• About
  • Book 1: Rider’s Revenge
  • Book 2: Rider’s Rescue
  • Book 3: Rider’s Resolve

Alessandra Clarke

~ Author of The Rider's Revenge Trilogy

Alessandra Clarke

Monthly Archives: October 2015

Writing A Complex Older Female Character

28 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by Alessandra Clarke in Rider's Revenge

≈ Comments Off on Writing A Complex Older Female Character

Tags

nuanced characters, older women, readers make the novel as much as the writer does, Rider's Revenge by Alessandra Clarke, strong female characters

I’ll confess something before I start this post: There’s a part of me that hates to talk about my own writing.  It seems so pretentious somehow to try to tell readers what they’re reading.  Sure, I wrote the book, but once it’s written it’s really up to each individual reader how they interpret it and see the world I created.

But I’m going to talk about my writing, because, well, it seems to be the thing you do as a writer with a blog geared towards your readers.

And today’s topic is going to be about writing an older female character who is complicated and nuanced and real.

Now, when I was writing Rider’s Revenge I didn’t think to myself, “I should include a strong older female character because there isn’t enough diverse representation of older female characters in literature and I want to address that.”  Didn’t cross my mind that it was a good thing to do at all.

I’m a pantser as a writer, meaning I’m not even sure what’s going to happen next until the words hit the page.  (Those two big twists at the end of the book?  Had no clue they were coming until they happened.  The one you probably saw coming about halfway through the book?  That one I did know about going in.  Funny how that works.)

So Herin was just there when I reached that point in the story.  (And she’s actually not the only strong older female character, is she?  K’lrsa’s mom and Lodie would qualify as well.)  Without giving away too much of the story Herin is a woman with power in a society that denies all women power.  And she does it despite the fact that she was basically captive for twenty-five years and is missing the first joint on each of her fingers and her thumbs.

Is she a hag or witch like so many older women in literature? (Like this article discusses.)  There’s that aspect to her.  She didn’t reach the position she did by kissing babies and being all lovey-dovey to everyone around her.  And she does have certain unique skills.

But she’s not evil.  She’s not actively trying to harm those around her.  She’s just a woman who knows what matters to her and is willing to do what she must to make that happen or protect what she’s already accomplished.

She’s also more than her ambitions.  She loves very deeply and is loyal to the point of painfulness at times.  (At least I think so.)

Why did I write her that way?  Because that’s how people are.  They aren’t one thing.  They’re complicated and each has their own loves and losses, no matter their age or gender or ethnicity.

I like to think that every character in my novel is nuanced and a real person with multiple facets to their personality, just like all the people I know in my real life.

Did I pull it off?  I don’t know.  Only my readers can answer that question.  And I suspect that for each reader there is some particular aspect of the story that drew them in.  I probably have readers that didn’t even give Herin a second thought.

And that’s okay.  Because at the end of the day I write the story, but it’s the reader who makes the story come alive.

(I told you.  I am horrible at discussing my writing…)

50% Off On Kobo, 3 Days Only

27 Tuesday Oct 2015

Posted by Alessandra Clarke in Rider's Revenge

≈ Comments Off on 50% Off On Kobo, 3 Days Only

Tags

50% of promo on Kobo, Rider's Revenge by Alessandra Clarke

Looks like Kobo is running a 50% off sale on all of their KWL titles for three days only!  This should include Rider’s Revenge.  (Among 1.3 million other titles.)

So, act fast if you want to get Rider’s Revenge or any of those other titles for half off.  Starts today in the States, tomorrow in Canada, and Friday in the UK.

Click here for promo codes and date details.

What To Say?

25 Sunday Oct 2015

Posted by Alessandra Clarke in Rider's Revenge

≈ Comments Off on What To Say?

Tags

ask me anything please, Rider's Revenge by Alessandra Clarke

It turns out I am horrible at social media.  I have this blog and a twitter account for Alessandra Clarke, but I honestly don’t know what to say on them.  I spent hundreds of hours with Rider’s Revenge, what interests me about the book at this point is probably not what would interest my readers.

And, after a recent interaction with one of my writer heroes I can also say that how an author perceives a character may be very different from how a reader perceives that same character.

Which is my long-winded way of saying if there is anyone reading this blog who has read Rider’s Revenge and would like to see me talk about something in the book on the blog, please feel free to reach out and let me know.  Otherwise I’ll come up with random things to talk about that may make you shake your head.  Or think, “Was that really part of the book? How did I miss that?”

For example, as I was proofing the book that final time I kept wondering if the book was too feminist.  I’m not even sure what too feminist would even mean, but that’s writerly neurosis for you.  No one has mentioned a thing about it being the least bit feminist yet, so I think I’m actually safe on that score, but can you see now how writers sort of twist themselves up over the most obscure concerns and then can miss something really basic?

That’s me.  So, please, feel free to reach out and ask questions.  My email is aclarkewriter at gmail.  I’d love to hear from you.

 

Rider’s Revenge is Out!

05 Monday Oct 2015

Posted by Alessandra Clarke in Rider's Revenge

≈ Comments Off on Rider’s Revenge is Out!

Tags

bargainbooksy, freebooksy, goodreads giveaway, john scalzi blog, new in books, Rider's Revenge by Alessandra Clarke, sirens conference

Okay, so it’s actually been out for almost a week now, but on launch day there wasn’t much to say other than, “hey, it’s out.”  But today was pretty cool, because John Scalzi included the paperback of the book in his photo of new books/ARCs.  And I’m in company with some of my writing heroes, like George RR Martin and Lois McMaster Bujold.

Sure, it’s really just because of timing and all, but STILL.  How cool is that?

Of course, the folks at New In Books did me an awesome turn, too.  They listed Rider’s Revenge as one of the best new fantasy books with female protagonists.  (If you haven’t subscribed to their lists yet, you should.  Those folks rock.  Also check out Bargainbooksy and Freeboosky if you’re not already subscribed.)

And I have my first review up on Amazon and it’s five-stars.  So, yay for that!

Of course, because of that review I now realize that the book maybe ends on more of a cliffhanger than I’d thought.  The main conflict that sets K’lrsa off on her journey IS resolved in this book. I promise you that.  It’s just that other events also happen right at the end that make readers want more.  And more WILL be coming.  I’m not going to name a date because I don’t want to jinx it, but should be in the first half of next year.

Finally, if anyone is going to be at the Sirens Conference this weekend, I’ll be there.  Track me down and say hi.  I’ll also be signing copies of Rider’s Revenge on Friday/Saturday.  They’ll have a few copies for sale in the bookstore at the conference if you don’t already have a copy.

And that’s that.  Book’s out and so far so good.  Grab a copy if you haven’t already.

OOPS!  Edited to add that I’m also doing a Goodreads giveaway starting midnight October 8th, ending on the 31st.  Open to anyone in the U.S. or Canada.  (If you can wait that long, enter!)

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Archives

Categories

October 2015
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Sep   Dec »

Category Cloud

Reading Related Rider's Rescue Rider's Resolve Rider's Revenge Uncategorized

Notice

This site uses affiliate links, so if you click on a product link from this site and purchase a product the owner of the site may be compensated for directing you to that vendor.

Publication Day!October 1, 2015
Aaaand Publish!

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy