Anatomy of a main character...

How I made Elli...

If you’ve read any of my past work, you’ve probably seen some trends or themes pop up. The first is trauma! (No worries, you won’t need a content warning for this post!)

I’ve been through a looooooottttt in my life. And I know readers have, too. Very few of us escape this existence without feeling hurt, pain, suffering setbacks, and even experiencing major Trauma. I’m in the last category, as well as all the others. I’ve been treated for PTSD and had some rough stuff happen in my life. But that’s why I am so passionate about telling stories.

In everything I write, I start with a compelling person. A being (not necessarily a human, lol) who is living through the worst things they could image. Sometimes they are broken and resigned… That was Gia in Bloodguild She was just holding on for one more day, day after day. Bloodguild is free, so if you haven’t read it yet, you can download it here and read it now.

In other projects, the characters have taken in their trauma and built up walls so high, they desperately need love and hope to break through the barriers. I’m looking at you, Pali from The Lover’s Leap.

(Press the play button for some fun cover art effects!)

My latest book, Broken Bloodlines, is my most ambitious work yet. It’s the story of the main character, Elli (Ellisaria) who has lost so much, all that’s left of her are the scars. She’s so angry, but she’s adapted to find small joys in her life: the love of her 11 adopted sisters (this book is inspired by the Grimm fairy tale “The Twelve Huntsmen”) being the primary joy that keeps her from burning down the world.

Elli gets an opportunity to go on a quest that on its surface may bring her short-term relief: money and an opportunity to get closure on her past. But there is another possibility that drives her to leave her home and family—revenge.

In real life, I cannot imagine ever trying to get revenge on anyone. Once when I was living in an apartment overrun by horrible people who stole my assigned parking spot, I put a sign on the offender’s car that said If you don’t stop parking here, I’m going to have your car toward across the country. Did that solve the problem? No. Did I ever take any kind of harsh action beyond one angry sign? Also no.

But in my books, I can give my characters the outlets I wish I had. (Well, maybe not wish. But sometimes revenge is a fun idea!)

Elli accepts the call to adventure but along the way, she finds out that not everyone in the world is against her; that the power of the family she’s built is stronger than the things that broke her; and of course, her one true love is both the reason and the opportunity she needs to heal. (Although not at all in the ways she’d imagined.)

In this series, other characters’ backgrounds come in and each of those characters likewise has experienced trauma or suffering. Elli’s sisters, for example, have all been adopted out of difficult circumstances. We spend the most time with the oldest two, Rixane and Tansy, and (no spoilers) we learn a bit about why these sisters are able to heal and grow while they are on this journey with Elli.

(Character art of Leo and Elli…)

I’m working hard to finish the edits of Broken Bloodlines, the first book in the Huntsisters series, for you now. As I read through this first book, we have a lot going on, and I’m reminded how important romance is as a genre. I care about my readers. I want you to feel seen in your life as well as understood. You may not have gone through what Elli has, or what I’ve gone through, but you have your own history, pain, and stories.

If by reading my work you can escape your own circumstances—and maybe return to them a little more optimistic and hopeful—I’ll have done my job.

Are there triggers or tropes you shy away from in books? Things you don’t want to read about? Do you feel hopeful after reading a character who sounds like you gets the happy ending and healing we all want?

I hope you do! And I cannot wait to share Elli’s story with you. I promise I’m working hard and fast because this series is going to take over my 2025 schedule… And I may have announcements about some career firsts in the coming weeks.

Take good care, friend, and keep reading!! I’m enjoying a super long TBR list right now—too long! But is there any such thing as “too many” books? Thanks for reading!