(This section is to provide memory joggers and ideas for those who think they could use some.
You are NOT required to read or acknowledge any of the below information in order to create your own story.
If at any point you deviate from my interpretation THAT IS FINE and I'd love to see what the characters will turn into in your hands. :) )
CHARACTERS:
Summer Salt:
The main heroine of the story. She starts out as a 11-year-old (WordOfGod by Kuddles) but ages considerably between stories.
She could be described as uptight, hot-headed and frequently arrogant;
but a true hero always ready to fight for the needs of others.
Her perception of the world is colored by having consumed one too many detective stories, and she frequently imagines herself acting out such a story.
I actually find it curious that her strong moral sense remains unacknowledged and looked down on even by her sister and two best friends.
Despite her "bookworm" status, Summer is actually the most traditionally "girly" of all of the characters.
The Salt family all are derived from 60s era Western white "nuclear family" stereotypes. Hence, I want the reader to always picture Summer's dad with a friendly grin and a pipe in his mouth. :p
Summer herself is your typical white cheerleader stereotype, or more accurately draws on mid-20th teen detective story tropes. In later stories, characters often remark that for a "modern girl" she's remarkably traditional and old-fashioned. For example, she uses a typewriter and a camera instead of a cellhone - because that's what the archetype demands! :p
Susan "Mouse" Salt:
Despite bearing all the hallmarks of a spoiled youngest daughter, the 2nd daughter of the Salts displays a remarkably balanced personality. I think it's because (like many younger daughters) she subconsciously knows when not to push her luck. Thus, she knows how to enjoy life without worrying constantly like her sister.
At times I think she may actually be the wisest of all of the characters...
Age difference from sister appears to be significant (3-4 years?)
The origin of her nickname ("Mouse") has never been revealed in canon, leaving a good story ripe for future authors. :)
Jamie Ginger: Summer's best friend "A".
Jamie is decidedly more mature than his/her other friends, and has a tendency to abuse this fact.
Though they are yet to make an appearance, Jamie is actually either the oldest, or one of the oldest of a family with 8 kids.
I guess that makes him/her the "Ron Weasley" of the story, same as Chris is the "Neville".
Chris Clove: Summer's best friend "B". S/he tends to be an "underdog with hidden depths" type of character.
Chris appears to be an only child (at least so far, no other siblings have been mentioned). The only family mentioned yet are a mother and a grandmother.
Pao-Ting:
Summer's self-elected rival. A Chinese girl with a lot of ego who's also an inventor.
According to headcanon, she has an older sister who is an actress and foot model, and a great-uncle who is a offensive Chinese/Fu Manchu stereotype. She lived with her family until they lost their house and wealth between Mystery and Riddle.
Margaret (Montmorency) Allspice:
Class bully and heir to the Allspice farms. Margaret is your typical "sadist" type character.
Her partner in crime is (shorter, stouter) Abby.
Suzanne Salt: The girls' mother. Perfect mother, lover, and housewife. Ergo, there is not much to say about her.
(LOL, how cruel!)
Occasionally I wonder if a Ladies' Aid Society still exists in Hollering Heights. If not, I'm sure she can organize one.
Stephen Salt: A successful writer and the girls' father.
Dan Mitchels: Briefly mentioned in "Riddle..." (and further explored in the short story "Melancholy..."), Dan is Summer's crush (briefly) and a student at Hollering High & Elementary. He is the only character in the Summerverse who possesses zero interest in tickling, a fact that causes him considerable stress.
Characters who appeared in "The Sign of the Seven" (spoilers):
Waldorf Pepper:
A 19th-century pilot whose diary Summer finds behind a wall during the intro of "The Sign of the Seven".
A famous war veteran and soldier of fortune, who partook in many adventures alongside his cousin/sidekick Axelle ("Axle"). He owned the Salts' home before they bought it.
Miss Sugar/son:
Minor characters who appear in "Riddle..." as part of storyline.
(Never mentioned, but I think her first name might be Sandy.)
Patty Cinnamon:
Owner of the Cinnamon Bakery in HH. She wouldn't be of much interest if she didn't happen to be the secret-keeper of the Seven, the last remnant of a secret society among 7 families who have played a role in the founding of Hollering Heights. As such, she plays an important role in the conclusion of "The Sign of the Seven".
Her age and even gender are indeterminate. Basically a tinier, transgender Mary Poppins.
Clown Prince:
Simply put, a pervert.
He knows hypnosis, as well as many other clown tricks. He pops up at least 4 or 5 times (Riddle, Mystery, Clue, Case, and What...?) before the heroes can finally get rid of him for good.
Clown girls:
The Prince's entourage. In my canon, they come into existence in two ways:
1. the Prince may use hypnosis (his own clown trick) to mesmerize a girl momentarily. This is temporary and subjects have to be gathered on the spot; indeed the clown paint's original purpose (in "Riddle...") may have been to hide who the victims really are. 2. with a device created by Pao-Ting, the condition can be made permanent and for all known purposes irreversible (although building a reverse machine has never been attempted in canon). Some powers like a vampire's own hypnosis are known to be able to break the effect.
SETTING:
Hollering Heights: Summer's hometown where the majority of her adventures take place.
Based on "Riddle...", it appears to have many facilities, including: a museum, a library, a public park, a police station, a town hall, a shopping center...and probably many others that have not been revealed yet.
Notable locations include:
Featherton Manor: An ancient estate practically next door. It used to be haunted by Hildegard Featherton and Count Featherton.
The Allspice Farm: Owned by one of the town's oldest families, it has an important role in the town's economy, and also hosts the annual town fair.
General Podipopoulos: The founder of the town, if in name only. Based on his name, he must've been a pervert.
The Seven: Seven families who played a role in the founding of the town. Their names are: [SPOILER]Cinnamon, Pepper, Salt, Sugar, Clove, Ginger, and Allspice.[/SPOILER]
________
General guidance to writing Summer stories:
- One thing that stands out for me in SS stories is the amount of quality tickling content. ;) (And we know what you're all here for.) Even though I included a LOT more story focus in "Riddle..." (and have had immense fun building up the characters through them), most of these are actually there to provide a logical transition between different (fetish) scenarios. If you just want to cut the crap and stumble from one tickling scenario into another without providing exposition, go ahead. (This was more or less how it worked for "Mystery...".)
- Jamie's and Chris' genders are always up to the reader until a new chapter sets them in stone. Not using gendered pronouns is actually surprisingly easy once you get the hang of it. :p
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