The Empty Box . . . In search of a hero

Back when I was reading Twyla Tharp's book The Creative Habit, I mentioned her saying that before you could work outside the box, you had to have a box.

And that seemed, literally, like a very good idea. She gathers stuff in a box for each project that she undertakes. I've never been quite that organized. But somehow having a "heap" doesn't sound quite so good.

This time, with Flynn and Sara, I had a collage. That was helpful. And I actually managed to use quite a lot of the collage material as I was writing. But there is stuff there I never used. It is still staring reproachfully at me as I write this. I think I'm going to have to take it down. But maybe not until I get my revisions back from the ed. I might need it for focus.

In the meantime, though, while I'm filling boxes with books and papers to get them out of my office (oh, the poor attic) I think I am also going to get a new box -- an empty box.

And that's going to be my new book box.

I have no idea what I should put in it right now. I've got a few stray characters wandering around.

There are three Savas brothers left:

George, the physicist who had bolted himself in his lab and is not acting very heroic at the moment;

Demetrios, the next of Theo's brothers -- an action adventure hero on screen. Who knows what he is off-screen. He was supposed to be one of Sara's friends. But inasmuch as she ended up in Elmer rather than New York, that didn't happen. Demetrios is a distinct possibility -- because he could stop being an actor and do something interesting (though heaven knows what);

And Yiannis, the forest ranger. Somehow I don't see myself getting a forest ranger past my editor -- not as a Presents hero, anyway.

There's Peter Antonides, Elias's brother -- ex-beach bum and mechanical engineer turned inventor, turned CEO (now that Elias has gone boat building). He's got an edge to him that I might find interesting. He's certainly off-beat. I might be able to talk my editor into him.

And there's Lukas Antonides, Martha's twin. He might be a little young yet. And I haven't seen him since he went walkabout down under. A missing hero is not quite what I need.

And, of course, there's Flynn's brother Dev. Of course you haven't met him yet. But I have, and he has distinct possibilities.

And then, I have to find a heroine worth her salt to deal with him.

Right now I have one piece of inspiration in my box. And I'm definitely going to enjoy thinking about him for a while.

Got any other suggestions?