STRONG HEROINES

“I have been in love with story all my life,” says Gayle Roper, the award winning author of more than forty-five books. “Give me a story with strong characters and a captivating plot, and I’m one happy reader. Or writer.”

Among Gayle’s awards are the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award, the Carol Award from American Christian Fiction Writers, two Inspirational Readers Choice Awards, and three HOLT Medallions. She has been a Christy finalist three times and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Reviewers Choice Award from Romantic Times Book Report.

For her work in training Christian writers Gayle has won special recognition from Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference, St. Davids CWC, Florida CWC, and Greater Philadelphia CWC.  She lives in southeastern Pennsylvania. She enjoys reading, spending time at the family’s Canadian cottage, gardening, and eating out every time she can manage it.

 

STRONG HEROINES

 

I recently saw a movie that left me very dissatisfied. It had big name stars, and they did their usual good work, but I wasn’t engaged. Why didn’t the story work for me?

Because the heroine was a wimp.

“Why doesn’t she just tell him off?” my cousin kept asking.

Why indeed.

I know there are women like this character in real life, but they don’t make good story leads. They are too passive and their victories are so small that they seem without value because they scarcely move the story forward. I want to watch or read about someone who fights through with grit and bravery no matter how much she’s shaking in her stilettos.

It’s not that I’m against subtlety and small realizations. Story don’t always have to be big aha! moments. However it does have to be about stepping forward and doing something.

One of the great strengths of current romantic suspense is strong heroines. Oh, they may start off being knocked sideways by the calamity they’ve fallen into, but they don’t stay there. They rise to the occasion, facing the danger, going toe to toe with the bad guy. They are intelligent women, and they behave rationally (going down to the dark cellar with only a wavering candle excepted).

I want heroines I can respect, women I can emulate. Sure, I probably don’t have to one up a murderer but I do have to figure out how to face my more mundane life crises. If she can face her fictional threats, I can face my real life ones. After all, mine don’t carry guns and wield knives.

Who are your favorite heroines? One of my favorites is Abby in my Summer Shadows.

 

 

 

Enter to win a copy of Summer Shadows so you can meet Abby, a gutsy, funny lady I know you’ll respect and appreciate.