Originally posted during Sapphire: Home and Abroad book tour.
I have come to believe that a story just isn’t a good story without visceral secondary characters. Protagonists shouldn’t live in a void. And who doesn’t love that quirky best friend or the meddling mother? Without even meaning to, I somehow created a menagerie of secondary characters to populate my world as Morgorth and Aishe run around doing heroic things.
An important part about making secondary characters feel as real as the main characters is making sure to give a sense of a life “off page.” We don’t want secondary characters to only exist to support the protags. Even Morgorth’s minions, the vicious boygles and the dumb stone gargoyles that roost on his towers, should have a semblance of life beyond the main action of the story. Sometimes I think about what the seconds are doing either between books or off page, just so I know where they are in life when I need them to join the main action. A lot of such notes don’t end up in the story itself, but it helps me keep track.
It was unavoidable that these secondary characters would also influence the actions and emotions of the protags. That is probably the most vital part of creating “real” characters—they have to make an impact on the story and/or on the protags. Morgorth and Aishe wouldn’t be who they were without the folks that surround them. Through Aishe, Morgorth was able to open up his heart and allow himself to accept those around him. He had to be convinced to trust and that it was a good thing to trust. As for Aishe, he grew up in a close-knit community, and regaining that feeling of belonging has made him feel more at home with Morgorth.
One of the major examples of a good, impactful secondary character is Elissya. She was Morgorth’s first lover and fellow student of Master Ulezander before becoming his friend. She pops up now and then throughout the series until making a prolonged appearance in book eight, as it turns out she’s started courting Morgorth’s brother, Olyvre. And she has more parts to play as the series progresses.
Olyvre was introduced in book five and has made frequent appearances since then. He’s the only one of Morgorth’s brothers that Morgorth remembers fondly, and is a decent man, a single-father who owns acres of farmland. He’s just an average guy trying to make it in the world until Morgorth shows up and unintentionally yanks him into a world of politics and magick and dangers. And with him goes his young daughter, Lyli. Despite Morgorth’s efforts to remain aloof, he starts to bond with the girl.
Then of course there is Morgorth’s mentor, Master Ulezander, who had done much in his long life, most of which Morgorth knows nothing about. What an adventure that mage’s story would be! He made, perhaps, the biggest impact on Morgorth’s life, by saving him, training him, nurturing him. Being a father figure when Morgorth needed a guide. And despite their estrangement, he continues to support and guide a reluctant Morgorth.
Let’s not forget Enfernlo, Morgorth’s payshtha’s friend (my version of dragons), as well as his other minions, the intelligent wolf-like beasts, the wichtln, and their alpha, Grekel. I have more in store for that big puppy! Or the villagers living in Happy Valley, the small town inside Morgorth’s territory. He went from frightening them to grudging fondness, to having them host his bondmate (wedding) ceremony! How did that happen?
I hope you stay safe and healthy, and may dragons guard your dreams,
M.D. Grimm
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