Over the years, I’ve redeemed several bad girls and a few bad guys. It always makes me wish I could manipulate real people the way I do my characters.
Currently, I’m molding a bad boy rock star fresh out of rehab into hero material. On top of that, he abandoned his twins six years ago. But now he wants to be part of their lives. To write this book, I have to take everything I know about him as a side character from A Texas Bond, and keep everything consistent.
When I initially invented him with his blue mohawk, I never planned on him being anything more than a side character. But now he is. I’ve found myself rewriting history. Since hero and heroines in Love Inpired titles can’t have drug problems, instead of needing rehab, his agent came up with the idea as a publicity stunt to secure his bad-boy image.
I’ve done this before. Years ago, I wrote a side character who’d had an abortion, in one of my Heartsong Presents books. Then I got the idea to redeem her. But my editor said heroines in HP couldn’t have an abortion. So I rewrote history. She told the father she had an abortion, but she really gave the baby up for adoption.
I’ve struggled with how to get my bad boy rocker to a guest ranch with his twins, when his brother and sister-in-law who have custody of the kids, would never allow it. On top of that, he’s no cowboy. But he did spend time at his grandfather’s ranch as a kid. And I think I finally figured it out. I’m currently rewriting the proposal for the fourth time. It’s been a slow process, working on it between editing jobs.
The heroine was a bad girl side character in Winning over the Cowboy, 6 books ago. Back then, she was a snobby, rich, city girl with a forked tongue. I softened her in A Texas Bond, but in this book, she’s a new Christian and the ranch where she grew up is ever so slowly growing on her.
At the moment, I don’t have an agent, but I do have one interested. I don’t know if my editor will like this story. But I’ve invested enough in it and the characters, if she doesn’t, I’ll probably publish it anyway.
I try to be careful writing side characters since so many of them have clamored for their own book over the years. But with these two, I forgot. They made me think of other bad side characters from old books. So I went back and dug up two more and turned them into heroes for the other two books in this potential series.
So do you like when bad characters get redeemed? Do you have a favorite you’ve read? What makes bad characters who turn good ring true for you? Do you worry they’ll fall back into their old ways? Answer any or all of these questions to enter the drawing. Print copy, winner’s choice of Winning over the Cowboy or A Texas Bond. US and international included. Deadline: Feb 9th.
Amy Perrault says
I’ve read a few & I love them. They all seem to go back into good ways but never in any bad ways after that. I love your books as well
Sylvain P says
I’ve read a couple and they are men who come back to be with there child and become close with there ex even if they don’t become a couple.
Yvonne Cruz says
I like when the bad boy gets redeemed. Sometimes all they need is support and a little push.
Andrea Conner says
I do like it when bad girls and boys are redeemed because it reminds me of Jesus’ redemption for us.
Trudy says
I’ve read some, and I love them! I like when bad boys/girls get redeemed, because they do in real life, too, and I like books that reflect that. God loves us all, can change us all, all we have to do is accept Him, ask, and repent, and He’ll change us, too!
Kendra Muonio says
I like when bad boys get redeemed
Deb Galloway says
I do like a book with characters being redeemed. I like stories I have something in common with and this is much like me. Though I knew Christ and fell away for many years I have fought battles with addiction, abuse and suicide among other things. This is so prevalent in the world and I think many people look to books they resonate with to some degree. I love to see how Christ (often along with support from others) can be just what it takes not to fall back into that destructive life. I also believe it can be a powerful way to witness to the lost. People need to see what a true relationship with Christ can do to guide them through changing their lives and I think fictional stories can do that well!
Alicia Haney says
Hi, yes I have read books with characters that are redeemed. I love it when that happens, when a bad boy or girl gets redeemed because it happens in life and hopefully they will stay redeemed, that is a much better ending for me. Your book sounds like a great read, yes, go ahead with it. I love your book covers. Have a great day and stay safe. Thank you for the chance.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Hi Amy. I’ve got one character it took 3 books to redeem. She was a tough one. It does my heart good to know you love my books.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Hi Sylvain. Redeemed dead beat dads. I never have understood how a parent can leave a child. That’s what I’m doing with my bad guy.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
So true, Yvonne. I like introducing them to Jesus though. That way, I feel like the change in them will stick.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Yes Andrea, I always hope a struggling reader will realize Jesus can do for them what He does for my characters.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Hey Trudy, the first few books I wrote, I redeemed everybody. My editor told me to stop wrapping everything up in a bow since that’s not how life is. Like I said, I always wish I could fix real people the way I do my characters.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Me too, Kendra. Especially when Jesus redeems them.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Hi Deb, I’m so glad Jesus turned your life around. The world is such a tough place. I don’t know how people make it through without Him. I always hope a nonbeliever will get a hold of my books, they bond with my characters, and find Jesus.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Hi Alicia, I never understand how people can get saved, be all on fire for Jesus, be in church every time the doors are open, and then fall out and go back to their old ways. I don’t ever do that with characters because it’s not what I want for real people. I want it to stick.
Thanks for the compliment. I’ve had some really good cover artists.
Trudy says
I’ve told one author that she can’t redeem one of her bad guys! lol!! I told her she can’t make me like him, no matter what she does, and that was my argument, everyone doesn’t change in real life, so the character in the book doesn’t need to, but I do want him to have to answer for what he’s done!
Jcp says
I like a redeemed character . Please do not include me in the drawing.
Mary Preston says
Yes, a redeemed bad boy makes for great reading.
Milla Holt says
My heart is increasingly drawn to redemption stories. So many people have checkered pasts, so it’s wonderful when fiction shows that God can redeem anyone who repents and trusts in him.
Betty Woods says
I like redeeming the bad guy and giving someone a second chance. I have a proposal in to my publisher that redeems the trouble maker from the last book.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Thanks for stopping by, Jcp. I hope that means you already have both books :)
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Agreed Mary. I always like exploring what made them like they are and what it takes to break them.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
I agree, Milla. Fiction has the power to touch and change lives through character.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Ooh, I’m intrigued, Betty.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
I understand completely, Trudy. I’ve read characters like that. And created a few. I did paybacks on one guy. I had him attempt suicide and fail, then spend the rest of his life as a vegetable. He deserved it :)
SARAH TAYLOR says
Love when the bad boy is redeemed! It makes a great story!
Priscila Perales says
Your book sounds interesting! I don’t think that’s a trope I’ve read a lot of, but I’ve liked what I’ve read. I really enjoyed Liwen Ho’s take on it in “Taking a Chance on the Heartbreaker”, and how even though he’s cleaned up his act a lot by the time he meets the heroine, his past choices do affect how their relationship develops.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
I agree, Sarah. It’s always fun for me.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
I love bringing out consequences from past mistakes, Priscila. Just like real life. That title sounds interesting.
Ausjenny says
I know its Historical but Mary Conneally had a character think his name was wade but in the first book I would have loved to see him have something happen to him. book two he is changing but by book three he has completely changed his life and become the hero. Because it was done where he also had to face up to what he had done and didn’t get away with it and you could see his redemption and change it really worked well and by the last book he felt so unworthy due to what he had done but he was now doing what was right too. So went from despising him to liking him.
Natalya Lakhno says
Oh! Can’t wait to read it!!!
So do you like when bad characters get redeemed? Of course!
Do you have a favorite you’ve read? Hm…so many that I can’t even choose…
What makes bad characters who turn good ring true for you? To see how God changes them.
Do you worry they’ll fall back into their old ways? Not if they build on the Rock (Christ)!
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Mary writes great characters, Ausjenny. Hers are pretty much the only historicals I ever read. I kind of forget her books are historical. A good thing since I’m not really a fan of the genre.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Thanks, Natalya. I can’t wait to write it. I agree with all your answers.
Trixi says
I love when bad characters get redeemed! In Love Inspired books, I never have to worry about them falling back into their old ways because they change with God’s help. And maybe with some good Godly advice & support from friends or family :-)
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
That’s one of the many things I love about Christian fiction, Trixi. God redeemed characters.
Debra Pruss says
I always like to praise the Lord when someone has been redeemed. It is the same in a book. We all have made mistakes. There is no one perfect. We all need God’s grace and redemption. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Marilene says
I’ve read some books where the trouble maker gets redeemed. Your bad guy story sounds interesting!
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Definitely, Debra. Sadly, I fall back into old habits sometimes.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Thanks, Marilene. I can’t wait for him to be in book form.
Abigail Harris says
I love the redeemed troublemaker/bad boy trope when he isn’t redeemed by the girl but by God!