Some people make a lasting impression in our lives, am I right? Paula Marie Dye was one such person. Many of you knew her (or of her), and many of you may know that she entered heaven’s gates on August 5.
She was quite private about her health struggles for the past year. She spent much of September, 2021, in the hospital, and never really got better. She spoke to me several times over those months saying she thought she was going to die. At first, it was with panic, then with resignation, and then, maybe, with acceptance and even anticipation.
Still, I wasn’t expecting to get a message from her the morning of August 4 saying she was headed into emergency surgery. And then to receive a message from her daughter-in-law the next evening with news of her passing.
Paula was a great lover of Christian fiction and an encourager of Christian authors. She dearly wanted me to write more stories set on Green Acres Farm, the setting of my first series, the Farm Fresh Romances. She loved the spin-off Urban Farm Fresh Romance stories and saw a kindred spirit in Marietta, the matriarch of the Santoro clan (she guest blogged about it here). But she still wanted more Green Acres!
Last fall, when Paula was so sick, I asked her if I could name a character after her. We chatted and decided that, in my new/upcoming Farm Fresh Market Romance series, Paula Dye would be the farmers market manager and a secondary character throughout.
I invited Paula to tell me about her character’s background, age, marital status, personality, etc. We picked a stock photo together depicting Fictional Paula. I couldn’t promise that Real Paula would always like what Fictional Paula would say or do. I’m not a deep plotter. Characters come alive as I write, and I knew this character wasn’t truly her. I needed to be free to let her reveal herself as I wrote.
Then, because Paula wasn’t sure she’d be alive when A Wide and Pleasant Place would release, I sent her the chapters as I wrote them. I’ve never done this before (let someone read the work in progress) and I probably never will again. But, it gave Paula something to look forward to when she was struggling. She enjoyed the scenes with Fictional Paula in them.
I won’t even start writing the second book in the series, A Green and Vibrant Hope, until the new year. I’m sure I’ll shed a few more tears as I write Fictional Paula into many scenes in the new story. Fictional Paula will need a happily-ever-after all her own, I think, but perhaps not the same one as Real Paula, who is now dancing at the feet of Jesus, gone from Time and ushered into Eternity.
Please visit the memorial Facebook group Remembering Paula Marie if you’d like to share memories with each other where the family might read them. As you can imagine, they are reeling.
Readers, have you ever worked with an author to create a character? Have you ever had a character named after you? Do you wish authors would invite more of that collaboration? Let’s chat in comments!
Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner who writes where food meets faith and fiction. She injects experience laced with humor into her green clean romances. Her life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
I like the idea of incorporating a real person into a story in some way.
It was fun, once I got over what Paula would think of what her character said and did!
What a lovely tribute to Paula Marie. I didn’t really know her just off her.
Cheryl Wyatt used my first name and another of her readers lasts names for a secondary character and a motherly figure. It made me happy and was glad it wasn’t both names. I have read a book with my name Jenny Blake in it thankfully a secondary character but it feels funny. I like having part of a name or knowing its for me. I also love being able to name a secondary character or pet. (I know I did that once or was meant to). I didn’t get to see the book early. Oh and Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad did a LI book about mail order brides (I know its historical) and they name the conductor Mr Blake in my honor. Ironically things he did in helping were just what dad would have done so that was an even better honor for me.
It’s special to have one’s name in a book, for sure. Love the story of Mr. Blake being similar to your dad!
Valerie Comer thanks for the behind the scenes tribute to Paula Marie! I agree with Paula that we could use more Farm Fresh stories. Her family & friends are in our thoughts. For this retiree & reader, one blessing of social media is interacting with authors. Over the past decade Josie Riviera used my holiday craft idea and I am mentioned in her book Peppermint Kisses! Several other authors have mentioned me as part of their review team or used my reviews in their introduction. Rachelle Ayala dedicated her book Goose Year to me since I herded my Oma’s geese as a 4 year old.
Thanks for the reminder that there are several ways readers can be honored in a book besides having a character named for them. :)
Thank you, Renate, for your holiday craft idea. Your support is always so appreciated.
A touching tribute to your friend. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for reading!
I am so sorry for your loss. One author will be publishing a crafting mystery in the fall of this year. She will be using my name: Lournetta as one of her characters. Since it is not out yet, I really dont know how much I should say or not. I really do love the idea that an author would use one of our names or one of our pets names.
Oh nice! There are so many names, but once an author has been writing for a while, we might need a little help coming up with some new ones!
I love what you wrote about Paula!! I have had a few characters named after me in books! They were all surprises, except for one, and that one I won in an author’s giveaway. I didn’t know what my character would do, but it was neat! I have talked to an author about some of her characters before, as I proofread/edit all of her books, and I mentioned I really liked one minor character, and we kept talking, and then she said we’d just plotted out a whole book! I love talking books, in any way!!
Oh, that sounds fun!!!
I love plotting characters and scenes with authors. I’m pretty good at naming books.
I’ve actually had several supporting characters named after me, including a horse because the author thought it was funny. I actually had one of the inspy authors write me as a heroine. She told a few of my quirky secrets.
Remembering that authors are normal people that love to talk and share is important. Building relationships with authors truly enhances the reading experience.
I never interacted much with Paula Marie but I saw her name everywhere. I’m certain she will be missed.
That’s the thing, right? We’re all human and need each other. Even introverts like me need people, though it’s hard to admit!
Sweet words for a dear friend. Thank you for sharing. I enjoyed reading when Paula would post. She will be missed.
She definitely will be missed, MarciAnn!
Thank you for sharing so many special memories with us! I talked with her off and on but didn’t know her well. She was truly a special lady and I know she will be missed by many.
She was very special, for sure.
What a beautiful Tribute to Paula.
Thank you.
Such a beautiful tribute to Paula she was such a beautiful person and friend. Thank you so much for honoring her in this way.
It was my privilege, thank you.
My deepest sympathy and prayers. She sounds like a wonderful friend. Blessings
She was, thank you.
I’m so sorry for your loss! I’ve never been written as a character in a book. Sounds fun!
Maybe someday :)
I have never had the opportunity. I am so sorry your loss. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Thanks Debra!
nice tribute
Thanks!
She was very sweet and encouraging to me as a writer! She will be missed.
Encouragement: what Paula did best! (((hug)))
I’m sure reading your chapters was a huge blessing for her. <3
She's so missed!
She really is. :'(
Oh Valerie, what a touching tribute to a beautiful soul. I miss Paula Marie so very much. I haven’t read A Wide and Pleasant Place yet but it’s added to my library. And Miss Paula is enjoying her now wide and pleasant place with much love, laughter and joy in God’s kingdom.
I have collaborated with LoRee Peery before in a book set on the love of my grandparents and the girl took on a version of my name.
I loved doing that with her. So fun!
Thanks, Sharon! Sounds like a fun project with LoRee!!!
My condolences to you, Valerie. From being in your group, I know how great Paula was with all the admin stuff, as well as how much she loved supporting CF authors. She’s certainly missed.
As for creating a character, I can’t say that I have, but I have voted on some polls or suggested names for some characters (mostly minor ones). I’ve heard of authors who do giveaways for naming a character after a reader.
Thanks, Priscila!
Thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful tribute to Paula. She was an amazing person, so kind and encouraging, and it hurts so much she’s no longer here. She is missed so very much.
Yes, she is very missed!