“Veronica is a character that women relate to, a kind of universal type of character,” Hayes said. “No matter what age you are, everybody is kind of like Veronica. They think the same things she thinks, they see life like she does.”
Hayes said he modeled Veronica’s appearance off of 29-year-old daughter Sarah and Veronica’s traits off of his mother.
“I just felt very fortunate to have such a great mom and a great example of who a woman is, just the strengths and the kind of commitment and humanity my mom always demonstrated,” he said.
Hayes, a former Gibson Greeting Cards employee, had been commissioned to create a line of greeting cards in 1989 by a company that marketed items to the health, fitness and beauty industries.
He came up with Zelda, a wackier, edgier, older and more risqué version of Veronica, his later creation. “That’s kind of what they wanted,” he said.
The company stopped distribution without explanation after three months, but Hayes took solace in the fact that many people saw Zelda as a timeless character.
“I saw that she had lasting power,” he said.
Hayes eventually gave the character a makeover, making her more refined, a little younger and less risqué. Last summer, he partnered with Cincinnati-based Three Degrees Creative to market a line of “Veronica’s Life” greeting cards.
The small line includes eight cards and a mix of birthday, “thinking of you” and holiday themes.
Hayes said he plans to add new greeting cards and hopes to branch out by offering “Veronica’s Life” bags, wraps and apparel.
“Veronica’s Life” cards are available for purchase at seven Cincinnati locations and two Middletown businesses: Bella - A Unique Boutique, 1054 Central Ave., and Berns Garden Center & Landscaping, 825 Greentree Road.
Hayes will participate in a signing session from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Bella.
For more on Hayes’ creation, visit Facebook.com/VeronicasLife. A website is planned for veronicaslife.com.
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