Fiction Needs More Mature Heroines

I’ve always loved books.  I’ve found some of my best friends, visited faraway lands, and experienced the most profound joy of a character who triumphs over adversity, and the heart-wrenching sorrow of one who suffers a tragic loss—all between the pages of a book.  I’m an introvert and always carry a book with me to keep me company, or avoid having to make conversation.  Sitting alone and sitting alone with a book are two very different things.

I love to write for the same reasons I read—enjoyment and escape.  I’ve been an avid reader all my life and find myself most attracted to characters in novels.  Not to say I don’t pay attention to plot, but if push comes to shove, I’ll stick with a character I like over a well-developed plot with mediocre personas.  I’m embarrassed to admit, but many times I remember the main character’s name in a book, rather than the author’s name.

I need to relate to the character and more importantly, I need to care about what happens to her.  When I’m creating my main characters, I work hard to make them believable and relatable.  I began writing novels in my late 40’s and set out to develop characters in my women’s fiction series that were more mature, with the female leads in their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s.  I made this choice for a few reasons—I don’t relate to the twenty-something crowd and I think women of a certain age are underrepresented in mainstream novels, but have the most to offer readers.

We’ve amassed wisdom and knowledge that come from years of encounters and events we’ve lived through and experienced.  We have complicated families, suffered disappointments and celebrated joys, witnessed births and deaths, made and lost friends—we’ve lived.  I drew on my own experiences and those of others to craft the characters in my novels.  The female protagonists in my series are all women with whom I’d enjoy spending my free time.  I strive to create relatable characters that are meant to draw the reader into the story and make the reader feel that she is part of the journey.

Friendship is a strong theme in all my women’s fiction novels.  The bonds of friendship make a profound difference in life.  Friends provide strength and support when we need it most. My novels focus on the emotional journey of the main character as she faces struggles and challenges and works to triumph over adversity.  Complex family relationships and enduring friendships are key elements for the stories of these women.  The choices they often have to make are difficult and risky.  I’m not convinced a younger protagonist could bring the depth I’m looking for in my characters.

Just as I’m never alone, if I’m reading a book, I’m also never alone when I’m writing.  The characters I’ve created do feel like friends. I find myself thinking of them as real people and miss them when I finish a book.  I write the type of books I enjoy reading. I love creating realistic characters who feel like friends, characters who have rich lives and experiences, and to do this I find they need to be on the other side of forty. I weave their lives together to create heartwarming and emotional stories that I hope entertain readers and provide them an escape from reality and everyday life. 

Tammy L. Grace is an award-winning author who entertains readers with perfect escapes in women’s fiction and clever whodunit mysteries.  She is a fan of dogs and includes furry companions in all her books.  Her works in women’s fiction include the best-selling Hometown Harbor Series and her latest release, Beach Haven, the first in her new Glass Beach Cottage Series.  She also writes the Cooper Harrington Detective Series, featuring a quirky private detective and his faithful golden retriever.  A Season of Hope is her new Christmas release that is sure to please readers who enjoy Hallmark Christmas Movies. 

Tammy’s books, including her latest in her Glass Beach Cottage Series, Beach Haven, are available at Amazon and other retailers. Find out more at http://www.tammylgrace.com