Have you ever started to write a book and had a secondary character try to take over the story?Β It doesn’t matter how hard you work at putting them on the sidelines, they keep popping up at the most inopportune times.
I’ve found it’s better to go with the flow and see where it takes me– usually into another book and thereby creating a series I hadn’t actually planned on writing!
When I was working on The Rebel’s Redemption, book two in the Wounded Hearts series, the hero’s best friend stepped up and insisted I do his story at the same time! I had a lot of fun with those two and the side benefit was interlocking stories that practically wrote themselves. I wish it was always that easy, but truthfully, most books take a lot of blood, sweat and lots of CHOCOLATE before they begin to take shape.
Maybe it’s because I’m a pantser. I never know what’s going to happen until it does, and then I say, “That’s brilliant!” lol. Sometimes, it’s a great first line. One of my favorites is from The Beast Within– Her skin was tender as the belly of a kitten. And just as fragile.
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And other times, it comes from a picture I’ve seen:
Like this one I used as inspiration for Missing: TheLady Said No, a mystery set around the Kentucky Derby.
And then there’s the ones that emerge from a cover you fall in love with. This one was made by Michele Hauf.
This is Sophia Shaughnessy’s book. She first showed up as the cute sister of Matthew Shaughnessy in Hold ‘Em, but her character became important to the story and readers connected with the young woman desperate to prove herself in a man’s world.
Here’s a short excerpt:
Sophia lightly flirted with Ricoβas theyβd done all their livesβand pretended not to watch every move Tony made. She absolutely didnβt notice his tough farm hands closing into fists when Rico grasped her waist, or sense the tension emanating from his powerful body as he watched the two of them acting like frisky colts. Sheβd feel guilty, except the big jerk should know there hadnβt been anyone but him for her since sheβd reached puberty.
Damn him.
βI thought Iβd take Cleopatra out for a ride,β she said to Rico, making a conscious effort to ignore Tonyβs glower. βDo you have time to join me?β
βSure.β Rico nodded. βJust give me a few minutes to finish these stalls, bueno?β
βWerenβt you supposed to exercise the yearlings today?β Tony growled. βJust because the princess deigned to visit, doesnβt mean the ranch is on holiday. Get to work, Juarez.β
Rico bristled. βI can do that later, they arenβt going anywhere.β
Tony took an aggressive step forward and Sophia hurried to step between the two men. βStop it,β she hissed. βItβs my fault, I wasnβt thinking.β
She turned and forced a smile for Rico. βIβll meet you later and weβll catch up. Itβs been too long.β She squeezed his arm in reassurance. βSee you at dinner?β
Rico glared at his boss, then gave a slow shrug and dragged his attention back to her. βYeah, sure. Itβll be like old times, sΓ?β
Sophia saw his intentions in the mischievous glint of his eyes. She braced herself for the fallout as he leaned in and gave her a big, smacking kiss on the lips before jauntily wandering away with a tip of his hat. Sheβd get even with him, the tease.
She glanced up at Tony and cleared her throat, subduing the instinct to rub suddenly sweaty palms on her pants. βI didnβt mean to create problems, I know this is a working ranch.β That much was true, anyway. Sheβd tried so many times to insert herself into the business, to be a valued member of the team, but her ideas were brushed aside as the dreams of a young idealist. After a while, sheβd given up trying.
Tony met her gaze and sighed. βI probably overreacted. I tend to do that a lot around you,β he admitted. Sophia didnβt have time to enjoy the warm glow his words wrought, before he added, βBut you should know better than to come down to the barns dressed like that. Youβre distracting my men.β
She wasnβt sure which rose faster, outrage or pleasure. She went with outrage, it was safer. βIβm wearing blue jeans, theyβre hardly haute couture. And most of your men have known me since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, youβre exaggerating my appeal. Now if youβll excuse me, Iβm going to see my horse. At least she doesnβt judge me.β
Sheβd stomped past three stalls, the horses within staring at her with inquisitive eyes, before Tony caught up to her. βItβs been a long time since youβve been on much of a ride, I donβt like the idea of you going out alone.β
Sophia huffed out a strangled laugh. βI was born on this ranch, Iβm pretty sure I know my way around it. Besides, itβs your own fault I donβt have a companion, you got rid of him, remember?β
Tony grabbed a couple of bridles on their way past the tack room. βThat idiot would be too damn busy showing off to protect you,β he snapped. βAnd I wasnβt worried about you getting lost so much as getting bucked off and, if you were lucky, landing on that delectable keister. Iβll go with you.β
βNo.β She swung around to face him. βI want a fun, relaxing ride. Youβll just mess with my Zen.β
βYou want to go, princess, then I go too. End of story.β He opened the stall for his bay and entered, mumbling sweet nothings to the horse while he swung the bridle over the geldingβs head.
Oh, yay.
I have a secret; I love secondary characters. They have a sense of mystery about them. You need to find out their story and they leave all sorts of possibilities open for future books. π
Crazy Little Thing About Love releases Tuesday, May 15th. I hope you’ll buy a copy and see if you can pick out the next character who needs his/her story told.
What about you? Do you have a thing for secondary characters? It’s okay, I won’t tell π
I love the new cover. It looks inviting. π My pushy secondary characters usually end up in their own books too. Sometimes even years later because they won’t leave me along. I love them as well, Jacquie. β€
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Thank you, Mary. Yes, much as I love my main characters (That’s why I’m writing about them, after all) it’s those characters who pop up and worm their way in that I can’t resist π
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Reblogged this on Viv Drewa – The Owl Lady.
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Thanks for sharing my blog post, Viv, appreciated!
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You’re very welcome, Jacquie! Have a wonderful weekend! @v@ β€
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You too! It’s a beautiful day in paradise π
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That was a great excerpt. I especially loved the end. I have no idea how you write as fast as you do, but CONGRATS on another release! What a wonderful cover, too.
And I know what you mean about secondary characters. I had one pop up in the book I just finished, and she is going to be the new lead in the next book, even though I had planned someone else in that role. It’s best to go with the characters when they come knocking, LOL.
Congrats again, Jacquie!
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Lol, thanks Mae. I agree, some personalities won’t let us forget them π
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I LOVE secondary characters. I’ve never tried two stories at once, though. Amazing! Best wishes with them.
If you ever want to promote on my site, Jacquie, just let me know. Happy to help.
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Wow, thank you, Staci!
It surprised me how well the two books went, also. At first I considered writing a sub-plot with the secondary characters (Suzanne Brockmann does this so well) but Ty had so many issues of his own I knew his story needed its own book-Twilight’s Encore. I’d write a scene or two in The Rebel and then follow up in Twilight so that both books have the same timeline, but two complete standalone stories of their own.
I’d love to do that again one day, if the right characters come together π
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That sounds like a great way to write, Jacqui. Two stories in one is a fabulous achievement.
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Thanks, Robbi. It was more a case of two strong heroes who needed their own book–now! lol. And since the timeline was the same, I decided to go for it π
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Hi Jacquie. To your question of do secondary characters take over when I’m writing – I have to answer a big YES!! I am currently finishing the revision of the sequel to my first novel: If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor. When I wrote the first one I had Jennifer as a mean girl secondary character who helps my main character understand how awesome she is. But many readers identified with Jennifer, who was a big part of the book and went through some changes as well. One of these was my line editor’s daughter who after reading the book wanted a sequel and many other young readers who wanted to see more of Jennifer. As a result my second novel is now a full series with the second book titled: Who Is Jennifer Taylor and all about her. But the crazy thing is a character I introduced in this novel as a secondary character totally took over as well. So now a third novel is planned for this character and many of the tertiary characters from each book may have leading roles in this one as well.
If a character decides to take over I just let them and see where it leads. I think there is always a reason you just don’t know yet.
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Exactly! Those secondary characters have an important message to share, we just need to listen.
Thank you so much for stopping by to comment, Iβll keep an eye out for your books π
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Oh yes, secondary characters are always knocking at my writing door, Jacquie. I’ve often turned them into the main character in my short stories. Sometimes, being second turns out to be the best.
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Lol, I like that, Hugh. The story of my life π
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