In Girl from Mars, the heroine Fil has three best friends, all male. She does everything with them. So here’s a short introduction to Jim, Digger and Stevo:
James T. Lousder, aka Jim is Fil’s best friend. They met at school when they were thirteen and have been inseparable ever since. He’s a computer nerd and a Star Trek fanatic, and he’s got long straight hair which he usually keeps neatly back in a ponytail. He and Fil share a house which they bought between them; Jim works on the first floor, and Fil works in the loft studio. He’s loyal, sarcastic, and speaks fluent Klingon.
A secret real-life fact about Jim: he looks like this guy I see walking around Reading all the time. I don’t know who he is, but he looks like Jim. I saw him once in a cafe I was in with a friend and I whispered, “That’s Jim!” and my friend said, “Who’s Jim?” and I said, “A fictional guy who looks just like that guy!”
No wonder people think writers are weird.
Digger is huge. He’s six and a half feet tall, broad and bearded. Despite his bear-like appearance, he’s very quiet among strangers. The first time Fil met him, she thought he was mute. He’s reticent about talking about himself and his past, but he seems to have an empathy with other people and of the four of the friends, he’s the only one who’ll ever mention anything about (yick!) emotions. His shyness has kept him from getting a regular job, and he earns money by selling stuff on eBay. Fortunately his tastes are simple, mostly running to beer and waffles.
A secret real-life fact about Digger: Anna is in love with him.
Stevo is an artist, like Fil; he works for Combat comics, where he’s known for being brilliant at portraying graphic violence, preferably with lots of blood and body parts. In person, though, he’s timid, neat and unassuming. Nobody would ever know that he’s been having a (gasp!) secret love affair.
A secret real-life fact about Stevo: I gave him my friend Ruth’s last name.
Got that? There will be a quiz later. Well no, there won’t really. But I will give a prize of some really fab multi-coloured glow-in-the-dark bracelets to the first person who guesses Digger’s real first name, in the comments section below.
(And no, it’s not Admiral Smashing Bruiser.)
Oooh, can I guess? Is it Phil, like Phil the dig from Timeteam?
Douglas? Spade? Mr Mole Esq?
I’m not allowed to guess am I?
No you are not, Ms Biddy!
Which one is your guess, Jan? Douglas, Spade or Mr Mole Esq?
Wayne.
Curses! I will have my revenge Ms Cohen! Either as The Puce Pimpernel or the Nocturnal Whiplash… in this life or the next!
*wanders off for a sit down and to stop channelling Russell Crowe*
Well…unless you don’t remember his name. But it doesn’t seem fair somehow, since you’ve read the book and all.
*cowers from the Nocturnal Whiplash—though that just sounds rude really*
It’s all true. I must confess.
I’m in love with Digger.
Um – Mr Mole.
No, I’ve changed my mind. Douglas.
Jan, good thing I love you!
Anna, I know you are. As well you should be. He is a fine man. With a fine beard.