Here’s another in the series of working biographies I’ve posted for characters in my novel “Benefits“. This working biography is for antagonist Glenda Bourne, who also appeared first in the novel “Benediction“.
As with so many of the working biographies for fictional characters, I used this sketch to draw from but did not use all of it. Additionally, I invented other aspects of character not in the working biography at all. So it’s best thought of as resource and starting point.
For some reason, when writing Glenda, I had the image of Princess Diana in my head. Though I clearly state Glenda had long hair, was from South Africa, etc. I think it’s because at the time of writing her initially, I worked with a Brit who had a Diana haircut. So I offer these photos of Diana with short hair channeling Glenda Bourne:
Glenda Bourne Working Biography
Glenda Bourne is Ben’s film editor, that’s the starting point of their relationship.
She wants a Baby – but, she’s a single lesbian and she doesn’t want a relationship with a man, she just wants some good sperm!
Glenda is a lesbian, 37 years old, originally from Capetown, South Africa, has lived in SF for almost 10 years. Film editor. Highly regarded in the Indie production community. Lives in small apartment in the Tenderloin, off of Ellis street (note, she moved to Haight in the sequel, to a place on Steiner.)
She’s 5-7, long brown hair, which she often keeps in a ponytail or up on top of her head. She has brown eyes, always seems to have a tan, like she’s outdoorsy, which is odd in SF. She must spend a lot of time in Marin or some other sunny place. She is fit, not fat and not skinny.
She has a lot of anger, and is not the most pleasant person to be around. But she can be persistent and even sweet when she has to, to get something she wants. She originally came to SF rather than LA or NY (more traditional centers for film editing) because of the lesbian scene. But, sadly for her, she’s been unable to really connect with one woman for any long-term thing. She’s had lots of girlfriends, but nothing has seemed to stick.
Now she has angst, because of her age, the ticking clock, and she really wants a child. She’s estranged from her family in S. Africa, perhaps there was some abuse at home growing up.
Her respect for Ben is mostly put-upon, she pretty much thinks his film Hell for the Holidays is shit. It was her ex-girlfriend CJ at Film Artists Foundation who referred Ben.
Her opinion of him has changed recently since she now sees him not as a filmmaker to deal with, but as a sperm factory she can order from.
In the sequel, “Benefits”, Glenda has a car. It’s an SUV.
Older, say 1998 black Ford SUV Explorer.