It’s
Valentine’s Day, and I'm happy to talk about the topic on almost every American’s
mind. But I'm going to take a slightly different tack on the subject by focusing on characters who shun romance. As you know, I write
romance/suspense. I like to see events
shake up a hero and heroine, pushing them to address their flaws and opening
them to love and be loved. I enjoy being
the author-puppeteer, urging transformations in my characters.
In
real life, people don’t change very much, probably because their ‘shake-up’ never comes. Still, we readers are eager to live, vicariously, the tumultuous lives of heros and heroines in a romantic suspense.
The
mathematics I use in writing the story is interesting. If I
ramp up the flaws in a character, I must also intensify the events as well as
sharpen the elements of the love interest.
But I have to be careful: the reader has to believe the transformation
is possible.
Linda
Howard, who writes fabulous romantic suspense, meets this challenge in DEATH
ANGEL, with a terribly flawed hero. Impossible,
yet, believable transformations. One of
my favorite contemporary romances, WHEN VENUS FELL, by Deborah Smith, gets my
‘A’ as well in presenting a damaged hero and heroine.
I’d like to know
what romance novels you’ve enjoyed that present an extremely flawed hero/heroine whose character arc is well-crafted. I
need more pep pills…those stories charge me up!
Take a look at my Funeral
Planner Suspense Series for a heroine who’s forced to change. Here's SWOON:
“Don't miss SWOON
by Rolynn Anderson! If you like an interesting cast of characters, a heavy dose
of mystery and a lot of fabulous surprises, you'll be happily turning pages
late into the night.ˮ
~ Brenda Novak, NYT and
USA Bestselling Author of WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES
Her dead clients won’t
rest in peace.
When
the dead tell tales, Jan Solvang’s first reaction is to RUN! But then she gets caught up in their
mysteries.
Jan’s
a boutique funeral planner, new to risk, hired to bury a missing woman and
memorialize an infamous man. Yet when
she digs for clues to write their eulogies, she disturbs family secrets and
unmasks killers.
Roman
Keller, hard-driving documentary writer, is in complete control of his life and
his stories, until he falls for Jan, a woman who trusts her dog, her faint-dreams,
and her instincts more than she trusts him.
Can
they make the sacrifices necessary to cement their relationship or will the
mayhem caused by the dead ruin their second chance at love?
PURCHASE
SITES:
Website:
http://www.rolynnanderson.com
SMASHWORDS: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/252721
9 comments:
I think in most good novels, one or both main characters have to have flaws.
In my WIP, the hero is fairly perfect--except that he's French--with attitude, swagger and self-absorption bred inherently. My heroine is more flawed, but she saves the hero anyway.
Happy Valentine's Day, Rolynn!!!
Thanks, Ana! All of us have love struggles, but we make our characters suffer more!
Rolynn,
I can relate completely! I love to make situations for my characters and see how they come out of them.
Right, Ilona! We're kind of god-like that way, aren't we...while we struggle for control over our own lives!
The ultimate flawed heroine Scarlet O'Hara didn't get to keep the hero. I often wonder if it was a reflection of Margaret Mitchell's philosphy that no one truly gets what they want. Sad, no hea there.
One of the heroes that stays with me to this day is Jacques in Christine Feehan's Dark Desire. I haven't read a more physically and psychologically tortured character in my life, yet the way Feehan crafts the story, I am completely willing to suspend my disbelief. It wasn't the best book I've read, but for some reason, he just really stays with me. And yes, there is definitely a HEA for him, so it was a satisfying ending. :)
You pose a tough question. I'll be thinking about this all night. I do love Linda Howard and have all her books, but I'm going lighter and choosing the hero in Vonnie Davis's book, 'Those Violet Eyes'.
Sandra, Misty and Morgan, thank you for your ideas. Scarlett Ohara is a great choice and I can't wait to read the Feehan novel with the tortured hero. I've only read two of Feehan's books..she builds characters well. I have read Those Violet Eyes...excellent choice in the hero. I'll be sure to let Vonnie know!
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