Robin Mahle's Blog - Posts Tagged "mystery-suspense"
The Inspiration for Katie Reid (Redwood Violet Series)
This was a guest blog post that I wrote some time ago, but I thought it fitting to post on my own blog this time around. I have begun writing the third book in the series and, after almost a year having passed since book two, I needed to reacquaint myself with Katie’s world; her ideals and her strengths. It also serves as a reminder of why I created Katie Reid.
In an age where many young girls consider the pop stars and reality TV stars of today to be role models, I find it increasingly important to bring to light female characters that are far from being shrinking violets and who know that they are more than just their physical selves. Women who are not only capable of standing on their own two feet, but often take the lead in situations that even some men would fear.
Katie Reid, the heroine my Redwood Violet series, is just such a character. However, when we first meet her, she is still naïve to the ways of the world. But, she is young and idealistic and never had a strong female influence while growing up. At least, that’s what we are led to believe. It’s much later that we find out differently.
It can be difficult to create a female character who is strong, yet vulnerable; who is powerful, yet fearful and one who can maintain the idealism of love and family.
We see some of each of these qualities in Katie. Some characteristics are prevalent early on and others develop as we watch her struggle with a difficult reality from which most people would run.
My inspiration for Katie came from an assortment of influences. Of course, my mother was perhaps my biggest influence. She overcame a painful past and raised her daughters to be confident and independent. I have also grown up with an amazing group of female friends who are just about the strongest women I have ever met. It is primarily with their support that I am here today talking about my novels.
But when we watch Katie evolve; transform as a result of her discovery, we see the woman inside the girl emerge. Her strength grows beyond what even I could have imagined.
I guess you could say that I have a very idealistic view of how women should be. I believe we all should stand tall and confident; never fear what others think of us and always be true to ourselves. I’m not sure that I always behave that way, but when I start to second-guess my actions, I look to my characters for inspiration. They keep me strong and I, in turn, pass that strength along to my own daughter. I try to teach her that she does not need to conform to societal expectations. She can be happy with a partner in an equitable relationship, maintain a career of her choosing and pass along these same traits to her own children one day.
I believe this is how Katie Reid would live her life.
In an age where many young girls consider the pop stars and reality TV stars of today to be role models, I find it increasingly important to bring to light female characters that are far from being shrinking violets and who know that they are more than just their physical selves. Women who are not only capable of standing on their own two feet, but often take the lead in situations that even some men would fear.
Katie Reid, the heroine my Redwood Violet series, is just such a character. However, when we first meet her, she is still naïve to the ways of the world. But, she is young and idealistic and never had a strong female influence while growing up. At least, that’s what we are led to believe. It’s much later that we find out differently.
It can be difficult to create a female character who is strong, yet vulnerable; who is powerful, yet fearful and one who can maintain the idealism of love and family.
We see some of each of these qualities in Katie. Some characteristics are prevalent early on and others develop as we watch her struggle with a difficult reality from which most people would run.
My inspiration for Katie came from an assortment of influences. Of course, my mother was perhaps my biggest influence. She overcame a painful past and raised her daughters to be confident and independent. I have also grown up with an amazing group of female friends who are just about the strongest women I have ever met. It is primarily with their support that I am here today talking about my novels.
But when we watch Katie evolve; transform as a result of her discovery, we see the woman inside the girl emerge. Her strength grows beyond what even I could have imagined.
I guess you could say that I have a very idealistic view of how women should be. I believe we all should stand tall and confident; never fear what others think of us and always be true to ourselves. I’m not sure that I always behave that way, but when I start to second-guess my actions, I look to my characters for inspiration. They keep me strong and I, in turn, pass that strength along to my own daughter. I try to teach her that she does not need to conform to societal expectations. She can be happy with a partner in an equitable relationship, maintain a career of her choosing and pass along these same traits to her own children one day.
I believe this is how Katie Reid would live her life.
How I Fell in Love with Writing Mystery and Suspense
To answer this question, I need to take you back to the beginning. And when I say beginning, I mean when I was about nine years old and my older sister and I watched the movie, The Omen, when we weren’t supposed to. It was on regular television, but I can tell you that it still scared the bejeebers out of me! To this day, I can’t listen to the theme music!
Fast forward to my teenage years and there was my mom, who read a book every two days or so, horror mostly, and with me asking if I could try one out. Up until that point, I’d read a lot VC Andrews and was growing fond of the darker stories. She gave me a copy of Stephen King’s Christine. Holy cow! For my young mind, that book was awesome and creepy and terrifying. I loved it!
After that, I consumed just about every King book I could get my hands on. Then I turned to Dean Koontz and Thomas Harris a little later on in life.
So with those influences, one would think I would write horror, but the thing is, I just don’t have the right combination of brilliant yet gruesome prose. I kind of wish I did. Instead I opted to write stories that held the best elements of those stories; suspense tossed in with mystery and just a hint of fear to top it off. Sometimes, those can be just a terrifying as reading books filled with blood and guts and things.
With my latest novel, Landslide, I think I’ve managed to write a story with an appropriate blend of suspense and mystery and thriller. I hope readers will want to follow the lead character, Claire McKenna, through the difficult and frightening situations in which she finds herself entangled. It is, I believe, a page-turning and suspenseful story!
Fast forward to my teenage years and there was my mom, who read a book every two days or so, horror mostly, and with me asking if I could try one out. Up until that point, I’d read a lot VC Andrews and was growing fond of the darker stories. She gave me a copy of Stephen King’s Christine. Holy cow! For my young mind, that book was awesome and creepy and terrifying. I loved it!
After that, I consumed just about every King book I could get my hands on. Then I turned to Dean Koontz and Thomas Harris a little later on in life.
So with those influences, one would think I would write horror, but the thing is, I just don’t have the right combination of brilliant yet gruesome prose. I kind of wish I did. Instead I opted to write stories that held the best elements of those stories; suspense tossed in with mystery and just a hint of fear to top it off. Sometimes, those can be just a terrifying as reading books filled with blood and guts and things.
With my latest novel, Landslide, I think I’ve managed to write a story with an appropriate blend of suspense and mystery and thriller. I hope readers will want to follow the lead character, Claire McKenna, through the difficult and frightening situations in which she finds herself entangled. It is, I believe, a page-turning and suspenseful story!
