You always read about authors making their characters suffer. We give our heros and heroines tough backstories, dysfunctional families and difficult situations to overcome. Basically, we do what we can to emotionally destroy them. For me, that’s the fun part. So much so that my editor once told me that every time she reads one of my books she’s convinced my parents hated me. Yeah, I tend to give my characters some interesting family dynamics. It’s actually an offshoot of being a divorce lawyer for all of those years. That sort of stuff seeps into the way you write, or it does for me.
Well, when it comes to my first Harlequin Intrigue, UNDER THE GUN (March ‘10), I did more than just emotionally torture the hero. I physically smacked the crap out. He gets shot in the shoulder at the beginning of the book – it’s in the first chapter, so that’s not a spoiler – and gets the same arm battered through the entire book. Even the heroins takes a turn.
Poor Luke.
Luke is a the strong resucer type, so I wanted him vulnerable. Problem was once I injured him I had to deal with it throughout the book. And when you’re on the run, rolling around and jumping out of buildings a shoulder wound can be a damn big issue. It was tempting to take the Hollywood way out and have him miraculously heal the next morning, but I refrained. No Jack Bauer (24) spontaneous recovery here. Luke’s not that lucky.
I hope you all love him. 
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Under the Gun sounds like a great story. Can’t wait to read about Luke and his survival.
by Liza August 3rd, 2009 at 1:17 pmWow Poor Luke. I can’t wait to read it.
by Judy F August 3rd, 2009 at 1:33 pmAwwww, thanks. That makes me so happy.
by HelenKay August 3rd, 2009 at 5:10 pmOmg poor Luke! But he gets the girl in the end anyway right?
by Fancy August 3rd, 2009 at 9:57 pm