I wish that I had some notable, classicaly reference for introduction to the mythos (and perhaps probability) of the female warrior. I would love to go into depth about being inspired by Valkyries, the female Gladiators of ancient rome or even Joan of Arc, but honestly, I was inspired by the Conan Universe, mainly by Red Sonja ( Brigitte Nielsen), Conan's mother, Valeria (Sandahl Bergman) and of course Zula (Grace Jones). When I was a wee kid, back in the early eighties, I saw those women on the screen and I was like...Hells Yeah. They were all females that could not only hold their own against and with Conan, but they did so without dripping sexuality. None were drop dead gorgeous and they all seemed flawed and somewhat harsh at times.
Born into a matriarchy, I would look at my mother and easily imagine her with a giant broadsword or a battle axe or war hammer in hand. I imagine one in my hand (especially at work). From the time I was introduced to the Conan Universe (movies, comics, graphic novels) I have yearned to write stories about female warriors, not with agility or speed, but with physical power. And from such a need, Freya arose. In "A Guardian's Desire," she is a wrecking ball and yes some what of a wreck. She went against a demon of a beast and nearly lost her life. From that defeat, she realizes that she is more than just an instrument of destruction. Of course, she learns that through not only a saucy, handsome Beta but also through his overbearing hulk of an Alpha. Still all of that knowledge doesn't weaken her and it doesn't take away from her love of combat or her position as a warrior woman.
I rarely write about females, but that is not a bias from me, it's just slightly more personal. I never want to write about a female needing to be saved, or needing to be protected. I can be over critical, jealous or even sceptical of many depictions of female characters. Yet, the female warrior, covered in dirt, blood, moody and just as grissled as I can be in the morning before coffee...well I can deal with that. I want my female characters to be able to fight beside their males...just like in the Conan Universe :D and Freya loves to fight!
