Category Archives: On Writing

Discussions of writing, self-publishing, my books and other writings, the occasional review or other related content

Spunky Old Broads Day — Character Margaret Schmidt from “Benefits”

So, February 1 is Spunky Old Broads Day. Which ushers in Spunky Old Broads Month. What better occasion would there be to focus on character Margaret Schmidt from my new novel “Benefits?”

Cover of Jim Arnold's "Benefits" is a street scene in Cole Valley, San Francisco.
A street in Cole Valley, San Francisco, is the image for the cover of Jim Arnold’s “Benefits.”

I’ve posted a number of working biographies of characters before, to show part of the writer’s process. Margaret Schmidt is no different. Like Ben, Jake, Karen and a few other characters in the book, Ben’s mom Margaret is a returnee. She first appeared in my debut novel “Benediction.”

So — I already had somewhat of a bio going for this Spunky Old Broad when I began “Benefits.” Like with the other returning characters, I added to my greater understanding of who this woman is, and so now have a revised bio. Here is the working biography of Margaret I used as a guide when writing the book:

MARGARET KANNER SCHMIDT

Sex: Female Age: 78.  Height and Weight: 5-4, 130.

Skin: white, silver hair. Pale blue eyes.  A German look. Even slightly Slav.

Posture: She’s an older lady, slightly stooped though she tries her best to be regal.

Appearance: She’s a very good-looking older woman, looks rich even though she is no longer: “handsome”

Defects: she has a mole “beauty mark” on her right cheek.

Heredity: German. Northern European.

Sociological:

Class: Upper middle class now, was probably more upper class when she was a child. But they’ve lost most of their money and position in the ensuing years.

Occupation: Retired Business Executive.

Education: College Degree in Business. It would be from a small and expensive liberal arts college – perhaps a traditional women’s university, east coast. Radcliffe or Bryn Mawr or Wellesley. Which she still refers to, as that is unusual for a Midwesterner.

Home Life: She lives in an old mansion overlooking Lake Michigan in Milwaukee. Race/Nationality: German.

Image of a large house to illustrate where a character lived in Jim Arnold's novel "Benefits."
This is where Margaret lived in Wisconsin before she decamped for San Francisco.

Place in Community: Junior league, but not an avid member. More when she was younger. Plays piano, gave community recitals when younger. Dabbles now.

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Politics: Rockefeller Republican – now says she is an Independent, because the party is not the same.

Amusements, hobbies: She has a greenhouse in MKE, where, oddly, she collects cactus. She used to drive to the southwest and steal plants from the open desert, which is a crime. She’s lonely, sometimes she goes to the movies, alone, at night, and feels wicked.

Sex Life, Moral Standards: She’s straight, (or so she thinks) but she’s also a divorcee and older. So, she hasn’t had sex in years, but she did have boyfriends after the divorce. But not for a few years now. She still flirts with men, including Jake, which drives Ben insane.

Her personal premise: She wants to keep control, but feels this is slipping out of her grasp. So, controlling. And failing at it, or only partially succeeding.

Frustrations and Disappointments:

She often still feels she failed at marriage. She’s unsure as to her success as a parent, and overcompensates in the grandparent area. So even though she doesn’t really know the story with Logan, just the fact of him being around is an excuse for her to spoil this child. 

Temperament: Mercurial. More often agreeable than not, but she does have her moments, particularly at the extreme ends of the day, either late night or early morning, not the best times for her.

Attitude toward life: she’s closer to the end of her life, and she doesn’t understand what she’s missed and why she still hasn’t found the “secret to life, or to happiness.”

Complexes: Afraid of spiders, is a clean freak, who might even start cleaning the home of people who are hosting here, i.e., Ben and Jake.

Abilities: Playing the piano. She likes to ride a bike and is actually good at this, for a 78-year-old woman. She can access apps on a smart phone. 

Qualities: She can cook fairly decently. She’s made great progress at acceptance of Ben as gay, and of the relationship between him and Jake. She’s more and more comfortable with it. 

IQ: very high.

I used a lot of the bio; a lot I did not use. (Such as her propensity with piano, and her green thumb.) There will likely be another installment of this series so Margaret will be around for more. Who knows, maybe there’s a piano recital in her future? Wouldn’t that be “spunky?”

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Working Biography for Character “Logan Bourne” in “Benefits”

Even for children characters, it’s helpful to write a working biography. Here’s what I wrote for nine-year-old Logan Bourne in “Benefits:”

Cover of Jim Arnold's "Benefits" is a street scene in Cole Valley, San Francisco.
Cover of Jim Arnold’s novel “Benefits.”

Logan Bourne

His name is LOGAN BOURNE. Ben or Jake joke that she named the baby after their favorite porn star.!

He’s 9 or 10 in Sequel 1. 4th grade?

Sex: Male Age: 9.  Height and Weight: LOOK UP AVERAGES FOR KIDS: 65 lbs, 53 inches high.  Conceived in September, born in May or June. Gay Pride day?

Skin: white, light brown hair. Blue eyes – he got these from Ben.

Posture: Normal for a kid, he’s skinny.

Appearance: He looks like Ben would as a kid. Cute but also an every kid sort of look.

Defects: cowlick

Heredity: Half American, half South African, Dutch. Generic White Kid.

Social background:

Class: He’s part of a struggling family. But gets lots of help from Ben and Jake. Glenda doesn’t always do well with money and her income can be sporadic.

Occupation: he’s a kid in grade school. The Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy in San Francisco.

Education: see above

Home Life: Let’s say precarious. He lives in a one bedroom apt with his mother. He sleeps in the living room, in an alcove she made up just to be his room. They curtained off a bay window area, so he has a view and light. It’s a beautiful San Francisco view, not Tenderloin; let’s say she moved to The Haight. The apartment is: On Steiner Street at Waller in the Lower Haight. 210 Steiner St. Yellow building, 4 story, 1 bedroom apartment with a big bay window which is curtained off and made up as Logan’s Room, facing west.

Race/Nationality: White, Irish, German, Dutch

Place in Community: He’s a kid in school, he’s medium popular, ok at sports but not spectacular, a good student, plays video games.

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Politics: none

Amusements, hobbies: video games, is a fan of the SF teams, the Giants, the 49ers. Has some swag from those teams (a backpack).

Sex Life, Moral Standards: he’s a good kid. Likely straight. Ben is agonized that the kid shows no signs of impending queerness. 

Personality Aspects:

His personal premise: he wants to “write code.” He only says that because he hears that constantly in the midst of SF’s tech boom. This horrifies Glenda, horrifies Jake. Maybe Ben thinks maybe the kid will strike it rich and support them all in their old age. It’s all undecided.

Frustration, disappointments: He’s better at math than at English.

Temperament: Like all kids these days, he has trouble focusing and on attention to things. A bit scattered, ADHD.

Attitude toward life: Happy kid. Wished he had a live-in Dad. Knows many gay women for a kid.

Complexes: Not an extrovert or an introvert. He can speak up, speak his mind.

Abilities: Won spelling bee two years in a row. Ben is very proud of this, being in marketing and all.

Qualities: he’s affectionate and he smiles a lot. Likes cats. – his one lesbian trait. Still hasn’t gotten one of his own.

IQ: very high.

How Working Biography Was Used

Some of this working biography I used; much I did not. It’s best thought of as a go-to resource when a question comes up, such as: What does he like to eat? What does he play with? What (if anything) does he like in school?

I’ve always thought of myself as knowledgable about children and what they’re like. That’s mostly from my own upbringing as second oldest in a family of eight kids. However, my childhood and teen years were a long, long time ago now. I’ve never had children of my own. So a lot of this is vicarious observation of nieces and nephews and friends’ kids, along with random behaviors I might observe out in the world. In a word, imperfect. Hopefully, it was good enough to seem real.

Why not read the book and find out?

Part of the facade of Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy, the real-life school of a fictional character, Logan Bourne, in Jim Arnold's novel "Benefits."
The Harvey Milk Civil RIghts Academy in San Francisco, where the fictional Logan Bourne attends school.
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“Benefits” Backstory Element: Prostate Cancer

One of the major backstory elements in my novel “Benefits” is the fact that the main character, Ben Schmidt, is a prostate cancer survivor.

“Benefits” is a sequel to my first novel “Benediction.” (Although I don’t think it’s required reading to understand “Benefits,” I’m sure it helps.) That first novel was written as a way for me to process what was going on with my body. Indeed, I am a prostate cancer survivor myself.

Why “Benediction”

I’d written creatively prior to the novels — but the fiction was limited to movie and TV scripts. I didn’t think my cancer story lent itself to those forms. Hence, “Benediction.” The action in that novel is primarily the story of Ben Schmidt working his way through prostate cancer treatment. Of course, there’s a few side plots involving sex, work intrigue, family relationships, and what not. Did I mention there was sex?

The cover of Jim Arnold's novel "Benediction" prior to a reading at the now-gone Different Light Bookstore in San Francisco, 2009.
“Benediction” on display before a reading at the (now gone) Different Light Bookstore on Castro Street in San Francisco.

Why “Benefits”

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Sex and lots of it. Because I like it and also because that’s one of the things that changes a lot for men post-prostate cancer. Thus, while “Benediction” took Ben through diagnosis and treatment of his cancer, “Benefits” follows Ben in the aftermath. As in: what is it like to live with the long-term effects of incontinence and ED (erectile dysfunction)?

So in “Benefits,” these side effects are just ongoing parts of Ben’s persona. They’re the things he deals with every day. Should he drop an erectile dysfunction pill in his pocket just in case the opportunity for sex presents itself? Will he be doing something sufficiently physical (working out, walking a lot or standing for a long time, etc.)? Stuffing a thin incontinence pad in his underwear might be a really good idea.

Those are just two of the realities former prostate cancer patients endure. In presenting a character that has this history, I hoped to enlighten those who are unaware as well as acknowledge those of us who live as prostate cancer survivors.

Cover of Jim Arnold's novel "Benefits" shows a street scene on Cole Street in San Francisco.
The hero of “Benefits” is a prostate cancer survivor. But heck, it’s mostly a comedy!

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National Peculiar People Day — Breezeann Jasczek

It’s National Peculiar People Day!

January 10 is, apparently, National Peculiar People Day. My novel “Benefits” is full of interesting characters, but one in particular stands out as peculiar. (At least in my humble opinion.)

This peculiar person who deserves her very own day is Breezeann Jasczek. She works as housekeeper/cleaning lady for Ben and Jake at their Noe Valley house in San Francisco.

Street Scene in San Francisco, California, to illustrate Jim Arnold's novel "Benefits" for National Peculiar People Day.
San Francisco: A city full of Peculiar People?

Breezeann is an aging hippie who never got the memo that the ’60s ended, and that’s a good thing. At least to her it is. She can’t resist offering her often-wry opinion on just about anything. Or, she might bake some THC infusion into your muffins — without mentioning it. The rumor is she’s a former rock groupie. No one really knows and she ain’t telling.

Peculiar Person Breezeann Jasczek Working Bio for “Benefits”

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This is what I wrote for the character description in “Benefits,” short and sweet: BEN AND JAKE’s housekeeper, BREEZEANN. Jasczek. She is mid-60s, natural long gray hair in braid, often. She’s white, pale, blue eyes, 5-6, thin. She alternates jeans with long dresses. She is a contrarian.

Image of an older hippie-style woman meant to illustrate character of Breezeann from Jim Arnold's novel "Benefits" for National Peculiar People Day post.
A lady from the Internets, but kind of the idea I had when envisioning Breezeann.

That’s much shorter than my usual bios for main or secondary characters. Breezeann is a relief character, on the sidelines, but I think it’s fun whenever she shows up. Of course, there’s the umbrella fight she has with Ben’s mom Margaret. Wait what? You’ll have to read the book.

I found this definition of Peculiar People Day on the web: Peculiar People Day is celebrated on January 10 of every year. Peculiar People Day is a day to celebrate the leaders of the unusual and strange, the peoples (sic) who refuse to succumb the world idea’s which is sane and reasonable. They challenge the status quo and rebuke the concept utterly which is out of the ordinary is wrong (sic). It may be in their style, they simply dress or having ideas of which is right and reasonable (sic). So Peculiar People is a day for Peculiar peoples to shine.

Shine on, Peculiar People!

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Working Biography of Character Dallas Burdette in “Benefits”

Dallas Burdette was a character who originally appeared in my novel “Benediction,” the precursor to “Benefits.”

Photo of a club entrance where the fictional Dallas Burdette met Ben Schmidt in my novel "Benediction." Blog post is working biography of this character.
No soul, No civility: No Service. The type of establishment where Ben met Dallas in “Benediction.”

Working Biography of Dallas

The working biography of Dallas was not an extensive bio. In fact, it’s just a couple of paragraphs:

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Margaret’s work – Cole Valley. A vitamin and supplement store where they also make juices. Her job is as a salesgirl and a juice maker. The owner of the store is DALLAS. It’s bankrolled by her rich Pacific Heights boyfriend. Dallas needs a last name – even though she only goes by Dallas, everyone knows her that way. BURDETTE. Dallas Burdette is her name. Store needs a name: Clean Up

When looking up the original working biography for this character, I discovered that I’d named her “Carrie.”

A Character Evolves

Obviously, I changed the name to Dallas. I don’t really remember why, but I suspect it was because there’s a main character named “Karen” in “Benediction” (as well as “Benefits”). The soundalike confusion would have been too much.

“Dallas” was a case of an afterthought becoming more important the more I wrote about her. Originally, she was a girl who tempted sober Ben with drinks and drugs (and succeeded). Then, she became a sort-of confidante. Later, she became an actress in one of his movies. In “Benefits,” with her rich boyfriend’s assistance, she became an entrepreneur. She hired Ben’s mom. At some point will obviously tempt Mom with something yet to be imagined. Hence, she needed more of a working biography, which continues in process.

Image of Cole Street in San Francisco, where the fictional smoothie store "Clean Up" is located in Jim Arnold's novel "Benefits." Blog post is working biography of character Dallas Burdette.
Street image in Cole Valley, San Francisco, where Dallas Burdette’s fictional store Clean Up is located.

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Choosing a Book Cover for “Benefits”

As a self-published author, it’s not only the story inside the book that comes from me. It’s literally everything about the product. Thus, a number of variables had to be considered when choosing a book cover for “Benefits.”

One consideration is color. Not only the color itself, but choice between color or a black & white image. While red remains the best color to catch the eye (hello, stop signs) this cover’s closest approximation would be variations on that, heading into orange territory.

The cover of Jim Arnold's 2019 novel "Benefits," a street scene in Cole Valley in San Francisco.

Content of Cover Image

The actual content of the image also plays a significant factor in choosing a book cover. This image is a sidewalk scene on Cole Street in San Francisco. The fictional story in the book takes place in San Francisco, and there are a few scenes in this particular neighborhood, Cole Valley. I felt it was accurate in that sense. Also, it shows some iconic San Francisco-style architecture (bay windows and early 20th century detail), so that it’s fairly obvious what city we’re in. That’s intentional.

Sales Venue for “Benefits”

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Another consideration in choosing a book cover in this digital era is the sales venue. For most self-published books, the online market is really where it’s happening, not in brick and mortar bookstores (unfortunate, but that’s the way it is). So, whatever image you choose must draw the eye on a computer or phone screen, sometimes in a field of many other similar-sized book covers. That’s where a striking image or a color that pops (again, red!) really helps you.

I think the cover I chose for “Benefits” is mid-range in that regard. The image is interesting, but it’s not a hot naked body (it’s true, sex really sells). The awning color attracts the eye, yet it’s not a fire engine.

Cost of “Benefits” Book Cover

For self-publishers, cost is a huge factor. The cost of everything, from having your manuscript professionally edited (typically my highest cost over the course of the four books I’ve published so far) to buying photography or rights to an image for the cover must be considered. So, I took the picture myself and cropped it so that there’s no identifiable faces in the image.

So, basically, the cost of the cover for “Benefits” were my travel costs for a couple of days in San Francisco (I live in Los Angeles). One way was award jet travel, and I had a free place to stay (thank you, cousin Mary). Plus, I not only shot the cover image. I shot video for the “Benefits” book trailer and probably 100 other images to use for publicity purposes.

When you self publish, every day and every dollar counts. I’ve learned this the hard way!

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How the Great Recession Inspired My Novel “Benefits”

Remember the Great Recession? It was hard to miss and for some of us, it’s never really ended. My mom used to say that when life deals you a lemon, make lemonade. So I used the Great Recession to inspire ideas for my novel “Benefits.”

How the Great Recession inspired Jim Arnold's new novel "Benefits."

I’ve never worked full time since that last layoff, which was right at the end of 2009. I was the Director of Communications at the local branch of a national non-profit. The powers that be axed of the entire statewide Comms staff all at once (there were only four of us). In retrospect, I’m surprised it lasted as long as it did — the non-profit had been hemorrhaging jobs since early 2008.

My Recession Jobs

Conveniently, in 2010, Census jobs were available (I really can’t believe that’s upon us once again — it seems like yesterday, truly), so I walked the hot pavement of Palm Springs as an enumerator for awhile, as well as got some freelance writing gigs, as well as some background acting work — but the job from the Great Recession that inspired my novel “Benefits” the most was working at an antique store (which I still do, part-time as of this post).

Antique Store Becomes Office Furniture Outlet

The antique store inspired Refuge, the made-up office furniture store in Benefits. Plot details at the store are, of course, fictional. The very idea of a former Comms exec (Ben Schmidt) working in retail, however, comes from real life. As a writer, I’ve learned that personal circumstances of many kinds can go a long way in filling up that crucial well of ideas every writer needs to draw on.

This is just one small example — obviously there’s more to the plot than just the store. There’s polyamory, white collar crime, children and family issues — but that’s how this part of the Great Recession inspired “Benefits.”

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Goodreads Review: On The Clock – What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane

On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America InsaneOn the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane by Emily Guendelsberger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is tremendous and timely. A perfect digital-age follow-up to Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Nickel and Dimed – on (Not) Getting By in America.” Through her jobs at Amazon, Convergys (a call center for client ATT) and McDonald’s, Guendelsberger’s story rips the bandage off of any illusion we might have that these “new” jobs created since the Great Recession (although of course, McDonald’s has been around since the ’50s) are anything like fulfilling or even capable of providing anything remotely resembling a middle class income.

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Guendelsberger says at one point that if you are not part of the working class in American you will never truly see what these jobs are like – and I’m grateful I never had to, though some of my earlier jobs as restaurant dishwasher or apartment building doorman were quite soul-sucking in their own regard. A theme throughout is her internal knowledge that “I get to leave” – a realization familiar to me as well, because I always knew those uber-shitty jobs of youth were temporary. For so many people, that’s no longer the case in post-Great Recession America. Highly recommend this book.

View all my reviews

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National Men Make Dinner Day – and “Benefits”

Did you know the first Thursday in November is also known as National Men Make Dinner Day?

National Men Make Dinner Day is every day in the Brosseau-Schmidts household in Jim Arnold's novel "Benefits."

Neither did I, until very recently. But it got me thinking about the household in my new novel “Benefits,” which normally consists of partners Ben and Jake. During the course of the book’s storyline, Ben’s natural son Logan moves in for awhile, as does Ben’s mother Margaret. Oh, and there’s always a few ghosts roaming around, including a ghost dog named Connie.

It struck me that every day is Men Make Dinner Day at the Brosseau-Schmidts, with the possible exception of when Margaret barges in and takes over.

Still, Ben’s not particularly epicurean. For a gay man, he’s not any stereotypical whiz in the kitchen, and struggles mightily with macaroni and cheese, even – which as we all know, comes in a box.

Also, there’s a reliance on chocolate chip cookies (not home-made either, store-bought) to placate the child Logan. At least Ben and Jake seem to be aware of the drug possibilities involving sugar.

Origins of National Men Make Dinner Day

It appears to have originated in Canada. There are “rules” – including a 4-ingredient minimum, no TV while making dinner, no secretly feeding the dog parts of said dinner, and also set up and doing the dishes after the meal are part of this.

It all seems to be a vestige from another era, doesn’t it? I guess I just know so many male (as well as mixed) households where every night is Men Make Dinner Day.

National Men Make Dinner Day is every day in the Brosseau-Schmidts household in Jim Arnold's novel "Benefits."

Ben Making Dinner in “Benefits”

Here’s a little snippet from the novel “Benefits” of Ben trying to figure out the macaroni method the day the child Logan comes to live at their house:

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Don’t speculate. Like worrying, a useless activity. A better project would be to start dinner, to pull out that box of mac ’n’ cheese and figure it out. Did we have butter and milk? Checkmark on the milk; I had just enough left over and no “calf” need be the wiser. I opened the refrigerator door to look for some butter when I caught Logan in my periphery, in the doorway.

            “You had a little nap,” I said. “You doing OK?”

            He blinked at me. Not fully awake, probably confused, strange house and all, and now it was dark.

            “Is your little dog in here?” he asked. “It ran out of the room when I looked at it.”

            Butter, butter, yes, there it was; back of the fridge behind the hummus. Grabbed that and the milk. An uneasiness in my guts and the familiar spark up my back.

            “We don’t have a dog. You must have had a late afternoon dream. They can be quite realistic, you know.”

            “No, Uncle Benny! It was a little brown wiener dog; it wagged its tail at me.”

To find out what happens next, you’ll have to read the book!

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Working Biography of Character Tony Ochoa in “Benefits”

In “Benefits,” main character Ben’s partner Jake is caught fooling around with Tony Ochoa, who Ben recognizes as someone he’s seen in his work neighborhood! A younger man – thus, I had to concoct a working biography for Tony Ochoa.

Cover image of Jim Arnold's novel "Benefits" illustrating working biography. A sidewalk image of Cole Street in San Francisco taken by the author.

What You Use a Character Biography For

A novel working biography is used as a resource for character development. The process I’ve used over and over again is to answer a series of questions about the character. Include as many facets of the fictitious person that you can – physical, emotional, psychological, practical and so on. Figure out their tastes, hobbies, loves and hates. The novelist won’t use all of a working biography – but it’s there to draw from down the line. It can help provide an answer to the question “What would Mr. X do in this situation?” Invaluable, because that question keeps popping up throughout a story.

Got my original list of character outline ideas from one of the great all-time writing bibles, The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri.

Working Biography for Tony Ochoa

SWEATER BOY, aka ANTONIO (TONY) OCHOA. Tony Ochoa. So, he’s Latino.

Sex: Male  Age: 28 Height and Weight: 5-10. 175 or so.

Skin: light brown. Hair – black.  Eyes: brown

Posture: lanky, slim. Body hair? Yes, some, very dark.

Appearance: He’s actually kind of slender. He looks young, maybe even younger than 28.

Defects: No defects, but I’m thinking that he has tattoos that he might regret, that might have been done in college under the influence. He wouldn’t regret them, tho. He has a rose on his ass.

Heredity: His father is from Mexico. His mother is from Puerto Rico. He was born in the U.S., in the Bay Area – say east bay, city of Alameda.

Class: He’s middle class now, he has a tech job.

More details . . .

Occupation: He has a tech job at a startup in SF that makes apps for financial concerns.

Education: BS, San Francisco State University

Home Life: starts out by living with some roommates in the Mission. It’s a bunch of people since the rent is so high. It’s a 3 bedroom type railroad flat, 15th and Capp in the Mission.  He has 1 male and 1 Female roommate.

Race/Nationality: Latino, Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage.

Place in Community: He’s not involved politically yet, too young. He wonders what all that is about, though. There may be some nascent leanings.

Politics: votes Democratic. (because that’s what everybody Suffering silently has been a type of case which men follow as they end up being shy to the medical expert as sildenafil levitra they feel unwanted level of awkwardness during the medical process.Kamagra supports quality erection mechanism of the penile system or nerves connected to erection enabling muscles. Areas of usage outside the research field include: anti-aging, arthritis, and osteoporosis; sleep, mood, and performance; and hair loss, menopause, virility and libido; its properties are also considered in cholesterol control and fat-burning processes. buying that cheap cialis There are a number of aspects that must be kept out of children’s reach, because it may turn fatal. cheap super viagra dig this The medications viagra in österreich are: Oral Tablets: Tablets made of nitric oxide are boosted. does in SF)

Amusements, hobbies: He does play some video games. He likes older guys! So he looks for them where they hang out.

Some hobbies – he likes going out to Ocean Beach. Plays an instrument – the guitar. But not well. He tries to play Spanish guitar. (like flamenco?) He has taken lessons, maybe he still does.

And the personal, very personal . . .

Sex Life, Moral Standards: he’s gay, has been around quite a bit. First experience was with an older guy and he’s just stayed there. With that group. He’s versatile, but likes to top more. Unlike Ben or Jake, he did start out living a “straight” life.

His personal premise: He wanted to find a husband, so he was surprised when he found 2. He’s probably more conventional than either Ben or Jake in that he wants a solid home life.

Frustration, disappointments:

Temperament: Somewhere between Jake (who’s very chill) and Ben (who is very dramatic) – so generally easygoing, but he’s deep and you can’t always read him.

Attitude toward life: an optimist, rather than a pessimist, and this is one of the main things that attracts Ben and Jake to him. He’s fun. Definitely has quirks of youth and his specific generation that Ben and Jake don’t/or no longer possess. 

Complexes: He doesn’t like cats. Some minor symptoms of OCD – like closing open drawers and cabinets, other “checking” type stuff. Afraid of fire, always checks stove before leaving and unplugs appliances, the small ones.

Abilities:  there’s the guitar. He might be handy – that is something Jake in particular would feel comfortable with. Can fix minor things. Would make him handy around the house.

Qualities: kind to kids – Logan in particular will love him. He might giggle. LOGAN might like him more than he likes either Jake or Ben.

IQ: high.

Photo Inspiration for Tony Ochoa

Here’s a few random images of guys (stolen from you, the Internet!) that I think of when I dreamt of Tony Ochoa. Plus, it’s fun to look at pictures of cute Latino-looking guys and beardos, is it not?

Image of a handsome young guy with a beard, inspiration for working biography of Tony Ochoa in Jim Arnold's "Benefits."
Photo inspiration for working biography of character Tony Ochoa in Jim Arnold's novel "Benefits."
Inspiration for working biography of character Tony Ochoa in Jim Arnold's new novel "Benefits."
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