Guest Author post by C.A. Szarek
We’ve all read that book where we are following the story,
like the story—maybe love it—and then the hero, or even the heroine throws us
for a loop, and we say out loud, “No way.”
That declaration could be anything—they did something
that doesn’t fit the personality they previously presented in the book, was
against their motivations, or just something so plain stupid we roll our eyes.
Depending on what we’re reading, the suspension of
disbelief might be necessary, but sometimes authors take it too far. As a
reader, we’re all pretty discerning, right?
We know what’s “real” and what’s not. What makes sense,
and what doesn’t.
We all like that story we get into it so much it’s like
we’re walking beside the hero or heroine. Talking with them, maybe even doing naughty
things with them, to them? LOL.
The better the characters, the better the read. The
more we crave from that author.
My characters are real to me. They are people who live
in my head. No, really. And no, I don’t have multiple personalities, nor do I need
meds. (I’d like to think anyway).
So how do I make them as real to you, the reader as I
do to me?
Honestly, I’m not sure it a conscious thing for me. I
write them, and the further I go, the further they unfold for me, develop
before my eyes. They tell me what they love and hate, what they are good at.
Every hero and heroine has a “super” power. Something they excel at. Something
to make us admire them.
I think a good character is like a good friend.
We love them, but on the other hand, we get mad at them
sometimes, too. And THAT’S OKAY!
They have flaws, and quirks.
Just like we
do in real life. A perfect character is in essence, far from perfect, and that
right there is why we love them.
A good, believable character presents us with consist
actions, reactions, choices. If they go left-field at any time, for me as a
reader, the author dang-well better give me a credible reason. If not, the book
loses interest for me, and as an author, that’s my biggest fear!
If someone doesn’t finish one book, they won’t pick up
another from that particular author! Books are generally not expensive, right,
but they still cost money!
The deeper we go with characters, the more we
understand them, the more we love them. The more we root for them, we WANT them
to succeed. WANT them to get the girl, the job, hell, even the dog—if that’s
what they want.
I think every writer is different. Some do detailed
character sheets, with everything documented from eye color to middle name.
They jot everything that makes up WHO they’re telling the story about. This is
great, whatever works for you.
Personally, I don’t really know a character until I
start writing them. Getting to know them as the story unfold is what makes my
characters real—for me and the story.
No way is wrong, as long as the characters are real.
What makes a good hero and/or heroine to you?
Collision Control
Crossing Forces #4
Synopsis:
*can be read as a standalone
Detective Jared Manning met his match at a bar. After a night of passion, she sneaks out of his bed without so much as a note. Problem is, now he can’t find her. Kindergarten teacher Melody Nash doesn’t do one night stands. Embarrassment gets the best of her and she lies about her name. When they collide at her school, Mel resists his pull. She won’t risk her heart on the obvious playboy, even though she can’t stop thinking about the night in his arms.
Stress engulfs both Jared’s personal and professional life. His brother is at the centre of the joint case he and his partner are working in cooperation with FBI. He puts his job on the line when he fails to share his blood relation—a complication he doesn’t need, considering the FBI agent on the case is convinced his brother killed her fiancé. Balance is the name of the game.
Can Jared save his brother and convince Mel they’re meant to be together?
Reader advisory: This book contains references to past sexual abuse and rape that happened when the character was a child.
BuyLinks:
Amazon / B&N / iTunes
Author Bio & Links
Bestselling, award winning author of romantic suspense and epic fantasy romance, C.A. loves to dabble in different genres. If it's a good story, she'll write it, no matter where it seems to fit! She's a hopeless romantic and always will be. Risking it all for Happily Ever After is what she lives by!
C.A. is originally from Ohio, but got to Texas as soon as she could. She's happily married and has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. She works with kids when she's not writing.
Contact CA at
Website: www.caszarek.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/caszarek
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caszarek
Previous books in the series
Collision Force #1
Amazon: http://goo.gl/1iqOfz
Chance Collision #2
Amazon: http://goo.gl/NHZJMK
Calculated Collision #3
Amazon: http://goo.gl/A2962h
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