Kate HIll and Secondary Characters

On this cold morning, please welcome our guest, Kate Hill. While she sits down close to the fireplace and gets comfortable I'd like to share some things she told me about herself. Always a fan of romance and the paranormal, Kate started writing over twenty years ago for pleasure. Her first story, a short erotic vampire tale, was accepted for publication in 1996. Since then she has sold over one hundred short stories, novellas and novels.

When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out and spending time with her family and pets.

She enjoys hearing from readers and she can be contacted at katehill@sprintmail.com. Visit Kate online at http://www.kate-hill.com.

Secondary Favorites

In many ways secondary characters are as important as the main ones. Often without secondary characters, there would be no story. No villains or sidekicks for the hero to fight or play with. Sometimes a secondary character stands out so much that they eventually become the hero of their own book.

One of my favorite feelings is when I’m working on a book and I see another story in the future for a secondary character. Usually for me that character is a villain or antihero. I love characters who walk the line between good and evil, sometimes crossing over to one or the other within the same story.

In Trouble in Paradise, I loved writing about the shady butler Charlton. A tough guy who seems willing to do just about anything for his evil employer, he is actually more than he appears to be.

As a reader or a writer, who are some of your favorite secondary characters?

Trouble in Paradise
by Kate Hill
Romantic Adventure

Before cell phones and reality TV, when women had big hair and men were all about action and adventure, a girl walks into a bar searching for a hero. She finds R. C. Benson, a soldier turned grave robber wallowing in past sins. With a marriage of convenience, a pet shark and a shady butler, Grace and R. C. have their work cut out for them, but that gives them the perfect chance to fall in love.

Excerpt from Trouble in Paradise:

“Do you know Charlton is watching us from the entrance to the great hall?”

“He gives me the creeps,” she whispered back, her mouth almost touching his.

“Kiss me.”

“R. C. --”

“He’s coming this way.”

Grace stood on tiptoe, her arms sliding around R. C.’s neck as his wrapped around
her waist. Her lips pressed against his. He lowered his lashes, wishing to close his eyes
completely to enjoy the kiss, but wanting to watch the towering butler who approached
silently, like an enormous shadow.

Charlton cleared his throat loudly and Benson broke away from Grace, pretending
to look startled.

“Is there anything I can do for you?” Charlton asked.

R. C. smiled. “No. We were just enjoying the night.”

“We’re newlyweds.” Grace leaned her back against R. C.’s chest and guided his
arms around her waist.

“I see.” Charlton’s dark gaze roamed over the couple. R. C. stared at the butler in
the same discerning manner. He didn’t like the man. Charlton seemed polite as his
position dictated, however R. C. sensed an underlying threat, as if they were two lions
preparing to fight for the same pride. “I ask you to be careful out here.”

“Why?” R. C. asked.

“It would be unfortunate if one of you should slip and drown. The pool is quite
deep in places.”

“Well thank you for your concern, Charlton, but I’m sure we’ll be fine,” R. C.
told him.

“Still, Mrs. Van Lord has asked me to watch over our guests. She prefers visitors
to remain inside the castle at night.”

R. C. forced another smile. “We wouldn’t want to offend our hostess, would we,
Grace?”

“Of course not.” Grace’s fingers tightened slightly on his wrists. “But surely she
doesn’t want us confined to our rooms all night?”

“Certainly not, ma'am.” Charlton bowed from the neck. “The east and south
towers are yours to explore. Once the other towers are completed, I’m sure the Van Lords
will allow their guests access to them as well.”

“Thank you, Charlton.” R. C. nodded before he and Grace left the courtyard.


Available at:

All Romance Ebooks
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-troubleinparadise-1153845-152.html

Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trouble-in-paradise-kate-hill/1115078113?ean=2940044425507

Coffee Time Romance Book Store
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookStore/pubs_product_book_info/indie-authors-kate-hill-c-152_180/trouble-in-paradise-p-10631

Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302667