A Scripta

I first started writing when I was in 8th grade. At the time, the universe I wrote in was the Dukes of Hazard. I was absolutely in love with Tom Wopat - who I think showed up later in Friends or Sex in the City or something like that. Kids were amazed that I did this, and they thought it was a big deal writing in my notebook as I dictated.

I was also into the Wild West and often read westerns. There was a book in our high school library that I picked up. Can't remember the title, but it was about Mormons that initially settled in Utah, and a backwoodsman was involved named Chris Donovan.

I liked (still sorta) Irish names and culture, so I started writing stories about a backwoodsman. Chris was a boring name, but I did like the name Christopher. I also liked Alexander. I combined them both: Christopher Alexander Donovan. Too long. How about Casey - very Irish name.

Casey went from being just a plain old backwoodsman to an immortal. This was before Highlander and all that. Casey was a member of the Council, overseen by a huge polar bear, and he was the human representative. Every so often he would be summoned to answer for issues that humans did - and he could do nothing about it, but he was the whipping boy for all the other animals.

I had him involved in the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Wars for Western Expansion, World War I, World War II, Vietnam and then present day. Eventually I realized he should be world-wide, but that wasn't until after I was out of college.

Then I dropped him into the Nazi book I wrote, and there he's been languishing. He was known in that book as Luther Waldemar (Luther because it's one of my favorite names, and Waldemar being taken from Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series that I really liked until she involved the kids).

He's been with me since 9th grade, I'd say, and I've never lost him. I even had someone draw a comic book for me with him - it was never finished. I wonder if I can find it and scan it into my computer. . .

I believe all writers have a character that has been with him/her for a long time, seems to find his way into any/all books that they write. I knew that's what Vagabond Mage seems to have been for E-VAC and I hope to someday read about him.

I'm sure if anyone's interested (Keen) I could dig up a story or two with him.