Background of James
Ellis
James Matthew Ellis is the youngest of three sons born to
William and Mariah Ellis. James’s parents are highly successful relationship experts
and bestselling writers whose success afforded them the opportunity to live comfortably
in the small town of Carrington, Louisiana. Due his family’s affluence, it
allows James to easily make friends from different walks of life. One would
assume that James would feel very relaxed socially and emotionally, but he like
everyone has his share of insecurities. His older brothers, Neal and Drew, are
very attractive who had no trouble finding acceptance in high school and garnering
the attention of the female population. James had very severe acne, braces, and
found himself being looked as the ugly duckling among his parents’ children.
Now as a 22-year-old his insecurities gradually fade away when he enrolls and
graduates from Clinton University.
Personality
James is the most naïve out of Miguel and Corey. Unlike Miguel
and Corey who were athletes in high school and college, James has a
strong passion for learning which is evidenced by him being named ‘Who’s Who among
High School Students’ and the dean’s list at Carrington University. He majored in computer information systems and participated in several organizations such as the Association of
Information Technology Professionals and Union Board. He is an introvert unlike Corey and Miguel. However, James
is beginning to show interests in expanding his social circle when he attends
grad school. He wants to carve his own niche for himself without being in the
shadows of his parents and equally successful brothers. James’s interests are different from most adult young
adults. He loves reading, journaling, listening to classical music which helps stimulate
his mind, and a yearning to strengthen his faith.
Crime Solving
Given that James has lived in Carrington for his entire life
he, members of the community are more willing to share information with him
than others. James’s sleuthing is based off of one of my favorite TV characters
Jessica Fletcher. Like Jessica, James hardly believes the most likely suspect
is the one responsible for the crime even though they had a strong motive or an
intense dislike for the victim. James remembers conversations that might seem innocuous
yet are vital to the police arresting the guilty party.
Creation and Naming
Of James
The first, middle, and last names of the main character are
special to me. James is the middle name of my godfather. The middle name of
Matthew is one that I have always had such a strong attraction to since it is
the first book of the New Testament. Ellis was my great-grandmother’s last name
whom I was blessed to have in my life until I was nineteen years old. Not a lot
of people can say they knew their great-grandmother. Unlike myself who is the
oldest of three children I thought it would be interesting to make James the
youngest. He wouldn’t feel pressure to set a great example as the oldest, struggle
to find his identity as the middle child, or play the mediator between his
older and young siblings.
