Guest Author Monday

Please welcome today’s guest author — Beverly Bateman

Hi Leanne,

Thanks for having me as your guest. Today I thought I’d talk about creating great characters.

I love plotting, but bringing characters to life so my readers will love them is my challenge. If you have the same problem here are a few hints for character development. First, everyone has a reason for doing what they do, including your characters. Know it and show it.
Next, give your characters unique traits. These may be annoying characteristics like biting a fingernail, or endearing traits, like twisting a lock of hair when nervous. And all characters have strengths and weaknesses. What are they good at? What do they struggle with?
Your readers want characters they can relate to and admire, who are larger-than-life, and they should be flawed and “real”. Think about characters you love from fiction or film. What makes them compelling? What are their strengths and their weaknesses? Include all these hints and you should have a character your reader loves.

A Cruise to Remember

Romantic Suspense

Content Warning: Sexual content

BLURB

A Cruise to Remember is the story of amnesia, a cruise ship, a jewel theft ring and murder. It combines to make it a cruise to remember. Hallie Donald (Holly Devine) is found injured on the roadside with amnesia. Now she is traveling as companion to a wealthy woman with Alzheimer’s on a Caribbean cruise – and someone is trying to kill her.

Interpol agent Eric Petersen is undercover as the ship’s doctor. When he meets our heroine sparks fly between them.

Hallie/Holly refuses to get involved with anyone because she has no idea if she’s already married or engaged. Eric is on the cruise to break up a jewel theft ring, but his main suspect is the woman he’s fallen in love with. Can he keep her alive and prove her innocence?

And then there’s smooth and oily Jack. How does he fit in?

Excerpt: from A Cruise to Remember

                                                                                              

If I had fallen over, who would have even noticed? Or cared? Nobody even knows who I really am. And nobody cares that I was missing before.

“You moved. You weren’t trying to escape from me, were you?” Jack appeared at her side, a drink in his hand.

Hallie swung around with a guilty start.

Damn it. He found me.

“I’m listening to the music and the sounds of happy people. It’s a beautiful evening.”

“And you are a beautiful woman.” He leaned down to kiss her.

Turning her head rapidly caused him to miss his mark, planting his lips on her neck instead.

The hair on the back of her neck prickled again. She had to get away and quickly.

She pulled her shawl closer to her neck, so he wouldn’t be able to make contact with her skin. She edged farther down the rail.

“I see you like to tease a man.” Jack’s eyes narrowed.

“I’m not teasing. I don’t like you. I think I’ll go back to the cabin and get a sweater.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, that’s fine. I can go on my own. I don’t want you to come with me. I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“No you don’t. You’re not running off. You don’t start something and leave. That remark about going to your cabin, I understand perfectly what you’re saying. You want me.” Jack’s eyes shone icy cold, his jaw tensed.

Hallie could see a small blood vessel pulsating at the corner of his left temple.

He put his hands on both sides of her face so she couldn’t move. He pressed his lips down on hers. His tongue tried to push through her tightly clenched lips.

Hallie shoved against him. She kicked at his shins, harder with each kick.

“Please, God, help me,” she whispered under her breath.

“Let go of me,” Hallie said in a loud voice.

A few people glanced in her direction, then turned away.

“Women who tease are usually animals once you get them to submit. I know your type. You want me to force it on you. You’re like all the others.”

“No, I’m not and I don’t want anything to do with you. Leave me alone.” She glared up at him. “I’m not teasing. Touch me again and I’ll report you to the steward.”

Hallie didn’t even know who the steward was, but she’d damn well report him to someone.

She turned and stomped away.

He slithered in front of her, blocking her escape. “You want a man to be assertive and take you. Then you can keep pretending you’re not really that type. I like that. Don’t worry. I’ll force you. I do it very well. Prepare to enjoy it. I’m going to take you tonight and you’re going to love it.”

He yanked her roughly against his chest and shoved her into a corner. He slid his hand under her skirt and forced his tongue into her mouth.

“That’s enough.” Hallie yanked one arm free and shot it at his jaw.

A shocked expression slashed across Jack’s face.

 

Buy Links:A Cruise to Rememberhttp://amzn.to/1rbHrFy

BIO:

I’m Canadian and live in the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, BC. It’s beautiful country and I love it here – in the summer. There are large lakes, beautiful beaches, orchards of apples, pears, peaches plus raspberries, blueberries and lots of other fresh produce. And of course, it’s wine country. We have world class wines which I feel is my obligation to taste.

I write, edit, workout and spend a lot of time on the computer. We also have mountains and great skiing, both downhill and cross-country, however, in the winter, I snowbird with my husband, and two Shiba Inu dogs. I prefer San Diego and Tucson to freezing temperatures and piles of snow. Right now I’m working on the second in my Holly Devine series.

 

Social links:

Website: http://www.beverleybateman.com

Blog: http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/

Twitter: http://twitter/kelownawriter

Amazon Author page: http://amzn.to/1iamrbd

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorBeverleyBateman?ref=hl

Thank you for having me today, Leanne.

Thank you Beverly for sharing with my readers today!