Welcome, ladies and gentleman, to the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season! Ignore all those pumpkins and mums and you'll begin to notice the encroaching signs of lights, trees, etc.
And to get you in the spirit... (drum roll please)... "A Very Merry Christmas" has hit the stands. Thanks to those of you who have already bought a a copy... hope it puts you in the mood for some Christmas cheer. :)
"A Very Merry Christmas" includes Lori Foster's story about Marci, who is the sister of the heroine in "Bad Boys of Summer". My novella is a "Red Riding Hood lost in the woods" story, and I hope you'll fall in love with the "wolf" who finds her. Rounding out the anthology is a story by Brava author Gemma Bruce.
December seems like a long way away, but with a big "to do" list, it will be here before we know it. I'm blogging instead of writing, so I'd better not let Bad Barb see this!
I've had company all weekend, and I am a bit zapped... the first of them arrived Thursday afternoon at 3 and the last of them just left forty-five minutes ago at ten a.m. Lots of fun, but sort of a madhouse at times...
Which leads me to today's question - Do you like books with a huge cast of characters, or do you prefer a story that rests pretty much exclusively with the hero and heroine and their developing story? Or does it depend on what type of book it is?
I've heard editors say that it's easy for secondary characters to deflect attention from the main story, but on the other hand, readers sometimes get attached to the minor characters and want to hear more. So where do you weigh in on the subject? I'd love to hear your answers!
I'm hoping this Monday isn't too stressful for all our vamps and scamps. You all deserve a great start to the week, and if you don't get it, there is always chocolate...
Until later,
Janice
9 comments:
I like stories that are about the hero and heroine, although secondary characters can come into it as long as they don't take over the main book, but you don't need a huge amount of secondary characters.
Personally, I like it when we get intrigued with the secondary characters and then get their stories in a book of their own. Such as Marci in A Very Merry Christmas...
A Very Merry Christmas is a terrific read and if you have not picked it up, please do, because you will so enjoy it.
I don't mind if there are a few secondary characters, but I like the story to focus mainly on the hero and heroine. However, when secondary characters are written well, I fall in love with them, too.
Thanks Diana and Cryna - it is always good to hear readers' opinions. I, too, enjoy interesting secondary characters, but I also love those books where the story between the hero and heroine is so intense, there is no room for anyone else!
Janice
I agree that there should only be a few secondary characters, but really it's based on the length of the story. And secondary characters should be there for a reason, not just to fill space.
In "By Firelight", Maddy and Grant didn't need anyone else, well, except for Van Gogh, so as I reader, I could concentrate fully on their relationship. Those are really the best kind.
I read this anthology this past week and adored all the stories, but it was great to revisit Marcie and see her get her own HEA!
Stacy, Lori, and Brandy - Thanks for weighing in on the subject! I do enjoy "following" characters, but there are times when I just want the central love story. So I'd say we have agreed that there is a time and place for both.
Thanks ladies for stopping by!
First I want to say I loved this book and thought all the stories were great!!
I enjoy secondary characters in books as long as they don't take up too much of the story. LIke someone else mentioned here, if they are written well, I fall in love with them too!
I like stories that rest mainly on the two main characters, but I enjoy secondary characters when they don't take anything away from the story but add to it, as I find that I need to have a little more info than the main characters can give and that I feel seems to be the part that the secondary characters play. Also the secondary characters tend to provide a little lightness away from the intensity of the main characters parts.
Yep as Diana so clearly stated when secondary characters are written well, I fall in love with them, too.
Hey, Kelley and Natalie! Kelley - I'm glad you liked the book. :)
Natalie - sounds like you think like the rest of us! Great minds in sync and all that!!
Janice
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