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The 2006 NaNoWriMo Novel

Cast of Potential Characters

While some planning might go into the writing of the annual NaNoWriMo novel (although Larry O. Grand does draw a border in the sand at a formal outline), a list of characters that may or may not appear in the novel is an unfortunate necessity, as Larry O. Grand has way too many characters occupying the portions of Larry O. Grand's brain that are required for other functions, and it would be best if these characters vacated that space and onto the written page so that Larry O. Grand might go back to, oh, let's say, breathing and processing carbohydrates at a moderate level. Here, then, are some of the individuals who will, in all likelihood, be showing up and playing important roles in this year's NaNoWriMo novel:

Magnolia Benna: Last seen in "Running in the Background" (2004), Magnolia (or Nola), having recently turned 21, is a struggling college student (having dropped from straight-As to barely passing), trying desperately to graduate and get the hell out of this current life and into the next, and hopefully better, one. She is also recovering from a somewhat severe nervous breakdown which incapacitated her for a semester and resulted in the recent reduction in her grade point average. One of the primary reasons for her mental collapse is the fact that she was recently transplanted from one universe into the one she currently inhabits which is, for the most part, virtually identical to the one that she just left, but not perfectly – of course, she is blissfully unaware of this particular fact.

Seth Benna: New character; Magnolia's previously unmentioned younger brother, a somewhat apathetic sophomore at another university, who mysteriously shows up on her doorstep on an "extended" fall break.

Gabriel Durand: Last seen in "Running in the Background" (2004), Gabe is Magnolia's extremely easygoing boyfriend who, having recently been suspended from his university program and finally obtained a job as a package delivery guy, has caved in to his girlfriend's increasingly frenetic demands and has proposed to her.

Shirley "Skippy" Jeffries: Last seen in "Running in the Background" (2004), Skippy is Magnolia's former roommate in the house that she used to reside in. Skippy is so nicknamed because of an unfortunate first name. He is an overly muscular, somewhat overweight, Texas Hold 'Em-playin', DVD-watchin', internet-surfin' know-it-all who revels in his knowledge of everything (except for the fact, which he is not entirely aware of, that everybody that he knows can't stand him).

Dr. Madelynne P. Cornner: New character; a professor of Progressive Chronolinearcosmology, or the study of the documentation of linear time as and after it has happened. After two years of continuous research, Dr. Cornner has made an astounding discovery, that at a brief moment, two years ago, there occurred what can only be described as a "burp" in the universe, where something caused a disruption in the linear progression of time. Of course, no one believes her, as she cannot find out what exactly was the event that resulted in this phenomenon. Her search for this answer takes her (and us as well) to the first and last place that we never expected to go.

Trevor Dane Pilgrim: New character; clever and suave lawyer by day, struggling and desperate screenwriter by night.

Dusty Kencaw: Last seen in "Solutions to Even Numbered Problems" (2003), Dusty is the senior package delivery driver who is assigned to train new hire Gabe. Dusty, who loves his job because he knows every little trick to work the system, also happens to live in his own little imaginary universe as far as his personal life goes.

Jill Bianchi: Last seen in "Running in the Background" (2004), Jill is Magnolia's co-worker at the recently renamed coffee shop. Only a supporting background character in her previous appearance, Jill will probably have a storyline of her own as soon as we figure out what it is going to be.

Nathan Vermont: Last seen in "Running in the Background" (2004), Mr. Vermont believes that he is a well-known author of numerous novels and movies. Which he might be. Maybe. Or maybe not. We're never really quite sure. We're also not really quite sure if he will even show up in this particular story, although he has the habit of showing up anyway without knowing his lines or bothering to practice personal hygiene.