Five years ago, I started writing this little book where I wanted to deconstruct the idea of a “strong female character” in epic fantasy. Down the rabbit hole I went. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was going to end up encountering misogynistic responses to the work, in addition to having to think about the difference between the sort of strength that aligns with toxic masculinity–that violent, angry, take-no-hostages type–and strength of character, which means compassion. Kindness. Not just taking, but giving, too.
It’s been interesting, to say the least.
Talyien’s POV was the first time I wrote a book completely from the point of view of a woman, but I told myself it wasn’t going to be the last. Why would it, when the Bitch Queen series is FILLED with all sorts of interesting women whose perspectives I wanted to delve into as soon as I wrote them out? There was Inzali and Namra, intelligent streategists and talented mage each. There was Lahei, who suffered a devastating blow and a disability halfway through the story, only to rise back stronger. There was Talyien’s matriarchs, proud women of a clan that relished in bloodshed a little too much. There was Sayu, commoner and brilliant scribist. Heck, I even really want to get into the crevices of Lady Chiha’s mind.
My latest novel, to be released next year (under the imprint Snowy Wings Publishing, a truly awesome publishing co-op that can help us get trade reviews for the book), involves the sort of character that is closest to my natural state than any character I’ve ever written…and therefore, completely unlike your usual swashbuckling strong female character type. Rosha (who appeared in the Legacy of the Lost Mage as a child and occasional McGuffin) is a hermit and a bookworm, the type of character who’d rather argue with herself than go to a party. She’s quiet. She’s so quiet she makes other characters uncomfortable when they’re around her. She’s not particularly charming, or quick with the witty retorts, or humorous (half the running jokes in the series is how people aren’t quite sure if she IS telling a joke). And while she might have been ambitious once, she’s had it beaten out of her by a deeply unfair and unjust system that’s told her more than once that yeah, no, we don’t give a crap how hard you try–you’re never getting in.
I’m probably not the most subtle writer, by any means.
But early this fall, nearly 400 people threw their swords (or fists, or axes or staves, or whatever epic fantasy weapon of choice they had) behind Rosha and funded my first ever Kickstarter. Which makes me both really nervous and really excited to share this somewhat unconventional main character with the world. No, she isn’t going to dropkick bandits off a rooptop like Good Old Talyien. But you know what? Many epic fantasy RPGs let you play the magic user or assassin without forcing you into confrontations. After all, Rosha is a squishy. There’s at least one scene where she’s given a sword and she’s more scared about dropping it on her foot and slicing off her toe than anything.
(Incidentally, all the swords in my office are dulled down. My husband once suggested he could sharpen them and I responded, “With my luck?!” I still need my fingers!)
I loved writing Talyien, and I loved people’s responses to her. She still remains the badass my heart wants to be. But Rosha is going to hit a little closer to home for me, and maybe for a few others out there who aren’t particularly athletic or at the very least, smart enough to know when NOT to go running into a battle, swords swinging. (I’m sorry, Tali). Sometimes the quiet ones want to set the world on fire, too. And that’s just as badass in my opinion.
