Mr Right – not Wright
Name: Tom has a nice classic name, one plucked out of thin air when I was a kid. It’s a name that’s stuck. Unlike his surname. While originally, it was ‘Wright’, since that is the most common spelling of this surname, I switched it to ‘Right’ during the second redraft for reasons I can’t disclose. While that storyline was scrapped – and rather recently during the third rewrite, I might add – I left it this way as a nod to the original storyline and because it fits him. Trying to change it now would be like changing the colour of his eyes…
Appearance: On that note, Tom, upon his creation, had hazel eyes – which makes me uncomfortable to consider him that way. However, for the last ten years, he’s had ‘sky blue’ eyes which are supposed to be rather piercing in contrast with his dark chocolate hair – chocolate coloured hair being something he’s always had. Along with his hair, Tom’s short, slim frame has also always been the same. He is the shortest of the male main characters and I couldn’t imagine him any different.
Personality: Tom’s personality has changed a lot since the initial draft in 2008. Subject to the fact that Tom came out as gay to me in 2011 during the second redraft and also found his love of photography at the same time, he has gone from a ‘laddish’ heterosexual to a confident, passionate, loving, vibrant character who often plays on his stereotype but also breaks it too. He can be crude and hang out with ‘the boys’ but is also sensitive and slips in easily with the girls too. He’s not feminine but wouldn’t say no to dressing up in a fabulous outfit to be centre stage. He straddles the line of masculinity and femininity, which is something I adore in him. He’s not afraid to be who he is, even if that means he doesn’t fit into a box. He’s adamant not to be defined by any social standard or restrictive stereotype.
Skills: As I said above, Tom only became a photographer in the second major redraft in 2011. It was around this time he started develop other skills, such as the ability to play the guitar and the ukulele. His skill on the ukulele and guitar is something I kept in the most recent redraft and while he’s not a strong musician like Dominic, he does enjoy playing in their band and will whip out his ukulele whenever it’s called for. But at his core, Tom is a photographer. Ever since I studied photography at college, Tom developed a rather unhealthy obsession with the art (more so than I ever did) and with the help of my best friend, a professional photographer now, Tom gets to learn the trade and improve upon his skills.
Influences: My biggest influence when it comes to Tom is one of my old best friends. I still see him like a little brother to me and I’m so proud of the young man he’s become. His passion and confidence and determination to not fit into a box, to be whoever he wants to be and to not be defined by rules has influenced me greatly in Tom. He is the only one of the Main 8 who has a direct influence from someone I know.
Friendships: Tom has always been friends with the Main 8. Originally closest to Sam (what with Tom being a ‘player’ in the first draft), he has progressively moved away from Sam and toward Dominic. They share the same taste in music and films, and of course, love each other far more passionately than average friends. Tom has also gravitated toward Erika, for the same reasons, though he doesn’t want to sleep with Erika – unlike most guys at HSA. He sees Erika as his best friend.
However, the bond between Tom and Elivia is in a whole other realm of friendship. Throughout the series, their relationship is put to the test again and again and I like to think that they can withstand all of those trials and tribulations because, in reality, they’ve been friends for fifteen-odd years, and not just a couple of months, as it is in the books. Their friendship, one between a boy and a girl without any sexual intention, is one of my favourites and proof that girls and guys really can just be friends.
Storyline: As you may have guessed, Tom’s storyline is almost unrecognisable from that original plot in the first draft. Gone is the laddish boy chasing girls and being a shoulder to cry on to get girls to like him, and in its place is a boy with a big dream and, of course, a boyfriend – Dominic. It’s opened up so many doors to Tom’s storyline, giving me room to expand and bravely delve into the LGBTQ+ world. It’s scary and I fear constantly I’m doing it wrong, and while I don’t care much about offending people with the excessive sex, drugs and alcohol and self-destruction in my books, I do care about representing people correctly. I trust in Tom and let him lead me and hopefully, I’ve done a good job. Only time will tell.
Unable to say much more about his new storylines, here’s a brief excerpt of the old Tom – the one who is a complete stranger to the boy I write now…
“Where were you last night?” asked Tom. Sam winked at him “Ah. So what girl was it last night?”
“Louise in 11E,” Sam tied up his shoes
“She’s fit and blonde,” said Tom. He and Sam laughed
“Christ,” Dom straightened his collar
“What,” Tom buckled his belt
“You two are true bastards. There are loads of girls I bet you would fancy that aren’t blonde,” Dom laughed
“Yeah, but not ones with as good enough tits,” Sam joked with Tom.
Dom shook his head and chuckled a little. Will chucked a cushion at Sam and they laughed. When they were ready they went over to the main part of the school to wait outside their form rooms and select their books for the day.
To read more about Tom, head over to his bio!
Tom Right Copyright © 2008 Jodie May Mullen
(I do not own the images above. All rights remain with the original artist)