Welcome Guest Blogger Marie Force!
A Heroine’s Journey
Hello, Cigar ladies! Thank you so much for having me today. I’m a regular reader of your wonderful blog, so it’s a great thrill for me to be here as your guest. I’m in the midst of a few very exciting weeks, starting with seeing my debut novel Line of Scrimmage for the first time as a real book to visiting it in the bookstore to receiving lots of emails and reviews from people who have enjoyed it.
As one of the NFL’s marquee players, Ryan Sanderson’s larger-than-life persona comes through loud and proud from page one of Line of Scrimmage, so it doesn’t surprise me that he’s getting most of the attention from readers and reviewers. However, if you don’t mind indulging me, today I’d like to talk about Ryan’s wife Susannah.
I don’t know about you, but I tend to write about people I can relate to. My editor has termed my books “ordinary people, extraordinary love stories.” I like to think that just about anyone could find a piece of themselves in my characters. Ryan is somewhat of an aberration to that rule in that he’s had the kind of success most of us can only dream about. However, while he may be an extraordinary athlete, he’s also a man with ordinary problems—a wife who’s finished with him, a pending divorce he never wanted, and some tough losses that have helped to shape him. We’ve all been through difficult experiences, and most of us can relate to his desperate desire to save his marriage to a woman he loves more than life itself.
On the other hand, I don’t have much in common Susannah. She grew up as the pampered daughter of well-to-do Southern parents. Blonde and petite—another thing we’ll NEVER have in common—she has fond memories of her debutante ball. The closest I ever came to a debut was the bottle of champagne I shared with my parents on my twenty-first birthday! She left college at age twenty to marry Ryan. Ten years later, she’s had enough of life in the fishbowl where she always came second to his career, his ego, and the endless demands on his time. How many of us can say we know what it would be like to be married to the NFL’s biggest, sexiest star?
To write Susannah’s story, my job was to imagine precisely what that would be like. I had to put myself in her place as a twenty-year-old college dropout who had married the love of her life only to be thrust into a demanding new public role. I had to imagine what it would be like to suddenly have more money than I could spend in a lifetime while trying to maintain a quiet, dignified existence. I had to think about how it would feel to live with a husband who crashed into three hundred-pound men for a living and to always be worried about his safety. I had to imagine women throwing themselves—and their underwear—at my husband in every city he visited, even when I was the pretty yet all-but-invisible woman by his side. And then I had to imagine the point I would reach when I couldn’t live like that anymore, no matter how much I loved him. I’d have to make the most difficult decision of my life, a decision that was as much about self-preservation as it was about ending a marriage. Later, after the dust had settled and my first love reappeared in my life, I suspect that I too would have been seduced by the peace and quiet he offered after the firestorm of my marriage.
Susannah’s journey is not one that’s apt to parallel most of ours, and while there wasn’t much about her life I could relate to, I came to admire her anyway. I admired the strength it took to give up her own goals to support the man she loved as he embarked on what would become a massively successful career. I admired the fortitude it took to keep him from becoming a spoiled, pampered superstar. I admired the moxie it took to divorce a man scores of other woman would kill to spend an hour with. I admired the tremendous effort it took to create a new life that didn’t include him. And finally, I admired the gumption it took to even consider giving him a second chance after the pothole-filled road she had already traveled with him. Susannah learned the hard way that sometimes love isn’t enough. Later she discovers some things can’t be replaced no matter how hard you try.
To the Cigar writers, have you created a character you have nothing in common with? Are there things about him or her that you came to admire? Have your characters been forced to acknowledge that sometimes all the love in the world isn’t enough when outside forces conspire to tear them apart? To the Cigar readers, how do you feel about characters you can’t easily relate to but who have many admirable qualities?
I’ll be giving away a copy of Line of Scrimmage to one Cigar-registered commenter, so let’s hear from you!
Welcome Marie! What great questions!
Love your blog -- your book sounds great, even though I am not into football at all, you really seem to focus more on the human element and the relationships, etc.
As for characters, I have run the range as well... I usually look at my HotWires series mostly, because they were a group of characters that I spent quite a bit of time with, and among them, some that were very relatable for me (EJ, Logan, and Charlotte) and others who were not people I would probably have a lot in common with. Sarah, most particularly, who was so intense and tough. I think I probably had more in common with Ian than I would like to think, LOL, but he would also drive me batty as a real life guy (maybe b/c we are so similar in some ways), and so he remains my favorite of the group, along with Charlotte, whom I also feel I have a lot in common with. Though I suppose all of our characters probably have some element of ourselves in them.
Though from a writing standpoint, I love both scenarios -- love writing a character that comes so "naturally" because they reflect a lot of my own life or thought processes, and then love a chance to play act by trying to get into the head of someone very different... It's actually refreshing to do that, and I always learn something. Sometimes I think my writing is better, too, when I am writing someone very different from myself.
Sam
Thanks for having me!
Hi Sam,
I'm glad to know it's not just me who has written characters who made them stretch as writers. And, don't worry about the football aspect of my book. I was SOOOOO not a fan until the Muse showed up with Ryan and forced me to immerse myself in football. Now I love it, but I was careful to not let it take over the book. There's just enough to provide a backdrop, The story is very much about a marriage in crisis and the lengths Ryan was willing to go to save it.
Marie
www.mariesullivanforce.com
Hi!
Hi, Marie! I'm totally intrigued now! I really love it when an author starts with a character that I might not have much in common with or that I find unsympathetic and then somehow turns that on its head in the story. When that happens, I end up liking the story even more--it's exciting to see how that person's character develops, or how it's revealed to me, and how her/his motivations are understandable to me.
For instance, Sugar Beth Carey in SEP's Ain't She Sweet was in a pretty deep hole for her actions as a younger person, but reading about her journey made this book one of my favorites. And Sebastian St. Vincent was the villain of the previous Wallflower story before we see him as a hero in Devil in Winter, probably my favorite in the series.
Those are probably more extreme than Susannah, who isn't so much unlikeable as completely different from me--I'm looking forward to reading her story!
Congrats on Line of Scrimmage, Marie--what's next for you? What are you working on now? And how are you celebrating this release? :)
I love Sugar Beth, too!
Hi Fedora,
Thanks so much for your lovely comments. I'm glad to have intrigued you! I can't get over how much excitment there has been among women and romance readers about a football book--this after we are told that sports heroes are supposedly a no-no! What do THEY know? More women watched the last Super Bowl than men. Can you believe that?
As for what's next for me, my second book Same Time Sunday, will be out in the spring. Here's the boilerplate on that one: A Baltimore prosecutor set to begin the biggest murder trial of his career and a hair stylist with a dysfunctional family meet in the airport on their way to visit their significant others in Florida. After they each endure a disastrous weekend, they meet up again on the flight home, striking up an unlikely friendship that leads to love.
I've been working on book two of a suspense series, but I have another single-title contemporary calling to me lately. However, it's not like me to abandon a half-finished MS, so I will probably finish this one before I move on. LOS was the seventh book I wrote, STS was the third, and I'm working on number 12 right now. I'm ready to rock and roll! :--) I'd love to see all of them in print someday. We'll see!
I am celebrating the release all over the blogosphere this week and having some real-time parties, etc. My family and friends are sooooo excited for me so it's been great fun to share this with them.
www.mariesullivanforce.com
Some wonderful insight
Marie:
First off I think the book sounds great, but you already know I feel that way.
Thanks for discussing your method on dealing with characters you don't readily relate to. This is the kind of insight that makes reading these blogs so much fun and helpful to read.
I've found myself using similar techniques with my current work in progress. Asking questions, getting into my characters head, understanding where they're coming from to make the decisions they do. There are times where my characters end up behaving differently than I initially planned because it just makes more sense. I've found myself saying, "But Julia would never do/say that" and having to make a change. In the end the book is stronger for it.
Good Luck,
Mike Myers
Hi Mike!
Thanks for coming by! I'm glad the blog was helpful to you. Since we all spend so much time toiling away on our own, it's always helpful to me when I realize other writers face the same challenges I do. I can't wait to read your book, and I hope you're making great progress!!
Marie
www.mariesullivanforce.com
Congratulations, Marie!
What a great post! I'm actually a huge football fan, having accompanied my dad (on the back of his Harley)to every high school football game our local team played. He didn't sit in the stands, he jogged along the sidelines, following the plays down the field, until I finally insisted it was undignified for me to do the same. Then he'd sit in the bleachers and explain every play to me. During NFL season, while other kids were watching Disney shows, I was curled up with my dad, watching Roger Staubach lead the Cowboys to victory. I didn't marry a sports fan, but my husband likes to say that he did, LOL!
I'd say that my heroine in Flyboy was a huge departure from what I'm familiar with. She was an aerospace engineer, while I really loathe anything to do with math or physics! She had a passion for fighter jets and was truly brilliant in her career. She was, at heart, one of the boys. I grew up with all sisters and never felt comfortable around the opposite sex (unless they were talking football, LOL), so writing her story was a stretch for me.
I can't wait to read Line of Scrimmage but am waiting until I can get an autographed copy directly from the author!! ;)
Thanks for joining us today, and congratulations again!!
Go Team!
Hey Karen,
I also remember watching Roger Stauback back in the 70s because I grew up with a sports nut brother. My mother was also OBSESSED with the Red Sox, and thanks to her both my brother and I (as well as both of our sons and our spouses) are today. That's why I tried to remake Ryan into a star shortstop, but he wasn't having that. He was football down to his marrow, and I was forced to adapt. I drove my poor husband crazy asking questions during the 06 season and surprised myself when I realized last year that I was watching the Pats because I WANTED to. I was the high school girl who went home not knowing who won the game--LOL! So this was a huge development for me at age 41. Of course the Pats made it pretty easy to watch last year by winning every game until that, um, last one.... But we won't get into that....
Look forward to signing your copy, Karen!
xo
Marie
www.mariesullivanforce.com
love the story concept
Susannah, you go girl!! Behind every good successful man stands a -----. We all know what the answer is and sadly, most often the ---- is hardly ever recognized and stays in the background.
Hi and welcome Marie; I totally love this story line; I see many aspects of it in my own first marriage(he wasn't a sports hero though). I now have the peace and quiet and I love it.
Ahhh peace and quiet....
Hi Buddy!
Thanks for coming by and I'm so glad to hear you are in a peaceful place today! You will have to read LOS to find out if Susannah gets her peace. ;--) Suffice it to say that Ryan will make sure she gets some craziness first!! Enjoy the book!
Marie
www.mariesullivanforce.com
Thanks for opening my eyes!!
I'm going to be honest with you, your blog just meant that I will buy this book!
I am not, never have been, and probably never will be a fan of football. I read and loved Susan Elizabeth Phillips' Chicago Stars books, though. But not one of them featured a football star on the cover.
If I had seen your book on a bookshelf I would have passed it over. And, now, I see how shortsighted (pun intended) that would have been.
It makes me wonder how many other books I've bypassed because of the cover. It's true, it's the back blurb (another blog topic recently) that draws me in but if I don't like the cover, I'd probably never make it to the blurb.
Sugar Beth, as mentioned above, is the first one who came to mind for me also!! Another is Margo in one of the Dream books by Nora Roberts (I always get the titles confused!). She was brash, arrogant and, in the end, touching.
So, again, thank you for your post, Marie!
ani
Yeah!!
Hi Ani,
I am so glad you decided to take another look at LOS. That's very exciting! I hope you will enjoy it as much as some of the other great books with fabulous heroines that you mentioned. Susannah has a tough job dealing with Ryan in all his glory. Can't you just imagine how exhausting it would be? Thanks for coming by!
Marie
www.mariesullivanforce.com
Line of Scrimmage
sounds like a great read.
I think as long as the story is well written I think that you will find something that you can relate to
Thanks!
Thanks Beth, I hope you enjoy it!!
Marie
www.mariesullivanforce.com
I agree with Beth!
I can be drawn in to just about any story as long as it is well written!! And a lot of times, just being human and having human emotions is enough to relate to a character. Again, provided that the writing is compelling.
That said, I am a football fan (though it comes in a distant second to hockey, LOL!). So, I look forward to checking this one out!
Congrats, Marie, on getting your book published!
Ohhhh Hockey!
While hockey players have those big shirts to cover their tight pants, we all know they've got the goods, too! In light of all the excitement, LOS has generated, I am thinking about more sports books. Hockey would be right up there after baseball for me! Thanks for coming by and for checking out LOS!!
www.mariesullivanforce.com
Hi Marie
Hi Marie,
Congrats on the release of your debut novel. I do get a special feeling when I'm reading about a character who is like me and I find myself nodding and agreeing with everything this person does and say. Reading about characters you can't relate to is very enjoyable, too. You might not understand where they're coming from in the beginning, but you learn about them as the book progresses and you will discover those admirable qualities and appreciate everything they have to offer. I look forward to reading Ryan and Susannah's story.
Thanks so much, Jane! I hope
Thanks so much, Jane! I hope you will find a bond with Ryan and Susannah. For all his money and fame, he has very ordinary problems and has to go to extraordinary lengths to solve them!
www.mariesullivanforce.com
As long as a story is well
As long as a story is well written, it doesn't matter to me if I can't relate to one of the characters.
I am puttong your book on my ToBuy list. I love sports stories.
Great subject!
Marie,
Wonderful to have you here. Congratulations on your debut book being released! I can't wait until I can say the same. :)
One of the best things about being a writer, IMO, is the ability to be someone else for awhile, to "walk in their shoes". While I've never been an heiress who's fighting an attraction to her sexy lifelong best friend (like the h/h in my current WIP) I get to experience that while writing my characters' story. Through my own filter, of course. ;) My characters haven't been forced to admit love isn't enough yet, but since my other WIP is a novella about a hero from Purgatory who falls in love with a very mortal woman, I think I'll be confronting that soon enough. LOL
I checked out your website and your editing services got my wheels spinning, so thank you! I'm an editor at a romance e-pub, but I may need to think about branching out a bit...
At any rate, Line of Scrimmage looks terrific! Can't wait to read it! :)
Cari
Love those juices...
Thanks for your comments, Cari. The editing service has been a fun way to channel my obsessive need to edit, but I've had to step back from it during the ramp up to LOS's release and my second book's due date--which was one day after the official launch date of LOS. HAHA (in a hysterical laughter sort of way). Let's just say I won't do that again! Good luck with your WIPs. They sound wonderful!!
Marie
www.mariesullivanforce.com
Line of Scrimmage sounds
Line of Scrimmage sounds great!
Thanks Amy!!
www.mariesullivanforce.com
Hi Marie!
Congrats on the new release! It sounds like a great read.
As a reader, I think it makes the story more interesting when the characters are not easily related, but if the hero/heroine has great qualities and if it is well-written and if it has a good story plot, I find it something to look forward to.
Thank you Acdais77
I'm glad to hear the reader's perspective, and i hope you enjoy the book!!
Marie
www.mariesullivanforce.com
Great Book!
I read this book last weekend and really enjoyed it. Congratulations on a great debut!
You made my day!
And it's not even 8 am in the east, Jen! So glad to hear you enjoyed it!!!
Marie
www.mariesullivanforce.com
Hi Marie
I like to read about women who come from a completely different place than I do. Often I can relate to some of their problems even if they aren't exactly the same as mine. I would say a majority of the books I read have heroes and heroines whose life is completely different from mine.
It does make life interesting, doesn't it?
To read about people whose lives differ from ours. I enjoyed putting myself in her place and trying to imagine what it would be like. That was fun, but writing Ryan? He was a blast! Enjoy the book!
www.mariesullivanforce.com
hi marie love the cover,
hi marie
love the cover, love football and hot boys in football uniforms and out of it.