Today the spotlight shines on……..Piper Wick & Axel Smith
There is something fabulously entertaining and engaging about Tamara Leigh’s novels and her latest, Leaving Carolina, has it in spades! Axel Smith is one of my all time favourite leading men so I couldn’t wait to see how Tamara saw him š
Enjoy this insight:~
Piper Wick (formerly Pickwick) is the 5ā3ā 30-year-old heroine of Leaving Carolina. She has short, fiery red hair and blue eyes. Though she struggles to maintain a good weight, she has attained a degree of fitness by running and watching her food choices. Her one downfallāpickled corn fried in butter J
Then thereās blueāand I do mean BLUE!āeyed Axel Smith. My hero is 35 years old, 5ā10ā, and well built. In contrast to his military years, he wears his long, sandy-colored hair in a ponytail. No tattoos, but he does have a goatee and a moustache. He also has a limp, but Iām not telling why J
Actor/famous person
If Piper resembles any actress, I would say itās Amy Adams.
As for Axel, think Russell Crowe in Master and Commander. My, he looked good with that ponytail.
Strengths and weaknesses
Piperās strengthādeterminationāis sometimes her weakness. Whereas that particular quality helps her to make a new life for herself outside of the South, it makes it difficult for her to return to her hometown and accept that the past is truly in the past (and to make amends where they need to be made).
Axelās greatest strength is that when he meets Piper, he has already worked through the weaknesses that held him back spirituallyābitterness and unforgiveness. Because of the example he sets, Piper is able to work through her own struggles.
Two quirks: Piperās pickled corn obsession (of course, the poor thing hasnāt had any since she shook the Pickwick dust from her feet 12 years ago) and her intense awareness of body language that goes with the job (public relations specialist).
Your inspiration for the character
My mother, Zola, is where Piper began, though not where she ended. My mother longed for a bigger life outside of her little North Carolina town, and when she finally did make it out west, the only time she went back was for brief family visits. Still, itās true that you can take the girl out of the South, but you canāt take the South out of the girl. And thatās why the South is in Zolaās daughters. And one of themāmeālives in Tennessee J
Background to the story
Piper Wick left her hometown of Pickwick, North Carolina, twelve years ago, shook the dust off her feet, ditched her drawl and her family name, and made a new life for herself as a high-powered public relations consultant in LA. Sheās even āengaged to be engagedā to the picture-perfect U.S. Congressman, Grant Spangler.
Now all of Piperās hard-won happiness is threatened by a reclusive uncleās bout of conscience. In the wake of a health scare, Uncle Obadiah Pickwick has decided to change his will, leaving money to make amends for four generationsā worth of family misdeeds. But that will reveal all the Pickwicksā secrets, including Piperās.
Though Piper arrives in Pickwick primed for battle, she is unprepared for Uncle Obeās rugged, blue-eyed gardener. So just who is Axel Smith? Why does he think making amends is more than just making restitution? And why, oh why, canāt she stay on task? With the Lordās help, Piper is about to discover that although good PR might smooth things over, only the truth will set her free.
Thanks, Tammy! Loved this look at Piper and Axel and can’t wait to do it all over again for the sequel š Hope you are writing quickly – LOL!!
On Thursday, the spotlight shines on Melody Carlson’s Hope Bartolli from Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon!
Relz Reviewz Extras
Character spotlight on Maizy Grace Stewart from Faking Grace
Reviews of Leaving Carolina, Faking Grace, Splitting Harriet and Perfecting Kate
Interview with Tamara
Visit Tamara’s website
September 22, 2009 at 3:23 pm
I'm really looking forward to this one, Rel, especially since you said that Axel is one of your all time faves. Did Russell Crowe make a good fit?
September 23, 2009 at 10:17 am
I'm sure you will love this one, Jen!
As for Russell, in the picture I found, yes, he's a good fit but I probably wouldn't have thought of him myself. I love that Tammy's male leads aren't "pretty" boys, it makes them more realistic!
And the limp that Tammy won't tell you about – that is so much a part of his appeal š
September 28, 2009 at 4:29 am
Kate and I ADORE Tamara!! We both are going to be reading this one soon, and plan a mother/daughter interview about it!