As writers, we try our best to write protagonists with admirable qualities. Characters our readers will fall in love with. Who they won’t want to say goodbye to when the book finally comes to an end. Sometimes these characters spring entirely from the mind, but many times they are inspired by real life individuals. Someone we’ve known, or perhaps a public figure or celebrity we’ve learned about from afar.
Has anyone read THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN by bestselling author Mitch Albom? It’s a book where the main character dies, and afterward, his life is explained to him by five people who at one time or another, crossed his path. Some are well known to him, and some are complete strangers, but each of them altered or changed the course of his life forever.
Who is someone who has influenced your life, inspired your thoughts, or incurred your obsessive interest? Someone who, if given the chance, you’d like to meet? Your response can be "deep", completely frivolous, or anywhere in between. The person can be alive or deceased.
Through my answer, I’ll reveal what a big history nerd I am. We can blame my American Oratory prof for this one …
If I had to choose one person I’d love to meet, it would be: Abraham Lincoln.
What a great question, Jolie!
I have a list: Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks.
I think violence comes too easily to humans; these people embody the philosophy of peace and passive resistance. I’d like to ask them what gave them the courage of their convictions, and how we can inspire others today to emulate them.
Frivolously… Jane Austen,,, for writing tips, of course.
Comment by Donna — November 28, 2006 @ 2:19 pm
Donna:
What a great list! And haha, about your “writing tips” comment … can you imagine living in Jane Austen’s time and having to write your books out in longhand? Now that took real committment.
Comment by Jolie — November 28, 2006 @ 3:13 pm
Ok Frivolous, in a sense, for me would be JK Rowling. I would just love to debate HP with her for hours (I’m a huge fan thanks to my kiddos).
On the more serious side, I’d love to meet Queen Elizabeth I. I admire strong, independant women, and no one was more so than she was.
Comment by Heather — November 28, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
People who inspire me in terms of writing would be Virginia Henley, Brenda Joyce, Karen Marie Moning and Susan Johnson (to name a few).
People who have inspired me in general would be my grandparents. They lived a simple life, and proved that you don’t need a lot of material things to make life worth living. They also taught me to treat others the way I wanted to be treated. Great advice…which I’ve passed on to my children.
As to obsessive interest–I’d have to say William the Conqueror. He’s always intrigued me for some reason. Perhaps because he was born a bastard and rose to power through sheer force and tenacity.
Comment by Julia Templeton — November 28, 2006 @ 4:51 pm
I would love to meet John Wayne.
Comment by Estella — November 28, 2006 @ 6:54 pm
Heather - I’ve always been fascinated with QE I too, but I think she’d completely intimidate me.
Comment by Jolie — November 28, 2006 @ 7:28 pm
Julia - William the Conqueror — awesome choice.
I’d love to get him and QE I in a room together.
Comment by Jolie — November 28, 2006 @ 7:31 pm
Estella:
Another great choice. I was raised on John Wayne movies.
Comment by Jolie — November 28, 2006 @ 7:32 pm
I’ve got that book by Albom but I haven’t read it yet. (story of my life)
And my favorite prez was Lincoln.
I’d like to meet Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce.
Comment by Melissa — November 29, 2006 @ 10:01 am
OH! Hi again, Jolie. LOL! This is where I saw SEA KING.
Comment by Melissa — November 29, 2006 @ 10:02 am
Melissa - What a wonderful and meaningful choice in Chief Joseph.
“I am tired of fighting…. from where the sun now stands, I will fight no more.”
Comment by Jolie — November 29, 2006 @ 10:23 am
I would like to meet Minna Canth and David Thompson.
Comment by Minna — November 29, 2006 @ 12:31 pm
Oooh, what a great question, Jolie! And too many super choices to pick from. Hmm…I think I’d start off with Eleanor of Aquitaine.
Now there’s a gal who knows what she wants and knows how to get it! Others are Charles Dickens, Washington Iriving, and William Wallace! One more…my granny, no longer with me but she left many with a good scratch of the head and a knowing smile. 
Comment by cindy miles — November 29, 2006 @ 12:50 pm
Minna,
Now yours had me googling.
And Cindy — great choices!!!
Comment by Jolie — November 29, 2006 @ 9:45 pm
I think you can find them also in Wikipedia. Obviously, Minna Canth is well known only here in Finland and David Thompson doesn’t seem to be all that well known even in his home country, Canada.
Comment by Minna — November 30, 2006 @ 4:02 am
Minna,
I’m ashamed to say that even as a proud Canadian, I had never heard of David Thompson. Why? We never took him in school, not even high school, and that seems a terrible shame.
Thank you for bringing him to my attention.
Comment by Donna — November 30, 2006 @ 10:32 am
I first read about David Thompson in National Geographic (september 1996). There is a book mentioned in NG he wrote about his experiences that I’d like to get to my hands. I tried to find it the last time I visited Canada, but no such luck. You might also wish to visit this site and other Great sites: http://www.cbc.ca/greatest/
Comment by Minna — November 30, 2006 @ 12:43 pm