The Power of Unlawful Heroes and Heroines by Tricia Skinner, Author of Angel Lover

Today author Tricia Skinner joins us with a post about darker heroes and heroines. She has listed some of my favorite characters in her post, including Dexter Morgan and Black Widow. There is something intriguing about someone walking that fine line, especially when we never know which side they'll ultimately choose.

The Power of Unlawful Heroes and Heroines

By Tricia Skinner

Black Widow. Captain Jack Sparrow. V. Nikita. Sarah Connor. Jericho Barrons in Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, or Zoe in Firefly. What they all have in common is the "hell yeah" factor that makes heroes and heroines fresh and vibrant in today's urban fantasy and paranormal romance novels, television shows, and movies.

The draw for characters that will do anything necessary to reach their goals is what makes them so interesting to watch or read. Don't you sit a little straighter when reading how the hero or heroine plans to get information from a source. They're not planning to have a nice chat. They plan to break some bones, spill some blood, possibly threaten a few innocent people, all to get what they need.

This type of hero comes in many shades. We pay close attention to their motivations, and we crave tiny morsels of information that provide a clue to their way of thinking. What happened to them to make them so scarred inside? How could a woman be so hardened she doesn't think twice about spying on people who trust her? What makes a man sacrifice himself if he can only achieve vengeance first?

Often the character has been through unimaginable pain and heartbreak. The affect on a child's psyche, as with TV’s Dexter Morgan, could turn them into monsters as adults except for an outside influence. In this case, Dexter's adopted father.

But there are other characters that seem to revel in their chaotic nature. Captain Jack Sparrow couldn't walk a straight line, whether sober or full of rum. It's not his nature, and it wouldn't have made him as endearing to audiences if he was a clean and straight laced as the admiral, by comparison.

In my novel, Angel Lover, hero Kas is a good man with confidence issues. He’s not as powerful as the other three Nephilim on his team, and that weakness eats away at him. Yet that same aspect pushes Kas to do his best at all times. He’s courageous and crafty, and he’s willing to see a plan through to the end, no matter the outcome.

The flip side is Kas doesn’t see his abilities are special. He doesn’t see himself on the same level as his brethren, and that leads him to take risks he shouldn’t. He’s an assassin and should follow orders, but Kas abandons part of himself--the good part--in pursuit of victory.

That's the kind of story that sucks me in as a reader. Never knowing when the hero or heroine will slip into their darker selves to complete a mission makes for great reading or viewing material.

Angel Lover

Tricia Skinner

Paranormal Romance
Entangled Publishing
June 30, 2015

Amazon | B&N | Entangled | Goodreads

There's no danger greater than falling for your enemy...

The Nephilim are bound. Their powers cursed. But half-angel Kasdeja will do anything to free them from Heaven's tyranny. When Kas is approached by a striking, mysterious woman, she tells him his greatest enemies hold the key to his freedom.

Mariel keeps herself shrouded in secrets, using them to hide her true self. For she is not just employed by the Renegades--enemy fallen angels—she is a double agent, working on the sly for Heaven. Her directive is to seduce the gorgeous Nephilim—despite her insecurity about such sensual acts.

For Mariel is playing a dangerous game, and falling for Kas could only cause trouble; her assignment isn't just seduction. It's destruction.

About the Author

Tricia Skinner is an author of passionate dark fantasy. She is a features writer for Fresh Fiction and a project manager for Short Fuse. She began her writing career as a business reporter and wrote for The Detroit News, Investor’s Business Daily, MSN, and The Houston Chronicle.

Raised in Detroit, Tricia graduated with a BA degree from the nationally acclaimed Journalism Institute for Media Diversity at Wayne State University. She earned a Masters of Liberal Studies – Creative Writing degree from Southern Methodist University and will obtain a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University in 2017.

Diversity in genre fiction is dear to Tricia’s heart. She is represented by Laurie McLean, co-founder of Fuse Literary Agency.

When not writing, Tricia can be found reading, lifting weights, or geeking out over games, movies, and music. She has a Tom Hiddleston obsession, and she is Team Vader. Her family includes three Great Danes (so far).

Author Website: http://www.triciaskinner.com

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorTrish

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTriciaSkinner

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/triciaskinner

Newsletter: http://www.triciaskinner.com/newsletter/

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