I love surprises. In books, usually. :-) All kinds of surprises. I like when I’m surprised by a plot twist or a revelation about a character’s past or motivations. But what I really like is to see one of the character’s being surprised by the other.
Even if I, the reader, know about it beforehand (i.e. I knew the heroine was going to be somewhere) I love the moment of the hero realizing it. Sometimes it’s a surprise about who another character is, what they are capable of. Sometimes it’s a surprise about what is happening. But whatever unexpected thing happens, I love watching the characters’ surprise, shock, and amazement.
Why?
I think we reveal some of our most ‘raw’ self when we’re faced with the unexpected. Not always, of course, and it depends what the ‘surprise’ is. Walking into a party is a different sort of surprise than pressing on the brake pedal and it not working. But I like seeing the personna of the character stripped away for a moment, and watching how they process, adjust, and move on. Or, don’t. :-)
In my May release, my debut book THE CONQUEROR, a hot medieval romance, the hero is in the midst of some serious wartime negotiations. He’s at a remote location, completing his mission. He’s already rescued the heroine once, and dropped her someone safe. Or so he thought. He knows he’ll never see her again.
Or so he thought....
EXCERPT:
“But won't you stay up for one more drink?" Hipping asked one more time.
Griffyn shook his head. "I'm weary, and have a long ride tomorrow."
Fatigue was no mere pretext. He'd secured the allegiance of one of the most vital allies Henri fitzEmpress would ever need, and all he felt was tired. Weary with spying, with war, with all the machinations of the world. He needed another lost waif to lift his spirits, he decided, stifling a yawn, but they were hard to find.
Something crashed on the floor above them. He and Hipping jerked their heads backward and stared at the ceiling. It sounded like something heavy hit the floor hard, perhaps a washing pot. Hipping looked over with a convivial smile.
"My betrothed."
"Ahh."
"Just arrived."
"Ahh. Congratulations."
Hipping paused. "She's still adjusting."
"Mmm. Your wash pot may not."
Hipping laughed out of proportion to the inane jest. "Aye. I shan't bother her with my attentions again tonight. The priest has been sent for. Tomorrow shall be soon enough."
Griffyn felt a strange ripple of unease. Not required, he told himself. None of my business. Leave it be.
He was shown to his room by a washed-out looking servant. The room was plain, small, and smelled of rot and mold. Which was not the problem. Small cracks in the wooden walls allowed wind to inch in, making it quite cold despite the brazier burning. But that was not the problem either.
It was looking for a chamberpot that ruined everything.
* * *
Finding none in his room, and knowing the full tankard of the infamous Hippletun brew he'd imbibed would soon be needing release, he went in search of a chamberpot, a privy, or a servant to direct him towards either.
What he came across was a violent pounding coming from a chamber door at the far end of the corridor.
He stopped and stared. The wind?
Another spurt of wild hammering, then silence. No. That was not the wind.
'Tis neither any of your business, he cautioned himself. Enough time and energy had already been expended tonight on things that were none of his business.
He backtracked to the stairwell and found a servant who directed him to the guest privy outside. The rising winds almost blew the door off the privy. He manhandled it closed a few times, then, admitting defeat, let it bang maddeningly open and shut, thudding against the wall on each crest of wind as he completed his business.
He tromped back inside, rubbing his eyes. Sleep. All he needed was a few hours sleep.
He reached the upper landing. It was dark despite a torch slung in an iron ring hanging on the wall. Instead of turning left to his room, though, he paused and looked to his right.
Silence. Only the muted moaning of the winds. No cries for help, no frantic hammering. He stomped down the corridor anyway, uncertain why.
"Because I'm a fool," he muttered out loud.
He stopped in front of the doorway. Oddly, there was a key resting in its lock. He put his hand on it, paused, then turned, feeling the fool. More silence. Nothing to be seen or heard.
"Of course not," he said to the emptiness. "Because there's nothing here."
The door crashed open and Guinevere fell into his arms.
* * *
They fell into a clump against the far wall, Griffyn propelled backwards by her headlong rush. He struggled to his knees and clamped his hand over her mouth, which she'd opened to scream.
"I cannot believe it," he announced, removing his hand when he saw she was not going to loose the shriek.
"Oh, thank the Lord," she cried in a whisper. "Pagan! How came you here? No, no, not now. I cannot believe you came, but we must get out of here-"
"We? What are you doing here?"
"-for I've only a little while until he comes for me."
"Comes for you?" he shouted back in a whisper. "What are you talking about? I left you with Clid, a safe refuge, and now you're here?" He stared at her a moment. Realisation dawned. "His betrothed."
"I am not!"
He rubbed the heel of his hand across his forehead, muttering, "I can't believe it. How incredibly unlikely. Abducted, twice in one night."
She scowled. "Astonishing. I can barely bestill my wonder. I left the village-"
"Why? It was warm and dry--"
"Yes, yes." She brushed off his kept promises with an urgent whisper. "But not safe."
"Aye, well. I can see how being here suits you so much the better."
She touched his arm lightly, but the subtle contact felt more forceful than that, a flash of feminine verve.
"You were mad to leave me there," she whispered. "But there is no time for that now. I came because I had to. I know of Hipping's reputation, of course, and the trouble he's caused my lord king. But I did not know he was a . . . a brigand." Her lips twisted, and Griffyn wondered if Hipping's lips had touched hers. The thought, against all reason, brought a flood of anger surging through his blood. "He is holding me against my will."
"For what?" he asked suspiciously.
She paused for half a heartbeat. "It doesn't matter. Politics."
The evasion seemed unnecessary, and would have caught his attention if he hadn't had his attention captured by so many other things, such as the bewildering verity that he was kneeling on the floor of a minor nobleman's corridor with a woman he'd already rescued once tonight and left miles from here not three hours ago. And she needed more rescuing yet.
Then again, abductions were commonplace enough. Kidnappings, forced betrothals. An unprotected woman on the road was fair game.
And all of a sudden, Griffyn's largest concern was not expanding Henri fitzEmpress's frontiers, it was the raven-haired, flushing-cheeked demoiselle in front of him. Her tousled hair and wild eyes made him worry, but it was her incredible, indomitable spirit that turned his tides.
"I hate to be a burden yet again . . , ."
He grabbed her arm. "Let's go."
From, "The Conqueror," by Kris Kennedy. Copyright 2009.
Yes, I love surprises. :-)
How about you? Do you like seeing surprises in books? What kinds? Any great ‘surprise’ / reveal-type scenes?
And thanks for stopping by!
Kris
________________
THE CONQUEROR, Kensington, Available Now
2008 Golden Heart® winner, Historical Romance-Wanting Finian
Hot, Sweeping Historical Romance
http://kriskennedy.net
Make sure and leave a question or comment for Kris along with your email addy in the comments section for a chance to win a copy of her book. One lucky will be chosen by the end of the week.
Even if I, the reader, know about it beforehand (i.e. I knew the heroine was going to be somewhere) I love the moment of the hero realizing it. Sometimes it’s a surprise about who another character is, what they are capable of. Sometimes it’s a surprise about what is happening. But whatever unexpected thing happens, I love watching the characters’ surprise, shock, and amazement.
Why?
I think we reveal some of our most ‘raw’ self when we’re faced with the unexpected. Not always, of course, and it depends what the ‘surprise’ is. Walking into a party is a different sort of surprise than pressing on the brake pedal and it not working. But I like seeing the personna of the character stripped away for a moment, and watching how they process, adjust, and move on. Or, don’t. :-)
In my May release, my debut book THE CONQUEROR, a hot medieval romance, the hero is in the midst of some serious wartime negotiations. He’s at a remote location, completing his mission. He’s already rescued the heroine once, and dropped her someone safe. Or so he thought. He knows he’ll never see her again.
Or so he thought....
EXCERPT:
“But won't you stay up for one more drink?" Hipping asked one more time.
Griffyn shook his head. "I'm weary, and have a long ride tomorrow."
Fatigue was no mere pretext. He'd secured the allegiance of one of the most vital allies Henri fitzEmpress would ever need, and all he felt was tired. Weary with spying, with war, with all the machinations of the world. He needed another lost waif to lift his spirits, he decided, stifling a yawn, but they were hard to find.
Something crashed on the floor above them. He and Hipping jerked their heads backward and stared at the ceiling. It sounded like something heavy hit the floor hard, perhaps a washing pot. Hipping looked over with a convivial smile.
"My betrothed."
"Ahh."
"Just arrived."
"Ahh. Congratulations."
Hipping paused. "She's still adjusting."
"Mmm. Your wash pot may not."
Hipping laughed out of proportion to the inane jest. "Aye. I shan't bother her with my attentions again tonight. The priest has been sent for. Tomorrow shall be soon enough."
Griffyn felt a strange ripple of unease. Not required, he told himself. None of my business. Leave it be.
He was shown to his room by a washed-out looking servant. The room was plain, small, and smelled of rot and mold. Which was not the problem. Small cracks in the wooden walls allowed wind to inch in, making it quite cold despite the brazier burning. But that was not the problem either.
It was looking for a chamberpot that ruined everything.
* * *
Finding none in his room, and knowing the full tankard of the infamous Hippletun brew he'd imbibed would soon be needing release, he went in search of a chamberpot, a privy, or a servant to direct him towards either.
What he came across was a violent pounding coming from a chamber door at the far end of the corridor.
He stopped and stared. The wind?
Another spurt of wild hammering, then silence. No. That was not the wind.
'Tis neither any of your business, he cautioned himself. Enough time and energy had already been expended tonight on things that were none of his business.
He backtracked to the stairwell and found a servant who directed him to the guest privy outside. The rising winds almost blew the door off the privy. He manhandled it closed a few times, then, admitting defeat, let it bang maddeningly open and shut, thudding against the wall on each crest of wind as he completed his business.
He tromped back inside, rubbing his eyes. Sleep. All he needed was a few hours sleep.
He reached the upper landing. It was dark despite a torch slung in an iron ring hanging on the wall. Instead of turning left to his room, though, he paused and looked to his right.
Silence. Only the muted moaning of the winds. No cries for help, no frantic hammering. He stomped down the corridor anyway, uncertain why.
"Because I'm a fool," he muttered out loud.
He stopped in front of the doorway. Oddly, there was a key resting in its lock. He put his hand on it, paused, then turned, feeling the fool. More silence. Nothing to be seen or heard.
"Of course not," he said to the emptiness. "Because there's nothing here."
The door crashed open and Guinevere fell into his arms.
* * *
They fell into a clump against the far wall, Griffyn propelled backwards by her headlong rush. He struggled to his knees and clamped his hand over her mouth, which she'd opened to scream.
"I cannot believe it," he announced, removing his hand when he saw she was not going to loose the shriek.
"Oh, thank the Lord," she cried in a whisper. "Pagan! How came you here? No, no, not now. I cannot believe you came, but we must get out of here-"
"We? What are you doing here?"
"-for I've only a little while until he comes for me."
"Comes for you?" he shouted back in a whisper. "What are you talking about? I left you with Clid, a safe refuge, and now you're here?" He stared at her a moment. Realisation dawned. "His betrothed."
"I am not!"
He rubbed the heel of his hand across his forehead, muttering, "I can't believe it. How incredibly unlikely. Abducted, twice in one night."
She scowled. "Astonishing. I can barely bestill my wonder. I left the village-"
"Why? It was warm and dry--"
"Yes, yes." She brushed off his kept promises with an urgent whisper. "But not safe."
"Aye, well. I can see how being here suits you so much the better."
She touched his arm lightly, but the subtle contact felt more forceful than that, a flash of feminine verve.
"You were mad to leave me there," she whispered. "But there is no time for that now. I came because I had to. I know of Hipping's reputation, of course, and the trouble he's caused my lord king. But I did not know he was a . . . a brigand." Her lips twisted, and Griffyn wondered if Hipping's lips had touched hers. The thought, against all reason, brought a flood of anger surging through his blood. "He is holding me against my will."
"For what?" he asked suspiciously.
She paused for half a heartbeat. "It doesn't matter. Politics."
The evasion seemed unnecessary, and would have caught his attention if he hadn't had his attention captured by so many other things, such as the bewildering verity that he was kneeling on the floor of a minor nobleman's corridor with a woman he'd already rescued once tonight and left miles from here not three hours ago. And she needed more rescuing yet.
Then again, abductions were commonplace enough. Kidnappings, forced betrothals. An unprotected woman on the road was fair game.
And all of a sudden, Griffyn's largest concern was not expanding Henri fitzEmpress's frontiers, it was the raven-haired, flushing-cheeked demoiselle in front of him. Her tousled hair and wild eyes made him worry, but it was her incredible, indomitable spirit that turned his tides.
"I hate to be a burden yet again . . , ."
He grabbed her arm. "Let's go."
From, "The Conqueror," by Kris Kennedy. Copyright 2009.
Yes, I love surprises. :-)
How about you? Do you like seeing surprises in books? What kinds? Any great ‘surprise’ / reveal-type scenes?
And thanks for stopping by!
Kris
________________
THE CONQUEROR, Kensington, Available Now
2008 Golden Heart® winner, Historical Romance-Wanting Finian
Hot, Sweeping Historical Romance
http://kriskennedy.net
Make sure and leave a question or comment for Kris along with your email addy in the comments section for a chance to win a copy of her book. One lucky will be chosen by the end of the week.
44 comments:
I love surprises in books as long as it's not the kind where a character I've gotten attached to suddenly dies. Those types of surprises usually get a loud "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" from me.
un_pissenlit (at) hotmail (dot) com
I love surprises, or unexpected developments in books, as long as they make sense to the overall story, and are not just thrown in on a whim.
One example where I think it worked, but at the time was about to throw the book away, was Diana Gabaldon's 2nd book in the Outlander series "Dragonfly in Amber", or maybe it was "Voyager" (can't remember) where it starts with Clare looking at the grave marker of Jamie in the future, when I read this I almost set the book on fire because I did not want Jamie to be dead, I seriously did not like Diana at that point, but it after I finished the book I thought the beginning was perfect, and eventually forgave her for scaring her readers the way she did :)
cldivineATyahooDOTcom
Pissenlit~
Oh, you're totally right--not that sort of surprise at all.
Booklover~
Ha, yes! Sometimes the set-up for a surprise can be a little unsettling. But it's still great when you don't see it coming, even if you have to suffer the tension beforehand. :-) I haven't read that one yet--is it as eipc as Outlander?
I enjoy surprises in books, I really like it when either the hero or heroine has some dark secret that is revealed. tWarner419@aol.com
No need to enter me, ladies. I'm dropping by to say thanks for the e-mail, Terra. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.
Kris, if we can publicize anything else, drop us a note!
I love surprises in books - especially the endings where its totally unexpected what the outcome will be - you close the book and think wow I never would have guessed that would happen.
This one sounds wonderful - nice cover!
msboatgal at aol.com
I love surprizes in the stories I read. I like the drama and suspense the author takes to get us to the jackpot. I even like the out-of-left field surprize...the one that hits you between the eyes and you say 'I didn't see that coming'. What I don't like is page after page after page of set-up (always saying the same thing) to get to the pay-off. It's almost like filler to make the book come up to the required number of pages/words or something.
kkhaas at bellsouth dot net
I like surprises as long as they are not sad. I just don't want to be unexpectedly depressed. Yes, I am a wimp! :-)
The best surprises involve the hero or heroine discovering something unexpected about the other. It is great when preconceived notions are shaken up.
Your book sounds so wonderful, and the cover is yummy!
castings[at]mindspring[dot]com
I like surprises - but, I guess it really depends on the surprise!
megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com
I do like some surprises as long as they are good/happy surprises and not really nasty ones like a character dies (unless it's a bad guy character :-) or something like that :-)
marielay@gmail.com
I enjoy surprises, especially if I can go back and see hints after the fact.
I also love it when my own characters surprise me, even if it means going back and revising earlier pages.
Kris, I do like surprises in books, and one of them was your line: "It was looking for a chamberpot that ruined everything."
Fabulous line!
I like learning unexpected things about characters, seeing glimpses into their pasts that I didn't seeing coming. etc. This is true in what I read , and in writing my own work.
I'll be looking for THE CONQUEROR on my weekly trip to the bookstore!
Light,
Nancy Haddock
Tetewa~
Dark secrets are cool, aren't they? :-)
I always like when knowing that 'dark secret' makes the choice the other character has to make even harder.
Susan,
Thanks for stopping by! :-)
Scottsgal~
It's is great to have that feeling, isn't it: you close the book & are still feeling enjoyment of the surprise?
I'm trying to recall the last book where that happened for me, but I'm so bad with these kinds of things: Remembering book & movie titles . . . recalling what I did 5 minutes ago . . .
(Small children have kryptonic-like superpowers over me: they sap my brain strength. I know--I've got one. The best in the world. I love being with him. I'm just kinda dumb as a result. But it's worth it. :-) )
Karen H~
You're so right--if you feel like you're getting set up over & over, it's not enjoyable.
The element of surprise (and preparation for it) can't be the *whole* style of storytelling: that's more like a bad stand-up routine.
Storytelling is different.
There's got to be more to the story than revealing the big 'whammy.'
Chery2628~
Oh, yes, that shake-up for assumptions is fabulous good relationship drama, isn't it? :-)
And I love watching how they adapt afterwards, and what it changes *inside* of them. *Both* of them: the person who held the secret, and the one who discovered it.
Cheryl S & Marie,
I agree, it certainly depends on the *type* of surprise, doesn't it? :-) We're reading romance, after all, so there's certain things we want to feel, and 'heartsick' generally isn't one of them. :-)
Mary Marvella~
Oh, yes, isn't that fun? When the characters you're writing about reveal/do something that requires you to revise your OWN notions of who they are and what they're after (and you're the *author,* for heaven's sake! You created them.)
:-)
Hi Nancy!
LOL--I'm really glad you like that line. It made me laugh when I first wrote it too, so I guess that's a good thing. :-)
I like the glimpses into the characters' pasts too. I often really like when they 'glimpse' is just that, not a long explanation, where everything is spelled out for me. I like to be given the glimpse, which leads to insight, then I can work out the implications for the story myself.
Sometimes the implication are so obvious we the reader can figure that out immediately, sometimes it takes a little while. But it's always cool to have things deepened like that in a way we didn't expect.
I love surprizes in books as long as they are pertinent to the story.
Your books sounds great!
kissinoak@verizon.net
Estella~
I agree: it's best when the character revelation or plot turn/twist changes something in the storyline, or in the heart of one of the characters.
I'm so glad THE CONQUEROR sounds good! Thanks for saying so. If you get it, I hope you like it--be sure to let me know.
I like surprises, as long as they don't interfere with my HEA!!! I don't like books with an ending that results in a Hero or Heroine dying. That ruins it!
I love surprises --keeps you on your toes while reading! Although the death of a character can be startling! mesreads[at]gmail[dot]com
I think surprises are the best if they are consistent with the characters.
Hi Kris,
Congratulations on your first release, "THE CONQUEROR!!!" This is ultra special, and I hope you're enjoying every single minute!
I love a suprise in an amazing plot twist. That sucks me into a story every time. So, as a major plotter, I try and do that with my stories. :) Great question.
I wish you every success in your career, and can't wait to read,"THE CONQUEROR!"
Diana Cosby
www.dianacosby.com
Romance Edged With Danger
Mari & Martha E~
You ladies are totally right--the death of a character you care about--esp. hero or heroine--doesn't count as a 'surprise" -- it's a deep disappointment. :-)
Now, I'm noticing a lot of people have mentioned that as a 'bad surpise,' so I have to assume it has happened to y'all. Off-hand, I can't think of a romance where someone I cared deeply for died. Movies, tho, are a totally different story in that way!
Llehn~
You're so right. The author has to work any 'surprise' into the story in a way that's organic to the characters, and the plot.
Anything else feels gratuitous. We readers feel as though the author did it for the shock value, rather than b/c the story needed it.
Diana~
Aww, thanks for saying Hi, and your kinds words! :-) Right back at you.
For me, major plot surprises often end up surprising *me* too, like Mary Marvella said. LOL
Yes, exactly Kris. The forced ones make me feel so GRRRRR ....
I too love surprises, the good kind anyway, depending (dark secrets, secret identities, unparalleled mysteries, secret attractions, love) -- unexpected developments that keeps me guessing.
Thanks!
Dottie
gymmom_027@yahoo.com
Hi Dottie~
So you like to know there's a surprise in the works, almost. Things that keep you guessing, wondering how the author's going to work it out. That is a lot of fun!
Hi Kris, I do like a surprise or a twist I didn't see coming, spikes up the interest just when you thought you know where the story was going.
Congrats on your release! I love medievals and can't wait to read this one. Just waiting for the mailmen to get it to my mailbox any day now (so not entering contest).
Hi Kris. I enjoy being surprised when I reading. Your book sounds great. Love the cover.
Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com
I love surprises. I love mostly reading a book that is good that you never know what is going to happen bext. I like the unexpected.
Kris, congrats on your first of many books to come! Love historicals and can't find many Medievals to read, so this is neat! That was hilarious ending the excerpt like that, LOL. Nice surprise for sure!
I do like being surprised!I love reading it build up in one book or over several books in the series Ior even just out of the blue. 'm reading Mary Balogh's new historical series on The Huxtables and there is one hero in the book that surprises just keep popping up more and more about the hero and heard his story will be told last!
Then there are fun and funny ones like yours that just happen out of the blue. Loved that excerpt!
cathiecaffey(at)gmail(dot)Com
I love good surprises!
Wow, Kris, what an excerpt~I loved what I read=) Now, I badly want to read the entire story. It's wonderful, I'm sure!
I have a question~When you've created these characters do you see them in your mind's eye as they would appear in the flesh?
How does that compare with what is chosen for the cover?
Lethea
Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net
Hey Pam (P)!
Thanks for stopping by, and yay that THE CONQUEROR is winging its way to you as we 'speak.' I hope you love it! :-) Be sure to let me know.
Hi CrystalGB~
I''m glad you like the cover, ;-) and thanks for saying hi!
Kimmyl~
Are you a fan of thriller-type books? Constantly switching things up, raising the stakes, doubling back, etc. I enjoy reading those kind of books too, where I'm constantly guessing where things are headed. Hard to write, fun to read. :-)
Hey Caffey~
Oh, yes, I know just what you mean, about the surprises (and subsequent character deepening) happening over the course of many books. One of the cool things about an on-going series. Somewhat hard to do in romance, but then, some people are so skilled, they could pull anything off.
Glad the medieval era is what you're looking for. Me too. :-) Here's hoping for a resurgence in fabulous medievals!
And I'm very glad you enjoyed the excerpt. :-)
Lethea~
Thanks for your kind comments! Glad you enjoyed the excerpt so much. :-)
You asked about whether I see the characters in my mind's eye while I'm writing.
Yes, I do. There is the occasional secondary character who I may not have a super-clear visual for, but in general, I have a very clear image in my my head.
Even more than that, what I do is see scenes unfolding in my mind, like a movie. So the characters really come alive for me *within* a scene, when they're doing things & interacting. That's when I see them best, often from another character's point of view.
As far as how this cover compares with my mental pix of the hero in THE CONQUEROR: pretty perfect. :-)
But, of course, that's not always the case. Some authors have lots of control over covers, most don't.
For the most part, it's a publishing/sales decision, and you always hope it's reflective of the story & characters within.
:-)
Thanks for stopping by, and asking such a great question!
I enjoy surprises in books your book sounds so good, I loved the interview today! Thanks for being here,
Penney
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