More specifically, how “Save
the Cat,” a trip to the San Diego Zoo, a sprinkle of Christmas magic dust,
and a warm, wonderful heroine helped me figure out how to (hopefully!) make
readers love my hero as much as I do.
Mo Kincaid used to be a sinner. He knows it, he owns it, and he’s turned his
life around. Even so, he’s a loner, a man who fixes vehicle engines and avoids
getting close to people—because in his twenties he hurt everyone he cared for.
When HOLIDAY IN YOUR
HEART starts, Mo has returned to Caribou Crossing, the small Western town he
left many years ago, abandoning his wife and son. He now feels compelled to see
them and offer his sincere apology, and see if there’s any way to make amends.
He thinks no further than that. He never dreams, because he doesn’t believe he
deserves to dream. The last thing he imagines is that he might become part of a
family and find an amazing woman to share his life.
But long before any happy ending could happen, I needed the reader, right up
front, to see that this man, a true lost soul, was capable of being so much more.
In Blake Snyder’s guide to
screenwriting, he has a technique for helping an audience relate to a
less-than-sympathetic character. It’s called Save the Cat—as in, if the hero
saved a cat, wouldn’t that tell you something about him and make you like him
better?
Well, I didn’t have Mo save a cat, but there’d been another character lingering
in my brain ever since I saw New Guinea Singing Dogs at the San Diego Zoo a
couple of years ago. They’re not your normal dog. They’re wilder, free spirits,
independent, not the kind of dog that begs for your affection. But they can also
be domesticated and they’re capable of affection. Their personality is more like
that of a cat. (And there’s that cat again…) Their name comes from their weird,
warbly howl. They can climb trees and fences, and wriggle through the tiniest
holes. Are you in love yet? I was. So, enter Caruso, a singing dog that was
abandoned at the animal shelter and keeps escaping.
In the first scene, his escape path leads straight to Mo and a connection is
made, one that leads over time to the two adopting each other. It’s in part
through this relationship that I show readers Mo’s capability for affection,
commitment, and responsibility, and the way those qualities unfurl and flower
over the course of this redemption story.
Now, this is a romance, so of course there’s a woman. Maribeth Scott’s openness
to Mo and her ability to see his strengths are huge factors that help him
realize his potential. She facilitates his reunion with his ex-wife and son—her
friends Brooke Brannon (the heroine of GENTLE ON MY MIND, who is
also a redeemed sinner) and Evan Kincaid (the hero of HOME ON THE RANGE).
Maribeth helps Mo realize that he’s long since paid for his sins and that he
deserves to dream and to move on with his life.
But can he move on with her? When the book begins, 39-year-old Maribeth, who’s
been dating for a quarter of a century but never found Mr. Right, has decided to
move ahead with her own life and realize her dream of being a mother. She’s
going to find a sperm donor. But then she meets Mo and feels the kind of
attraction she’s never felt before, not just to his sexy looks but to the warm,
generous man she knows lurks inside his battered, guilt-ridden soul. There’s one
huge obstacle, though. Even if Mo can come to believe—with the help of Caruso,
Brooke and Evan, and Maribeth—that he’s capable of love, he is convinced that,
after having utterly screwed up parenthood the first time, he should never again
have a child.
Can Maribeth—and the miracles of a Caribou Crossing Christmas—convince him that
he not only deserves to dream, but to have his dreams come true?
In a starred review, Publishers Weekly says: “Fox knows just how to spin a sweet
(and slightly spicy) romance with plenty of heartstring tugging and Christmas
cheer.”
I’d love to hear your views on redemption stories. Do you believe that sinners
who truly regret their past actions deserve a second chance?
GIVEAWAY
Just post below your thoughts on redemption and one reader will win an
autographed copy of HOLIDAY
IN YOUR HEART
It’s Christmas in the cozy Western town of Caribou Crossing, the season
for homecoming, forgiveness, and—just maybe—the gift of a fresh start…
As the holidays approach, the air is filled with the festive sounds of bells
chiming and carolers singing. Maribeth Scott loves Christmas, but she’s pretty
sure that after years of waiting, Santa isn’t finally going to gift her with Mr.
Right. In fact, the only thing she truly wants for Christmas is a baby to love.
At thirty-nine, she’s determined to become a mother and she will make it happen,
even if she has to do it on her own.
When Mo Kincaid returns to the rustic town after almost twenty years away,
he’s seeking redemption from his checkered past. The last thing on his mind is
romance, and he’s certain he doesn’t deserve it. But now there’s irresistible
Maribeth, showing him the true spirit of Christmas and winning his heart. For
the first time in Mo’s life, the future looks bright. Only one thing stands
between them: Maribeth’s deep desire for a child and Mo's conviction that he's
too flawed to be a father. Is his world-weary
heart ready to take the ultimate leap of faith?
Award–winning author Susan Fox, who also writes as Savanna Fox and Susan
Lyons, "knows want women want in contemporary romance" (Publishers Weekly).
Susan’s Love Somebody Like You was a 2016 finalist for Romance Writers of
America®’s prestigious RITA® award. Her books have won the National Readers’
Choice Award, the HOLT Medallion, the Booksellers Best Award, the Book Buyers
Best Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold Readers Choice,
the Golden Quill, the More Than Magic, the Lories, the Beacon, and the Laurel
Wreath. Sex Drive was a Cosmopolitan Red-Hot Read.
Susan’s books have been translated into French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish,
and German. Many are available as audio books.
Susan has presented
workshops at the Romance Writers of America® National conference, the Surrey
International Writers Conference, Word on the Lake (Salmon Arm), the RT
Booklovers Convention, and regional RWA® conferences. She has spoken at library
events and to reader groups. Her articles have been published in Romance Writers
Report, RT Book Reviews, NINK (the Novelists Inc. newsletter), Love Letter
(Germany), and RWA Chapter newsletters.
Susan is a Pacific Northwester with homes in Victoria and Vancouver, British
Columbia. She has degrees in law and psychology, and has had a variety of
careers, including perennial student, computer consultant, and legal editor.
Fiction writer is by far her favorite, giving her an outlet to demonstrate her
belief in the power of love, friendship, and a sense of humor.
It's a tricky question for me to say that someone "deserves" a second chance. However, if someone shows that they have learned from their actions and have a history of not doing the things that got them into trouble and understand why what they did wasn't good, then I believe the person or persons have earned a second chance. In simplest statements, I don't believe people "deserve" second chances, people earn them. (Edward Washington 7:03am September 27, 2016)
I believe everyone deserves a second chance if they truly put forth the effort and it shows in their heart! I love this cover too!!! (Bonnie Capuano 8:26am September 27, 2016)
It depends on what someone has done... but I do believe people should have a second chance to prove themselves. (Colleen Conklin 12:59pm September 27, 2016)
People definitely deserve a second and sometimes a third chance. (Sue Farrell 2:51pm September 27, 2016)
If a life is turned around, they deserve a chance to follow their dreams. Guilt is not productive. Errors need to be acknowledged and apologized for then move on. Only deliberate murder changes the options and limits the possiblities. (Gerry Humes 6:12pm September 27, 2016)
If a person is making the effort to be a good person, then time to show it should be given. I would make an exception to that for child molesters. (Sharon Mitchell 3:26am September 28, 2016)
Edward, I think that's an excellent way of putting it - earning rather than deserving. And that's exactly what my hero Mo does in the book. Bonnie, that's what Maribeth sees in Mo - that his heart is in the right place. And that's what Caruso, the singing dog, instinctively knows as well.
We all make mistakes, some of those mistakes more serious than others. Gerry, I agree that guilt isn't productive. We have to learn from our mistakes - and that's part of growing up. (Susan Lyons 10:05am September 28, 2016)
Sharon and Gerry make the point about it depending on the crime. For me that raises the whole thorny question of whether people can be rehabilitated. I think that if they can, and they honestly regret what they did and want to make amends, they deserve forgiveness. But I do have to wonder if certain kinds of people can ever be rehabilitated. Where do you draw the line? I'm tempted to question whether a criminal who's a sociopath or psychopath with antisocial personality disorder, who is capable of little or no empathy, could ever be rehabilitated - and yet there are thousands of those people living among us, having normal, productive lives and not hurting anyone. It's such a complicated issue! (Susan Lyons 10:11am September 28, 2016)
Second chances are sometimes taken for granted. I would give them to individuals whose lives are deserving of this. (Sharon Berger 11:46am September 28, 2016)
I think redemption stories are popular because many people wish they had a second chance to start again whether it's their career, their efforts at parenting or how they dealt with a problem. A Christmas redemption story is especially appealing because of the celebration around Christ the Redeemer. Even if folks don't celebrate the religious part of the holiday, it's also a time when the world is "reborn" at the solstice when the days become longer and brighter. (Natasha Pow 11:59am September 28, 2016)
Sharon, I so agree that second chances shouldn't be taken for granted. That's kind of like "love means never having to say you're sorry." Nope, I don't believe that. (Susan Lyons 12:11pm September 28, 2016)
Natasha, that's very insightful. When I first thought of this story line with Mo and Maribeth, I hadn't been planning a Christmas story. But my editor asked if we could make it a holiday book, for release in the autumn - and of course that proved to be a brilliant idea. It's amazing how things can come together from all different directions! (Susan Lyons 12:16pm September 28, 2016)
This looks like a book I would enjoy very much! (Lesley Fuchs 2:19pm September 28, 2016)
Thanks, Lesley! (Susan Lyons 2:52pm September 28, 2016)
We all deserve second chances although I don't think they should be given blindly but earned. When you mention child molestors and sociopathic killers that does make me pause. I'd hope the sociopathic killer would be serving serious jail time along with the child molester but I just know I'll turn on the news and having a glaring example of how this isn't always the truth. I guess I believe even people such as a child molestor or killer do deserve some chance of redemption. Otherwise what have they got to live for and what incentive not to commit horrific crimes again. But a chance at redemption shouldn't come at the cost of more innocent victims and there'/ the rub. How do you protect the innocent, particularly children, while giving a criminal who's served his time a chance, just a chance mind you, at redemption.
Happily these are not questions I have to answer and I already have a copy of Holiday In Your Heart so I can read and enjoy knowing that the hero will have to seriously earn a second chance both with his family from the past and with the heroine. How I don't know, but having read Susan's books before I know it will happen. (Pat Amsden 7:17pm September 28, 2016)
Thanks for your confidence in me, Pat - and for buying my book. Yes, the dilemma is a serious one in society, and I love reading books that deal with these kinds of topics. It's interesting where we all draw our lines. I can imagine a murderer being redeemed (depending on the circumstances that existed when he committed the murder), but I have more trouble with a pedophile... I do know, I'd certainly rather explore these issues in fiction than in real life! (Susan Lyons 8:01pm September 28, 2016)
I'm a sucker for a good redemption story. There's a new series on TV, Lethal Weapon (yes, it's loosely based on the movie) and when it opens we're treated to a drunk who gets called back to his job as a detective and does everything he can to get himself killed. Not very likeable, right? Except, then we learn that he lost his wife and unborn child in a horrifying car crash and empathy is born. Suddenly, we want this bad boy to redeem himself, even though he's determined not to. It's a really good series and perfectly illustrates this scenario. I'm looking forward to reading your book, Susan, congrats! (Jacquie Biggar 12:40pm September 29, 2016)
I believe people deserve a second chance. None of us are perfect. We've all sinned. It's how we use that second chance and whether we try to do better. (Tanja Dancy 12:43pm September 29, 2016)
Jacquie, I haven't seen the new TV show but I do remember the old "Lethal Weapon" movie. Loved both the Mel Gibson character and the Danny Glover one. And the humor. That's another way of softening a "dark" story. (Susan Lyons 11:50am September 29, 2016)
Tanja, that's such a good lesson for all of us, isn't it? We're always going to screw up, but that shouldn't mean we can't pick ourselves up and do better. (Susan Lyons 11:51am September 29, 2016)
I think everyone deserves a second chance, after all no ones perfect. (Mina Gerhart 12:03pm September 29, 2016)
I love Edward's comment about "earning" second chances. But there are also those who have lost their faith so completely that it takes a kind hand to show them the goodness left in them. I can't wait to see how you achieve this with Mo. I know it'll be fabulous, Susan, and I can't wait to read the last installment of this wonderful series. (Roxanne Snopek 1:09pm September 29, 2016)
Thank you so much, Roxanne! (Susan Lyons 2:58pm September 29, 2016)
I have a soft heart, and I firmly believe that anyone who has truly changed deserves a second chance.
I'd call that a generous heart, Amy. Seems to me that's a good thing. (Susan Lyons 11:57pm September 29, 2016)
Mistakes can happen for a multitude of reasons. A sincere second chance can be life-changing in a very positive way. (Nancy Ludvik 12:50pm September 30, 2016)
We all make mistakes and those who learn from those mistakes deserve a seconds chance. Sometimes they become better people for having made the mistake. (Kerry Shaw 3:43pm September 30, 2016)
Kerry, I think that a person who's decent at heart will do exactly that - learn from the mistake and become a better person. (Susan Lyons 4:55pm September 30, 2016)
People are not perfect, so second chances may be necessary after lessons learned (Susan Jang 11:00pm September 30, 2016)
I think you should get a second chance if it can be proven you were lied about and they did not believe you at first (Jeri Dickinson 9:15pm October 1, 2016)
Second chances...each case is different and deserves to be judged individually. So, it depends. If it's about a cheater...no. Once a cheater, always a cheater. Abuse, no. A guy who steals from his girl, no. Someone who messes up, depends on how badly and what the circumstances were. How's that for quibbling? (Marcia Berbeza 3:57am October 2, 2016)
Yes, I believe in second chances. No one is perfect, so I guess there are times all of us need to prove we have changed for the better. It depends upon what happened, but there might be occasions when you might forgive but never really trust that person again. (Anna Speed 1:51pm October 2, 2016)
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