Hi, Jana,
Thanks so much for having me pay a return visit to your enchanting blog. I was just there a few weeks ago, promoting my reunion trilogy, Vengeance Is Mine.
Since much of VIM involves the lead characters exacting revenge on the bullies who tormented them back in the day, I decided to talk in general about secondary characters and their worth to a story.
Instead of boring your readers with the same characters from Vengeance, I decided to go to some of my favorite books, movies and TV shows. In particular, I thought about those which I often go back and revisit whenever I need a day to veg out or recuperate from a grinding physical event.
It came to me that secondary characters add color without claiming the whole palate. They follow because they chose not to lead. They often add comic relief. In my world, if a man [or woman] doesn't make me laugh, I don't want to spend a lot of time with them. They support the lead character without assuming control.
They are memorable without the need to win the prize for Best Actor.
So . . . without further ado, I ask where would
Walt Longmire be without Henry Standing Bear.
Raylan Givens without Boyd Crowder
Brenda Leigh Johnson without Louie Provenza & Andy Flynn
Benny Rosato without Mary DiNunzio
And, last but certainly not least, Stephanie Plum without Lula
Thanks for having me, Jana. This has been fun because you made me think. That's always a challenge!
Kat
Vengeance Is Mine, a contemporary romantic trilogy by Kat Henry Doran
Blurb:
Ever think about going back to study hall to face down the school bully?
The mean girls?
The brainless jocks who made your life a pure misery?
For Dru Horvath, gypsy orphan turned Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist; Rafe Archangeli, Scourge of Summerville who now heads a multi-million dollar trust; and Fiona “Fat Aggie” Thorpe who recreated herself into an A-list model with her own A-list agency, the opportunity to exact revenge is too good to pass up.
Will they find the vengeance they crave?
Or something more valuable?
An excerpt from The List, featuring Mick and Fiona Thorpe:
Frustrated with the holdup, Fee glanced around for points of entry, hoping she'd be able to spot Dru the second she entered the ballroom.
A hand on her arm claimed her attention; Rafe Archangeli leaned close. “Here comes someone you should meet.”
Without taking her eyes off the entry door, she murmured, “Who?”
“Last year's Eastman winner and a helluva of a nice guy.”
“Where?”
“There. Coming toward us.”
One nano-second later all thoughts of revenge left Fee's mind like steam escaping a kettle.
The weathered appearance of his face announced he'd lived ten times over. Thick gold hair flecked with gray grazed the collar of his suit jacket. Broad through the shoulders and chest, narrow at the waist and hips, he had the long legged grace of a broken field runner.
Moving across the parquet floor as if born to a runway, he carried himself with an innate confidence. Without disrupting that fluid stride, he undid his tie before shrugging out of the suit jacket which he slung over one shoulder with the tip of his index finger.
She'd almost given up finding a man so perfect.
This one had The Look.
To purchase Vengeance Is Mine, go to:
www.CreateSpace.com/6269528
www.Amazon.com/dp/1533214514
www.Amazon.ca/dp/1533214514
www.Amazon.co.uk/dp/1533214514
www.Amazon.de/dp/1533214514
www.Amazon.es/dp/1533214514
www.Amazon.fr/dp/1533214514
www.Amazon.it/dp/1533214514
Author bio:
Kat Henry Doran lives in western New York State with her husband, three children, four grandchildren and assorted cats, dogs, rabbits and fish. A retired nurse and occasional advocate for the disadvantaged, she now devotes her free time--what there is of it--to designing and creating tote bags and aprons, writing the stories she loves to read and spending as much time as possible with the four brightest lights in her life: Meredith and Owen, Kieran and Ashlin.
To learn more about Kat and the stories she creates, go to:
Blog: www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com
www.ApronsWithAttitude2.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WildWomenAuthors
Pinterest: www.Pinterest.com/KatHenryDoran
This is so terrific!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me run my mouth about some of my favorite characters: those who add spice to the lives of heroes and heroines.
Thanks, Jana. You're a pal.
Kat
I'm very happy to have you, Kat!
DeleteOh I love secondary characters. They flesh out the storyline and are usually a lot of fun to hang around with while learning essential things about the main character. Good luck with your book!
ReplyDeleteSecondary characters can be so much fun! I love it when the author uses them to provide the humor in the story. Nice post! Enjoyed reading!
ReplyDeleteSecondary characters can be the difference between a good story and a great one.
ReplyDeleteSecondary characters add richness and reality to a story. I love the ones that provide comedy, too.
ReplyDelete