To Create Believable Fiction

As an author, you want to draw in your readers, draw them in so deeply that they suspend disbelief. Some are far better at this than others.

If you ask Paula Bonhomme, she'd say that Janna St. James has a remarkable talent for creating believable fiction.

Ms. Bonhomme didn't know Janna St. James as Janna, however. That was all part of the fiction. Through chat forums and e-mails, she got to know the person as Jesse James, a rugged Colorado firefighter.

And he was a believable character, a man with issues that would not be out of place in a piece of women's fiction. There were other characters brought in as well, to flesh out the plot and drive the narrative. A jealous ex-wife and young son were introduced, to provide the emotional element that would keep the pages turning.

If there had been pages, that is. This particular work of fiction took two years to write to completion. More of an old-fashioned serialized novel.

As often happens without a good editor to give advice, Janna St. James inserted an epilogue that spoiled the entire story.

Appearing in the role of consoling friend of the late Jesse James, she used her own name when she met up with Paula Bonhomme out in Colorado, where they traveled to sites important to the deceased firefighter. She padded her resume, and Ms. Bonhomme checked things out on-line. It turned out that Janna St. James was a suburban housewife whose on-line description includes a boast that she is the greatest online scammer ever.

Ms. Bonhomme sued, but the court dismissed the case, noting that Ms. St. James was creating fiction and therefore was not liable. The appeals court felt differently about the perceptions of falsity and reality in fiction. The lawsuit will be heard.

Rather than a lawyer, perhaps Ms. St. James should consider hiring a literary agent. She's demonstrated remarkable talent at making up things.

And she's not sorry about it, as you can see on the video.