By Bonnie Edwards
I’d like to say from the cabbage patch, or even that a stork delivers them in the dead of night, but the truth is, heroines are born in weird and interesting ways.
A lot of times secondary characters scream out for books of their own. Sometimes readers will ask so often about a background character the seed for a new heroine is fertilized. Voila! A connected story comes about.
Connected stories please the readers, editors (and marketing folk) like them and writers get to play in a familiar world again. Readers aren’t the only ones curious about former lead characters. Writers want to know how they’re doing, too.
On occasion heroines appear not from inside a story, but from outside, so to speak.
Take Morgan Swann, for example. She’s my heroine in POSSESSING MORGAN.
I was working on another story entirely. This one was aimed at a different Harlequin line, when I realised my heroine would have known (and still did) people who walked on the far side of the law. Growing up in her neighborhood, it would have been impossible to avoid knowing some rough characters, or schoolmates headed down different, and more dangerous, paths. At some point, her best friend fell into stealing cars.
Fast cars. Expensive cars. Morgan stole for money, yes.
But more for the thrill.
And that, my friends, was a lightning bolt moment.
Morgan Swann never set foot in the story I was writing, but she existed for me. Fully formed. She was feisty, tough and out for herself. She was scared, but loved the thrill of boosting cars, the hunt, the adrenaline rush of excitement.
I loved this teenager. She had her reasons for falling in with the bad crowd: frail, scaredy-cat human reasons. The universality of her need as a powerless teenager spoke to me. She broke my heart.
No sooner had she walked on stage, than I wondered how to make her a heroine. I loved this character too much not to try to give her a happily ever after. Even bad girls can be brought back from the brink. Right?
So, a reformed bad girl who no longer steals cars, but who’s still feisty, still determined and still chasing the thrill.
What better place to write her story, than in a Blaze?
I’ve had some great fan letters about Morgan. I hope she touches your heart the way she’s touched other people, like me.
But if quirky heroines aren’t your thing…what is? Cool, aloof blondes? Warm, artsy redheads? Maybe the earth mother type? Who are your favourite heroines? And if you can explain why, I’d like to hear it.
Remember one lucky commenter will win a copy of POSSESSING MORGAN, so you can see for yourself how I turned this babe around!
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Leave a comment or question for Bonnie to enter to win POSSESSING MORGAN. If you’re reading this post through a feed on Facebook, Goodreads, or another social network, please visit the comment trail at Muse Interrupted to be eligible for the draw.
To read Bonnie’s bio and the back cover blurb for POSSESSING MORGAN, see yesterday’s post. To learn more about Bonnie and her books, check out her website.
Quirky heroines are my thing. I love them and all the situations they seem to get themselves into.
I like all different characters — except weak or whiny ones. I can’t read them. The one thing my heroines have in common is they persevere, no matter what.
Morgan sounds like that kind of a heroine. You’ve sold me on her. The next time I go to the store, I’m buying her book. 🙂
Hi everyone, and welcome to Bonnie!
Morgan does sound like an interesting character, Bonnie. I bought your book yesterday and look forward to reading it soon.
Like Tonya, I love quirky heroines. Love writing them, and love reading them.
It’s hard to restrain a secondary character when they pop to life on the page. Like you, I often find myself imagining *their* story. If it’s compelling enough, I jot down the basic idea, but you know how fat our idea folders can get. Not enough time to write all those ideas!
I can’t say I have a favorite heroine type as so many appeal to me. But I can relate to your comment about secondary characters coming to life almost out of the blue. I think it’s maybe because we feel freer to ‘let it rip’ with the secondary characters in our books, and because we’re free and not angsting over getting everything right, they have the space to grow. Sometimes quickly and seemingly overnight! Looking forward to reading Possessing Morgan!
The heriones that have to face the one thing that scares them most are the ones that truly appeal to me. No matter what that fear is, it makes the heroine very sympathetic for me, and makes me root for her.
The book sounds terrific–and wonderful cover!
Good morning everyone! I’m so pleased to be back here. thanks for inviting me, Cindy.
Thanks, too for all the interest in Morgan. I’m glad my instincts about her were right. She lived inside my head for a number of years.
Now if only I could sell the story of her friend, I’d feel like I’d had a two-fer!
Tina, I’m building a new story idea right now and your comments have really struck me as important to keep in mind. So often we think of the hero facing danger or fear.
I’ll check in later, for now I have some thinking to do, thanks to Tina. LOL…
Thanks for blogging Bonnie! I’d have to say I love heroines who are tough as rocks and just as stubborn, but give their all for the special people in their lives. I also love a dash of quirk and some sassyness.
Here’s another vote for a feisty heroine. 🙂 Congratulations on the wonderful RT rating for this story! And good for you for trusting your instincts with this character. I bet you’ll find a way to write her friend’s story and make it equally compelling.
All the best,
Gail 🙂
Elise, well you’ll see plenty of quirky in Morgan.
And Gail, I was absolutely THRILLED with the RT review and getting 4 stars! It meant SO much to me.
What fun to see how people have responded to Morgan. 😉
Bonnie
Sounds like a terrific book with a well thought out premise and character arc.
I don’t really have a favorite “type” of heroine, but I love it when I’m allowed to use my snarky sense of humor for one of them.
Since romantic comedy is my thing, I like a feisty heroine with a sense of humor. Someone who challenges the hero, but not in an “in your face” kind of way. She simply confounds him.
My heroine Hope in Love Cuffs is such a woman.
Ash
Thank you for everyone for coming by! Elise Hepner has won the copy of Bonnie’s book. Elise, please look for an email from me in your in-box!
Thank you, Bonnie, for a wonderful blog.
My next guest is Kimani author Dara Girard, March 30th. Check the Guest Blogger sidebar for updates.
I actually like the shy heroines who, as the story continuous, rebel and become more confident with herselfs.
Virginia, congratulations! I hope you enjoy Possessing Morgan.
It’s been such fun,Cindy. Thanks for having me back here.
Spav….I love those heroines, too! Can’t write ’em, but I love to read them.
Bonnie
Virginia? Clearly, I’m confused and thinking of someone else!
I meant congratulations to Elise (a name I’ve wanted to use in a book…I love it!)
Sorry…my head’s deep into a new proposal and full of other things!
Bonnie