The HEA Cafe

Hi, WIP in case you didn’t know is WORK IN PROGRESS. My WIP is the second in a historical series that takes place in Texas during the Texas Revolution against Mexico in 1836. I have learned a TON about the time and it’s been very enjoyable.

But since I’m a novelist, I must torture my characters, especially my hero and heroine. My hero just rescued her from some nasty Mexican bandidos (translation bandits). He doesn’t know if she’s been sexually assaulted or not. And he doesn’t know how to help her. I mean he’s a wonderful hero but he’s the strong silent cowboy type.

I wanted to make sure I was portraying my heroine and hero’s reactions accurately–I mean rape or the suspicion of rape is the same in any century. So I did some quick research on the effects of kidnapping and rape and found that they had similar psychological effects. And then I did some face to face research and asked my husband how he would have felt and reacted if I had been raped, especially soon after we were married. My husband in case you haven’t met him is the strong silent electrical engineer type. Anyway, he gave me his feelings and then I read to him a bit of my hero’s dilemma and musings about how to handle this–and in the middle of a war.

It was very reassuring to find out that he reinforced that I had it right for my hero. And that’s so important.

My question is–Do you as an author ever ask your husband or friends about how they would react in a certain situation?

BTW, I just found out that my July 2007 book, DANGEROUS SECRETS, won the Romantic Times Best Love Inspired Suspense for 2007. I’m smiling!

Hope spring is starting where you are–we’re still waiting!

Lyn