Playing Favorites

With the impending release of Heralds of the Crown: Poison, I thought I'd share a little about the main characters. You can find out more about them on the Character page, of course, but there is a story behind each of them.

Gaultier, the hero, captivated me right off the bat. The whole premise behind Poison started with a single scene and grew from there. I won't tell you which scene, of course, but feel free to ask me sometime after you've read it! Okay, okay, I'll give you a hint. It was a scene between Gaultier and my female lead. I wanted Gaultier to be exotic. Intriguing. With a heartbreaking backstory that would either propel him into darkness or greatness.

Marcella, the female lead, comes from my heart. She portrays my struggle with faith. As she learns more about her past, she begins to doubt her standing with the Crown. Been there, done that, as they say. (Thankfully, we serve a merciful, loving, forgiving God, huh?!)

But my favorite character is the one that is the most complex--Velius. He's done some very wicked things, but returns time and again to find completion in the Crown. He faces a difficult internal battle, and we don't find out until the end of the story which side wins. When I first wrote him, he was a puppet. But as his character whispered little details here and there, I discovered that there was far more to him--just as you will when you read Poison. Once I learned his secret, writing him became such fun in a most dastardly way.

Of course, choosing a favorite character you've created is much like choosing a favorite child. Impossible! All of my characters carry some part of me into the story. I'm dedicated to each one. It reminds me of this scene from Amadeus:

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Now, if I had three heads, I'd really be in trouble! I can't get the one to slow down!

Poison releases on May 16th. Check back here for more details. And watch my Facebook and Twitter feeds for other little tidbits and pieces as the time grows closer!