I never set out to create a pretty, peppy, motivational murderess. But Camilla Tannenbaum lured me in, lured me in the way she did Homer Simpson.

“Call me Cami. Cami from Miami,” she uttered with a sparkle in her perfect smile, a wink and a double-cluck of the tongue.

Camilla Tannenbaum is only a figment of my imagination, just as Homer and the gang are Matt Groening’s. But I couldn’t help but to imagine what character I might inject into the Simpsons universe when Fox challenged fans to “Unleash Your Yellow” and create a new member of Springfield as the much-loved series enters its record 20th season.

Here’s the storyline:

Homer was rushing to a wedding for which he was already late. But he stopped anyway to buy a lottery ticket, even though he knew Marge would give him that disappointed, grumbling “Hmm” later. As he hurried out of the Kwik-E-Mart, he heard a perky voice lecturing a hobo about tapping into his “inner CEO.” And he couldn’t help but to listen to Cami’s bus stop motivational speech, How to be Winner in 22 Easy Steps.

Step No. 17: “Remember, there’s no problem that a positive attitude can’t solve! That or a shiv made from a prison boot!”

When Cami held out a garbage bag for tips, Homer was so inspired he tossed in his lottery ticket.

D’oh!

To be honest, Cami’s not the Simpsons character I thought I’d create. But scuttle is that this new character will debut next season on an episode where Homer will be late for a wedding when he first stops to buy a lottery ticket. He’ll meet this new character while rushing to the ceremony.

I figured Homer, being Homer, would do what is most counterintuitive, and get caught up in something else, something totally mindless, that would make him even more late. And in my mind, there’s no bigger waste of time than motivational books, tapes, proselytizers, evangelizers and book critics.

Being a Simpsons fan since parents first chafed at their biting wit and satire (wrapped unassumingly in cartoon yellow skin), I’ve mastered the quirky voices of a host of characters, from Barney the alcoholic to Chief Wiggam. But, alas, my growl is way too deep for Cami.

Cami’s not the character I set out to create. But she seems to be a good fit. And, in truth, this contest was an exercise in creativity and a good way to get back in touch with my Simpsonian side.

Like the masses, I was a devotee, but I lost my way when my wife and I had our three daughters. My kids’ cartoons supplanted my own, and I was left to catch reruns late at night on the CW.

Last week, I happened to catch the annual Halloween episode, “Treehouse of Horror,” in prime time, as my older daughters have started to master bath time on their own. But the three of them — ages 6, 4 and 2, who love all things animated — eventually found their way next to me on the couch.

Now, I know The Simpsons is adult fare, but I thought maybe there was a chance they would be entertained by the funny drawing and I could laugh at the adult humor — until the skit where Homer and the family are chopping up zombies and I turned to see their eyes peeled open.

“Uh, OK, I think it’s time for bed,” I said, and changed the channel.

The next morning, my oldest, Elise, tried to make the case that she should be allowed to watch The Simpsons since she didn’t have any nightmares after she saw Homer “chop off that man’s arm and hit him with it.” Elise lost the argument. And for me, The Simpsons returned to late night.

So I guess this old obsession is why I put so much energy into Cami and the contest, even though it went beyond the contest requirements. I gave her lines and a catchphrase and a backstory all her own: Insane, murderess-cum-motivational speaker gives roadside speeches after the Springfield Home of the Criminally Insane releases her for having a preexisting condition — “murderousness” — that won’t be covered under the new health care plan passed in Washington.

Who knows? Maybe she’ll win. If she does, the writing staff reserves the right to make Cami a recurring character.

But maybe you can do better. The deadline is Wednesday and you can enter at www.thesimpsons.com. And maybe your “Cami” will wind up wasting Homer’s time along the streets of Springfield.

I’ll envy you lustily if she does.