Characters with a History and a FREE
Book by Jannine Gallant
I’d like to thank my good friend Rachel for having me on her
blog today. It’s always a pleasure to visit across the pond! Yes, I have a free
book to promote, but first let’s talk a little about how our heroes and
heroines meet.
I’ve noticed a trend in my books. I may be a little slow,
because it took me a couple years to catch on. LOL It suddenly occurred to me
that in several of my books (especially the shorter novellas) my heroes and
heroines knew each other prior to the start of the book. Aren’t they supposed
to meet at the beginning of the story? You’d think, right?
Now in my Class of ’85 series, the history between the
characters was understandable. They knew each other in high school and are
reconnected twenty-five years later at the beginning of each book. But when I
sat down to write my latest series of novellas, Secrets of Ravenswood, I was having a hard time plotting the first
book. The h&h needed a strong connection right up front or there’d be no
reason for him to jump in to help her with her problems.
Hmm…it was a dilemma.
So I went back to a formula that had worked for me in the past. I gave them a
history. Samantha and Ethan knew each other as children but had no real
connection at the time since he was three years older. Good, but not good
enough to warrant his current level of involvement in her crises. Take it one
step further, I told myself. Voilà! The two had a one-night-stand after a party
five years before. She wasn’t ready for a committed relationship and bolted
straight out of the country. Both have lingering feelings. He has no reason to
trust she won’t run from him again, but he cares enough to want to protect her.
Yea, my plot now worked! And the subtle undertones in their relationship created
even more friction.
So, do your characters ever have a shared past or do they
meet on page one of the book? If you’ve never tried giving your h&h a
history together, think about the possibilities. Especially in a novella,
diving into an emotional quagmire already created for your characters can
really work!
Today is the final free day for We’ll Never Tell, book
one in my Secrets of Ravenswood
trilogy. Download the book HERE.
Secrets of Ravenswood
For three lifelong friends, will past tragedies haunt
their futures—or open the door to love…
We’ll Never Tell
Three young girls witness a murder—and make a pact never
to tell what they saw. But when the woman’s body is uncovered seventeen years
later, the killer’s faith in their promise is shaken. A few deadly reminders
may be in order…
Samantha Beaumont knows it’s time to reveal the truth
about what happened in the woods all those years ago—until the accidents begin.
Fear that the killer will shut them up permanently leads Sam on a quest to
protect her friends and expose the murderer’s identity. No one, certainly not
the man she spent one memorable night with, will stop her.
Ethan Thorne has no reason to believe Sam is any more
interested in a commitment now than when she ran from him five years before.
Still, he can’t resist trying one more time… When he realizes her life is in
danger, he’ll risk everything for a chance at love.
Comments??
Hello Rachel! Hello Jannine!
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, my main characters in my debut novella Desire in Deadwood have a history as do the ones in my current submission! I found it easier to kick off with a past between them. It is a good plot device because that shared history means that they already have feelings for one another - even if they've tried to suppress them. In a novella, there isn't the luxury of time that there is in a full novel, so I'd definitely recommend it!
Molly xxx
Molly - I so agree. In a novella, a history between the characters allows emotions to build so much faster. And that can be key to a well-rounded story.
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