B. J. Daniels:
I think the reason I love Regina
"Reggie" Holland in my Oct 2004 Intrigue COWBOY ACCOMPLICE is that I've
been in her shoes. When faced with a challenge I tend to leap in and not consider the
consequences either. I love heroines who go after what they want. Of course, that often
means trouble. For Reggie it begins with her coming to Montana to find the perfect cowboy
for a national jeans commercial that will either make or break the company. How hard could
it be to find a cowboy in Montana?
The thing is, Reggie needs the perfect cowboy
posterior -- and she finds it in J.T. McCall. Except the last thing J.T. wants is his
"south end" on national TV. So of course Reggie finagles the camp cook job on
J.T.'s cattle drive determined to change his mind. Did I mention Reggie can't cook? And
there is a killer in camp?
Delores Fossen:
Because I'm a former military officer, I want
my Intrigue heroines to be capable of protecting themselves and others. That doesn't mean
they can't rely on the hero to save them every now and then. :) I also want the heroines
to have vulnerabilities that make them reach out to the heroes. I think one of the
heroines that personifies this is Ashley Palmer from my Nov 2004 Intrigue, SANTA
ASSIGNMENT. Ashley is a tough criminal defense attorney with a crazed stalker after
her. She not only risks her heart but her life to help the hero and his son.
Rita Herron:
Since I tend to write “women in
jeopardy” stories, I have to really walk a fine line with this one. I want my
heroine to be tough, strong, independent, and fight for her beliefs, her man and her
life. At the same time, she has to be vulnerable, flawed (like a real woman) who has
found herself in some bizarre situation where she is forced to accept help/protection from
the big, strong hero.
If she’s too independent she might
fall into the “stupid-heroine syndrome”, yet she can’t let the hero run all
over her. Ultimately, she is usually the insightful one who sees that the big, dark
brooding hero really has a heart, albeit a wounded one. He might save her life, but
in the end, she saves him from a life without love.
My upcoming Nov 2004 gothic Intrigue, THE
MAN FROM FALCON RIDGE, is a perfect example of both my favorite hero and heroine!
Linda O. Johnston:
My favorite kind of heroine is one who is
independent, a bit feisty, and brave yet realistic when facing danger. She knows she
can do just fine without a man in her life… yet is open to a relationship if the
right one comes along. I believe Cara Hamilton, the heroine of my Jul 2004 Intrigue LAWFUL
ENGAGEMENT, is a perfect example!
Mallory Kane:
My favorite heroine is the woman who is gutsy
and determined, even if she is scared to death. She personifies courage, because she is
brave in spite of her fear. Allie Barnes, the heroine in A PROTECTED WITNESS, Nov
2004, survived the murderous intent of her attacker months before, and now, she will not
stop until she finds him. Trouble is, she has amnesia about the specifics of the attack.
So she must rely on the hero to help her. She holds her own though, and not only solves
the mystery of the killer, but finds true love along the way. Who could ask for more?
Sylvie Kurtz:
My favorite type of heroine is one who,
through the course of the story, discovers her personal power. An accident has
injured Olivia Falconer in HEART OF A HUNTER, Apr 04, permanently stealing
her memory. She feels she is no one and has no use—until she discovers that she
can be whoever she wants and molds herself into an integral part of the life she wants
with her husband.
Rory Cates in MASK OF A HUNTER, May
04, learns that trusting herself and her instincts can open up a whole new, richer world
for her. Christi Lawrence in A ROSE AT MIDNIGHT, Jan 05 learns that facing
her fears instead of running from them will give her the confidence to create the future
she wants, rather than be stuck with the one she inherited.
Kara Lennox:
My favorite type of heroine is smart, tough,
but still feminine. She isn't afraid to face off with the bad guy--but she isn't
foolhardy, either. She relies on ingenuity rather than brawn to get her out of
sticky situations.
Shelby Dorset from BOUNTY HUNTER
REDEMPTION, Oct 04, is that sort of heroine. She comes from a rich family and
could have done anything, but she chose to work as a parole officer where she could help
the people who needed it most. She meets hardened felons every day, yet she indulges
in a passion for spike-heeled shoes. And when the bad guy has her tied up, she
doesn't wait to be rescued but uses her yoga training to maneuver herself out of her
bonds.
Dana Marton:
My favorite type of heroine is a woman who
has inner strength and not someone who is just waiting around for a man to show up in her
life to 'rescue' her. Nicola Barrington, in my Oct 04 release SHADOW SOLDIER, would
be a good example. She had to deal with the death of her mother from cancer. Her father is
a senator and she could comfortably live off daddy's influence, but she's fiercely
independent and creates a separate life for herself that includes a successful
career.
When she is attacked by masked
assassins and must trust a secret government operative to keep her protected, she is smart
enough to know she needs the help and she accepts it. But she takes responsibility for her
own safety and plays an active role in defeating the men who are out to destroy not only
her, but countless others as well.
Julie Miller:
My favorite heroine is a lot like
myself--more sure of her work and goals and calling in life than she is, perhaps, of her
own attractiveness and relationship skills. She's gotta be smart. She's probably a little
quirky, she has a sense of humor, she cares about things deeply and can get hurt easily
(though she won't always show it). And she'll fight like crazy to protect the people she
loves.
Kelsey Ryan, the psychic police consultant
who breaks a serial murder case wide open in my upcoming Intrigue, THE PRECINCT:
PARTNER-PROTECTOR, Jan 05, is a lot more quirky than I am, and probably takes more
risks than I would--but the motivation is the same. She believes she's doing the right
thing by getting involved in a dangerous investigation. In Kelsey's case, specifically,
she's keeping a promise to her grandmother--and to a woman she's never even met.
Ann Voss Peterson:
I love a heroine who is a fighter.
Whether she is fighting to protect her child, establish her career or save her man, the
stakes are high and the pitfalls deep. But she has the grit and determination she
needs to hang in there and get the job done. This description could probably apply
to most heroines I've written, but the ones that come to mind when I think about heroines
who are fighters are Jacqueline Schettler in HIS WITNESS, HER CHILD, Jun 01, Risa
Madsen in ACCESSORY TO MARRIAGE, Jan 02, and Alyson Fitzroy in CLAIMING HIS
FAMILY, Mar 03.
Also look for two such heroines in my
upcoming stories, DESERT SONS, Apr 05, and MARITAL PRIVILEGE, also in 2005!
Kelsey Roberts:
I think a strong hero needs a strong
heroine. Having said that, there's a fine line to straddle so that the hero and
heroine work together during the course of the book. It's always best if they have
completely different approaches to problem solving because it heightens the tension.
Additionally, I think forcing a character to act outside of their comfort zone enhances
the story.
In CHASING SECRETS, Apr 05,
Victoria DeSimone is forced to do a lot of things she wouldn't ordinarily do in order to
save herself and Clayton Landry. She does the legally wrong thing for the right
reasons and brings skills to the situation that contrast and compliment Clayton's.
As with many of the heroines I write, Victoria is independent and focused and while those
are good qualities, they are also form the skeleton of her weaknesses.
Patricia Rosemoor:
I loved Detective Stella (Star) Jacobek
from VELVET ROPES, Jul 04. Star is loyal to a fault -- she's determined
to prove the hero (someone who "saved" her in the past) is -not- guilty of
murder. Along the way, I get to show how tough she is. She can swallow her
fear and deal with anything. She is relentless. The great thing is that my
editor loved her so much, she wanted me to write a Bombshell with an equally
single-minded, tough heroine. Watch for Detective Shelly Caldwell in HOT CASE,
Dec 04.
Dani Sinclair:
My heroines all tend to be strong,
self-reliant women who do what has to be done despite their fears and uncertainties.
Melanie Richards is a perfect example. In SECRET CINDERELLA, Feb 05, there is
little this determined heroine won't do - to the hero's profound consternation. A
pickpocket, a thief, and a short order cook, Mel's a realist with a wry sense of humor and
a strong sense of family. She doesn't expect Prince Charming to ride to her rescue. Mel's
more than willing to try and get the job done herself. It takes an equally strong,
determined hero to win her trust - and her heart.
Debra Webb:
I love the strong heroines who are equals to
the heroes. My all time favorite from my works so far is Nicole Reed, PROTECTIVE
CUSTODY, Apr 2001. Even when I'm not writing a kick-butt heroine I always strive
to make the women in my books strong in some way that contrasts the hero's
strengths. Maybe he's cynical and certain he wants nothing else to do with love and
she's ever the optimistic and convinced that love is just around the next corner. I
love women who take charge when the need arises and who, despite whatever quirky
characteristics I may have given them, can make a weapon out of a bottle of perfume and a
tube of lipstick.
Gayle Wilson:
My favorite type of heroine typifies the
Intrigue line. I love woman who takes an active role in the situation, whether it's
in mentally solving the mystery or in physically confronting the bad guys or both.
Obviously, I love strong women characters, which is why I love writing for Intrigue.
Cara Simonson, the heroine of my Oct 04 release, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, discovers the
key that leads to the resolution of the villain's identity. She also is at the
hero's side during the final confrontation. She actually saves the life of this very
experienced Phoenix agent--exactly the kind of partner a formerly lone-wolf type tough guy
needs! That's absolutely typical of the women you'll find in Intrigues and why I
love to write them.
Rebecca York:
I write stories about men and women falling
in love against a backdrop of danger and tension. And my strong heroines are never
fraid to go toe to toe with the tough but wounded heroes I love. In my books, my
heroine is as likely to rescue my hero as visa versa.
Morgan Kirkland, in my February 05
Intrigue, SPELLBOUND, is a good example. She and her husband were covert
agents. After he was killed in the line of duty, she stopped caring about her own
safety and began taking dangerous assignments--including moving to the Louisiana estate of
Andre Gascon in order to find out who is leaving bodies in the bayou and trying to pin the
crimes on him. Even before she reaches the estate, she's drawn into a web of
supernatural terror. But she's up to the challenge of saving herself and saving
Andre from the voodoo curse that has plagued his family since before he was born.
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