My Kind of Heroine: The Perfect Heroine? by Emma Kaye #Romance #Anthology

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:

Amazon

Kobo

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/emmakayewrites

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/emma-kaye

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/emmakayewrites