Written in the Tradition of Odysseus –
and – Women Who Are More Than Pretty
Several years ago I sat down to explore
an idea. At the time I had no intention of publishing the book. I wasn't sure I
could even finish a novel. It was the idea that compelled me; the question of
what it would be like to investigate a murder of someone who looks just like
you. What would it be like if an investigator was the subject of a serial
killer's obsession?
I explored the idea, and because I
wasn't thinking about marketing or genre expectations I made the heroine mixed
race. I gave her dark skin, an optimistic outlook, a trusting nature, and an
aversion to guns.
When I finished the book I realized I'd
written a marketing failure. Sci-fi, sci-fi romance, and urban fantasy all have
a strong tradition of physically strong female characters. It's rare for any
book in these genres to have a character in the tradition of Odysseus, let
alone a female character. Women carry guns and swords. They go toe to toe with
the big bad, rescue their own d*** selves, and don't need a man's help to save
the day.
My heroine, Sam Rose, was after the
tradition of Odysseus, a thinker and a strategist.
When the book opens she's a trusting
young woman working to build a career at the Commonwealth Bureau of
Investigation after a serious family incident almost derailed everything. She's
fighting to keep her dream alive, but she's doing it politely, efficiently, and
poorly because she's fumbling along the best she can. She's a young, naïve,
sweet girl.
And that's what made THE DAY BEFORE a
nerve-wracking book to share.
The romance subplot was much more subtle
than in my other books, and the heroine much quieter than the other women I've
written. I worried that no one would see the strength her silence enveloped.
That no one would understand that while a sword-wielding woman was fascinating,
one who could sit in silence and gain control was equally worthy of attention.
Sam doesn't have flash. She isn't a character with bells and whistles attached.
No magic swords, fast ships, swanky genetic engineering, or prophecies
attached.
In fact, Sam is frighteningly average.
She's your neighbor, your co-worker, your girlfriend... she's the kind of
person dismissed every single day because she does her job without complaint.
I sent the first query for Sam's story
out the same day I started writing another series. This time the heroine had
magic and a sword. This time I was going to write a "proper" SFR/UF
heroine. Someone who I could build a career on because I was certain THE DAY
BEFORE would never get published.
But Sam's story sold.
Against all odds, a mixed race POC woman
is the lead character in a sci-fi thriller. Because there is more than one kind
of strong.
I love women with guns who kick butt and
take names. Undoubtedly I will write many more books with women like that. But
for women to gain equality in the genres we have to let women be more than
physically strong. We need nurturers, leaders, thinkers, cowards, bakers, and
dog walkers. We need women in fiction who represent every woman who may ever
read a book.
We need women who are more than pretty.
I am so excited that this week you
finally get to meet Sam Rose. The girl next door who is so much more than she
thinks she is.
Blurb:
A body is found in the Alabama wilderness. The
question is:
Is it a human corpse … or is it just a piece of
discarded property?
Agent Samantha Rose has been exiled to a backwater
assignment for the Commonwealth Bureau of Investigation, a death knell for her
career. But then Sam catches a break—a murder—that could give her the boost she
needs to get her life back on track. There's a snag, though: the body is a
clone, and technically that means it's not a homicide. And yet, something about
the body raises questions, not only for her, but for coroner Linsey Mackenzie.
The more they dig, the more they realize nothing about this
case is what it seems … and for Sam, nothing about Mac is what it seems,
either.
This case might be the way out for her, but that way could
be in a bodybag.
A thrilling new mystery from Liana Brooks, The
Day Before will have you looking over your shoulder and questioning what it
means to be human.
Links:
HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo | GoodReads
Website: http://www.lianabrooks.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lianabrooks
Newsletter: http://lianabrooks.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=675dc6fb70db402b9a2b27c97&id=71396c63a4
Bio:
Liana Brooks
once read the book GOOD OMENS by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett and noted that
both their biographies invited readers to send money (or banana daiquiris).
That seems to have worked well for them. Liana prefers strawberry daiquiris
(virgin!) and will never say no to large amounts of cash in unmarked
bills.
Her books are
sweet and humorous with just enough edge to keep you reading past your
bedtime.
Liana was born
in San Diego after bouncing around the country she's settled (temporarily) in the
great wilderness of Alaska. She can be found on Twitter (@LianaBrooks), on
FaceBook, and on the web at www.lianabrooks.com.
Coming April 28th, 2015
Available for Pre-Order
Congrats on the release! This sounds intriguing. I just downloaded a sample.
ReplyDelete>here's a snag, though: the body is a clone, and technically that means it's not a homicide.
Wow, that promises some interesting themes!