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| Snow White From Disney |
What interesting questions. I'm usually drawn to spunky, self sufficient and fairly confident women who believe they can stand on their own. Do I write this type of heroine? Yes, I do, because in my experience, most of the women I've known over the years come across as confident, but they lack belief in themselves because they have to be validated by a man. There is a characteristic of each author in the stories they pen, and I'm no exception. In the case, I utilize the reality of an underlying flaw in my heroines. I can probably do anything I set my mind to, but I need a man to lean on, to urge me on, to believe in me. Sad, but true, and I think it's a flaw most authors omit from their stories, making their heroines as bold and brave as Indiana Jones. Even though I write fiction, that one little bit of truth will always shine through in my books because it's generally a fact of life. Sadly, one review I received, viewed one of my heroines as a spoiled, wimp. I guess I did a good job in portraying her, because she'd led a pampered life until her Pa hired a new ranch foreman and treated him like the son he never had. Then "Ellie," became determined to show them both she could do anything a man could...until she got herself into a real pickle. Unfortunately, that reader missed the whole point I was trying to make. Ellie grew a spine, tackled unrealistic challenges, but in the end, did need someone to bale her out.
Thanks for stopping by. Rhobin Courtright started this event last year, and I really enjoy her topics. Hope you do too. These are the other participants...please visit, enjoy, and comment on each post:
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/
Lynn Crain at http://www.awriterinvienna.blogspot.com
Kay Sisk at http://www.kaysisk.com/
Ginger Simpson at http://mizging.gmail.com
Connie Vines at http://connievines.blogspot.com/
Geeta Kakade at http://geetakakade.blogspot.com/ (Welcome!)
A.J. Maguire at http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Beverley Bateman at http://beverleybateman.blogspot.com/
Diane Bator at http://dbator.blogspot.ca
Fiona McGier at http://www.fionamcgier.com
Rhobin Courtright at http://rhobinleecourtright.com
Your reviewer wasn't very conversant with history; authors have to portray the cultural norms of the historical period they write in to make it believable, which you certainly do. It is also true we all need someone to lean on and need to provide support for friends, family, and lovers when they need someone to lean on. After all, isn't that what romance is about--building the relationship?
ReplyDeleteThere's a difference between changing because of the love you share with a good man, and changing to become someone you're not just to hold onto a man because you're scared to be alone...or afraid of him. I prefer realistic characters even in romance. I want to be friends with the heroine, and BE her getting seduced by the hero!
ReplyDeleteGinger, your heroines as just as spunky as you are!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, some comments are posed by a person not well versed in your selected historical time period.
Or by someone who doesn't realize that thoughts, social norms, as well as, individual needs were different fifty, one hundred or four hundred years ago!
Great post Ginger. And an interesting perspective about strong women who still need a man to validate them or 'bale' them out.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ladies for visiting. As I was making my rounds and commenting, I saw some who had 15 comments and wondered what I did wrong? *lol*
ReplyDeleteI made mention on one blog about believing in equality among the sexes, but there are just some jobs women are not qualified to do well. My ex-husband was a police officer and I always preferred his back-up would be someone capable of handing a crazed junky or 250 man and not a 5 foot 100 pound woman. Does that make me sexist? No that makes me realistic. *smile*