There have been quite a few times while I’ve been writing the Guardian series that I’ve thought to myself, “What in the hell was I thinking?” Some examples:
1) Lilith. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love her. But as I was writing Demon Angel, I remember thinking more than once, “Oh my god, what am I doing creating a character like this? My editor is going to kill me and readers are going to hate her!” And I thought, maybe I should make her nicer. Maybe I should make it so that she hadn’t really spent 2000 years leading the damned to their deaths … maybe she’s been hiding them all somewhere and teaching them to be good. But, like I said, I love her character … and of course that isn’t true for everyone, but I’m glad she turned out like she did.
2) Colin. A vain, beautiful, vain, beautiful vampire … and there wasn’t that much more to him (at least, not much that was obvious in Demon Angel). And I thought, “Oh my god, what am I doing making this guy a hero?” Of course, I knew there was a lot more to him, but there were times when I was writing and I was thinking, “Does anyone really want to read about a vain metrosexual vampire? Aghhh!” And I read reviews that said, “Hmm, that Colin — I don’t see how he’s going to be a good hero,” and they are absolutely right … there wasn’t much in Demon Angel to suggest Colin would be a good hero. Only in his own book does he prove himself hero material.
When readers first meet characters, most of the time we just get the surface … and usually, we want the surface to be attractive enough (not necessarily in a physical way, but a heroic way) … because otherwise, yikes — we might get pulled into a book with 400 pages of a character we really don’t like and who doesn’t change over the course of the story.
So when I finished with Demon Night, and realized that Jake was pulling at me to be the next hero … quite honestly, my “What the HELL was I THINKING????” went through the roof. Because in Demon Night, he wasn’t exactly hero-material.
For one, although Jake is sixty years old, Drifter (Jake’s mentor and the very manly man hero of Demon Night) calls him “kid.” Lilith calls him “puppy.” He’s a novice — which, in the Guardian world, just means that he hasn’t completed his training — but it also meant that he’s not on equal footing with Drifter or any of the other heroes in the series.
It means that he’s not on equal footing with Alice. Not only is he younger, he ranks below her — the novice to the full-fledged Guardian.
And (I’m being vague to avoid spoilers) Jake screwed up in Demon Night. He made a mistake that had enormous consequences. He does some silly things (like shape-shifting to look like a woman and teasing Drifter with a miniskirt.) He’s got a smart mouth, and says some stupid things.
That’s not to say that he doesn’t mature in Demon Night, or that I don’t hint at his backstory as a soldier — and when the final showdown comes, Jake is as steady as a rock. But taken all together, the smart part of my brain (a part that is wholly removed from the writing part, half the time) was shouting at me to wait at least a few more books, develop him a little bit more as a secondary character, and have him at “he’s obviously hero material and a full-fledged Guardian” by the time his own story begins.
The writing part of my brain did not agree with the smart part.
“Oh my god,” I thought. “I can’t even cheat, because everyone has just read Drifter’s story, they know Jake, so I can’t just have him suddenly older and wiser and never saying the wrong thing — or controlling his Gift, because we *know* that Drifter had to scare the crap out of Jake to make him teleport. If Jake learning that happens off-screen, every reader has a right to scream ‘foul!’”
So I made a plan. Like I said, he was steady in that final fight in Demon Night, so it’s not like I had a complete fool on my hands. He was a soldier, and he had a good head on his shoulders and a sharp eye (that was established, too.) The foundation is there.
And the smart part of my brain thought: Okay, I’ll write Jake having some kind of epiphany — he’ll have a conversation with Drifter that clears up all of Jake’s conflict and confusion, and lets him come out on the other side “hero material.”
So I threw myself headlong into writing Demon Bound … and Jake flipped the bird at the smart part of my brain.
The conversation with Drifter never happens because Jake never *needs* it to happen. Oh, he has to grow up — but he doesn’t need another man to tell him how to be one. He’s ready to take that step on his own, and he figures out how to do it.
Jake gave me the big ol’ “F– Off,” because I’d underestimated him as a character. I was trying to make him fit some hero mold, but the way I’d been planning to do it would have been the opposite of what I considered heroic.
It’s not about status or rank or age; that’s the surface stuff. My heroes — for me to consider them heroes — have to be self-aware. They have to understand themselves. Not on every level, but for me to consider having a scene where another character teaches Jake about himself in such a heavy-handed way, for self-realization to be forced on him from the outside instead of coming out of his own experiences and reason … well, it meant that I’d sold his character short from the start.
And with that kind of character, the romance would have been cut off at the knees. Jake could have been a thousand-year-old Guardian, possessed the biggest wang and the sharpest sword — but if he hadn’t possessed any insight, any self-awareness, or any ability to affect change in himself unless someone told him how … I wouldn’t want him near one of my heroines.
So I look back on those early plans, and now I think … “What the hell was I thinking?” And there’s no doubt in my mind that Jake is worthy of romance-hero status. Your mileage may vary, of course J
Leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m PST answering the questions listed below and you’ll be entered to win 1 of 3 copies of Demon Bound!
Aside from the physical, what trait is essential for you to consider a character hero (or heroine) material?
Can you think of a secondary character who you thought would never be a great hero/heroine in their own story, but that surprised you?
If you could choose one secondary character from any book to receive their own story, who would it be?
First off, I LOOOOVED Demon Bound (which I got to read as an ARC.) And you know what, having read the prev book I thought, well, that’s interesting that Jake’s the hero of this one– What was Meljean thinking?
Aside from the physical, what trait is essential for you to consider a character hero (or heroine) material?
Since I would like a paper copy of this book here are my answers:
1. Decency.
2. I was worried about Phury as a character for a while. For about two sentences, I was also worried about Jake. I got over it quickly.
3. Is it cheating to say Darth Maul? Probably. How about Richard from Jude the Obscure? I hated that heroine but Richard was Teh Awesome.
SO psyched to read Demon Bound.
1. Carolyn sums it up nicely as “Decency” – being a good person at heart, even if he/she has made some bad choices.
2. Colin totally! 🙂
3. Dang, this question is more challenging than I thought it would be. Ummmmm… The Crow Girls in Charles de Lint’s Newford novels. I *heart* the Crow Girls.
I heart Jake. I kind of wondered what the hell you were thinking, too, after I finished Demon Night and saw Jake’s book was next. But after Colin (because you really threw me with Colin) I had complete faith that you’d be able to turn things around for Jake and make him the perfect hero.
On to the questions:
1) Definitely honor. There’s something so sexy about a man who has honor and integrity and stands up for both.
2) Colin. For sure Colin. I remember finishing Demon Angel and staring at Demon Moon and thinking, “Lord, please save me”. Heh. But I was so wrong about him!
3) Lois Ronsard(sp??) from All The Queen’s Men by Linda Howard. He was such an amazing anti-hero. I really wish she’d go back and write a novel for him. I’m not even 100% convinced he’d make a good hero, but I’d love to watch him try.
Thanks for coming to play with us today!
Okay, who is this other Carolyn? It’s such a rare name.
My answer:
1. A hero has to have integrity, even if his principles are warped, he has to hold to them, or try.
2. Secondary charcter…Actually, Drifter made a quick appearance in Colin & Savi’s story, and I wasn’t all impressed. Color me OH SO WRONG.
3. Yeah, that would be ADRIEN from The Spymaster’s Lady. Hurry, Joanna Bourne, Hurry!
Great interview! I, too, was shocked at the hero of Demon Bound after reading Demon Night. But now I can’t wait to see how DB turns out.
1. Honour, definitely. That’s one reason that Aragorn in LOTR is the ultimate hero for me – he was so noble and honourable. *sigh*
2. I had my doubts about V from BDB series. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy the book although V, himself, didn’t turn me off.
And I am not into Rehv at all. Apparently he has sex with his half-sister.. *pukes* I am not looking forward to this book at all.
3. I love the In Death series but I wish JDR would write a book from the POV of Baxter and Truheart(?). I love these two!
1# Demon Bound rocked (lucky ARC winner) – I can say positively Jake was a perfect next.
2# Jake was perfect for Alice – she needed him to become who she did. I think a full guardian wouldn’t have played so well (my thoughts at least.)
3# A hero is someone that ultimately does the right thing, even when its not necessarily the most sane thing to do.
4# Secondary hero surprising me… NOPE, all the authors I read I have complete confidence that when they write a character I will love them. (Blind Faith)
1# Demon Bound rocked (lucky ARC winner) – I can say positively Jake was a perfect next.
2# Jake was perfect for Alice – she needed him to become who she did. I think a full guardian wouldn’t have played so well (my thoughts at least.)
3# A hero is someone that ultimately does the right thing, even when its not necessarily the most sane thing to do.
4# Secondary hero surprising me… NOPE, all the authors I read I have complete confidence that when they write a character I will love them. (Blind Faith)
Carolyn — I wanted Darth Maul, too. Is it sad that I’ve actually looked up graphic novels that feature him?
And speaking of heroes … I’m reading one that is super badass. You may know him. 😀
Chris — Thank you! I hope you enjoy it.
And now I’m going to have to read the de Lint novels. I’ve read some, but not all (I’m way behind on my TBR). The Crow Girls — I will remember that.
Holly — it’s so funny, because I finished up this post and then saw your contest post, and laughed like crazy, because you’d mentioned that Colin didn’t have you at “hello”. I’m glad he worked out 😉
Carolyn Jean — that is Carolyn Jewel. And I’m a little scared of her next hero 😀
Drifter was rather uninspiring, wasn’t he? I’m trying to do a little better with my next ones … hopefully you’ll be intrigued before I get to their book.
And yes — I want Adrien, too. Shall we gang up on her?
Maered — you are a woman after my own heart. I LOVE Trueheart! I don’t know what it is, but every time he shows up I just want the scene to last forever.
Actually, Robb has a collection of characters that I wouldn’t mind reading about their stories: Peabody, Summerset, Mira. She’s excellent at creating wonderful people just to hang out with for a couple of hours.
marnie colette — I hope we don’t let you down, then 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed Demon Bound, too! There’s always that nail-biting time right before the release, where the “what the hell was I thinking” echoes louder and louder … but hearing readers have enjoyed the story and characters helps quiet it a bit.
*waving at Meljean* Hello, Missy, whatcha doin’?
Kidding aside, self awareness is THE essential personality trait for me to like a character. Thing is, it can develop during the course of the book, as part of the character’s growth, but it better be there by the last page, or I’ll consider the book a waste of my time.
Secondary characters who became convincing, likeable protagonists in their own books? There are a few, but one that has stuck with me for a long time now is Suzanne Brockmann’s Lucky. For several books he was just this smart mouth womanizer, then wow, there he is. Come to think of it, same with Wes Skelly (both of these are from her Tall Dark and Dangerous SIMs)
As for secondary characters I would like to star in their own stories? Oh man the list is soooo long! Cecile, from Bonnie Dee’s The Countess Takes a Lover (and I’m getting it too, in December! *happy dancing*), a bunch of characters from Nalini Singh’s and Suzanne Brockmann’s series, and more, but here are two that I would *love* to see as protagonists that, sadly, don’t think I’ll ever get: Amara from Hostage to Pleasure, and David Wensworth from Nora Roberts’ In The Garden trilogy.
Here’s wishing you BEST of luck with the release of Demon Bound, Meljean!
I think the most important thing a hero or heroine must have is respect for themselves. Even when things get really bad for them, they don’t lose hope.
I seem to be on this Alice in Wonderland kick today. I always wanted the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland to have his own story or the Mad Hatter. These two are very freaky characters, but wouldn’t be interesting to see what happens to them after Alice left? Can’t wait for the movie with Johnny Depp!
Secondary character? Michael, Michael and more Michael. I will not be silent till he gets his HEA! 😀
Oh I can hardly wait to read Demon Bound!!! I’m so looking forward to Jake and Alice!
Ok…
1. Honesty.
2. Jud from Caressed by Ice by Nalilni Singh. I did NOT think he would make a good hero…being Psy didn’t help at all. But he surprised me, in a good way, in the end.
3. I’ll have to agree with KB on this one…MICHAEL!!! I need Michael! 🙂
Great blog Meljean!
1. The ability to love is a major trait that a hero has to have. Some people are just unable to love themselves or others.
2. I think it’s JR Ward’s Zsadist that I was most shocked to enjoy reading his story. He was such an ass in the preceding book, lol.
3. As for a secondary character who I’d most like to read his story… definitely Eric Northman in Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series. I would so love to read a book all told from his point of view!
Putting others first (possibly without even realizing it).
Natasha A.
I feel like this will sound pathetic after all the great comments like “honor” and “self-awareness” but the one thing I find absolutely essential in a hero is… caring about the heroine. I can’t stand it if he gives off an indifferent vibe.
Second question – I don’t think I’ve ever really been surprised. I usually trust authors to pull that one out of their hats. Sometimes I don’t think they did a good job (Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas, prime example.) Maybe I was surprised by how well Brockmann did it in her most recent book, since that character was such an ass and really redeemed himself beautifully. Except at the very end, when he was such an ass.
The character I most want a book for is the former fiance from Mary Balogh’s Indiscreet and that’s because I feel so sorry for her! We gang up on Mary on her mailing list periodically to try to force her to write that story.
Oh, also the secondary male lead from Brockmann’s Bodyguard. Would love to know how that big mess could get straightened out happily!
— willaful
well, darn. my heros suddenly seem so one-dimensional in comparison.
‘…she had hidden them and was teaching them to be good’ Hee! Somehow can’t quite see Lilith doing that! But it reminds me of the scene in the movie ‘Fierce Creatures’ where John Cleese’s zoo manager character is tasked with cutting the budget and shoots all the superfluous animals, appalling his employees with
ruthlessness. He is later of course revealed to possess some ruth, having taken all the creatures to his apartment.
Secondary characters – I’ve always wondered what Hastings & Watson thought of Poirot and Holmes making them look like idiots all the time.
(No need to enter my name – commented for fun!)
Poor Drifter! So many people didn’t like him on first glance in DM! But wasn’t that because he was seen through Colin’s eyes as ‘…a bit of a show off’ for arriving very dramatically and in seconds flat during an emergency? It was totally in Colin’s character to think something slightly disparaging about another (good looking) male character, but come on: Drifter was there for a life and death situation, he thought. Unfair, to hold Colin’s assessment against him.
And that has nothing to do with the fact I read “Demon Night” before “Demon Moon” (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it! *g*)
First of all — my apologies, everyone. I just discovered late last night that I was going to be taking my sis-in-law to a doctor’s appointment, and that a huge chunk of my day was going to be offline. And I have to run again soon (gah!) but I promise I’ll be back ASAP.
azteclady — Missy is great! And I haven’t read the book with Lucky … mostly I’m just familiar with that horrid, Pillsbury Doughboy cover. I’m really going to have to catch up on that series.
lori — a sense of humor is one of mine, too — and honestly, I think it is tied very tightly to a self-awareness (especially my favorite type of humor, which runs to the self-deprecating.) I love a character that takes his duties and responsibilities very seriously, but can still laugh at the absurdities of life and at himself.
Meljean, m’dear… the Pillsbury Doughboy cover? That’s what poor Lucky–the most handsome and attractive of them all–ended having for a cover.
You should look at the cover in this page *giggle* (and follow then go here
I agree with azteclady… I like to see growth in the character by the end of the book. It is sad to say that by the end of the book they get their HEA but there was no growth.
Secondary character to get their own story.. Hmmm. one of the reason I read series because many times the secondary characters get their own HEA. Since I got my next In Death book, I’d love to see Peabody get to strike out on her own.
For me, a sense of humor and being able to laugh at yourself is essential. Anyone who reads my reviews knows I mention it ad nauseum. I love me a guy with a sense of humor.
As for a secondary character that I never thought would make it as a hero? I think Magnus from Julianne MacLean’s Portrait of a Lover. Wow – he was some badass material in the previous novel (Love According to Lily), and there was no way he was going to be redeemed. She did it beautifully.
As for a character who needs his own story? Tough, cause these days you know they are all gonna get their own story, right? I don’t know whether to be happy about that or not. There’s almost a sense of disappointment in that, at the same time as a heightened sense of anticipation, if you know what I mean. Right now, the secondary character I’m waiting on the most is Leo from Lisa Kleypas’ Hathaway sibling series.
Can you tell I’m in a historical mood right now, LOL??
Hmm, what trait is essential for me to consider a character hero material? If I had answered this questions some years ago, there are several qualities that would had come to my mind, but at the present, I really can’t say one, because I love antiheroes or unconventional heroes (or heroines) and I have read terrific books with characters that in the past I wouldn’t consider fit to be heroes. So I would say that none, that I can acept heroes or heroines with all kind of flaws, as soon as they redeem themselves at some point.
A secondary character that I really thought would never be a great hero, Wes from Suz Brockmann TDD series. I didn’t find him interesting at all, and I didn’t care about him as hero material, but when I read it, I loved it and he and his books became one of my favorites in the series, go figure!
There are several secondaries characters I would like to have theirs own stories, like Rev from the BDB by J.R.Ward and Christian from the Serpent Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt.
Even though I’m still kinda new to to the Guardians, I can’t wait for Jake. I loved him in Demon Night 😀
Aside from the physical, what trait is essential for you to consider a character hero (or heroine) material?
Integrity – a man without honor really isn’t a man. Is he?
Can you think of a secondary character who you thought would never be a great hero/heroine in their own story, but that surprised you?
I had to really think about this one. The closest I can think of is Shane Chase in Taking Chase by Lauren Dane. When he first showed up in Giving Chase, I was disappointed that he would be next. But he changed my mind.
If you could choose one secondary character from any book to receive their own story, who would it be?
I know it will never come to pass, but I’ve got to say Cat from The Windflower by Laura London. I just loved Cat *sigh* And my sister wants me to tack on Barack and Sindel from Christine Feehan’s Dark series. She says, “Their story isn’t finished yet!” LOL
katiebabs — Michael’s HEA is coming…slowly *evil grin* You might hate me first.
Tracy — Judd was one that blew me away, too. I think he’s my favorite of Nalini’s heroes, actually, because he came SO far. He really was just complete ice, and yet I really believed in his HEA by the close of the novel. That’s a testament to Nalini’s talent, I think.
m. — lol, okay, that really wouldn’t work with Lilith.
It’s funny that you mention Drifter through Colin’s eyes, because that’s actually a lot of what happens, I think. If you’ve got radically different characters, then the perception of the hero/heroine in the previous novel will not be the same as the person the secondary character is paired with in his own novel. So through Hugh’s eyes, Savi is too young and trusting. And although we see that is kind of true in her own novel, we also find out there is much more than that. And Colin seeing Drifter a certain way actually says just as much about Colin as it does Ethan, IMO. Colin is (especially at that point) still too self-centered to think much of anyone else in a positive way … and he’s definitely not going to be thinking about how hot Drifter is.
ellory — I completely agree as well. As much as I love a book with an exciting plot and wonderful twists … there has to be a journey of some sort for the characters, too. If there’s not … well, I’ve read a few entertaining books (and seen a lot of movies) that have no character growth, but those movies aren’t the ones that resonate emotionally. They just seem to exist on the surface.
tasha — YES! And you know, I think that is actually the trait of a real alpha male. To me, the real alpha male isn’t just one who can dominate others — he’s the one who can lead in a way that serves and helps the people he’s leading, and who inspires others not JUST out of fear, but because they recognize that his decisions are for the best of everyone involved.
That doesn’t mean I don’t tolerate some selfishness; I do. And it doesn’t mean that I always want a complete martyr; I don’t. But I always love it when a hero’s purpose (for lack of a better word) is larger than just his own wants and needs.
judi — I think that Z was a character like Judd for me, too. Not that he was completely closed off from his emotions, but that he was SO damaged. To see him come so far was just wonderful to read, and so affecting.
willaful — I can handle an indifferent vibe for a while, especially if we see cracks in his armor (and I think this is where scenes from his point-of-view are essential.) But I agree with you; I want so much to BELIEVE that a hero cares for the heroine. I don’t just want to be told at the end that he loves her. And whether that love and care is a slow, gradual change (maybe tied to his character growth) or a shot out of the blue, I have to believe it or the romance simply doesn’t work for me.
And by the end of the novel, I want him so freaking in love with the woman that he can’t live without her. Otherwise … well, why read romance? 😀
juliet — you know, I find that interesting because it says to me that the trait you are looking for is a real flaw (and by that I mean his “flaw” is not that he is too good of a warrior, and he is SO SCARY on the battlefield). Antiheroes have them, and so do most unconventional heroes.
One of the things that irritates me sometimes (not just in romance; with characters in general) is when we are told a character has a huge problem or flaw to overcome … but it’s not really so terrible. It reminds me of someone in a job interview, when you ask, “what are your weaknesses?” and they say, “I’m a little too punctual” or “I’m a little too anal about making sure everything is perfect!” I want some real flaws, and something that the character truly has to fight (or accept and use) in order to reach his HEA.
jennifer — ah, Cat! I think Cat must be the most requested “needs a story!” character in romance 😀
I have to hide my head and say that I haven’t read the Windflower, eek! As long as I’ve been reading romance, I’ve never gotten my hands on a copy. Maybe I should try to join that book tour that’s going around? *grin*
As to your first answer — I can only nod, “yes”. And that is one of the questions I’m exploring for the next Guardian novel: my hero doesn’t lack integrity, but he sometimes mistakes pride for honor. He’s going to learn the difference … and he’s going to learn it on his own (with, of course, a little help *cough*kick in the ass*cough* from his heroine.)
Hmmmm. The one trait, that’s a tough one. Self-awareness is a really good answer, but maybe not visceral enough. Honor? well, yes, but I have read an awful lot of romances where the hero does stupid things to his relationship in the name of honor, so not sure that always works for me. Sense of humor is one of those things that always works for me IRL, but I’m not sure it’s enough on its own.
All up, I think it’s chemistry with the heroine. Whatever it is that makes him unique is the thing that makes him perfect for her, and vice versa. And that indefinable click. The conviction, as a reader, that the two are utterly perfect for each other. You know?
I think I’m always willing to give a secondary character a chance, especially if I love an author.
Secondary characters that deserve their own story… hmmm. These days, it’s almost a given that interesting secondary characters will get their own. Bourne’s Adrien is right up there, for sure. From a really recent read, Lucien from Kendra Leigh Castle’s Dark Highland Fire intrigued me immediately. That’s all I’ve got for now. 😉
No need to enter me in the contest, I already have my copy — just wanted to join in the fun!
Aside from the physical, what trait is essential for you to consider a character hero (or heroine) material? Faithfullness. I can forgive a lot in the characters I read but not infidelity.
Can you think of a secondary character who you thought would never be a great hero/heroine in their own story, but that surprised you? Zadist from BDB.
If you could choose one secondary character from any book to receive their own story, who would it be? Actually, I think Nadine from the In Death series would be great in a series of her own.