Many Characters Are Totally From Inside My Noggin

But Some Are Considerably Inspired by Real People I Know

By Jeff Salter

Topic: Have you ever based a character on a real person? Have you ever used a TV or movie character as inspiration for a character in your stories?

I’ve had déjà vu as I’ve considered this week’s topic — it feels like something I’ve addressed before… but perhaps in a different venue. Without stopping to re-visit each of my 22 published (or contracted) fiction titles, I think it’s safe to say that at least one character in each has been inspired by a real person (or composite of several people) that I know, or have known.

Rather than conduct all that research, I’ve decided to focus on my one title which contains the most characters based on real-life individuals. It’s Called to Arms Again — my third novel manuscript completed, and the third to be published (after I chopped about 55,000 words from it).

This novel also has the largest cast of characters of any of my stories. Here are the several which were inspired by real-live individuals I know (or knew… since many have passed away since my story was completed in early 2008).

Major characters with many scenes

Chet ‘Pop’ Walter — 80s, WW2 vet… army // AL honor guard — considerably inspired by my late father-in-law, Charles Williams.

Wade [Lawrence] — 30s // grandson of Pop’s deceased friend — considerably inspired by one of my wife’s first cousins, David [AKA Wink].

Pete Henley — 80s, WW2 vet… army // received belated silver star // chaplain of Legion Post & head of Honor Guard — considerably inspired by the late C.E. “Gene” Hansford.

Supporting characters, with several scenes

Diane Sutton — 60s // Kelly’s friend & neighbor — considerably inspired by my wife, Denise.

Joe Sutton — 60s // Diane’s hubby // suffers from various ailments like arthritis & fibromyalgia — considerably inspired by ME.

Irene Henley — wife of Pete // 80s // consummate hostess of the buffet — considerably inspired by my late mother-in-law, Rita R. Williams.

Roger Jenkins — 60s // no military // nephew to Pop — considerably inspired by one of my wife’s first cousins, Richard.

Norm / Norman — 80s, WW2 vet… Infantry lieutenant, but never saw combat // in AL honor guard & Pete’s neighbor — though not his physical characteristics, Norm’s military record was considerably inspired by my dad’s.

Herb / Herbert — 80s, WW2 vet, Navy… enlisted // a fighter during the war // in AL honor guard — considerably inspired by the late Albert Self, the maintenance superintendent at the library system where I worked.

Supporting characters, with fewer scenes

Miss Dottie Daniels — 80s // educated & articulate — considerably inspired by my late mother, Doris “Dottie” Salter.

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As you can see, my novel with the largest cast of characters has MANY who were based on (or, as I prefer to say, inspired by) real people I know or have known. This is quite logical when you understand this novel – Called to Arms Again – is my tribute to the Greatest Generation.

Sadly, C2AA is no longer available for purchase from Amazon — it was one of 11 titles dropped when one of my three publishers closed its doors a year ago (January 2022).

[JLS # 626]

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