30 Days of Demons, Day 10: ARC Giveaway!! Back to Blog
Update: Winners! I decided to give away 2 ARCs. The winners are: elaing8 and RachieG. If you didn’t win, stay tuned, I’ve got more ARCs to give away soon. And thanks for all the comments!
Sometimes, demons aren’t the heroes, heroines, or even villains in the stories. Sometimes, a demon can be a secondary character who appears, a guy who is a bit of a mystery–one who is not necessarily evil, and not necessarily good.
I’ve got such a demon in my next novella. 🙂 And guess what else I’ve got? An Advanced Reader Copy of that novella (okay, of the entire anthology):
BELONG TO THE NIGHT won’t be available until the end of August, but, hey, you could win it right now! Leave me a comment–I want your take on secondary characters. What is it about a secondary character that grabs your attention? What makes you want to read that character’s story? Tell me, and I’ll pick one commenter to win the ARC of this anthology. (And, psst…I’m giving away another ARC over at the Bradford Bunch.)
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Woo-Hoo, I can’t wait for this anthology, it’s going to be awesome! For me, a secondary character demands their own story when they “take” over every scene they are in-like Niol did in the first two Midnight novels, LOL. I think it’s a combination of charisma, chemistry with other characters and plain old nosiness on my part that makes me want to see certain secondary characters get their own story!
BTW, if Katie MacAlister ever reads this- Jim deserves his own story, damn it!
This will be such a great anthology. I think a secondary character gets my attention when I can’t imagine the story without that character. After all whats an Aisling Gray without a Jim, or Rachael Morgan without Jenks? There are many more, but the idea that these heroes and heroines could have the same impact without the “sidekick” just doesn’t work.
What intrigues me in a secondary character is the same as what I look for in a main character – someone interesting with charming quirks, maybe a little ambiguous as to whether they are good or bad.
I love it when an author brings in a secondary character and you don’t even realize you have already fallen in love with them. I just finished a book where I loved the secondary characters as much as the main. Have a great day.
A fully developed, complex, and intriguing secondary character definitely gets my attention! Particularly if that secondary character has a wicked sense of humor and doesn’t let the hero/heroine get too comfortable or too self-delusional.
Sometimes in a series, there is a character that is central to it, like Jonas Wyatt in Lora Leigh’s Breed series. His character is as strong as the hero and you keep wondering when his story will be told!:o)Tamsyn
*falling over myself to enter the drawing*
Not paranormal, but the one I’m thinking of right now is Morris, from the In Death books. He mostly has a few pages per book, but his exchanges with Dallas, his understanding of Peabody’s occasional weakness, etc. are just wonderful. A lot of characterization with very little page space.
Me, want. Pretty please? *puppy eyes*
Love the cover! And I love it when the secondary character has his or her own character arc, and isn’t just there as a sounding board for the main characters.
I have a lot of secondary characters in my wip. I hope not too many! 😯
I love a secondary character with secrets. Just a hint of something not quite as straightforward as s/he seems.
The way the secondary characters interact with the other characters make you want to know more about them.
I can’t wait to read the anthology. I love both your books and Shelly Laurenston is hilarious. What really draws my attention to a secondary character is how they interact with other characters and how there personality is. I also like when they have a side story going on of their own, that then leads to them getting their own book.
What I like about secondary characters is how their personality can bring a lot more to the hero/heroine. The secondary characters can round out the main characters more. I also like the secondary characters to have some sort of charm or sense of humor that is different from the main characters. And also their sense of loyalty to the main characters draws me in.
I like the secondary characters (or supporting characters) to have character. I love Jenks from Kim Harrison’s Hollows series and you have to love Pirate from Angie Fox’s Demon Slayers series. They both crack me up.
Anita books have tons of secondary characters and sometimes, they have too many to keep up with.
Cynthia, I can’t wait to read this anthology. I really pay attention to secondary characters, often times I find them the “glue” to storyline. Looking forward to reading about your demon :).
This anthology looks awesome, can’t wait for it!
And a secondary character that brings humor, is loyal, and exudes sexuality always makes me extremely interested in them. A bit of mystery surrounding them is always good too.
What I like about secondary characters is the intrigue and excitement they bring to the story. I like it when there is secondary character that the main characters develope a love/hate attitude towards in a funny written way.
Secondary characters are fun, you can play around with them so much more.
I love secondary character and usually what gets my attention is either a humorous character or a tormented character in need of saving. That’s when I want to read their own story!!
Secondary characters often bring that something extra to a story. You tend to want to know more about them
Most of the time, I tend to connect / like secondary characters more than the main ones. But yeah, they can bring more to the story, make you see the main characters in a better/different light.. Though I really hate when authors kill off those characters..
what interests me is when a secondary character can steal the scene frome the main.we don’t get much background information for those characters either which leaves us a little intrigued to get to know them better.
I recently read a book, and totally fell for a second character, who went crazy and died. Oh how that sucked! because I honestly didn’t care at all for the main characters. He totally stole the spotlight. And that should happen now and again
Wow–you’ve all got some great points about the secondary characters. Really insightful comments–thank you!
I love em because you only learn a little bit about them, so they become mysterious to me
all the posters made excellent points and I agree with them!
OMG, Omg, I WANT this antho. Dying for this antho, lol!!
So, hmmm….I can’t say any ONE thing that snags me for a secondary charachter, I think it’s more if there is a story there. Is there a dark past I just have to know about, or is he a great friend who just hasn’t found the woman for him, is he tortured? Ha, or is he mixed race Demon who stuggles to find where he fits in?? LOL, the possibilities are endless, and I’ve actually been snagged on a secondary with just a little bit of info. There has to be a hook, or something elusive that makes me want more….and it could be as simple as he’s a drop dead sexy sex fiend who thinks he’s never getting mated. That’d make me want to see him get his, lol.
I’m twisted like that!!
Hmmm. It depends of the secondary character, but there has to be something about them that grabs your attention.
Secondary characters make the book for me. I just got done reading a book where the secondary characters were more interesting than the main characters 🙁
But I think the best secondary characters are a lot like supporting actors in movies. They help tell the story, sometimes outshining the lead actor, but never overshadow the overall story.
My fav secondary characters are in the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum series. They add so much to the story, they add dimension, different perspectives, and insight.
Secondary characters just add another element that wouldn’t be there without them. Their interactions with the main characters can add more intrigue, suspense, heck a whole range of emotions obviously depending on what role they are playing in the storyline. And definitely at times they can steal the story from the main characters…
The best secondary characters are the ones we learn a little about, but not everything. The mystery remains and you start asking what happens to them. Well, at least I do…
This anthology sounds fun! I love anthologies because they give me a chance to get to know great authors or new stories without investing in a whole book – plus it’s a quick read, so I don’t feel as guilty about spending the time reading instead of say, laundry. 🙂
I love secondary characters with quirks and attitude. Take Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Simi character for instance: she’s got distinct speech patterns, she’s entirely irreverent with those she doesn’t like, she’s addicted to QVC and she gots to have her plastic (credit cards), she loves her barbeque sauce, and she has to be forewarned not to eat unsuspecting humans with said barbeque sauce. She’s so funny and I think it’d be fun to have more side stories on her – there have been a few and it’s a blast! So I think my answer is a side character is most interesting if they surprise me and/or they make me bust a gut laughing.
I want to read a secondary characters story when that character interacts with the main character and we’re given a glimpse of their personality that may intrigue me. I want to know their backstory and quirks. I want to see that character have the ending the main characters have. (Usually a HEA. *G*)
I like when seconday characters get their own stories and like everyone else said interact with the main charcter. there kind of like robin to batman. And omg i cant wait for this book!! i loved ur other anthology with Shelly and it was too die for! lol cant wait this one!!
Ooooh, i want this one, great authors, looks like great stories.
The best thing about secondary characters is that they can lend a bit of humour to what could be a more dark story, or they could make things a little darker if the main characters are more humorous. Of course, if the secondary character is charming, captivating….the author just has to give him or her their own story!!
Valerie
I like the mystery of secondary characters. There is always that secondary character an author that appeals to me. Niol is one of your secondary characters that in Hotter After Midnight I was like he is mean,but dang I want more about him.
Hugs, Danette
Secondary characters can totally make a book. They can enhance the main characters and add mystery to the storyline. Only thing I get bummed by is if I get drawn to a secondary character and a story is never written for them.
I like the secondary characters that a bit of leviaty to the darker moments of a book. (Jim, Fluff and Puff, Simi to mention a few) I also really enjoy those mysterious characters, those are the ones that I like to see have a story all their own.
Plain old curiousity drives me to want a secondary character to have their own story. Want to see more about this character after getting glimses of them.
I love secondary characters. You always learn everything about the main character but little about the secondary ones. I like how they are a mystery and that they allow you to make them into a character you like.
Secondary characters deserve their own story when they make known that they are NOT leaving!! There are two, no make that three off the top of head that I absolutely love… the first one is tricky but he is sooo adorable as much as a pain the butt ~ Levite, he’s a gargolye from Alexandra Ivy’s Guardian of Eternity series. Then there is Alex from Tempted by Megan Hart. He makes you fall in love with him, he makes you want to know about him… he appearence is just that strong (and he will have his own story YAY) and then there is Jack from Stangers by Megan Hart. He really was a secondary character, but he appeal was so interesting and sexy that I wanted him to have his own story… or at least a HEA. I think that is what makes secondary characters lovable… when you want to see them have their moment! Please enter me….
Like someone else said, it’s the same type of things that initially get you interested in the hero that makes you want to know more, whether it’s a hint of some mystery about them, danger, or quick wit, quirks or charm that makes him very appealing in his scenes, the rival who lost out but you want to see him find his own HEA.
A secondary character grabs my attention when they show strength or uniqueness of character within the story. They don’t back down to anyone even the hero and stand up for themselves and their beliefs. Sometimes they also have a secret about themselves or their past that you just want to solve in the worst way and can’t wait to have them reappear in the book to learn more about them.
I agree with all of the above commentors, because I think they’ve said it all. I do love it when a follow-up book is made about an intriging secondary character. I can’t wait for Midnight’s Master and of course Belong To The Night! Have a good one.
I like secondary characters to have a personality. You need to get to know them in order for you to care about them which in turn makes you want to read their own story.
One of my favorite side kicks is Jenks from the Rachel Morgan series. He’s a character that makes me laugh, stands up for himself, is loyal, adores his wife and kids, and let’s face it, ever since he had his own story in man-size, I’ve been a little in lust with him, lol.
Hmm… I do tend to love good secondary characters. I think what makes them stand out is when they’re characters in their own right–they don’t merely serve as a foil for the hero or heroine, but they contribute in a significant way to the character’s or plot’s development. And it helps when I learn just enough about them to want them to someday have a story of their own 🙂 (A delicate balance though, where they don’t steal the show…)
I always find it fun when the secondary characters are the comic releif. But sometimes what really can draw me to them is the one that constantly gets the hero/heroine in trouble or causes trouble. It just kind of depends on the story line and how they fit into the whole story. Sometimes they stand out so much you want to read their story and learn much more about them. 🙂
I’m not really sure what makes me want to read a secondary character’s own story. They just have to be well written and interesting. Usually I find that I want a secondary character to have their own story when their the sibling of the main character in a book. I read a lot of books where the main characters are siblings.
I like how a secondary character has an important role but not too much action yet you just know he is vital to the story somewhere along the line; he will have to save the world, or his heroine,in another story.
Pick me pick me!! UGH!! I cannot WAIT!!
I triple <3 secondary characters…they can add depth or humor to a story and are valuble for keeping the story line going in future books. I want the other characters to be fun or brooding..not both 🙂 Either way I enjoy to read further about them and their happily ever after.