So how do you choose a heroine? Good question. My heroines (in all my books not just Devils on Horseback) tend to be tough, outspoken, sassy dames who basically don't take crap from anyone. They're not all the same - some are tougher than others - but I don't write any TSTL (too stupid to live) weeping fools that you want to strangle.

The heroine must be someone the hero can fall in love with. Sounds simple, doesn't it? It's not, however. It can't just be some pretty betty with big boobs that wows him. She's got to have something inside her that calls to the man inside him.

For Devils on Horseback: Nate, I knew he needed a heroine to yank him out of the rigid state he couldn't escape. She had to be brash with enough moxie to knock him on his butt. I also chose a woman who'd had some hard times, and had to survive a lot of adversity to be who she was.

Elisa Taggert was created. I went through the same exercise with her as I did with the heroes and fully fleshed out her history, her life, her motivations. For the other devils, I created women that would not only challenge them, but lead them toward choices they'd have to make in order to live the rest of their lives.

I think an important part of creating a heroine is knowing her boundaries - what she will do and not do. Choose carefully because if she changes mid-stream in the book, you could lose your reader. Elisa came on strong and showed herself early on as handy with a gun and her wits.

Mapping out the heroes and heroines journeys in each book is next. After all, a story is a journey the writer takes with the reader. Tomorrow I'll talk about how I chose the setting and the events for Devils on Horseback: Nate.

Until Thursday!

Beth Williamson
http://www.bethwilliamson.com
Are you ready to be branded?
Now available in ebook: Marielle's Marshal
Now available in ebook: Devils on Horseback: Nate