And yes, I’ve written heroines like that. But I also love exploring more nuanced strength. Sometimes strength is quiet--so quiet the heroine herself doesn’t even realize it until she’s forced to embrace the core of steel deep inside her. Sometimes strength is the quiet refusal to surrender when the world overwhelms.
Two Sisters, Two Kinds of Strength
I just finished writing one of my overtly kick‑butt heroines: Iona Desmond. Highly trained, capable of hand‑to‑hand combat, and able to keep up with her hero, Special Forces Sergeant (and estranged husband) Cal “Baggs” Baggnell. Iona strides into danger with skill and confidence. (Wicked Temptation, available for pre‑order now!)
But the previous book, Wicked Ambition, featured her sister Ayla--and Ayla’s strength looks very different. Ayla works in public relations. She’s not trained for combat, but when her twin was in trouble, she risked everything to save her.
Ayla is afraid of flying, yet she boarded a plane and flew nine hours to Puerto Jardin because she knew her sister needed her. Ignoring your deepest phobia and doing what needs to be done anyway? That seems pretty kick‑butt to me.
The Heart of It
Strength doesn’t always mean weapons and combat skills. Sometimes it’s the courage to face your fears, the determination to protect someone you love, or the resilience to keep going when the odds are stacked against you.
That’s why I love writing heroines who embody both kinds of strength--the ones who kick down doors, and the ones who discover their hidden steel when the world demands it.
