The title “Skyscrapers” reflects the landscape of Powhaten, the city in which the story takes place. It also reflects the location of the two main characters’ offices. And metaphorically, it reflects the characters’ natures. “The sky’s the limit” could be the motto of both.
Fiction allows such associative overlaps. The name “Powhaten” does, too: for the Indians it mean “place where tribes meet,” but it was also the name of a great leader. Although “Skyscrapers” is about Chicago, I fictionalized the name for two reasons: first, to utilize a native word which links powerful place to powerful person, and second, to avoid any misconception that this is a roman a clef. No actual person was the model for any character in “Skyscrapers.”
Where, then, do fictional characters come from? In my previous blog I mentioned some personal experiences as primary sources of inspiration. I chose to write about CEO’s because powerful people have the ability to affect the lives of others. The daily news reveals information about corporate and political “heroes” or “villains” every day but oftentimes, little is said about the people affected by their actions.
In “Skyscrapers,” the surrounding characters both drive and help to define the main characters. Vern Webb Sr.’s hypocrisy toward his son and namesake is a clue to his character. The genius of his other son suggests that Vern is very smart himself: smart enough to carry his double-dealing farther than most people could without betraying themselves. The Down’s Syndrome of his daughter Melinda is a clue to his past, as is the Parkinson’s diagnosis. Interactions with his two wives further define him. At some point a reader will surmise Vern has created a big house of cards, with the potential for sudden collapse.
Ellie Smith, nee Torquemada, has been driven by different motives toward top management. She determined at an early age to escape her low immigrant status and become as powerful as possible. This is the American dream. Ellie has the advantage of being a beautiful woman, and she has used that advantage to attract powerful male mentors, learning from successful men how to achieve and maintain success. Suddenly facing her own mortality forces Ellie to reassess her life. Her success has come at a cost. Her three brothers are all high achievers, but they also have families. Ellie is a rich and powerful divorcee, but utterly alone. When offered her ultimate dream by unethical associates, will she stick with “the sky’s the limit?” Dare she do otherwise?
The surrounding characters push the CEO’s, forcing them into actions and thoughts they would prefer to avoid. The main characters can’t anticipate hostile moves that appear illogical. But as corporate leaders, they must make decisions, respond to threats, and do what they think is best. What they think is best is the most defining question: do self-driven individuals consider others when forced into tough decisions? Or only themselves? Fiction allows a writer to question human nature, to dig beneath appearances, to disturb the status quo and let each character reveal his own reality.
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