Christine Feehan's Blog - Posts Tagged "creating-a-hero"
The Creation of a Hero: Andor Katona
Some heroes come to me easily. They speak to me in a way which may sound crazy, unless you’re an author, but is true. When I say that they speak to me, I mean that I know what their voice is. I know if they’re calm or volatile. I know if they are old fashioned or modern. I have a clear idea of who they are and how they behave.
That doesn’t always happen right away though. Some heroes are stubborn. When you see me torture them a bit, it may be that I’ve been struggling with him and he won’t fall in line with what I want. Those are often the most surprising heroes in which people either totally love them, or they don’t.
I love them all. Those who cooperate and make my storytelling easy for me. And, those who fight me along the way, forcing me to bend to their will, or causing me to force them into compliance.
Andor was a joy to write. I was in the mood for someone romantic and deep, perhaps a little vulnerable so our heroine could come along and remind him that life is worth fighting for. There’s something about a hero who struggles and suffers, but who would dig deep within himself to protect the woman he loves and is willing to compromise in order to secure his woman’s happiness. Andor was that man.
You know from the first chapter that he is weary. Like all of the other ancients from the monastery, he didn’t believe suicide was the answer. To “meet the dawn” because he hadn’t yet found his lifemate and had become dangerous to others was the reason he’d gone to the monastery, but time and violence and a perpetual lack of hope had worn him down. So, when he’s attacked and about to die, he is ready to accept it. Dying while fighting evil was an honorable way to go. He’d put in his time, fought his battles, and now he just wanted a release from his suffering.
Then, in storms a woman waving a saucepan and looking to save his life and in an instant everything in his world changes. Fate, destiny, dumb luck, call it what you will, but in that final moment Andor sees his salvation. And he sees it in full color.
Centuries of turmoil, violence, anguish and torment couldn’t hold a candle to a single second filled with hope and love. Everything that had made him the fearless, dangerous warrior he’d been for all that time sparked back to life and he was once again a deadly predator. And a dark sentinel.
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That doesn’t always happen right away though. Some heroes are stubborn. When you see me torture them a bit, it may be that I’ve been struggling with him and he won’t fall in line with what I want. Those are often the most surprising heroes in which people either totally love them, or they don’t.
I love them all. Those who cooperate and make my storytelling easy for me. And, those who fight me along the way, forcing me to bend to their will, or causing me to force them into compliance.
Andor was a joy to write. I was in the mood for someone romantic and deep, perhaps a little vulnerable so our heroine could come along and remind him that life is worth fighting for. There’s something about a hero who struggles and suffers, but who would dig deep within himself to protect the woman he loves and is willing to compromise in order to secure his woman’s happiness. Andor was that man.
You know from the first chapter that he is weary. Like all of the other ancients from the monastery, he didn’t believe suicide was the answer. To “meet the dawn” because he hadn’t yet found his lifemate and had become dangerous to others was the reason he’d gone to the monastery, but time and violence and a perpetual lack of hope had worn him down. So, when he’s attacked and about to die, he is ready to accept it. Dying while fighting evil was an honorable way to go. He’d put in his time, fought his battles, and now he just wanted a release from his suffering.
Then, in storms a woman waving a saucepan and looking to save his life and in an instant everything in his world changes. Fate, destiny, dumb luck, call it what you will, but in that final moment Andor sees his salvation. And he sees it in full color.
Centuries of turmoil, violence, anguish and torment couldn’t hold a candle to a single second filled with hope and love. Everything that had made him the fearless, dangerous warrior he’d been for all that time sparked back to life and he was once again a deadly predator. And a dark sentinel.
Christine Feehan Website
Christine's Facebook
Christine on Twitter
Christine Feehan Instagram
(Exclusives, Sneak Peeks, Discussions and more) - Exclusive Online Community
