That bitchy fine line...

Bitchy characters are the most fun to write - hands down. They get to say and do what ever the hell they want. No apologies. No tears. No angst.

I have very fond memories of writing Queen vamp Destiny, the villain from book 4 - To Seduce A Siren (Yes, I know she makes an appearance in book 3. But book 4, was her show). To the point where I kept putting off killing her because I was having such a blast with my snarky, catsuit wearing bitch from hell - who just wanted to make Maat Warrior, Nate, her eternal chew toy.

And this might shock you, but Devon Patel, the mean girl who appears as Nell's nemesis in book 2 - To Trap A Temptress, was never scheduled to have her own book. But when I was plotting book 7, her character just hip-checked all the other potential heroine leads out the way and demanded I write her tale - To Shackle A Shrew.
And while I could get away with making a villain like Destiny, the vamp, a balls out bitch, I had to rein Devon in a little.
We all can be bitchy, but there is a lot more to us than just that. Bitchy all the time is boring. So she had to have facets (like we all do) - so I made her practical, methodical, and added a couple of family issues to make her more relatable. And let's not forget her developing friendship with Nell and all the other Sanctuary inhabitants - who much to Devon's dismay appreciate a bitch. And when faced with her snarky ways, often just laughed.
After all, they are used to dealing with Darcy.

Darcy - our fave sociopath with well intentioned homicidal tendencies, is proving a real challenge to write in book 12 - To Handle A Hellcat (remember - book 11 hasn't been published yet, so cool your jets). She says the most amazingly blunt things, and gets away with it. Yes, yes, I know I'm the writer, but seriously, some characters just seem to write themselves.
But softening Darcy, not really an option. But hopefully when reading her tale you will begin to understand why she is like she is.
Obviously she has major trouble relating to emotions. And we will get to meet the rest of her family, besides big sister, Nell, and perhaps gain a greater insight into the combination of factors that make her so unique.
At least Darcy will never bore you.

In the midst of finalising the final third of the draft for To Handle A Hellcat, I had a horrid realisation, no more bitchy characters lined up... then I relaxed, my feral Goddess, Copper, will be stepping up to the plate for book 13. Okay, I'm not sure I can technically call her a bitch, although Elijah might beg to differ, since she is out to ruin his life in revenge.
Hmmm, the more I think about it, the more potential I see for Copper to tap into her inner bitch. Yeah.

So to all my readers, don't be afraid to embrace your inner bitch occasionally, why not, it doesn't define you. We are all so much more - helpers, healers, cheer-leaders, chauffeurs, maids, divas, fighters, mediators...

Happy Reading