Hers to Bear by Tamara Hoffa Creating the Main Character & Giveaway

BLURB:

Twenty-five and never been kissed, Jenna Raynes is a beautiful woman with a rubenesque figure often overlooked by men. In the mood for a little honey, the sassy new schoolteacher is stopped in her tracks by one growled word from an alpha bear…“Mine.”

Bern Helms’ inner bear catches the scent of his destined mate. His animal’s desire is drawn to her curves, but Jenna is human, and not lured to him by instinct. Convincing her begins as a sizzling, sweet affair that is soon spoiled by danger. In their small backwater town, nerves are strung taut. Someone is abducting shifter children.

When confronted, Jenna is as protective of her students as a mamma bear. For Bern, all bets are off when the kidnapper’s take Jenna too. Nothing will keep a bear from his mate. The hunters will become the hunted…

Creating the Main Character:

In romance I think creating the main character is a little different than in other genres of fiction, because you have to create two main characters, not just one. Both the hero and heroine are equally as important, at least in my opinion.

When I’m writing the story plays in my mind like a movie on a screen in my head, so the first thing I need to be able to do is “see” my characters. In order to do that I need to have a specific physical description of the character to start with.

I’m a pantster not a plotter, but I do keep what I call a book bible for each of my manuscripts. The first thing in my BB is the character descriptions. Name- this is a tough one for me. I have a terrible time picking names for my characters. If they are supposed to be from a certain area, like Germany or Russia, I will google names form that area, but if not… ugh. I will often ask my readers or my street team for suggestions. I HATE picking names!

Now, looks- for my hero, is he tall, dark and handsome? Broad or thin? Facial hair or clean shaven? Blond, brown or red-head? What color eyes? Do you love milk-chocolate eyes? Or deep emerald green? Hazel with amber flecks that sparkle in the sunlight? Oh, the possibilities!

For my heroine- will she be petite and spunky, or tall and lanky? A big beautiful woman? Young or older? Long hair or short? Curly or straight? Porcelain skin or Latina tan?

As you can see just choosing the physical traits for the hero and heroine sets the scene for the romance. Next comes how they will interact together.

Will they butt heads? Be soul mates? Play off each other? Is one or both a damaged soul?

Once I see my characters, they kind of take life and tell me their story. I know that sounds a little crazy, but I think all writers are a little nuts. I know where I want them to go, and they eventually get there, but the journey along the way… the twists and turns are all their own.

Thanks for letting me stop by today. Happy Reading!

EXCERPT:

Bern had come into the store for his daily honey fix. He admitted it, he was addicted to the stuff. He had just bought two dozen biscuits at the bakery and he was going to drown them in honey, along with a nice piece of salmon for dinner.

When he stepped through the door he stopped in his tracks. His nostrils flared and his heart began to race. What was that fabulous scent? Like honey and vanilla, but something else too. Something that was making his cock stand up and do a happy dance in his pants.

Mate. Oh my God and goddess, his mate was in this store. He couldn’t think. Instinct took over and his legs carried him to the source of the tantalizing scent that had his libido raging and his bear roaring.

He was beside her before his brain had caught up with his body. He had to touch her. She was his. His hand covered hers as she reached for a jar of honey on the shelf. “Mine,” he growled. When she looked up at him with crystal blue eyes he thought he’d fallen into them and drowned.

Flawless porcelain skin covered a face that could have been painted by Botticelli. Pale blonde lashes framed her startled eyes and her cheeks were flushed an enticing pink. She bit her bottom lip and he wanted to kiss away the sting her torment caused the luscious flesh.

“There’s more than one jar,” she said, and her voice was husky and sweet.

She took a step back and a low growl escaped his throat. His bear didn’t like their mate backing away from them.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You are mine. You are my mate.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Tamara Hoffa lives in central Tennessee, with her husband of 30 years, her parents, 2 dogs and 2 cats. She started reading at four years old and has rarely been seen without a book since. At home you will usually find her in “nana’s chair” with her kindle, her laptop or one of her precious, precocious grandson’s in her lap. Tamara is an author, an editor, and reviews/promotions coordinator for Secret Cravings Publishing. Tamara is proof positive that it’s never too late to reach for your dreams.

Contact Links:

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTamaraHoffa

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/TamaraHoffa

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6537898.Tamara_Hoffa

Blog: http://sslyblog.wordpress.com/

Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/tamarahoffa/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tamara-Hoffa/e/B009FG9PCE/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1398090026&sr=1-1

Goggle + https://plus.google.com/u/0/100155539737780435355/posts

TSU - https://www.tsu.co/TamaraHoffa

GIVEAWAY:

Tamara Hoffa will be awarding a $50 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2015/01/vbt-hers-to-bear-by-tamara-hoffa.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway