It may surprise some of you to know that the character I consider my most important to date is not one of my main characters. It’s Sheba Burris from Love’s Redemption. She’s a former alcoholic who works in a mid-grade restaurant. At first glance, she seems low key, but Sheba supports the lead female character through one of the most trying times of her life, offering love and guidance based on her own experiences. I think in real life, we are all supporting characters for someone else’s life story. I only hope I have something of Sheba in me.
Another one of my characters who likes to dole out sage advice is Leora Spencer from Waiting For You. This mother of five grown children has a way of getting the other characters to come to the solution to their problems in a way that makes them think they did it all by themselves. I wish we were all blessed with such a mother.
Sometimes the supporting character is there to offer comic relief. Sadie Harding from Heart’s Desire is such a one. She’s definitely one to tell exactly what’s on her mind, even if it’s slightly inappropriate. Then there’s Aaron Lowery from Irresistibly Yours who likes to tell corny dad jokes. What’s red and bad for your teeth? A brick.
A memorable side character doesn’t always have to be a nice one. When I asked my readers who was my most memorable mother, the response was unanimous—Jamie Foster from Heart’s Desire. Boy is she a piece of work. And just so you don’t accuse me of discriminating against mothers, (Jamie isn’t the only one up for the bad mother award.) I’m pretty sure the worst father award goes to Abraham Sutton from Persuaded.
So, tell me about a side character who had an impact on you? What made them memorable? Leave a comment for a chance to win an eBook copy of Love’s Redemption. Winner will be announced May 31.
Virginia Smith has a book Sincerely, Mayla which has a secondary character that gave me hope. Aunt Louisa looks after her mother, Mayla’s grandmother. Louisa is a carer and very much under the thumb of her mother. In the book when Mayla goes for a visit Aunt Louisa has a male friend but “grandmother” puts obstacles in the way to stop her going out. Mayla see what she is doing and she says she will stay with her grandmother and gives Louisa the strength to stand up to her. At the time I was in a similar situation minus the boyfriend but very much manipulated by my mother. (This grandmother did changed when she was called out about it and she knew exactly what she was doing) Mum had moved to a nursing home when I read this but she was still using emotional blackmail. But Aunt Louisa gave me hope that one day I may find someone and I would have the strength to stand up for myself. I read this book around 10 years ago but still remember it clearly.
I love that you read a book 10 years ago and you still remember its impact. And I’m super glad it helped you overcome what you were going through. Healing from such things is an ongoing journey, and I pray it continues.
Thanks for an introduction to another author
I loved Dean’s gradfather in Julie Arduini’s Match Made in Heaven (which I found courtesy of Inspy Romance from one of Julie’s posts, thanks and hi to both). No point telling someone stubborn what to do, much simpler to lead by example and have faith! Thanks.
Oh, secondary characters can make SUCH an impact on a story, can’t they! Besides just filling out the story so the hero and heroine aren’t interacting in a bubble. I love recurring secondary characters throughout a series, both writing them and reading them.
Great advice!
I had started a list for a possible blog post about my favorite sidekicks in my favorite books and movies. Since I haven’t done anything with it yet, I’ll share with y’all. ;)
Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Jane Bennett in Pride and Prejudice
Phil Davis in White Christmas
Ma Graham in Love Comes Softly
Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy (only in the first 3, not the later ones)
I love Charley in Irene Hannon’s Hope Harbor series. He’s intelligent, makes wonderful fish tacos, and gives some of the best advice without you even realizing how he knows what he knows. There are a couple that I didn’t like, like Antony in Jo Grafford’s Lost Colony series, and Matthew in Heather Blanton’s Destiny in Defiance series.
Thank you, Dianne! I really loved that character. Thanks for mentioning him!
My very first secondary character was meant to be just that. Carla in Entrusted was a local anchor the heroine, Jenna, could trust as she acclimated to her new home in the mountains. As the story progressed I realized by wrapping up Jenna’s story, it gave Carla her very own book. I never thought I’d write a series, I thought I had just that one book in me. To this day I hear readers loved Carla and her journey in Entangled. God is good.
Side characters can enhance the story and take it from good to great!! Mr. Nut brown with his puppet was one in Micheele Griep’s The Innkeeper’s Daughter. Jennifer Beckstrand has a pair of nine-year old mischievous romantic planners in Abraham. And children so often make great supporting characters!
I have trouble keeping track of characters’ names but I do love the way secondary characters enrich not only the main characters’ stories but the story world as a whole. I have several in a WIP that provide both depth and comic relief. They are fun to write especially because that is the way that I often see myself interacting with the world around me. Thanks for such a fun post!
Valerie Comer’s Masie character from Arcadia Valley (did I spell it right?!). She was just an amazing little girl.
I love those! Samwise is my fav!
An intelligent man who knows how to cook? Dreamy!
As a side note, my daughter admitted today that she doesn’t like tacos. Broke my heart a little.
Yes He is!
I’ve ended up with unexpected sequels the same way before.
I’m a huge fan of Michelle Griep’s! She really knows how to tell a story, and Mr. Brown ended up being a favorite of many.
Agree!
I’ll have to check that one out!
Oh, no!! I’ll agree! I don’t know anyone that doesn’t like tacos!
Side characters can greatly enhance a story.
I agree with Samwise, He was a huge part of the movie even though he was a secondary character.
Can we still be friends as I am not a big fan of taco’s either. I can’t handle spicy foods.
Of course, because you don’t have to make them spicy!!! I don’t like real spicy, either!! I’m not really sure I’d like fish tacos, but I’d like to try the ones Charley makes in the series!