GREETINGS FROM THE LAND OF THE FAE AND OTHER MYTHICAL BEINGS

Hi everyone, Halloween is almost upon us and there will be an assortment of creatures, I’m sure, making the rounds.  Creatures that you our authors create.  How cool is that?

Characters come in all shapes and sizes, different cultures, unique mannerisms, and with some of the characters we see on the Faery Rose line, they have their on unique physical DNA. It is up to the individual author to create a hero, heroine, and secondary characters, as well as a villain who will draw a reader’s attention and keep it throughout the book.

As an editor and an avid reader, I can tell you if the characters are not up to par, you will lose my interest completely. I want the hero and heroine to pop out of the book, even if they might be beta characters and not alpha.  I as well as a reader want to get inside the characters heads, know their needs, their desires, and their overall insight into what is happening in the plot.

That is why it is important to have a good grasp of Point of View, and to make sure your hero, heroine, and all the cast stay in character throughout the book. When they do something that is totally off for them there should be a good reason. A hero who is quiet and keeps his thoughts close to his chest would not go off on a talkative spiel. Now that is not to say he might not in an emotional moment yell, rage, stomp, or anything else the male population might do when upset.  You see what I mean? You are showing your reader that this character is human and will act out of character when hurt, provoked, worried, or when injured.

Be true to your characters. Don’t twist them in ways they don’t want to go.  I can assure you it will backfire on you.  An author I know was writing a scene from the heroine’s point of view and it stalled out.  She changed to the hero’s and it moved into sync with the rest of the book.  Remember these are creatures, characters, and plots you create, but you have an obligation to your readers to make sure you deliver the goods when it comes to giving them what they want. 

So write to your heart’s content but be true to your characters and your readers. You will find yourself less likely to pull your hair out.

Amanda Barnett/Senior Editor/Faery Rose.