Thanks for having me here today, Melissa. It’s always a pleasure to
visit The Snarkology.
Is there any such thing as the perfect heroine? Or is the concept
of perfect like beauty—in the eye of the beholder?
When I started writing my first novel, my heroine was perfect. That
lady could do anything. She was smart, beautiful, courageous—she could stowaway
on a Regency era merchant ship, not shower for weeks, and come out smelling
like a rose. Yikes, she was annoying.
That didn’t last. Thankfully, I came to my senses and she
eventually became real to me. (Bathing was actually necessary when she wanted
to get clean. She wanted to do the right thing, but doubted whether she was
capable. Some of her actions were a bit hasty, but she did the best she could.
She had to get past her insecurities in order to overcome the challenges her
story threw her way.
How the character faces those challenges is what makes a heroine
work for me. I like to read about someone who’s not always sure about herself,
who doesn’t always know what to do or say at any given moment, but deals with
that and moves forward. She doesn’t sit around and cry, waiting for someone to
do everything for her. She has to work hard for her happily ever after, but she
doesn’t shrink from the challenge.
In my latest story, LOSING PATIENCE, my heroine doesn’t realize
she’s been given a second chance, but she responds to the time-traveling hero
and goes after what she wants. She’s a little nervous, a little scared, but she
doesn’t let that stop her.
What do you think? Do you like to see that vulnerable side to the
heroine, or do you only want to see her tough exterior?
Title: Timeless Treasures: Stories of the Heart (My story within the
anthology is called Losing Patience)
Publisher: Timeless Scribes Publishing
Date Published: October 15, 2014 (Available for Pre-Order)
Genre: Romance Short Story Anthology
Word Count: 60,000
Buy links:
A special wish of hope, strength, and love brings five couples what
they treasure most in this heartwarming collection of short stories.
Ruth A. Casie ~ Whispers on the Wind
A newly minted knight plans to secure his place in his adoptive family
through marriage. But the fates have other plans for him. Will he be willing to
give up the life he’s always wanted to be with the woman he loves?
Lita Harris ~ Trusting Kindness
Former lovers are reunited one winter night on a boardwalk at the
Jersey Shore. Will a common cause reignite their passion or extinguish it
forever?
Emma Kaye ~ Losing Patience
When a wish sends a man back in time, can he save the woman he
loves, or is he doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past?
Nicole S. Patrick ~ The Colors of Courage
Can a midnight kiss on New Year’s Eve lead a US Marine and struggling
artist toward more than they’d ever dreamed of for the future?
Julie Rowe ~ Medal of Honor
When a Chicago surgeon is informed her homeless father has been
murdered, she’s shocked to discover he won the Medal of Honor years ago in
Vietnam. Now the killer has her in his sights, but the detective on the case
has no intention of letting anyone hurt her. Ever.
Emma Kaye ~ Losing Patience
Ethan Baxter never had the courage to tell Patience, his best friend,
how much he loved her. So he lost her. First to another man, then again when
she died. When her sister tells him Patience had grown tired of waiting for him
to declare his feelings, he’s overcome with guilt and grief.
The day of her funeral, Ethan finds an amber heart among her treasured
possessions and is transported back in time. It’s a few days before the New
Year’s Eve party where she met the man who would take her away from Ethan and
ruin her life.
Ethan’s been given a second chance and he’s determined not to waste it.
This New Year’s Eve, he’ll be the one winning Patience’s love.
But when the amber heart is lost, his memories begin to fade. Is he
doomed to repeat the mistakes of his past and lose her again? Or can he find a
way to save the woman he’ll always love?
Excerpt:
“You almost done in there,
Precious?” Pep’s voice drifted through the changing room curtain.
He laughed. “Still can’t think of a
nickname for me, huh? You know Precious is never gonna stick.” He stashed the
amber in his jeans pocket and rushed into one of the outfits Pep’d forced on
him.
Her hmph was audible from within the
small confines of the changing room. “No. But someday I’ll come up with
something and you’ll regret giving me mine.”
“Aw, come on. What’s so bad about
Pep? Peppermint patties are your favorite. All I’m saying is that you’re cool,
sweet, and everyone who sees you wants you. What’s wrong with that?”
He swept aside the curtains and
stepped out to model for her. The smile on her face belied the negative shake
of her head. Why had he never noticed the attraction in her eyes? He’d been a
damn fool.
But not this time. This time, things
were going to be different. He knew what the future held and he wasn’t going
back there. Not until he made damn sure Pep was going to be there waiting for
him.
Today was a good start. They were
having a great time and he was setting the foundation for them to get together
at the party. The party was key. That was his moment. Until then, he wanted to
let her know his thoughts weren’t merely friendly.
He crooked his finger to bring her
closer. “I’m getting tired of all this changing. Want to step in here and give
me a hand?”
Author Bio:
Emma Kaye is married to her high school sweetheart and has two
beautiful kids that she spends an insane amount of time driving around central
New Jersey. Before ballet and tennis classes entered her life, she decided to
try writing one of those romances she loved to read and discovered a new
passion. She has been writing ever since. Add in a playful puppy and an
extremely patient cat and she's living her own happily ever after while making
her characters work hard to reach theirs.
Email: jen_m_sampson@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.emma-kaye.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/emmakayewrites
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/emma-kaye
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/emmakayewrites
I love a vulnerable, yet strong heroine, also. As long as she's not too stupid to live, that is. LOL. Enjoyed your post, and your story concept. Best wishes for success!
ReplyDeleteI agree about the too stupid to live. It’s very frustrating when they don’t listen to me yelling at them not to go down the dark alley toward the man leaning over the body. lol
DeleteThanks for commenting.
I like a heroine who's real and relatable. One who stands and fights even though she's terrified. Or a badass heroine who's out of her element and forced to prove she has a soft side. It doesn't matter, because you're absolutely right. Perfect is boring!
ReplyDeleteLovely cover! And lovely excerpt!
I do love reading characters out of their element. So much fun.
DeleteThanks for the compliments! This book was a joy to work on.
I’m enjoying this series, Melissa! Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteHi Emma,
DeleteThank you for participating today, and welcome to the Snarkology. I do believe that you're so very right. Certain well developed flaws are essential to developing a well rounded heroine!