Character Spotlight ~ Don Reid's Cal, Harlan & Buddy

Don Reid of The Statler Brothers, returns with his second Mt. Jefferson story, The Mulligans of Mt. Jefferson from David C Cook.

Synopsis

Cal, Harlan, and Buddy grow up together in a small Virginia town in the years before the second World War. United by age, proximity, and temperament, they get into—and out of—all the trouble that boys manage to find. They even earn a nickname from a local restaurateur who gives the boys their first jobs and plenty of friendly advice. "Uncle" Vic calls them the Mulligans, because they always seem to find a way through a thicket of trouble—family problems, girls, college, war—to success. Cal and Harlan and Buddy have been blessed with second chances.

Now it’s 1959, and police lieutenant Buddy receives an early-morning phone call: his friend Harlan, a store owner, has been shot in a break-in. Cal, now a preacher, meets Buddy at the hospital, and together, as professionals and as friends, they begin to unravel what might have happened to Harlan.

Enjoy meeting the lads!

There are three main characters whose lives are followed and developed in The Mulligans of Mt. Jefferson.

Buddy Briggs 

He’s solidly built and just under six-feet tall. He’s a police officer and as hard as he has to be but is more comfortable in his roles as husband to Amanda and daddy to Shirley Ann. You’ll get to know him well in his relationship with his two lifelong friends as he shows his loyalty and caring nature. Casting him would be simple for me: Kyle Chandler of “Friday Night Lights” fame. My inspiration for Buddy was no one person in my life. Just a good-hearted, small town man who wants to do the right thing and live the good and quiet life with his family.

Harlan Stone

He was the very handsome and near-rich boy we’ve all known from our high school days. The jock who got all the girls and was even liked by all the guys. His daddy had means and owned a local jewelry store. He was carefree and spent most of his days just having a good time until something happened in his life that made him take responsibility. I can honestly say I have no person in mind for casting. If it were truly the 1950s decade as it is in the book, he would be a perfect fit for Tony Curtis. (And I’ve probably just dated myself severely with that reference!)

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Cal Vaxter

He rounds out the trio of pals with a strange turn in life. He goes from being the annoying little kid in town to being a minister in the town. He’s taller than his two friends and is of a quieter nature. He’s not more serious as you might expect, but he has some elements in his marriage that makes him very reflective. I see him as rather non-descript physically but a definite and strong presence and personality.

Your inspiration for the character

The inspiration would be a composite of friends I grew up with and you grew up with, too. They are a mesh of traits and quirks and morals that come together as three guys who love and look out for one another.

Background to the story

The background is simply friendship and second chances. If you don’t have good friends, it might be because you’re not a good friend. This book is about how we look at the people we care for and if we would do what’s best for them in any situation.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Character spotlight on JD & Karli Wickham from One Lane Bridge

Visit Don's website

Buy Don's books at Amazon or Koorong