Some Insights into My Characters—Pat

When we writers create our characters, they tend to represent facets of our own personalities. Of all my characters in the Flaugherty Twins Mysteries, I believe Pat most closely resembles me, yet at the same time, there are so many things about him that are not at all like me.

Pat’s full name is Patrick John Flaugherty. He was named after his father, but because his parents did not want him to be a “junior,” his middle name is John rather than Joseph, like his father. He is 17 years old at the beginning of the series. He is smart and loves to read, although he only reads things that he really likes. He is near the top of his class, but could be a lot higher if he were more diligent in his studies.

Pat loves adventure. He is always quick to action, but often at the expense of thinking through to the consequences of what he is about to do. Some would think he is fearless, but it is more often than not that he just hasn’t thought about the risks he is taking.

Pat likes to joke and keep things light. Even when he is anxious or afraid, he actually tends to joke all the more. He is also naturally cynical and has to have things proved to him before he will believe.

Pat is not good at details when it comes to things, but he is naturally intuitive when it comes to people, and has an innate ability to “read” them. He can immediately become suspicious of someone even though that person has done nothing yet to warrant suspicion. Usually, his hunches about these people turn out to be correct.

Pat has been dating Cathy Brent for the last three years. She is a strikingly beautiful redhead and is one of the most popular girls in school. Their relationship is solid, but not exclusive. Pat’s eye often catches another girl that he will pursue until he either has an opportunity to take her out or she rejects him. He does not see this as a conflict with his ongoing relationship with Cathy.

Pat plans to study journalism when he enters college. His mother, who was widowed when he was only 2, is the public relations director for a marketing company, and he has inherited her love for writing. He is especially interested in investigative journalism and loves to do research.

Pat often gets irritated at his sister when they begin an investigation together, but he knows that she has abilities he does not have, so he counts on her to complement what he does.

Pat often acts immaturely as the series begins, but as he grows toward manhood, we will see a brash teenager become a solid, steady young man with wisdom and insight.

Watch for more of Pat Flaugherty when the third book in the series, Lost on Black Mountain, is published.