Between The Pages: Guest Post One Eight Seven by H.L. LeRoy

Title: One Eight Seven
Author: H.L. LeRoy
Series: A LT. Jack Daniels/Jillian Varela Mystery (A loosely tied together series. But any of the stories can be read as a standalone.)
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Publisher: Kindle Worlds
Release Date: Mar 2, 2015
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook
Blurb/Synopsis:
Lt. “Jack” Daniels’ mom doesn’t just enjoy guilt trips she buys your ticket, packs your bag, and stamps your passport. Now she has Jack reluctantly heading to San Francisco in an effort to solve the murder of a drag queen superstar.
Teamed up with a tough-as-nails local P.I., Jillian Varela, Jack figures it will be an easy case. But what her mom didn’t tell her was that she would be helping a Mafia don with a long list of enemies.
As the bodies begin to stack up, it becomes obvious that Mom’s “simple job” has turned into something both dangerous and deadly.

Guest Post

Inside the mind of H.L. LeRoy

Why I Write About Strong Women Characters

"Why do you always write these strong women characters?"

Both of my most popular characters are strong women, so I’ve been asked that question dozens of times. In fact, I have a television interview next week and I’m sure I’ll be asked it again.

For my part, I want strong females in my stories that truly represent women, women who are tough but warm and sensitive, able to kick ass, and refuse to quit. Jillian Varela in Rare Justice and The Game’s End, as well as Terra Vonn in The Fountain of the Earth are both such characters. They do what has to be done, but at the same time, they aren't overly mannish women. They can be thoroughly feminine. It amazes me that for some reason, a lot of male writers seem to be unable or unwilling to write women as human beings.

Pick up most novels or watch a recent movie and see if it passes the extremely simple Bechdel test.

1. It has to have at least two (named) women in it,

2. who talk to each other,

3. about something besides a man

You would be amazed how many movies and books fail this example of gender bias.

I’ve always felt that strong female characters should be written just as you would a male character. She needs to be a complex human being, with her own fears, strengths, goals, flaws, complexities, and weaknesses. These women not some stereotypical sex object. She shouldn’t be perfect or put on a pedestal since everyone makes mistakes. And she should make her own decisions, trusting that she’s made the right choice.

It's all about creating female protagonists who are real people. It might be easier to create some knuckle-headed teenager than a fully formed, integral character, but it isn’t honest, and it certainly isn’t right.

H. L. (Holly) LeRoy is an award winning, American short story writer and novelist. Born in San Jose, California, LeRoy currently resides in the Sierra Nevada Mountains with his family.
When J. A. Konrath approached me with the opportunity to write in Lieutenant Jack Daniels’ world, I jumped at the chance. Since my other works are in the mystery/thriller/action/adventure genres and tell the stories of strong female protagonists confronting impossible situations, I knew it was a perfect fit.
Amazon Publishing has secured licenses from Warner Bros. Television Group's Alloy Entertainment for Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and The Vampire Diaries; Valiant Entertainment for Archer & Armstrong, Bloodshot, Harbinger, Shadowman, and X-O Manowar; J. A. Konrath's Jack Daniels series, Hugh Howey's Silo Saga; Barry Eisler's John Rain novels; Blake Crouch's Wayward Pines series; and The Foreworld Saga by Neal Stephenson, Greg Bear, Mark Teppo, Eric Bear, Joseph Brassey, Nicole Galland, and Cooper Moo. Licenses for more Worlds are on the way.

Places to find H.L.

Blog Random Thoughts

Places to find One Eight Seven

Amazon

Other Works by H.L. LeRoy

Kindle World

(A LT. Jack Daniels/Jillian Varela Mystery)

One Eight Seven (1)