I like to give readers a preview of a character whose
story will be coming up either next or somewhere close down the line in my
Wildings series. I want to give them enough about an upcoming character to make
them familiar with the character and maybe even know a flaw or weakness in the
character’s personality to get the reader’s attention. Occasionally, I’ll even
set up a tiny piece to show the reader a situation with the new character that
may cause the character pain or shed light on a danger or problem they face.
I’ve noticed how some of my favorite authors introduce
characters, especially family members, in a story previous to their own that
gives an indication of their personality, flaws, or desires. Linda Lael Miller
will often have 3 brothers, 3 sisters or friends with a shared circumstance at
the beginning of a series. I like how I anticipate that next character’s story
after reading tidbits here and there in the present book. My interest gets
roused by something the character says or does that tells me something’s up
with that guy and I want to know what it is.
In the short story, UNEXPECTED
BLESSINGS, I introduced the next heroine, Lucille Thoroughgood, a straight-laced
woman who speaks her mind and works as a social worker at the orphanage…a job
she takes very seriously.
Lucille
Thoroughgood:
Miss Thoroughgood’s eyes darted away
for a moment and her pale skin pinkened. “I’m sorry. Like you, I wanted to
place them all in the same home, but you must know how difficult that is. Not
many foster homes are willing to take on so many children at once. Even the few
that are willing, don’t have enough room to accommodate so many children,
especially if they already have children in the home. Surely you can understand how difficult it is.
Believe me, it’s all for the—“
From THE BEAST OF
HAZARD I introduced “the frowner”, Hank Wilding who would become the hero
in HOME FOR THE HEART.
Hank:
“Well, hang on, let’s hear what Joey has to say about it.
What do you think, cousin? Is this a hell hound, or something like a bear or
other big predator?” Hank spoke in that deep, commanding voice that made people
listen.
* * *
“I agree. This thing has been mighty brazen so far. It
could decide to attack humans.” Hank knelt beside Joey and lowered his voice.
“It’s got you puzzled, too, doesn’t it?”
“I have to say, I don’t have any quick answers here.”
“I think it’s one of them freaks from the circus that
just come to town. Nothing happened ‘til they came,” one of the ranchers
declared.
Joey and Hank exchanged a look. Joey stood and faced the
ranchers. “I’ll ride over to the fairgrounds in the morning and see if they’re
missing one of their animals. Meanwhile, let’s get this mess cleaned up before
it attracts more predators.” He glanced at his cousin. “I’ll meet you here
tomorrow after I’ve seen to the clinic animals and we’ll search the area. Maybe
Sam and Kyle can come along.”
As I wrote Lucy and Hank’s story in HOME FOR THE HEART, I showed how Hank’s twin, Kit, suffered with “battle
fatigue” or PTSD as we call it today and his unlikely love interest, June
Wingate. June is a spirited young teacher who is impulsive and sometimes
reckless. Kit knows there is something off about June’s family and, whatever it
is, he is determined to help her through it.
June
and Kit:
Another vehicle pulled up beside her and screeched to a
stop. That would be Lucy’s friend, June, a teacher who volunteered at the
orphanage. Hank’s twin brother, Kit, sat beside her in the passenger side. His
eyes were wide and his hands clung to the dashboard as the dust settled from
the sudden stop. June was not a great driver, but that didn’t stop her from
loving to drive, or from laying on the gas.
“I’ll drive us back to the orphanage when we finish,” Kit
growled as he disembarked from June’s automobile.
Lucy noticed the pallor of Kit’s face and the beaded line
of perspiration on his upper lip. His hands shook and his eyes had a wild,
dilated look to them. She’d seen it before with soldiers who suffered emotional
trauma during the war. Some called it shell shock. Whatever it was, she knew
that it could be paralyzing to those who experienced it. She decided to ask
Hank about his brother later in private.
June stepped out of the car and glanced at Lucy. Her
brows pulled together above the bridge of her nose in a worried furrow. She
hastened her steps toward Kit and took his arm to stop him. Lucy couldn’t make
out everything June said, but she did hear the words, “I’m sorry”, and then
something like, “I didn’t mean to make you fear for your life.” Some other
words followed and then Kit halted his steps, and turned to face June.
His words were clear. “I didn’t fear for my life; I
feared for yours. You’re reckless
with it as if you have no end of tomorrows.” He pulled his arm from her grasp
and took long strides toward Hank who watched the scene between Kit and June
unfold with a solemn, thin-lipped grimace.
Lucy greeted her impulsive friend and Kit warmly and
waved to Hank before she went to help the rest of the children out of the car.
I also showed more of Kyle Red Sky’s struggle with his
Lakota heritage. Kyle is a cousin to the Wildings. He has played a secondary
character in several stories leading up to his own. As he deals with the prejudices
against his Lakota heritage, the mysterious new owner of his mother’s dress
shop comes to town. She hides half her face behind a mass of red curls and
keeps her own counsel. Kyle has dreamed of her and knows she has faced danger
with a courage he admires, but he also knows she is still in danger. When she
moves into his old apartment above the garage, they begin to exchange notes on
the refrigerator. Through the notes, a bond is forming between them, one that may
get one or both of them killed.
Kyle:
“I’m afraid so, honey. I like you, Lucy. As a matter of
fact, I like you a lot. I don’t want to see you get hurt or just end up with
nothing but a broken heart.”
She saw the look of genuine concern in Kyle’s eyes. His
words had pierced her heart, but she knew he meant well. He didn’t want her to have
unrealistic expectations of a future with Hank or see her get hurt. “I know,
Kyle. But I don’t think we get to choose who we fall in love with. It’s true, I
may end up an old maid if Hank never loves me back, but I can’t imagine loving
someone else. I’d rather have his friendship than nothing at all.”
“That’s a mighty sad way of thinking. Hank might fall in
love against his will I suppose, but that doesn’t mean he’d ever let the woman
know his feelings, let alone ask her to marry him.” A wide grin broke out on
his handsome face. “Just in case you decide to give up on Grumpy, I volunteer
to be your backup plan.”
Lucy could not suppress her laughter. “You crazy,
wonderful man. I can hear all the hearts breaking all over town the day you
fall in love and take a wife.”
His grin disappeared and, for an instant, Lucy noticed a
fleeting shadow cross Kyle’s face. “I sincerely doubt that, Lucy girl. Women
may want to flirt with me, get my attention, or even roll around in bed with me
because they think I’m handsome—and I am you know.” He gave her a teasing grin.
“But most of them would never consider me for a husband because I am part
Lakota.”
I’ve learned so much about writing a series through
personal experience and through reading series books by other authors. When it’s
done right, it is such a joy to read serial books. To learn more about my Wilding
stories, click onto “The Wildings” in my signature.
Have you written a series? How did you project interest for the next book in the series? Did you have the next hero or heroine play a secondary role in the previous book?
As a reader, do you like to read books in a series? Do you like to have a hint about an upcoming character in a preceding novel or story? Do you like having an idea of who the characters are, or do you want them to be a complete surprise to you?
Sarah
J. McNeal is a multi-published author of several genres
including time travel, paranormal, western and historical fiction. She is a
retired ER and Critical Care nurse who lives in North Carolina with her
four-legged children, Lily, the Golden Retriever and Liberty, the cat. Besides
her devotion to writing, she also has a great love of music and plays several
instruments including violin, bagpipes, guitar and harmonica. Her books and
short stories may be found at Prairie Rose Publications and its imprints Painted
Pony Books, and Fire Star Press. Some of her fantasy and paranormal books may
also be found at Publishing by Rebecca Vickery and Victory Tales
Press. She welcomes you to her website and social media:
