Susanna Ives | Recycling Characters

Isabella St. Vincent and Lord Randall are the warring heroine and hero of WICKED, MY LOVE. Their story chronicles a wild road trip as the two try to catch an errant bank partner who has sold them false stock. Years ago, the essence of Isabella and Randall characters existed in a very different story that never got off the ground. Isabella was still an orphaned, rather awkward, young woman with a strong mind. Randall was a society golden boy and political orator. Their chemistry lit up the page. Unfortunately the plot of the original story was as tangled and dense as kudzu. So after months of consideration, I decided to drop the story. For the next few years, the characters existed in my mind, story-less and yearning for their happy ending. I felt that as their creator, I had let them down.

So when I had a chance to pitch some stories ideas to my editor, I wrote a quick blurb about a smart, but socially awkward female banker and an emotionally adept and handsome political orator. Then I made them both shareholders in the bank. Instead of having the two bump heads over their differences, as I had in the original story, I created a common enemy: a sleazy, bank partner who could ruin them. In the Victorian days of full liability, numerous bank failures, and poor houses, Isabella stood to lose everything if there was a run on her bank. Meanwhile, Randall, protected by his entailment, would have his political career destroyed. Now the two were forced to get along for their common good. Along the way, they realized that their loathing for each other was born of their own fears and vulnerabilities. Perhaps all the energy they spent antagonizing the other was really unacknowledged desire.

My characters’ happily ever after brought great closure to them and their creator. Now they can stop chattering in my head, complaining how I had abandoned them, and make room for more bickering heroes and heroines, demanding that I write their stories.

About WICKED, MY LOVE

A smooth-talking rogue and a dowdy financial genius Handsome, silver-tongued politician Lord Randall doesn't get along with his bank partner, the financially brilliant but hopelessly frumpish Isabella St. Vincent. Ever since she was his childhood nemesis, he's tried- and failed-to get the better of her.

Make a perfectly wicked combination When both Randall's political career and their mutual bank interests are threatened by scandal, he has to admit he needs Isabella's help. They set off on a madcap scheme to set matters right. With her wits and his charm, what could possibly go wrong? Only a volatile mutual attraction that's catching them completely off guard...

About Susanna Ives

Susanna Ives grew up in the rural South, where she spent most of her youth at the local theater, acting in productions, working in the lighting booth, and building sets. Eventually she left her small town for the city lights of Atlanta, where she attended college and worked in corporations as a multimedia developer. These days she chases after her two curious, energetic children, designs web pages, and writes.

You can learn more about Susanna by visiting her website.