WELCOME BACK, MY FRIENDS
Last week I talked about how much of me is in the characters I create. In my opinion it’s inevitable for fiction writers. Of course, I could be all wrong, but I prefer not to go that route in this discussion.
Anyway, a character like Tobias King in my novel “Resurrecting Tobias,” really is like me standing in front of a mirror. If you ever want an in-depth look at Bill Holland the human being, pick up that book and read it through. Of course some of the things that happened in that book were fiction, but the essence of it….it’s me through and through.
Now let’s turn our attention to something I believe strongly in, namely the inherent strength of women.
But first, a quote.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” Eleanor Roosevelt
THOUGHTS ABOUT WOMEN IN MY NOVELS
Let me be as clear as possible regarding my leading women in my novels: you will never find a weak one. Period! If I have a female character who plays a leading role in my novel, she will be the equal of any man in that novel.
I think the time has come in our society for women to be treated like the pillars of strength they are. The age of women as second-class citizens needs to finally come to an end. History is filled with examples of women standing strong and not giving an inch, from the Oregon Trail to the World Wars to the Great Depression and on and on, and anyone who thinks women are nothing more than baby machines or “the weaker sex” needs to pull their head out of their arse.
In my “Shadow” series, Liz is the equal of Eli Baker, emotionally strong, physically strong and psychologically strong. In my “Billy the Kid” series, it’s Genna who provides stability in a turbulent word. In “Resurrecting Tobias,” it is Maria who says goodbye to Tobias because his self-destructive tendencies threaten to ruin her life, and it is Maria who eventually gives Tobias the support he needs to climb out of a living grave. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Sheila, my original fictional goddess, who is an indestructible force given the task of saving the environment, a task she is more than qualified to undertake.
Weak women?
When I think of weak human beings, my mind almost always goes to some males I have known during my lifetime.
So, if you’re a feminist, you just might like the women I write about.
One other thing about my fictional women….I try to never make them clichés. The hookers I write about are as real as I can make them. I want to make them real people with real feelings and a great backstory, so that even though they are prostitutes, they are also people you would want to know. The waitresses in the cafes in my stories are “real” and I want you to know them as people and not just “stage props.” The single mother of three is so much more in my stories….the hotel maid….the convenience store clerk….it is my job, as a writer, to humanize all of these people, and even if their background is a bit unsavory, they are still human beings deserving to have their individual stories told.
MARKETING
If you’ve never visited the Vistaprint site, do so today. They offer great prices and quality product for point-of-sale merchandise, something any writer looking to do a book signing or a book reading needs. I just bought some new business cards as well as flyers and a banner for my book booth at the farmers market….all very inexpensive and all paid for once I sell five books.
Check them out!
GREAT AUTHORS OF YOUR CITY
I was reading an article the other day in the Philadelphia Inquirer, or some such paper….sorry I don’t remember…but the article was about some of the great writers from Philadelphia…..Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, Edgar Allan Poe, James Michener, Pearl S. Buck……not a bad list at all.
And that got me thinking….who are the greatest writers from Olympia, Washington? Or how about your hometown or the city you now live? Here’s a thought….perhaps you are the greatest writer from your city. How incredibly cool would that be?
Just something to chew on!
SPEAKING OF GREAT AUTHORS
Michael Friedman is his name and The Carriage Driver is his game….check it out on Amazon.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK
Thanks, as always, for stopping by. I’m editing my fifth installment in the “Billy the Kid” series, and then I turn my attention to the third in the “Shadows” series. I continue to try to be the Greatest Unknown Author, my new goal. How about you? What are you up to?
Bill
Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Love that saying almost as much as I love that you will never find a weak woman in your writing. Happy Tuesday once again, Bill!! 🙂
Thank you Janine….Power to the Women!!!!!
Hi Bill, I agree about women of history being strong. n my conversation with a re-enactor the other day, we discussed how the women who accompanied the 8th PA regiment of the American Revolution had to work on half rations and the children on quarter rations. The re-enactor said that he thought the women worked harder than the men had to.
I have no doubt they did, Donna. Thanks for sharing that.
You sell your books at the farmer’s market!? Do tell!
I bet the conversation has to be so interesting. 😀 “Quail eggs and mystery? Why, yes, sit down and have a cuppa. Let’s talk!” <–Or at least that's how I'd imagine a conversation could go. LOL
Hope you're well, Big Bro!
All is well in my life, Lil Sis. Thanks for asking. You crack me up….crazy combo, right? A little goat cheese and quail egg snack while I give a brief reading. LOL Too funny!
Welcome back from vacation. Hope you had a great time. Did you see Yellowstone?
Thank you for your support of women in your books, and in life. I did see much of your character and background in Resurrecting Tobias. Yes, the book also has a strong female character — very inspiring!
Aw, thank you Dee! I feel strongly about this topic, as you know.
Bill
Like you I like ‘real people’ in the stories. I loved Genna in the ‘Billy the Kid’ series. Real people can have a moment or two of weakness, but that’s all it is then they get on with life and that’s what I love writing about.
I love it, Lawrence. I’m so tired of the cliche humans in many novels….writing should, in all genres other than fantasy, reflect real life…but that’s just my personal preference, of course. Thanks for your input.
Aaah Bill, yay!! One of my favourite books of all time is “The Stars Shine Down” by Sidney Sheldon. I LOVE his books, and this one especially, because of the strong female lead character. There’s just something about reading a book with strong women that pulls me in – I love it! And I love that you’re incorporating these characters into your stories. 🙂
Always good starting the day by reading one of your posts my friend. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday.
I was pretty sure, Mel, that this would resonate with you. Thank you and thanks for the suggestion about Sidney Sheldon.
Great post Bill! It made me think of a strong woman and a great writer from where I live…Julia Burgos. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_de_Burgos
Thanks for the reminder of how strong women are!
Hey Greg, thanks a lot, and thanks for the reference to Julia Burgos. I’ll check her out.
I’m familiar with Julia Burgos bio if not her writing. Poetry is not my thing. My last name is Burgos and my parents were from Puerto Rico. She may have been a relative as Burgos is a large family and Puerto Rico is a small island. 🙂
Good post, Bill, but why did you qualify it writing implying that strong women are for feminists. Strong women appeal to feminists and non-feminists alike because feminists enjoying reading about people like themselves and non-feminists enjoy reading about them because they admire them and aspire to them in their own way. I’m not having a go, I’m just saying.
Good points, Zulma…thank God you’re around to straighten me out….quick answer, I was in too much of a hurry when I wrote this and your point slipped right by me.
Isn’t it wonderful that women in your novels my friend are treated suitable to their role assigned by the Creator ?! Seeing women in real world subdued and mistreated by the cowardly, selfish men points to the downfall of livable /ethical standard in society. (My observation). Wherever a man treats his woman as princes, she makes him a king of the household. Oops, I am derailing again.
MIchael my friend, you did not derail far. You are absolutely correct in your summation, and I thank you as always.
blessings on this fine Wednesday
I love the women in your novels. You have such great respect for women and recognize their strengths. I would imagine Bev is as much Liz as you are Tobias. In fact, I’d venture to say there’s a little bit of Bev in all your female leads.
I hope all is well with Bev. I saw your post on FB yesterday. I know I was a little late, but know my thoughts are with you both.
Sha, I would have to say you are right on with regards to Bev/Liz/….she is my inspiration more times than not.
Thank you for your well-wishes. She is doing all right at the moment. Still don’t know the cause but at least she isn’t in pain.