Kylie Brant is visiting Book Binge today. The newest book in her Mindhunter series, Deadly Intent is out on November 2nd and it’s awesome!!
To a writer, people are endlessly fascinating. Every single one of us, no matter how mundane our lives or routines. Whether it be our utter predictability, our opinions, or experiences, each of us always has some trait or quality that could wind up in a book someday. Because people are unique,so must our characters be. What formed us, what shaped our attitudes and beliefs, what caused our fears, fed our flaws is infinitely intriguing. It’s been said that nothing bad ever happens to a writer—it’s all material :).
Reviewers often mention my characters when they summarize the plot, and I take pride in that. Because for me, the characters are the story. If I don’t care about the story people, a writer can’t get me to stick around for the twists and turns in even the most compelling plot. I want to invest in the story people. And I don’t want them thrown under a bus at the end.
It’s been said that my heroines are always a bit damaged, and I guess that’s true. Trauma shapes us, often dramatically. And what emerges in a person from a tragedy is what I find truly interesting. Regardless of how objective a character strives to be, he or she still sees the world through their own unique filter. And often responding to the events of the plot is made harder because of the personal obstacles the characters have to overcome.That’s certainly the case in DEADLY INTENT. As a forensic linguist, Macy Reid is very familiar with the patterns and nuances of language. As a former kidnap victim, she’s all too aware of the tragic consequences of that experience. So she’s uniquely qualified to be placed on the team looking for an eleven-year-old girl who has been kidnapped—for the second time.
She and fellow Mindhunter consultant Kellan Burke work with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation on a race against the clock to find Ellie Mulder before the madman holding her can carry out his threats. The case brings up uncomfortable memories of Macy’s own past. But it’s Kell who causes the most discomfort. After the one night they’d spent together months ago, she’s found him impossible to forget. Paired together on the investigation, he’s impossible to ignore. And so are the feelings he ignites inside her.
What are your favorite type of characters to read about? The kind who make you root for them to the bitter end? Is there any specific sort of character that you won’t read?
We have one copy of Deadly Intent to giveaway! Leave a comment with your answer to Kylie’s question(s) for your chance to win. Ends 11/4 @ 11:59pm.
This book sounds really good. Your a new author for me and I’d love to get my hands on this. I love finding characters that I am rooting for till the end. Though I also like to be surprised and have read a few books where I have been disgusted and turned off by the hero only to have my mind totally turned around and find myself loving him towards the end. I love a bad misunderstood bad boy and being unaware of a charcters intentions only to find out that underneath all these walls they have put up is an amazing person
june111@att.net
Jolene, you’re not alone! In this book, Macy has long been tempted by Kell, but it wasn’t until she discovered the man beneath the wise-cracking colleague that she finds him irresistible 🙂
I like characters I can root for ’till the end. I like them to have at least some redeeming qualities.
chey127 at hotmail dot com
I like the tortured hero and a heroine who is strong.
I dont like to ready about charactes who are unreal and dont like whiny, stupid heroines nor a hero who treats the heroine really badly in the beginning of the book.
Pat L.
I will read about almost any character as long as they are not TSTL.
Pat, I like the dark tortured heroes, too. I think it’s because when the heroine makes a difference, helps him start to heal, it feels like a deeper relationship between the two of them, a HEA we can believe in.
Estella–TSTL is instant wall banger status for me too!
Deadly Intent sounds fascinating.
I enjoy characters that are facing a challenge, especially if it’s in their personal life.
I don’t like characters that are self centered or as Estella mentioned – TSTL.
I had to read the The Bad Seed by William March in HS. I was very young and naive at the time and I threw the book across the room when I finished it(Luckily it was a paperback.) Now I understand that it was the perfect ending but back then it very frustrating, to this day I want a fairly satisfying ending.
I really enjoy your writing.
Joyce, I’m with you. My frustrating reads were in grad school when I was force fed Saul Bellow 🙁 Hated his stories, hated his characters. Didn’t care if they got hit by a bus at the end! I want characters I can root for. And while I don’t care if ‘justice’ doesn’t come in a nice neat bow (life is rarely neat) I do want a satisfying conclusion.
I like characters with courage and fortitude. I don’t like characters who are deliberately mean and who demean others with their actions.
Rory, those characters are certainly the ones that have us rooting for them!
Jane, that’s what makes for a satisfying ending, doesn’t it?
realistic characters. That you just know would be great friends. Kind, caring, strong, courageous.
Those are the ones I route for
Hi Kylie !!
you are one of my favorite authors 🙂 love your works.
i’ve been waiting to read your next book *fingers crossed*
my favorite, tortured heros/heroines, that will find HE at their end of the book.
uniquas at ymail dot com
Congrats on the upcoming release, Kylie. I do love reading about tortured heroes and heroines who you want to find the happiness they deserve.
DonnaS–exactly. We want to be able to root for the characters, to emotionally invest in them. That’s why we scream if an author kills one of them off!
Hi Mariska–good to ‘see’ you here! Good luck with the drawing and hope you like the newest book!
I really enjoyed the three previous books in this series so I’m looking forward to this new one. I like characters who aren’t perfect, who have made mistakes and learned from them. So, the opposite bores me, the perfect person. I don’t want to read about a beautiful, smart, poised heroine who everyone loves.
Maureen, I’m with you. In real life, I don’t trust those ‘perfect’ people…I figure they must be hiding something!
Hi Kylie,
I would really love to read your newest book “Deadly Intent” since I love the cover and this is one of my favorite genres!
My favorite characters I root for are the tortured hero who is redeemed by love of a women. I also root for ones that I can really care to find out what happens to them and really want them to have a Happily Ever After!
Hi Kylie 😉
Would love to read your book, I have not had the pleasure yet of reading any of your work, but this looks very interesting.. I enjoy a tough male character, who is handsome and is mellowed down by love of a woman,, I dont llike the women to be to whingeee, or needy,, I think in the end we all like to have that happily ever after in our romances and thrillers..
have added you to my tbr pile 😉
Thanks
Katrina
kittee_cat@bigond.com