Ruben is Shey's uncle (her mother's brother). After he lost Maria in the terrible accident on stage, he became a bit of a recluse. He mised Maria immensely and was trying to find her using the clues she was leaving for him in the paintings. He never gave up the search but when Shey came to stay he was beginning to think that it would be impossible to find Maria. Ruben was an accomplished artist and some of his characteristics are taken from people I've known. His name is a direct reference to Rubens, the Flemish baroque painter and there is a resemblance to him also.
Shey is a girl who can make decisions quickly but does feel a bit insecure. She hated it when people laughed at her and this gave her the 'voice' to strike back. her name comes from the Romany (gypsy) and her dark looks may be that same gypsy blood coming through.
When I began to think of characters for my novel I deliberately chose a girl to be the protagonist or hero because that place has often been the domain of boys. I wanted her to be lively, sensitive, sarcastic, but most of all, real. She is close to her mum and dad but is beginning to seek a bit of independence. The quest that she undertakes when she moves to Ruben's house teaches her some valuable lessons. She realises that Ruben and other 'old' people still feel the same things that young people do and that the world we see around us may hide some pretty spectacular things.
She also comes to realise that the things we take for granted should not be forgotten so easily. This happened when she was in the Children's Games painting. The experience made her appreciate how safe and secure home was and how she missed her friends, parents and feisty terrier, Jasper. Something else she learned was self-reliance. At times during the adventures in the paintings, she had to act quickly and 'take the reins'. She actually confronted the Sirens and kept her cool which enabled her, with the help of the magic necklace, to save Ruben from certain death.