Read Me Dead by Emerald Barnes Blog Tour (Guest Post!)

 

~Guest Post~

 

Have you ever gotten your manuscript back with a comment on it from either your editor, a trusted friend, or beta reader that said, “I hate your main character”? 

I have.  More times than I can count.

So, you poured your heart and soul into creating that character.  She’s part of you.  She’s your baby.  She’s apparently hated.  You want to lash out and scream, “Quit hating my baby!  She didn’t do anything to you.” 

What do you do when your beloved main character is hated?  Do you rewrite her?  Do you dare give in to what the masses want? 

I didn’t.  My main character is tormented by the thought of a murderer coming after her.  Alex in Read Me Dead is terrified.  So she doesn’t run around with a bow and arrow killing people.  It doesn’t mean she isn’t still worthy of main character status.

Take Bella Swan for instance.  You all know her.  You all have either read the book, watched the movie or heard something about her.  She’s not a hero, but she’s believable. 

In her situation, wouldn’t you complain about things too? 

If you’re a female, you know how you felt during middle grade and high school.  Most girls don’t feel pretty enough and most girls stay embarrassed over something.  Heck, I cried A LOT during high school.  Emotions run high.  Why not have a character like that? 

Don’t get me wrong.  I love a kick butt main character.  I love to live through the eyes of someone who isn’t terrified to pull the trigger and fight back, but I was never like that as a teen.  I was the girl who hid away and didn’t stand up for herself.  Eventually, I learned not to be like that, and if your main character has a moment like that in your book, I don’t see what is wrong with have a protagonist who isn’t kick butt. 

She’s relatable.  She may not have too many witty comments, and she may hide away and cry.  Don’t change her.  Let her learn through the novel to become stronger.  Isn’t that what young adults do?  They learn as they grow?  Even Bella Swan got better during the series. 

You don’t have to conform to the whole “Your main character sucks.  She should have a backbone,” comment.  She can learn to grow a backbone.  She can be completely whiney, but as long as there is a defining moment for her to shine, I think you’re good to keep going with her the way she is. 

What do you think?  

 

~About the Book~

 

Read Me Dead by Emerald Barnes

 

Description from Goodreads:

Alexia Wheaton’s problems go beyond picking a dress and a date for homecoming.

For seven years, Alex has lived with a painful memory - her parents' horrific murder. As the sole witness, she has kept quiet to protect herself, but when the local newspaper reveals her secret, Alex is plagued with fear that her parents' murderer will soon find her - and silence her forever.

Alex is catapulted into a race against time to save her own life and bring her parents' murderer to justice.

 

"Read Me Dead" by Emerald Barnes on Ganxy

 

♥Jessica(: