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Heroines Who Can Hold Their OwnI love heroines who stand up for themselves. Wilting violets, screaming helpless women pursued by the monster, shy and demure virgins, they’ve never been my cup of tea (with a few notable exceptions, the primary being the heroine in Rebecca, who grew out of it). No, when I’m writing, my heroines need guts, they have courage, they’re sexual and passionate, and even though they have more faults than is safe for them to have, they’re willing to dive in and do what’s necessary to get the job done.That’s one of the things I love about urban fantasy—it’s a playground for strong female characters and I love diving right in to the midst. Now, don’t get me wrong—I don’t want any character who’s invincible, who doesn’t have some sort of faults and flaws. I never liked Superman—I always preferred Batman and Spiderman, both of whom were cloaked in shadow and who could be killed. I love Lara Croft of the Tomb Raider movies and Sarah Conner from the Terminator movies. They are both capable of being hurt, but strong enough to fight back.Sometimes my female characters are the ones who save the day, sometimes it takes the whole Scooby Gang to bring things home in my books. Once in a while they need rescued but it’s not an ongoing theme. My characters get hurt, they get knocked around by werespiders, they get beat up by Rāksasas, they get clawed by acid-blooded hell hounds, they get smacked around by big assed snake demons, but at the end of the day, they’ve given as good as they got.I’ve been through a background of abuse myself, both in childhood and then, a relationship that lasted far too long ending up with me getting beat up after nine years of emotional abuse. I learned that the only way to stop abuse is to stand up for yourself and say “No, I will not let you do this any longer.”So my characters follow suit. In the Otherworld Series, Camille, Delilah, and Menolly D’Artigo are half-human, half-Fae sisters who, while their powers fritz in and out, never waver in their determination to take on the demons coming their way. They—and their group of lovers and friends—routinely face danger in order to make a safer place for the rest of the world. Sometimes it requires careful planning and sneaking around, sometimes it calls for diving headfirst into battle.And in my new series, the Indigo Court Series, you’ll find that Cicely Waters grew up on the streets, she learned how to keep herself alive and over the course of Night Myst, the first book, she learns to do what’s necessary to fight an ancient evil that’s emerging once again to the light. She begins her evolution into a character who won’t flinch when she’s facing the monsters in the dark.So tell me, what about you guys? Who are your heroines from film, TV, and books? What are your favorite scenes that epitomize the strength women can wield? (And yes, strength is both an inner and outer quality). Drop me a comment and three people (US/Canada only, please) will each receive a copy of Witchling, the first book in my Otherworld Series from my publisher.Bright Blessings, Yasmine Galenorn
New York Times bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy for Berkley: both the bestselling Otherworld/Sisters of the Moon Series for Berkley and the upcoming Indigo Court urban fantasy series. In the past, she wrote mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, and nonfiction metaphysical books. Her books have hit the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists numerous times.
Yasmine has been in the Craft for over 30 years, is a shamanic witch, and describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos. She lives in Bellevue WA with her husband Samwise and their cats. Yasmine can be reached via her website at www.galenorn.com
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A woman after my own heart! I adore strong heroines and I’m glad to know there are authors out there keeping them alive. Contest ends Tuesday, June 15 at 11:59 p.m. Be sure to comment before then! And don’t miss Night Myst
I like the stong heroines in urban fantasy. I enjoyed reading about the sisters in the Otherworld series. I can’t wait for Night Myst to come out.
Don’t include me in the giveaway. I have all the books in the Otherworld series.
I love the women of the Otherworld Series. Menolly is my favorite. I also adore Mercedes Thompson from Patricia Briggs. She is an awesome, strong woman (wolf). I’m not much of a movie person. But I do like the independent women of Sex and the City. I’d love to be entered in the drawing for your books.
Jeanette
I’m generally allergic to first person, but your heroines are exactly the type of heroine I love. Strong, but not hard-ass. Now I’m going to have to break my rule…which won’t be hard!
Great post.
I love Laura Croft as a strong female character from a movie. I adore Claire Fraser from Gabaldon’s Outlander series. She is a strong woman no matter when she is. LOL!
I love strong heroines. And ones that can kick some butt. But; also maybe be funny and sexy. In film I like Alice from Resident Evil. Lora Croft & Sarah Conner are great ones. I like the way Sarah is willing to go through anything to save her son. From tv I would say Buffy the vampire slayer. And books I just starting reading urban fantasy books so I can’t really name any. I love your books covers and your stories sound really great. Wonderful interview.
Sue B
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
Other than your heroines, I love Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson, and Lori Handeland’s Elizabeth Phoenix.
I love Keri Arthur’s Riley Jenson, Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse, and Jeaniene Frost’s Cat Crawfield, they’re all strong, kick-ass women with a softer side when it comes to their men. In movies I enjoyed Kate Beckensale’s character in Underworld.
Love strong heroines. Ridley from Alien movies, but she’s not romantic, is she? 😀
Yes, it’s strong heroines for me, unless if they start out wimpy, they learn and grow through the book.
Posters here have already mentioned many of my favourites. I also love Eve Dallas from the In Death series by J D Robb. She’s a toughie but sometimes shows a soft inside…only sometimes though…hehe!!!
Valerie
valb0302@yahoo.com
in Germany
I like strong heroines in urban fantasy that struggle with passion. A good fight scene is great but I love the internal battles as well. Delilah had this going on with Chase, and I’m glad they are working on it. (even though he really made me mad!) I cant wait to see what happens in her next book, she’s growing so powerful while growing up at the same time.
Some other fav heroines are in Lara Adrians and JR Wards novels. They turn the big strong men into putty. They all fought hard for each other and opened up a new world inside of themselves.
we associate and so I think of the sisters (otherworld) first… but you prolly don’t want us to limit sooo…..
heroines from film
Megan Bloomfield in But I’m a Cheerleader because she has to overcome environmental training to challenge everything.
heroines from TV
Peyton in Make It or Break It because she loses everything and with so much in her way (herself even) still pushes through.
and heroines from books
Mercy (Patricia Briggs), because she defies stereotypes and categories.
my favorite heroines are buffy, ridley, lara croft, sarah connor, and kate beckinsale’s underworld character (can’t remember her name at the moment). from books, i like mercy thompson, riley jenson, sookie stackhouse and cat. i’ll probably think of more later! 🙂
k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com
I love a strong, independen heroine. One of my favourites are Ilona Andrew´s Kate Daniels, Mercy(Patricia Briggs) and Gin Blanco (Jennifer Estep), just to name the Top 3. By the way awesome giveaway!
i like strong female caracters two and it makes the young girls of to day know that thay can stand up for them selfs and fight for what thay want.
sasluvbooks(at)yahoo.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
The abundance of amazingly strong and sassy heroines found in urban fantasy is why I fell in love with the genre.
jax1204[at]gmail[dot]com
The first heroine that honestly inspired me was Pakksinarrion from Elizabeth Moon’s Sheepfarmer’s Daughter trilogy. There’s a tough chick that kept on going, and didn’t have to become some heartless genderless beast in order to be a hero. That was inspirational to a girl like me that grew up just a couple of blocks away from the ‘hood.
In addition to fictional heroines, a real life heroine for me was my school’s librarian. She was always encouraging me to read and better myself. Even after some kid on steroids snapped her arm, she still came back to work every day and encouraged kids to read.
^_^ Awesome contest!
My favorite heroine has been Kate from Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels series. She’s talented, kick-ass, and still compassionate. I love Lara Croft too. Thanks for the contest, I love fierce heroines!
Nicole
GlydeNicole@Gmail.com
I adore strong heroines. I, usually, feel like slapping TSTL heroines. I much prefer strong, independent heroines.
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
I can’t wait to read this book!
I love a good heroine!
DanielleBull@gmail.com
I, too, am a fan of Mercy Thompson (by Patricia Briggs). She has to be tough, not so much that she is a woman, but that she shape-shifts into a coyote and the shifters in her life are werewolves and thus much, much stronger than she.
Oops, forgot my email:
cories119 [at] yahoo [dot] com