Today we welcome author Karyn Pearson on what kick ass heroines are made of. Enjoy!
***
What are Kick Ass Heroines made of? What traits does a heroine need before she’s considered as a member of such ranks? At what point does she earn the right to rub shoulders with Hermione Granger, Katniss Everdeen, and Annabeth Chase? Or with Lara Croft, Buffy Summers, and Xena?
A Kick Ass Heroine doesn’t need a hero. She’s her own savior. She stands tall on her own two feet and she’s not waiting around for the prince to save the kingdom. She’s out there in the thick of it, facing dragons, fighting wars, and she’s kicking ass and taking names. Did the princess get kidnapped? The heroine’s got this. Has a sinister villain begun to unveil their plans for world domination? The heroine’s got that too.
Charming, who? A Kick Ass Heroine doesn’t need a Prince Charming. She’s not getting herself sidetracked or caught up in the midst of a love triangle. She’s got far bigger fish to fry—like taking down the bad guy and saving the world. Romance is the least of her worries. But if she finds someone along the way, that’s fine too. She won’t let her love interest hold her back from accomplishing her goals. Evil isn’t going to take a break, so she can’t afford to take one either.
Everything is for the greater good. A heroine makes sacrifices. Sometimes, she often finds herself having to be willing to lose something important to her for the sake of saving others. A Kick Ass Heroine has a very clear sense of the “good of one vs. good of all” mentality. Every action she takes is for the greater good. She understands that even though she has to put the things she wants on hold, in the end, everything she’s done for the “good of all” will be worth it.
Tough as nails on the outside, a caring heart on the inside. While her rough exterior might make her seem aloof, a Kick Ass Heroine is anything but. She is strong, inside and out. She can take a few punches, whether they’re physical or emotional blows. If she’s knocked down she can dust herself off and get back up again. But all that toughness hides her compassionate heart, which will always compel her to come to the aid of those in need. She will use her strength to protect these people, especially the ones she cares about.
So where do my characters stand? How do they embody the characteristics of a Kick Ass Heroine? In the Hellfire Trilogy, my heroine, Ardentia, is a demon hunter living in the midst of a post-apocalyptic world where angels and demons are at war with one another. Over the course of the trilogy, Ardentia stands in the face of Hell and ultimately becomes their greatest threat. She chooses to take action instead of wait on saviors who might not succeed without her. While her skill set is squarely in her undeterred willingness to fight against the worst possible odds, it is enhanced by her courage not to back down when all others would have.
Ardentia easily falls into the characteristics I have outlined above. Thus far, her journey has pitted her against countless demons of Hell. She faced the Seven Deadly Sins, the Saligia, in Spark. In Inferno, she found herself facing Belial, a Crown Prince of Hell. Now, the journey that lies ahead will lead her to do battle with the most powerful, most dangerous of them all, Lucifer himself.
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karyn Pearson is the author of Spark (Hellfire Trilogy #1) and Inferno (Hellfire Trilogy #2). Her upcoming projects include Embers (Hellfire Trilogy #3) and the first novel in her upcoming series, Arcturian Bloodlines. When she’s not writing, she can be found gaming, playing with her dogs, or reading.
Purchase Links:
Spark (Hellfire Trilogy #1) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E2SY4JY
Inferno (Hellfire Trilogy #2) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I52PMF8/
