Character Models - Mac Macleod

Many writers use models or images to be able to easily remember or recognise their story characters as they work. I've known some people who will go through magazines and catalogues and snip out someone who reminds them of a particular character. They might cut out some cardboard and glue the picture on and put the character's name across it or a the bottom. Some writers who can draw, may sketch what they think their character looks like themselves or do a story board. In the end it is the reader who will use their own imagination and the writer's descriptions to create the image in their mind's eye.



When I first pictured Torkel James "Mac" Macleod he was 6' tall, broad shouldered, bugling biceps, with a flame or brick coloured "Freak Flag" falling in thick ripples half way down his back. He reminded me of the cover for the paperback  "Lion of Ireland" by Morgan Llywelyn about Brian Boru. Now you try and find someone who looks like that in real life!

In the end I had to settle for this guy as a model. He doesn't have a flame red mane or bulging muscles,...he might even be a bit shy of six feet but if you squint your eyes,....he will do in a pinch!

Mac is the driving force behind 'Loud-Macleod' and 'Heathen Hearts' the bands in the story and is the song writer and lead singer on most of the music. He plays rhythm guitar, tin whistle and percussion on some songs.

 I have to apologise to my wife for using this next photo as she has claimed it as her exclusive property! This is Mac at the Jay Seven Bar Ranch in 1976.

 I also must apologise to the Grey's Scouts Mounted Infantry Regiment for using or maybe I should say miss-using this next photo. This is Mac while serving in the Rhodesian Military in the late Seventies.

 I thought I would throw in this photo of Mac and his wife "Elf" taken in Kaslo B.C. on the occasion of their twenty fifth anniversary!

These are models for the "main" characters in the story of "Heathen Hearts". They might not meet up with the expectations of the reader when the story is finally published but these are the faces I worked with while trying to bring these characters to life.