Ilona Fridl, author of Bronze Skies, Talks Secondary Characters

Introduce your secondary characters.


I have several, but I chose two of my favorites.
Hank Shafer is hero Tom Shafer's cousin. The boys grew up next door to the other and in the theater/restaurant their parents own in Juneau, Alaska Territory. While Tom is in the Army Air Corps, Hank joined the Navy.


The other is Tom's wingman, Ken Edwards from Texas. They become brothers in war.


What do you like/hate most about your secondary characters?


I like both of the characters I chose. Hank, because the Shafer family is a very close knit group and they support each other through all trials. Ken, because he's so different from Tom, but they would do anything in their power to keep each other alive.


On the other side, I have to say a word about my antagonist, Vic Houston, who was obsessed with the heroine, Pam Wright. It's easy to hate him for what he does, but you also end up feeling a little sorry for him, too.


What do the secondary characters think about the hero and heroine?


Hank is as close to Tom as a brother and treats Pam like a member of the family. Ken would never admit it, but he loves Tom as a brother. He only meets Pam once, but he thought she was a “sweet little filly.”


Would you like to share a favorite scene involving the secondary character?


For Hank:
Tom turned to take Pam by the arm, but she shook her head. “I’m going to dance with Hank first. He needs some cheering up.”


Tom pursed his lips. “Okay, but I get the next one.”


She kissed his cheek and made her way over to Hank. Putting her hand on his shoulder, she declared, “Girl’s choice.”


Hank looked up in surprise. “Tom told you, didn’t he?”


“I tortured it out of him. You need to smile again.” Strains of “I Want to be Happy” echoed across the room. “Perfect selection,” Pam said as she pulled him up.


As they stepped out onto the dance floor, Pam laughed. “Mary Jean is a dope to throw over a dreamboat like you. You’ll have plenty of girls to replace her.”


His hazel eyes crinkled at the corners. “Can you be one?”


“If it wasn’t for Tom, I’d be yours in a minute.”


He whirled her around. “Then I’ll have to get rid of him.”


At the end of the song, she cupped his face. “Seriously, if you ever need anyone to talk or write to, I’ll listen or write back.”


Hank kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Pam. I will.”


Tom pushed them apart. “That’s enough of that.”


Hank cocked his eyebrow. “Jealous?”


For Ken:
Tom took a puff of his cigarette and exhaled, watching the smoke curl in the cool May air. Ken joined him outside the barracks, and Tom took the pack and shook one out for his friend. Ken fingered it before he lit it. “Calm before the storm, eh, pardner? What do you think of the new P-38 Lightning?”


Tom paused a moment. “It’s a funny-looking plane, with that split tail, but I think they’re easier to handle. With these orders, though, I want to enjoy today. There may not be another one for me after tomorrow.”


“Ah, come on! The Japs lost a lot of planes on Guadal. I’ll bet we outnumber them ten to one.”


“That’s very optimistic of you. Especially, if they get reinforcements before the battle.”


“Well, it’s up to us to see that doesn’t happen. Just think, you need only one more kill for ace, and I need three. We should make that tomorrow. Those Japs should’ve thought twice before they attacked the good old U.S. of A.”


Dropping the butt in the dirt, Tom put it out with the toe of his boot. “At least we have the country behind us. Our family’s theater always starts the movies with ‘God Bless America.’ They’ve become a main stop for the War Bond tours.”


“When I went home on leave a few months ago, my dad got another contract to sell our cattle to Defense. He says the military gets more of our beef than the family does. Hell, this past summer was the first that he knew of where we didn’t have a steer on a spit for the Fourth of July.”


The two boys were silent for a few moments. Then Tom spoke up. “My family’s theater and your family’s ranch sound good right now.”


Ken put his cigarette out and slapped Tom’s shoulder. “They’re who we’re fighting for. Let’s go in and get some grub.”


Are the secondary characters going to get their own story?


All I can say right now is “maybe.” I did fall in love with Hank, so I might do right by him eventually.


Thank you, Emma, for letting me guest on your blog!


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