My book Ashes and Other Inheritances, the fourth book in the Soul Sisterhood series, is at editing now, and my editor pointed out that the two love interests are A and B: Aaron and Beau. It wasn’t a conscious choice, though. My characters tend to tell me their names, so I just roll with it. However, it ended up being delicious symbolism.
When the book starts out, you get to meet Aaron, who Morgan (the FMC) runs into while she’s in Italy. They have history and both love history, so the fortuitous coincidence makes her trip that much richer. She enjoys spending time with Aaron and also indulging in the beauty of Rome.
When I was creating Aaron’s and Beau’s characters, I was struck with a problem. I initially wanted to make Aaron into a fling, but then I decided that I wanted them to have history. I also didn’t want him to be a walking red flag. There are so many good things about Aaron! I thought it would be more fun if the reader liked him, too, that way Morgan would be presented with an actual dilemma and not an obvious decision.
Beau has so many good points, too. Ultimately, they are two good guys, two good choices. And I didn’t want to create opposing archetypes either, because good boy/bad boy would make it obvious who she should pick.
What I decided on was to have her pick based on her growth, where she is in her life and who aligns with that. Choosing from that perspective isn’t easy, and it takes a deep dive into yourself to see who you really are. Which can be really difficult.
Morgan’s story is one of significant growth and connection with her past that takes her to the next stop on her journey, where she’s ready to be with someone who compliments who she is at the end of the personal punishment, the mini-rebellions, and the desire for control (and to be out of control). And when she finds that person, her choice between A and B is obvious.
I had a lot of fun with the Aaron vs. Beau aspects of the story and the way that they both gently work to win her over, both from a place of love. As someone who has often been in Morgan’s place, wanting to force, wanting to grab onto what I want, and wanting to control the ending, it was a funny internal battle for me to let both Aaron and Beau “put out birdseed” for Morgan and see which direction she went. I wanted both men to come from a healed perspective, one that allowed for Morgan to be who she wanted to be without them getting upset about her decision or feeling desperate to win her over. Heck, I even mentioned that Beau saw a therapist for years because I wanted to emphasize the effort he had put into his own growth after a tough past.
I love that I get to create a world where people heal and are healed and that they can be walking green flags. I love that I can help them come to conclusions from a healthy perspective. And I love that I get to share their stories with the world.
I think you’ll enjoy the A/B options when you read Ashes and Other Inheritances! I’ll be dropping more hints about the book as we lead up to launch day in March!