Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Developing Unique Characters

Welcome to the fourth and final week of The Wilder Roses' Valentine's Month Blog Tour!
Rules and blogs to visit for your chance to win either the $40 weekly prize or the $50 grand prize are
listed at the end of the blog. So, read on and comment on as many blogs along the tour as possible!
Today, my blog tour guest is TWRP author Jennifer Jakes.

After trying several careers—everything from a beautician to a dump truck driver—Jennifer finally returned to her first love, writing. Maybe it was all those Clint Eastwood movies she watched growing up, but in her opinion, there is no better read than a steamy western historical.

Married to her very own hero, she lives on fifteen acres along with two beautiful daughters, two elderly horses, two spoiled cats and two hyper dogs.

During the summer she does Civil War re-enacting and has found it a great research tool, not to mention she has continued appreciation for her microwave and hot water heater.

And what's Jennifer's take on developing unique characters? I'll let her tell you.

Jennifer- Things I Don’t Believe In:
Leprechauns. Nope.
Easter Bunny. Sorry.
Tooth Fairy. Uh-uh.

Unique Characters. Not gonna happen.

What?! You’re thinking I’ve been in the liquor cabinet again, huh? You’re headed into town to buy tar and feathers? LOL

Wait. Wait. Hear me out. While I don’t believe there are any unique characters left to create, I do believe as authors, we can pick from the 8 main archetypes and create unique situations. There are several books written that break down common archetypes, but my favorite--and the one I’ve found most helpful--is THE COMPLETE WRITER’S GUIDE TO HEROES AND HEROINES by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever and Sue Viders. This book not only breaks down each archetype but gives examples of what would happen if Hero type A meets Heroine type B – but it does this with each of the 8 Hero and 8 Heroine types. It also gives examples using movies and TV, then lists occupations certain archetypes might hold. ( I highly recommend this book as a research tool. Plus it’s just really interesting!)

So have I piqued your interest in exploring archetypes?

Jennifer Jakes' latest release, Rafe's Redemption recently got a 5 heart review from Sizzling Hot  Reviews http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/

Blrub:
He rode into town to buy supplies, not a woman.

For hunted recluse Rafe McBride, the raven-haired beauty on the auction block is exactly what he doesn't need. A dependent woman will be another clue his vengeful stepbrother can use to find and kill him. But Rafe's conscience won't let him leave another innocent's virginity to the riff-raff bidding. He buys her, promising to return her to St. Louis untouched. He only prays the impending blizzard holds off before her sultry beauty breaks his willpower.

She wanted freedom, not a lover.

Whisked to the auction block by her devious, gambling cousin, and then sold into the arms of a gorgeous stranger, outspoken artist Maggie Monroe isn't about to go meekly. Especially when the rugged mountain man looks like sin and danger rolled into one. But a blizzard and temptation thrust them together, and Maggie yearns to explore her smoldering passion for Rafe.

But when the snow clears, will the danger and secrets that surround Rafe and Maggie tear them apart?

Excerpt:
****
Maggie wanted freedom, not a lover…
 
Oh, Lord. He was going to kiss her. She shouldn’t want this. She was confused enough.
Respectable women didn’t kiss men they barely knew, certainly not men who made them have wild,exotic dreams.

It was crazy. He was making her want crazy things. Making her not give a damn about her reputation
or her virginity. Or her long-awaited freedom. All she could think about was that dream, and the way
his sinful mouth had felt. The table was only a step away, and honey was just as sweet as peach juice…

She swallowed hard and looked up into his hooded eyes.

“Maggie,” he groaned. “Don’t be scared. I’d never hurt you.”

Her mouth parted to object, but firm lips covered hers, hungry, demanding. She gasped, shocked at his hunger, but even more at the illicit response coursing through her. An aching heat unfurled low in her stomach, pulsed between her legs. Oh, yes. It started just like in the dream.

He deepened the kiss, coaxed her lips with his warm tongue. Long, languid strokes teased the inside of her mouth, encouraging, tempting before he pulled back to nibble the corners of her lips.

Oh, God. Is this what all kisses felt like? Hot, lethargic? Melting her like molasses over warm bread?
“Kiss me, Maggie,” he breathed.

You can find Jennifer at: http://www.jenniferjakes.com/
http://www.authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @erotichistory
and Facebook: Jennifer Jakes

Rafe's Redemption can be pre-ordered at http://thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=180&products_id=810

Blog Tour participants and blog links-
The final week of the month-long blog tour. Commenters this week are up for a weekly prize worth $40 and/or a Grand Prize worth over $50! Topic this week - Developing Unique Characters.
Meet author AJ Nuest at http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/
Meet author Lynne Roberts at http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/
Meet paranormal romance author Maeve Greyson at http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/
Meet author Amy Corwin at http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com/
Meet contemporary and paranormal romance author Jill James at http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/
Meet romantic suspense author Kat Duncan at http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/
Meet contemporary YA an adult romance author Linda Kage at http://www.jilljameswrites.com/
Meet paranormal, and historical romance author Caroline Clemmons at http://www.blogger.com/goog_675512504
Meet historical and paranormal romance writer Lilly Gayle at http://lindakage.blogspot.com/
Meet Amie Louellen, author of fun and whimsical contemporary romance at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/

22 comments:

  1. Thanks for joining me today, Jennifer. And I love westerns so, your book is so going on my TBR list!

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  2. WOW! A Western Romance, I am picturing a rugged mountain man protecting the fair maiden during a trek over the snowy mountains! Very intriguing!
    Thanks Jennifer and Lilly!

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  3. Yes, you've piqued my interest! So what are the 8 different types??? Grr, I'm going to have to read the book now, aren't I?

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  4. I've read several excerpts for Rafe's Redemption. I think it sounds awesome.

    I found your comments about archetypes very interesting.

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  5. Great excerpt. Can't wait to read this book! I also enjoyed your comments about the 8 archetypes interesting.

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  6. Hi Lilly! Thanks so much for having me here today! So glad to have found another western lover. :)

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  7. Hi RBOOTH - You've got it!! RAFE'S REDEMPTION is very much a "travel" story -- though the parts of being snow-bound in a cabin with a sexy mtn. man are there too;) lol
    Thanks for stopping by today! Good luck in the drawings.

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  8. Hi Linda,
    Yes, it would be better to read it than if I told you b/c I couldn't do it justice. Writer's Guide to Heroes/Heroines goes into so much detail and points out so many little traits of each personality, it's just great. And maybe the best thing is that you can use it like a reference book and look up what types you want; you wouldn't have to read it cover to cover. (But I bet you'll want to) lol
    Thanks for stopping by!!

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  9. Hi Stacie-
    Oh, cool! I'm so thrilled you like RAFE'S excerpts. I was very happy with the ones the Wild Rose Press team chose to use. :) They did a great job of picking what would show the story in just a few sentences. lol
    Thanks for stopping by today and good luck in the drawings!

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  10. Hi Caroline!
    Great! I'm smiling b/c you said that and I'm having a fan-girl moment. :) I've got several of your books on my keeper shelf -- Of course the ones you wrote when you were like. . . 18 and I was 16;)
    Studying the archetypes is very interesting. I've read several books on the subject. And if anyone decides to look into it, the books that use movie, TV and other books character for references are the most useful. B/c we can all think -Oh, yeah, I remember that show/guy/girl.
    Thanks for stopping by today!

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  11. Waving hi to Jennifer. Can't wait until your release day!

    Lisa

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  12. Hi Jennifer! Congrats on the 5 heart review- that's awesome!

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  13. Hi Lisa! *waving* Me either:)
    Thanks for dropping by today. Good luck in the drawing!!

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  14. Hi Marci! Thanks so much:) I was thrilled! It was like the cherry on top of release week.
    Thanks for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing:)

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  15. *Sneaking in late* Hey all! Day job was long today, but one of the first places I knew I had to visit was a certain blog tour with one of my new fave authors: Jennifer Jakes! Congrats on a successful blog tour. Can't wait to download that book!

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  16. Hi Jennifer, I received my book from WRP! I can't wait to grab a glass of wine and delve into it. The cover is luscious, but I know the story is even more so. Yay for your debut!!!!

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  17. Hi Sherry!! Thanks for stopping by even after a hard work-day!
    Yay!! So glad you're excited about RAFE:)
    Sleep well and good luck in the drawings!!

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  18. Hi Barb - *waving*
    Yay!!! So glad you got your copy. It's well earned, my friend. For everyone reading, Barb is (one of) my very patient CPs who read and re-read and re-read (grin) RAFE. I couldn't have done it w/o you and Sara Ann!
    Thanks so much and good luck in the drawings!!

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  19. My parents used to have a liquor cabinet. Ah the memories. Why don't I have one now? (Sorry for outing you online Mom and Dad.)

    But now back to your blog, Jenn! I just recently bought "The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines" and I have no idea why I waited so long. It is a fantastic resource and a keeper on my book shelf.

    Counting down to Friday. It feels like Christmas Eve :)

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  20. I have vodka. It is in a kitchen cabinet. Does that count as a liquor cabinet? lol!

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  21. Yup, that counts. I'm grabbing my car keys and heading your way, Lilly :)

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  22. Come on over Jacqui! I'm off tomorrow and I think I have the makings for an appletini. lol!

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