Those Characters We So Lightly Call 'Secondary' by Virginia McCullough

For me, creating a big cast of characters is the best part of writing a series. In stand-alone novels, readers—and authors—have to say goodbye to the so-called secondary characters (although we’re often so fond of them). When we write series, it’s whole different ballgame. These best friends or siblings or classmates who show up in one book often get stories of their own. My favorite “secondary-to-main-characters” are women friends, who are as essential to most women as chocolate and shoes.



In my upcoming release, A Family for Jason, Ruby Driscoll agrees to come back to Bluestone River for the first time in twenty years, because her best friend Emma O’Connell needs her. Emma, a young widow, is nearly disabled from an old injury and now is having corrective back surgery. Ruby and Emma have seen each other often over the years, but not in Bluestone River, because Ruby has vowed to never to step foot in that town again. But Emma needs her now, so she can’t say no. 



Emma is ready for Ruby—in more ways than one. Here they are when Ruby first arrives:

Ruby took a couple of steps to stand behind Emma and fluff up the deep brown hair framing her face. “I love your short cut. And your hair is so shiny, like it always was. All you have to do run your fingers through it and you’re done.” She smiled at Emma in the mirror. “But you could shave half of your head and you’d still be beautiful.”  

Emma responded with an “oh, please,” groan. 

“Playing around with your hair brings back lots of memories. Remember how we used to put it all in giant rollers in useless attempts to make it curly?” Ruby laughed. “Now you’re lucky it’s straight as a stick and nice and thick.”

 Emma responded with a quick nod. “Not having my hair hanging down my back took some getting used to, but don’t become too attached to this pixie look.” She stood and gripped her walker. “As soon as I’m mobile and active like I used to be, I’m growing it back.”   

Ruby drew her head back at the rise in Em’s voice as she spoke each word. “Yes ma’am. You can do as you please.”   

“I didn’t mean to sound harsh.” Emma let out a soft chuckle. “My mind wasn’t really on my hair. I was recalling Neal demanding to know why I insisted we finish this room right away. And why in such a pale sage green? I told him it was the color of your bedroom growing up, and you’d chosen it yourself. It was like I knew one day you’d be back.” She paused. “Maybe even for good.”

Ruby’s throat closed. She’d committed to staying for only as long as Emma needed her. But long-term? Ruby couldn’t conjure up any circumstance that would keep her in Bluestone River. 

Well, maybe Ruby feels that way now, but hey, this is romance! As close as Ruby and Emma are, there are a couple of topics the two usually avoid. But Emma is recovering now and doesn’t mince words: 

Emma rested her head back on the couch cushion. She pulled a tube of lotion out of her pocket and squeezed some into her palms and began massaging it into her hands and arms. “Rubes, I love you, but you have no idea how much I envy you sometimes.” 

Ruby saw the ploy. She knew Emma well enough to be certain a heart-to-heart was coming and wasn’t going to be about the smell of the hand cream. Resigning herself to listening, she sank into the chair cushions across from Emma.  

A little envy was a part of their friendship. Not good, not bad. But not something they could deny, either. It was no secret she’d long envied Emma’s freedom to do exactly as she pleased without the need to glance at the price tag. Emma had never had to work and was free to use her money to support all kinds of projects. 

Emma smoothed the lotion over each finger. “Just once in my life, Rubes, I’d like to have a man look at me the way Mike looks at you.” 

Boom. The reality of Emma’s words was a blow to the center of her heart. The teenage Emma and Neal were no Ruby and Mike. It would be silly to argue otherwise. 

A trip I took to a town with a covered bridge gave birth to Bluestone River, and I’d wanted to tell Mike and Ruby’s story for a long time. But Emma quickly turned into one of those irresistible characters who took me by surprise. When Parker Davis comes to town, the two were very clear about wanting their story told. They didn’t need to twist my arm. I always knew Emma was no secondary anything!

__________________________________

An author of both fiction and nonfiction books, Virginia McCullough, writes about characters who could be our neighbors and friends struggling with everyday life issues. She’s been more or less living in her fictional town of Bluestone River, Illinois, a town that has seen better days, but could be making a comeback! Book 1 of the Back to Bluestone River series, A FAMILY FOR JASON, is due for an August release. Book 2 will follow in December.   

Born and raised in Chicago, Virginia has moved around a lot—mostly because she likes the idea of being vagabond. She now lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she enjoys hanging out with other romance writers and talking shop. Her other award-winning romance and women’s fiction titles include THE JACKS OF HER HEART, AMBER LIGHT, and GRETA’S GRACE. All Virginia’s books offer hope, healing, and plenty of second chances.

Visit Virginia on Facebook  or sign up for her mailing list at www.virginiamccullough.com


Comments

  1. Virginia, I love that a trip to a town with a covered bridge inspired your series. Isn't it great when things like that happen to a writer? Really enjoyed your excerpts! The book sounds amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks--yes, it was a fun trip, and took place years ago. That bridge stuck with me. Being a writer means nothing is wasted. No telling what or who will show up in a book!

      Delete
  2. Virginia, looking forward to your book. I love to read series, but always find it hard to write them as I want to move on in settings rather than stay in one place. I think 2 or 3 (and few at that) were the most I could do. We had covered bridges in our area of Oregon where I grew up. In fact, my dad (a logger/machinist) owned a truck with a high winch that accidentally took some of the cover off one old bridge. Hadn't thought about that in quite some time. LOL Of course he had to repair it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I noticed three was about my limit, too. Until I started writing about Bluestone River, I had no idea there was a society devoted to repairing and saving covered bridges. It's hard to explain why we find them so fascinating.

      Delete
  3. I also enjoy creating my characters, their motives, needs, personalities, quirks, etc. Sometimes secondary characters get first place in the future, sometimes not. But for the time I'm writing the story, they are often like family, even the less pleasant ones--let's face it, our families aren't all perfect either!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, you'll enjoy knowing that one of my not-so-nice incidental characters in the first book stuck with me, and I found a way to "redeem" him in book 2. Hey, the guy was an and old crab, but he wasn't a serial killer!

      Delete
  4. Sometimes the secondary characters are my favorites, because they're so entertaining. And I agree, it's fun to know they might be back in a new story. Can't wait to spend some time with Emma and Ruby.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I get it--these folks deserve a happy ending, don't they? Funny, in one of my women's fiction novels, a thirteen year old secondary character ended up being the true catalyst for all the other characters' changes. I hadn't known that would happen, so now she's back in my first draft of book 2 and will be a major player in book 3.

      Delete
  5. You are absolutely correct that women friends are as important as chocolate and shoes and I would add '' well-timed good cry'...can't wait to read this story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love writing about women friends, probably because they are my chocolate and shoes, so to speak. And yes, they understand a good cry.

      Delete
  6. I don't know who I'd be if I didn't have my women friends to lean on and enjoy life with. They make the hard times more manageable and the good times even better. Plus, they add a depth to a good romance. Looking forward to reading this, Virginia:-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think that's a question many women ask--our women friends are such precious gifts! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment