The Characters Who Live Rent-Free in My Head

As an author, asking me which character I’ve written is my favorite is like asking a parent which child is their favorite. We’re not supposed to have favorites. But…I may not have a favorite child, but as an author, I have about four characters that I simply adore.

Anyone who has followed me over on other social media sites for any amount of time knows the name that tops that list is A.J. Adams, Jr. A.J. was one of those characters who lived in my head for almost 30 years before I found a new way to tell the story of how he met and fell in love with Allison Webster. That new way became South of Forever (originally published as Smolder on a Slow Burn).

And, there was Klint St. John in the Grooms of Tonica series. …sigh… When the Grooms were originally in the Brokken Road series, I fell head over heels for Klint, but he wasn’t my character. When the series ended and the authors within the series began pulling their books from publication, I begged Klint’s creator to let me have him. I wanted to write his story. I knew he was more nuanced and layered than the few glimpses the readers had of him in the original series. Shelia graciously allowed me to “steal” Klint from her.

Now, there’s Hunter Mowberry in my Iron Oath Sentinels series. Hunter won’t be released until November or December (depending on when he comes back from my editor). I have never written a more complicated, broken, nuanced MMC than Hunter. I can’t wait to share Hunter and the love of his life, Prudence, with you. I’m hoping you’ll love him as much as I do.

The fourth is Tommy. He started out in a supporting role in my Iron Oath Sentinels series in Jefferson’s book, but he quickly became a scene stealer. WC Fields once wisely said to never act alongside of dogs or kids because they will steal the scene. That was Tommy. A street-savvy kid who just wanted what all kids want: safety, security, and a place to call home.