It seems to me in romance circles that readers and writers talk about the occupations of the heroes in books more often than they talk about the heroines. Cowboys, firemen, policemen, and military men= seem to be among the most popular occupations. But do we ever talk about the occupations of the heroines? Maybe, but I think I’ve missed those conversations.
So let’s talk about our heroines and what they do for a living. In a number of my books I’ve had heroines who had one job, but circumstances have made them find another one. In A Match to Call Ours, Brittany Gorman loses her job as a financial planner and in desperation takes a job as a nanny for six-year-old twins, whose father just happens to be the hero. In A Place to Call Home, Molly Finnerty leaves her high profile job as a fashion model for a quieter life as the owner of a bed-and-breakfast. In A Song to Call Ours, Amanda Reynolds wants to be a singer and song writer in Nashville, but before she realizes her dream, she paints houses. The heroine of my latest book, Second Chance Gift, is a teacher’s aide, and she is working on her teaching degree. I have two heroines who have been missionaries and have had to leave the mission field for various reasons and discover a new way of life as well as love.
I also have heroines who are set in their careers. Heather Watson from A Love to Call Mine is an oncology nurse. Julianne Keller, the heroine of Hometown Promise, runs her family variety store. Melanie Drake from Hometown Dad is a dental hygienist.
I have a new pre-order, Second Chance Forgiveness. In this book the heroine, Maria Sanchez, runs a charitable foundation for her good friend, Jillian Rodgers, the heroine from Second Chance Love.
You can pre-order the book at these retailers.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dSnlOO
I-Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1510639246
What kind of occupations would you like to see for the heroines in our contemporary Christian romances?
I will give away an ebook copy of A Match to Call Ours to one person who leaves a comment. I will chose the winner on 6/23/20 at 9PM MST. (“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”)
Merrillee Whren is an award-winning author who writes inspirational romance. She is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America. She has also been the recipient of the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of thirty plus years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Florida but now makes her home in the Arizona desert. When she’s not writing, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking while she does the plotting for her novels.
Before I retired I worked as a labor and delivery nurse. Two of the nurses I worked with had a very real very heartbreaking struggle with infertility. That might be an idea for a story line.
I enjoy seeing women work in roles that used to be primarily male dominated!
I’d like to see women in new roles, like ecosustainability experts, or non-service roles, like engineers, trades etc.. rather than the traditional female roles. Thanks
Women should have the opportunity to work in whatever job they wish.
I love this post Merrilee, yes more women in jobs that male and female does should be highlighted,can you do some books wifemale billionaires, I know there are some but in the miniority. And to tell the truth I personally do not like novels with billionaires, but if its a novel written by an author that I subscribe to then I will read it
I know women that work construction.
I will pick up a book simply because of the heroines occupation. LOL I don’t really care what the men do unless he’s the “star” of the book.
I had a reader come to a book signing once because my heroine was a CPA and she was too, so she wanted to read the book.
I’ve read books with women in roles as waitresses, office managers, receptionists, other down-to-earth jobs. I’d like to see them in construction, driving some the heavy equipment. I’d also like to them see them as management in chain grocery stores.
My “Love is” series heroine Morgan starts out as a secretary at a Christian college and is switched to a different department as a transcriber and editor. But her dream is to write. This mirrors my own journey.
I am also drawn to books with heroines who are artists or singers, as I am personally interested in art and music myself.
I’d like to see a heroine who is a doctor, architect or maybe a marine biologist. Its fun to learn different things as you read stories and those jobs seem like you’d learn a lot if a character worked in them.
I think it would be interesting to read about a heroine who was a firefighter or police officer and how her experience might differ from men in those fields.
Pam, thanks for your input on a story idea.
Paula, I think you see more and more women in jobs that used to be dominated by males. One book I didn’t mention is A Place to Find Love. My heroine in that book has a major role in the company she works for and mentors the hero.
Dianne, those are all interesting occupations.
Yvonne, that is true, and I see more and more women working in jobs that used to be dominated by males.
Thanks, Angeline. My book, Second Chance Love, has a heroine who earned her millions in the tech world. She created a charitable foundation with her millions.
Hi Lelia, I have a friend whose daughter is the head of a construction company.
Kimberly, I try to think of interesting occupations, but some of my heroines have pretty mundane jobs.
Trudy, the closest I’ve come to a construction job for a heroine is a house painter.
Lila, I’ve never had a heroine who is a writer. I’ve had a couple who were singers. In Hometown Proposal, my heroine has been a singer on a cruise ship, but when she returns home she gets her teaching degree so she can teach music.
I think for authors who are in the medical field or who know someone well in the medical field that you could make your heroine a doctor. I’ve done a nurse who works in a nursing home, and I based a lot of my story on my experience when my mother-in-law was in a nursing home. I’m currently working on a story in which my heroine is working as a social director in a nursing home.
Hi Jessica, if I wrote a story with a female police officer, I would pick the brain of my friend who is a police officer. She was a personal trainer for years and then decided to go into law enforcement.
That works, too! I like seeing women in jobs of all kinds, to be honest. In one office I worked in, we were having renovations done, and there were women who were hanging the wallpaper. They were pros, and could do it much better than some of the men that worked with them!
Perhaps a professional outdoors adventurer, leading white water rafting expeditions, mountain climbing trips and the like. My family has many strong women in the field of education. My mother was the chair of the foreign language department at a good sized high school in the area where I grew up. I also had the privilege of knowing several female engineers in the field of satellites where I worked. Bring on the PhDs!
I like different occupations. I have seen a mayor with was great. It’s nice to see a heroine with a powerful occupation that isn’t always the norm even a plumber or electrician or a tradie or any sort. A vet would be interesting. I also like when the hero has a non traditional job like a nurse, receptionist. and even a child care worker or nanny. I know the local childcare centre had a male carer who was one of the most popular in the centre. By being in a non traditional job so much can be done with the hero by showing how much impact they can have in these jobs. (And I know men read these novels even if many won’t admit it).
Thanks, Lincoln for your input. The expeditions sound fun.
Ausjenny, when you talked about daycare, I thought of my son-in-law who is a stay-at-home dad. He’s been watching our granddaughters since they were born. Our daughter has a pretty high-powered executive position with a pharmaceutical company and has to travel a lot for her job, until Covid 19. Now she’s working from home, but dad still has to ride herd on the kids.
I never really thought about heroines careers because like you said, Merrilee, they oftentimes get glossed over. I have read about nurses, nannies, teachers, and more “female” orientated roles. What I’d really love to see is more non-traditional roles; construction, electricians, home inspectors (or any of the home improvement/remodeling type jobs), CEO of a big company, etc. I think it would be fascinating to read books about women who make it in a “mans world” :-)
Trixi, I do have one story with a heroine who is in charge at work. I enjoyed writing that story.
STEM, finance, and other fields where women are gaining in leadership.
I love learning about different jobs by reading what heroines and heros do. And anything about books, like libraries and bookstores. I recently read The Secrets of Paper and Ink, and am now reading The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend. Both about bookstores, but totally different.