About this item
The ultimate guide for creating captivating charactersFormer private investigator and New York Times Notable author David Corbett offers a unique and indispensable toolkit for creating characters that come vividly to life on the page and linger in memory. Corbett provides an inventive, inspiring, and vastly entertaining blueprint to all the elements of characterization—from initial inspiration to realization—with special insights into the power of secrets and contradictions, the embodiment of roles, managing the "tyranny of motive," and mastering crucial techniques required for memorable dialogue and unforgettable scenes. This is a how-to guide for both aspiring and accomplished writers that renders all other books of its kind obsolete.
About the Author
David Corbett is the author of five critically acclaimed novels: 2015's "The Mercy of the Night" (starred review, Booklist) ; "The Devil's Redhead" (nominated for both the Anthony and Barry Awards for Best First Novel) ; "Done for a Dime" (a New York Times Notable Book) ; "Blood of Paradise" (nominated for numerous awards, including the Edgar, and named both one of the Top Ten Mysteries and Thrillers of 2007 by the Washington Post and a San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book) ; and "Do They Know I'm Running? " (Spinetingler Award, Best Novel 2011 -- Rising Star Category) . Of the last, John Lescroart wrote:
"This is not just a thriller, but an elegant novel, full of heart, soul, music, food, cruelty, betrayal, poverty and love. The line runs through Ernest Hemingway and Graham Greene, straight on to David Corbett. I'm not kidding. He's that good."
David's short fiction, collected in 2016's "Thirteen Confessions," has appeared in numerous anthologies and journals, from "Las Vegas Noir" to "Smoking Poet" to the upcoming "CRIME MUSIC" (Oct 2016) .
His story "Pretty Little Parasite" was selected for inclusion in "Best American Mystery Stories 2009." The story he co-wrote with Luis Alberto Urrea, "Who Stole My Monkey? ", was included in "Best American Mystery Stories 2011."
David has also contributed a chapter to the world's first serial audio thriller, "The Chopin Manuscript"--which won an Audie Award for Best Audio Book of 2008--and also to its follow-up, "The Copper Bracelet."
His book on the craft of characterization, "The Art of Character" ("...will rest close at hand on writers' desks for many years to come" -- Cheryl Strayed) was published by Penguin Books in 2013. His nonfiction has appeared in Writer's Digest (where he is a contributing editor) , the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Narrative, Zyzzyva, MovieMaker, Bright Lights, The Writer, and numerous other venues.
For more, go to www.davidcorbett.com.
