by Dalyn J. Weller, @dalynweller
Story is powerful. It’s timeless and universal.
Stories are more than entertainment, they are our teachers, and characters are the vehicles into the lessons.
I write romance stories and I have to admit my favorite characters are the ones who are big enough to sacrifice something of themselves for the sake of someone else. This is especially effective if the hero walks into the scene as some kind of underdog. Not pathetic but a person who proves himself a deep well right out of the gate. I’m going to immediately empathize with his plight and root for him. I’m going to be willing to follow him on his journey because I want to see him overcome everything and everyone set against him. I want to be with him when he takes the hill!
I fall in love with heroes that are worthy opponents. A hero who is fierce in battle—whatever kind of battle he must face. I’m going to stick with the guy that’s just the right kind of dangerous—a threat to his enemies, but a rescuer of little old ladies and kittens. A man who is strong and tender? Catch me when I swoon.
It doesn’t hurt if he’s witty and has a funny bone. A little charm never hurt, right?
The perfect hero holds tight to his integrity even if he suffers—or dies for it. He’s valiant and intrepid and a leader of others. He may be wounded but he doesn’t quit. He’s the epitome of heroic manhood, full of virtue and when he’s tested, as he will be if the story is good, he comes out of that fiery furnace with his honor intact.
The ideal hero is capable and protective. He’s clever, situationally aware, not driven by pride or lust, greed, or cowardice. He’s the regular guy in jeans and work boots on the outside, but inside he’s a knight on a white stallion. The odds are stacked against him, and yet we know he will prevail. We believe in him because we know in our hearts that he’s worthy and we can’t wait to see him win.
Our hero inspires us to overcome, to be brave in the face of danger, and yes, to give our bread to the poor even if it’s our last morsel. A hero that stays in my heart for years or maybe forever is a character that teaches me to dig deep for the nobility God tucked inside me, too.
How about you? What kind of hero keeps you up late at night turning pages past bedtime?
Christmas magic happens in the Cascade Mountains…The last thing reclusive children’s book author Noelle Albright wants is an intrusion of her quiet world. Noelle just wants to be left alone to rebuild her life—and her muse– after the death of her husband and baby. She doesn’t need her noisy neighbors suddenly opening up their tree farm for the entire world. Don’t they know Christmas only brings heartache? Colton Howell has big dreams…but they don’t include a tree farm in the Cascade Mountains. Or a crazy neighbor. Colton longs for a place to call his own. After growing up in foster care and living the past six years in the dust of Afghanistan, he has plans to move to Alaska where big money awaits. Maybe there he can build a new life. When his plans are interrupted by a call for help from his foster father, his sense of responsibility sends him back to help manage the Christmas tree farm. But the crazy lady next door might just get in the way. The Christmas tree farm holds magic…As the season settles upon them, Colton realizes he’s in over his head. And Noelle can’t seem to stay away from the farm…at least if her dog has anything to say about it. Somehow she finds herself working alongside Colton…and opening her heart to find new possibilities. Colton discovers that maybe he’s found the dream he’s always longed for. But there’s a saboteur afoot…They’ll have to work together to save the farm, the community’s efforts to help foster children this Christmas… and their broken hearts.
Dalyn Weller is a small-town girl, living with her real-life romantic hero on a horse ranch in Washington State. She writes from the ranch with dogs at her feet, horses hanging their heads over the fences, and dairy goats and sheep munching grass around her chair.
Dalyn writes devotional books and romance with a country flavor. Her inspiration comes from real life characters all around her. Life in wine country is full of romance and dirt roads lead to love.
website: dalynweller.com and be sure and sign up for her newsletter: Writing From The Ranch
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Rooted & Blooming, Flourishing In Desert Seasons available in print and e-book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, Google Play & Apple Books
(audio is in production)