Guest Blogger: Kristine Raymond – Writing in First Person Through the Eyes of Finn Bartusiak

Writing in First Person Through the Eyes of Finn Bartusiak by Kristine Raymond

Writing in first person is an entirely different experience than writing in third; a challenge I both eagerly accepted and oftentimes questioned while writing Finn-agled. Telling a story from the point of view of one person – from beginning to end – is a lot harder than it sounds. At least, it was for me.

Every scene that unfolded, every action or remark by another character HAD to be witnessed by Finn, my main character. If something happened ‘off the page’, the only way she knew about it was through conversations with the other characters.

When writing in third person, the author narrates the story; in first person, the author becomes the main character. In other words, I placed myself in Finn’s stylish, yet reasonably-priced, shoes and essentially took over her life. Or, did she take over mine? I think it was some weird amalgamation of the two.

Anyway, while Finn’s recounting the events that took place in Finn-agled, I’m going to slip on her Calvin Klein Shamary flats and work on Finn-icky Eaters. Enjoy.

Here’s the thing –
I didn’t set out to solve a mystery. It just happened. You know – like how toast always lands butter side down when it falls on the floor. Who expects a coded message to appear out of nowhere? I was perfectly happy spending my days cataloguing antiques and chatting it up with the customers who purchased the aforementioned heirlooms. Then that no-good weasel showed up waving the writing box under my nose. And the amount he was asking – no way I was passing up that deal!

Sure, the situation smelled as fishy as last week’s catch (a 19th-century mahogany and brass writing case for that price?) but in the moment my capitalistic gremlin reared its ugly head and what can I say – I succumbed to temptation. Scuttlebutt around town is that I got what I deserved (I think we all know who started that crusade) but I disagree. No one deserves what happened to…

What? I forgot to introduce myself? Sorry. My mouth has a mind of its own sometimes. Why, just last week, Zara and I were having lunch at Dough Knots and…

Ooops. I did it again, didn’t I? Well, before my train of thought derails for a second time… Hello, I’m Finn Bartusiak, owner of Finn’s Finds, that cute little antique shop near the beach. Yes, that’s the one. Not to worry though. All evidence of nefarious happenings has been wiped clean, though particles of fingerprint powder still float around from time to time. I swear, the Port New police made more of a mess investigating the ‘scene of the crime’ than that creep did when he…

Enough about that. I’ve put the entire incident behind me. And I’m not going to discuss what happened at the cemetery the following week, so don’t even ask. Why, if Spencer hadn’t called Zara when he did I wouldn’t be standing here today, and he’d be on his way to becoming the next Mrs. – oh, never mind. I refuse to utter her name. Besides, the only way they’d ever get together is over my dead body, and not even then. I’d haunt them until…

Oh, there’s Grandma Lena and she’s brought me pierogis! Would you like a bite? They’re delicious, a fact to which my figure can attest. I may be biased, but if anyone deserves their own cooking show, it’s my grandmother. Did you hear she’s entering her chrusciki in the Bake-Off next week? I have this niggling feeling in my gut that something’s about to go terribly wrong, but there’s no talking her out of it. Guess we’ll find out next weekend.

Well, it was nice meeting you and be sure to tell Debra Goldstein thanks for including me on her blog. I hope my story is what she’s looking for.
Take care, and be sure to stop by Finn’s Finds the next time you’re in town. I just got in the cutest collection of porcelain pin cushion half dolls. They’re to die for!

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It wasn’t until later in life that Kristine Raymond figured out what she wanted to be when she grew up, an epiphany that occurred in 2013 when she sat down and began writing her first novel. Sixteen books in multiple genres later, she’s added the title of podcasting host to her resume, thus assuring that she will never be idle.

When a spare moment does present itself, she fills it by navigating the publishing and promotional side of the business. When not doing that, she spends time with her husband and furbabies (not necessarily in that order) at their home in south-central Kentucky, reads, or binge-watches Netflix.

To find out more about Kristine, please visit her website at www.kristineraymond.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and BookBub.

And for links to podcast episodes, guest posts, and other great stuff, check out Word Play with Kristine Raymond at www.wordplaypodcast.com.