series who's gained Paul Bunyan living legend status - which is very much by design - but that I have a habit of doing that with all the MC boys. A habit of writing characters who become legendary within the microcosms of their families, their clubs, their daily lives. It's a tendency I attribute in part to being Southern: we love our yarns down south. Our myths. There's a certain cockiness that comes with being able to say, "Oh, you mean Felix? Yeah, I know him. Big guy. Laugh like anything." And that narrow, sly look that follows, head cocked, eyes half-lidded. "Go on down and introduce yourself. Maybe he'll like you." A grin. "You better hope he does." That's one of those difficult-to-describe patterns of the Southern tapestry. Making heroes out of hillbillies, and fables out of farmers. And I don't say that with a shred of derision: I find it hopelessly charming and comforting, that Americana flavor that elevates the mechanics of a story into something rich and universal. 

The Lean Dogs of the Dartmoor series are not celebrities in the traditional sense. No one outside their small circles has a clue they exist. But to the people in their lives, they're larger than life. My favorite storytelling technique with this series is taking what ought to be a small-town story and turning it into something grand through character point of view. There I go talking about "perspective" again. 

Something we've seen a little of, and which we'll see much more of as Lord Have Mercy continues, is Mercy more than earning his living legend status. I feel like he's probably the most popular character in the series, but I'm curious: who's your favorite legend among them? Whose well-earned reputation is the most fun? 

If you haven't started already, Part One of Lord Have Mercy is now available for Kindle, paperback, Nook, and Kobo! I'm working hard to get Part Two out next month. The photo for this post is very much life right now: flowers and books. Next time I'll try to work one of the horses into the shot.