J: Julie Garwood

My theme for the A to Z Blogging Challenge this year is a mishmash of books, movies, writers and TV shows that have in one way or another taught me something about writing and helped me be a better writer. Some inspired my own stories and a few taught me what not to do. Each post is a one minute lesson on writing. Speaking of inspiring, please visit the IWSG blog for A to Z also.

One of my favorite romance authors is Julie Garwood. Of all her many novels, there are none I like better than, For the Roses. Julie has a way with dialogue that makes you smile but in For the Roses, she creates a family of characters so interesting, you really don't care about the plot of the book or the developing romance. For the Roses starts out as the story of four homeless boys in Civil War era New York City who have banded together for protection. They find a baby girl in the trash and decide to leave the city and raise her in a good home and become a real family. It is a lovely story of family.

Even though this book is sold as a romance, the best part for me is the family dynamics between those four brothers and their little sister. The secondary characters make the story. I think this book could be used as a textbook for how to make your secondary characters flesh out and improve the basic plot. Their interactions with the main protagonists show the reader the hearts and souls of the main couple. The secondary characters were so popular, that Julie Garwood wrote a story for each of them in the years following the publication of For the Roses.

Lesson: Make your secondary characters more than decoration in your novels. When writing a series, introducing interesting secondary characters in the first novel is a great way to set up additional books. Everybody loves a story of family that overcomes hardship and challenges.

Today is also my turn to post on the A to Z Challenge Blog. I hope you'll stop in and share your views on Juggling.

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant." Anne Bradstreet

"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." Milton Berle

Tomorrow is Sunday. Are you doing some catch up for A to Z or taking the day off? Is spring a big enough payoff for this past winter? Any book every stand out for you because of secondary characters?