Give the hero a secret in his backstory
A backstory can serve different purposes. One would be to establish a secret relationship such as in my first novel but in “Impending Love and Death” I needed to explain the strange behavior of the hero, Logan Pierce. I don’t reveal the reason until much later in the story but for those who have read the story, this will help explain the motive in more detail and for those who haven’t read the story, it may cause you to pick up the book.
Historical romance novel “Impending Love and Death” is available at http://goo.gl/B7lKMs and other distributors in print and ebook format.
Logan is from a political family that has worked for senator and governor, Salmon Chase. Logan begins working for him when he serves as governor of Ohio and then travels to Washington when he is elected as a senator. Abraham Lincoln chooses Chase to serve in his cabinet as Secretary of the Treasury. Logan is sent to visit a list of men to gain support for making western Virginia into a new state, and visits Tyler Montgomery, who is from western Virginia and is now practicing law in Ohio. He meets the heroine, Jennifer “Jem” Collins, a newlywed and younger sister to Cory Beecher who married Tyler in the first book. Logan refuses to help her travel to Washington and search for news of her missing husband, Ben, after the battle of Bull Run in 1861, but it’s not for the reason he gives.
In the backstory, Logan’s older brother, Derek, was secretary to Salmon Chase when he served as a senator before he was elected governor. As was the custom, secretaries and clerks would escort the wives of politicians to social events they could not attend. Derek began escorting Hannah Smith, the young wife of Lewis Smith, who had several mistresses and did not love his wife. Derek and Hannah fell in love and began a secret affair. When Hannah became pregnant, they planned to run off, but Lewis goes to the home and discovers them in bed. He shoots Logan who throws himself in front of Hannah to protect her. Although it was cold-blooded murder, Lewis was able to avoid serving any time because he claims he was protecting the sanctity of his home. Even Logan does not know that Smith intended to kill Hannah and their unborn child as well as Derek until she tells him.
When Logan follows Chase to Washington, he hears the gossip once more and knows that any woman he associates with will be part of a scandal. This is the real reason he does not agree initially to help Jem. In addition, Hannah is ill and dying and asks Logan to take care of his niece, Deidre, 6. This adds another layer to a hero’s character. Gone are the days when the hero was strong and silent. He needs to have a strong backstory.
“Impending Love and Death takes place in 1861 with Jem going by train from Ohio to Washington City and then searching the prison in Richmond for answers. Logan must confront his family shame and risk his life to find happiness.
Blurb: Politician Logan Pierce visits Darrow Falls, Ohio, to enlist support for the Union cause. There, he meets the beautiful and strong-willed Jem Collins and insists she remain at home for news of her husband, Ben, after the Battle of Bull Run, but she ignores his advice. Jem knows something is wrong when Ben doesn’t send word he has survived the first major battle of the Civil War.
Jem travels to Washington City with Logan to search for news of Ben and uses her nursing skills to care for the wounded. When Logan kisses her, she resolves to remain faithful to her vows of marriage, but can she? Hearing news Ben may be a prisoner, she leaves the federal capital for Richmond but doesn’t return. Can Logan wait, fearing for her fate, or does he risk capture and hanging as a spy by following into enemy territory? #CivilWar #BullRun #romance #mystery #Richmond #wrpbks
