Narelle here. I’m delighted to welcome Sara Beth Williams to our blog today. :)
On Writing an Australian Character as an American Author
Do you enjoy reading stories with lead characters from other countries? I’ve had a blast recently working on several stories with lead characters who aren’t born in the US, or whose parents are immigrants. In the last six months, I’ve finished writing the first two stories that will become part of the Trinity Lakes Romance series. My upcoming release, No Matter How Far, which is up for preorder, features a male hero named Dylan Mackay, who is Australian.
When I was invited to join in this series, I was aware of the expectation that I’d have to somehow write a story with either a lead, or a minor character, who was not American, to fit in with the format of all the rest of the stories. My friends were gracious and tried to keep me from stressing. But in the first few months, I debated whether I could actually pull off something like this. I didn’t want to create cliché-sounding characters or somehow offend the authors in the group through my writing.
I remained though because I love a good challenge, and this multi-author series opportunity was something I’d never done before. In past experience, challenging situations bring out my best work. (Case in point: A Worthy Heart, which was one of my most difficult manuscripts to write but has been the most well-received.)
So, I did what every good author does and researched Australian accents: on YouTube I found this hilarious Australian guy who acted out three of the main dialects that are present in Australia with some exaggeration. He was hilarious, and helpful. At least I had a handle on the dialects.
The benefit of being part of a group full of Australians and Kiwis (that would be our New Zealand friend Iola) is that I began to pick up on the language nuances in their speech as we all conversated back and forth for months. And another added encouragement: I have the privilege of videochatting occasionally with my dear Australian author friend and critique partner, Lisa Renee. She has been immensely helpful, and I can’t thank her enough.
And then, randomly last fall, my youngest daughter started watching a cartoon called Bluey, which is an absolutely adorable show by the way. The characters are all different breeds of dogs and all of them speak in an Australian accent. So while I sat trying to figure out how to write this story, I’m listening to these Australian dogs.
Then this wonderfully intelligent and handsome, older and more mature, grieving Australian professor began to take shape in my mind. I was stunned at how easy he was to write—a little easier than my American heroine even—and how rapidly the story itself took shape once I nailed down his backstory. The only thing I had to watch out for was mixing in European phrases instead of Australian phrases.
Here’s a short excerpt from the beginning of No Matter How Far.
Dylan Mackay set his ski poles firmly in the soft snow to keep himself from sliding down the hill. All around, snow fell soft and silent, blanketing the ski slope and cloaking the Trinity Lakes ski resort lodgings in a gray and white haze. He pulled down the scarf covering his mouth and glanced toward his brother-in-law, Ethan. “Sure this is a good idea, mate?”
Ethan grinned beneath his gear. “Can’t turn back now, can we?” He sidled forward on his skis. “It’s only a blue run. You’ve done this before. You’ll be fine. Follow the trail markers, and the rest of the skiers.”
Sure, he’d done this before, years ago when he and Elise were dating, but he hadn’t been back to the states in almost six years.
Mate, come on now, it’s like riding a bike, right? He’d gotten off the lift without falling, hadn’t he?
He wiped the accumulating snow from his goggles. The stuff seemed to be falling faster by the minute. Loosing his poles, he used them to shove himself forward, then down the slope. Through the haze of falling snow, he zig-zagged along, passing several skiers while others passed him.
He leaned right into a sharp turn in the trail. Ow! A massive blow to his back knocked the wind out of him. He gasped for breath and tumbled forward, arms and poles outstretched to break his fall. He winced as his face hit soft, freezing snow, then cried out as something smashed into his head. He tumbled again, rolling through the snow until it coated the entire front of him.
He lay on his back, sucking in gulps of air. What happened? Ow, his head ached. Could he have run over a snow-covered boulder? No, that didn’t seem right. Something had knocked into his back first.
He wiped snow from his face, still gasping. He should call Ethan. The old mate was likely at the bottom by now.
White surrounded him, continuing to fall on his face and body. Finally able to breathe normally, he tested all his limbs, then pushed himself to a sitting position. He patted all the pockets on his coat in search of his phone.
Another skier skidded to a stop down the hill from him and then knelt beside another dark form lying in the snow.
Fear clawed through his gut. Oh no. What in the world had happened?
***
So, do you enjoy reading characters who are from other countries, or who may have parents who were born in other countries? Which country do you wish were more represented in Christian Fiction? I’d love to know your thoughts, as I’m working on another contemporary romance series which deals with a heroine whose parents were immigrants. One randomly drawn commentor will win a complimentary ebook copy of one of my three published novels. The giveaway will close on June 14 and the winner announced in the Sunday Edition.
Sara Beth Williams is a published author of Contemporary Christian romance, an ACFW and CIPA member and freelance writer. She has a background in freelance publicity, blog managing, newspaper journalism and ten years in the field of education. Two of her three novels have been nominated for a Selah Award. A Worthy Heart (2020) and Anchor My Heart (2022). She lives in Northern California with her husband and two daughters. When she’s not held hostage by the keyboard, she enjoys playing guitar, reading, gardening, and spending time with her family. Find out more at www.sarabethwilliams.com
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A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Hi Sara Beth welcome to Inspy. I am looking forward to your Trinity Lakes book. I am one of the Aussies here. It’s interesting with Aussies when we visit overseas we tend to end up mimicking the accent of where we are. It’s easier for us than lots of others. I came back from Canada using eh for awhile. And there were others things I picked up when in America.
Blue is a very popular show so I think its so fun you are listening to it. I do like characters from other countries. Its interesting often I can tell when an Aussie is writing an American character as there are bits of Aussie that creep in. Some do it better than others. Often the biggest thing others writing aussies have is over using things like G’day which most of us don’t say or over use of words like mate, But having an Aussie crit partner and the others in the group would be an advantage. (Also the aussie beta readers)
I have been to Spokane WA so it feels like I know the area a little which makes it even better reading a book set in the area.
Thank you, Sara Beth, for visiting with us today at Inspy Romance and offering a giveaway for our blog readers. 😊
As Chilean and Spanish (dual nationality) I am afraid that there are few people from these countries in Christian fiction anyway, as a consequence of the fact that it is a genre that started in English and has prospered in that language, too many Christian publishers here know only to Francine Rivers as a fiction writer!
Something funny is that to see the books of the Lisa Renee of whom you speak, you have to google “Lisa Renee christian fiction” otherwise if you only put “Lisa Renee books” you get a secular author with the same name. I saw the covers and thought “oh wow… how peculiar?” then I saw that I had the wrong author hahaha.
I do enjoy reading books with characters from other countries. My grandmother came here when she was 4 from England and my grandfather’s family came here when he was 19. He was from England too. On that side of the family I a am a second generation american.
I enjoy reading books with characters from other countries. I would like to read more books with the countries in South America.
Characters from other countries add a richness to the stories – I am a fan of diversity and think there could be so much more as there is nothing more validating for people, especially younger ones, than having characters they can identify with in stories.
As for your Australain professor – choosing an Australian is a great choice as we’ll just act the larrikin with you and stir you if your writing is a tad off to us and given the diversity across the country that may happen, just remember we’re laughing with you not at you so no need to be apprehensive when birthing this book baby. Thanks.
I’d love to read this one!!! I have a niece who went to New Zealand and ended up marrying a Kiwi, and now they have three little Kiwi’s!! I met the youngest two for the first time last Christmas, since they could finally come for a visit!! I love to read about other countries and have characters from other countries in books.
I really enjoy reading books with characters from different countries. It’s fun to see the world through their eyes.
I do enjoy reading character from other countries, until I forget half way that in my head I need to be reading them in a different voice other than (American).
I would love more Scottish characters in Christian fiction.. But I’d love to read character from anyway where really. I appreciate when it is different setting rather than the US.
How cool! I know it’s funny how Americans always think Aussies use “g’day” a lot. I’ve not heard my Aussie friends say that once LOL. I asked Lisa about Bluey and she said the same thing about Bluey :). I’m glad you’re looking forward to it, I’m excited to share the story with everyone!
Yes she told us that once! I always type in the latest novel she’s written first. My author doppelganger is a kids author who hasn’t published anything but it messes things up whenever i Try to list my books on Goodreads manually.
I’m currently just beginning a project with a Latino hero whose brother is marrying into a large Mexican family and the heroine is part of a Latina singing competition (think American Idol but smaller). It’s been fun so far :)
I enjoy characters from other countries. I try to get the accent in my head as I read. It doesn’t always work. I don’t recall reading stories with German heros or heroines. That might be interestong.
Nice to have you in Inspy today.
I enjoy characters from other countries . my grandfathers parents were from Sweden/Finland .
Hi Sara Beth! I’m from the UK, I love reading stories with characters of all nationalities I find that a lot of CCR have American characters and settings, which I enjoy, but it might be nice to have more European characters from different countries.
It must be hard to write characters who are a different nationality and get the phrases and accent right. I do notice with English characters sometimes who are written by writers who are different nationalities that words and phrases used aren’t quite right, but generally people do a good job.
My children love Bluey, it’s on the BBC here in the UK.
Welcome. Thank you so much for sharing. I enjoy reading about people from all countries. God bless you.
I love reading about characters that either come from another country or who’s parents are from another country. It is always fun to learn about other cultures and their traditions.
yes, any
I like reading (and writing!) about characters from various countries. My favourite are Greece, Spain, Italy, Mexico but I found interesting books happening in more exotic countries as well – Japan, India, African countries, far away islands… I consider very interesting to learn about other cultures and traditions.
My writings showed this too – I have novels and short stories with characters from all over the world, and when from my country, ethnic minorities are also included, and their culture and traditions shown.
That’s neat! Thanks for visiting!
Yes! That would be neat. I think more books with characters from any Latin country would be wonderful to see.
Yes I agree! Seeing characters from any Latin country would be great!
Yes, there are definite challenges in writing characters in other countries. I didn’t find it too difficult as a Kiwi writing American characters, as I’ve visited the USA many times and most of the fiction I read is set in the USA and by American authors. I think you’ve done a great job!
I could not agree more!
Long ago, my uncle on my Mom’s side lived in New Zealand. Don’t know if the kids were born there or not, but he was only there for a year (for whatever job he held at the time) It’s a beautiful place and I’d love to visit someday,
yes, definiteliy!