From childhood, I’ve been an avid reader, and the stories that made the most impact on me were frequently the fantasies that featured a heroic journey. The Tolkien Trilogy and the Hobbit are the first that come to mind, but there were other stories that feature heroes and heroines on a quest of some sort. That influence tends to show in some of my stories. I like taking characters out of their comfort zone and sending them down the road.
The journey is symbolic. I like to use the journey or quest to reflect the inner evolution of my characters. In Belle Starr, Belle goes on a hunt for a criminal. Later, that journey becomes a desperate search for her missing companion, the wolf Tucker. From the beginning of that hunt, to the end, she evolves as a character. Her priorities change, as does her entire perspective on life.
In my new release, An Uncommon Whore, the majority of the book takes place as Helios Dayspring and Griffin Hawke travel to their new home planet. At the beginning of the story, Helios is a fairly simple man. His needs and wants consist mainly of freeing himself from slavery and getting off the planet that he’s been trapped on. Beyond that, he has no goals, and few desires. As the journey continues, he becomes more complex, and while he stays true to the kind, clever man he is at the start of the book, by the time the journey ends, he is returned to his true destiny in life. Perhaps he’s a better man because of the trials that he’s experienced.
Captain Griffin Hawke was a bit of a challenge. Since the story is told from the point of view of Helios, he observes and documents the changes in Griffin. The Captain’s journey is largely emotional. His hurdles are those of trust, faith and self-worth. There is no doubt that he loves Helios, but Griffin can’t see any future beyond the end of the journey. He’s locked in the past and has no faith that their relationship will endure. While Helios has no memories at all, Griffin is crippled by too many memories. Time has crushed his dreams and hopes, and as the journey unwinds, he slowly rediscovers those dreams and once again begins to hope for a better life.
Every story is a journey of sorts. At the end of this story, we see that in reality, Helios' and Griffin's story is really just beginning.
An Uncommon Whore releases January 26 at Loose Id publishing.
Please visit my website: http://www.belindamcbride.com
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