I’m working on my next C.C. Hunter book, Three Heartbeats Away, and poor Riley finds herself in some tough situations. She’s having to dig deep and find her inner bad a$$. Oh, she’s still scared, and she really wishes she didn’t have to be in some of these dangerous situations, but she can’t turn her back on her friends.And when a ghost is certain that her killer is about to grab another victim, she can’t turn her back on that either. Thankfully, she has a little more help this time. Not that it makes it any less scary.
I don’t know why, but I’m enjoying writing these spunky female roles. I guess writing them kind of feels like I’m reaching deep to find my own inner bad a$$. To look at me, you wouldn’t think I had one hanging out in my soul. Let’s face it, I’m not even five feet tall. I’m more of a conflict avoider. Yet, when someone is trying to take advantage of me or just do me wrong, it’s like my inner B with an itch comes clawing out.
My husband says, “My wife’s an angel.Accidentally run over her, and she’ll tell you not to worry about it. But do her dirty on-purpose and you’d better run. Run fast, because she’s going to come get you. And unfortunately, I have proven him right several times.
There was the time the unruly teen of my neighbor slashed our car tire. I just thought we’d had a flat until another neighbor told me her husband had caught this boy doing it to his truck and he had gone and spoken to his mom. My heart kind of went out to the kid’s mom. And honestly, I wasn’t expecting her to do anything except maybe have the boy apologize. But when I went to talk to her, she yelled and screamed at me, called me names for accusing her son of such a terrible act. I explained I’d spoken with our other neighbor who had caught her boy doing that same thing, but she didn’t back down and even slammed her door in my face. It suddenly made me realize that maybe the one I needed to feel sorry for was the kid.
I didn’t go straight home that night, I knocked on doors up and down my street and found eight other neighbors who’d also discovered their tires flat the night before.
So I decided to have a neighborhood party. And the guest of honor was the police. And when the unruly teen’s mom went unruly on that officer, let’s just say justice was served.
Another time my inner bad a$$ took over was less than a year ago. I was driving to see a friend and an SUV sideswiped me, tore up my side mirror and slammed me into a curb so hard it busted my front tire.
Accidents happen right? But this SUV didn’t stop.
And neither did I.
Did you know you can drive on the rim of your car? Did you know if you chase someone with a busted tire, laying on your horn the whole way, they eventually will pull over? I know it wasn’t smart, the hit and run driver could have had a gun. But she didn’t. She claimed she was just scared. And . . . her insurance paid to repair my mirror, my bad rim, and for a new tire.
So I’m kind of pulling out my inner tough girl, to help with a few plot points in Three Heartbeats Away. Not only is Riley standing up for herself and others, but I have three other plots in the making that are about females who, when backed in the corner, don’t stay there.
What’s kind of strange is that I think it’s something in the air right now. Or maybe even a result of the Me-Too movement, but I’m seeing a lot of kick-butt female roles on TV and in the movies. Has anyone watched HANNA the movie or the series? I loved it and wish I had a few of her moves.
So, do you have inner bad a$$ inside of you? Have you stood up for yourself or friend and gotten justice?
Giveaway!!!
One person who leaves a comment will win a C.C. Hunter t-shirt.(Sorry, this giveaway is for U.S. residents only. If you’re reading this on Goodreads, you must leave a comment on my actual blog to enter.)
Preorder Contest!!
Three Heartbeats Away is now up for preorder at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Kobo. So I’m holding a preorder contest and giving away a cool tote bag with a t-shirt, a deck of Three Heartbeats Away playing cards and other amazing swag (promotional stuff). All you have to do is preorder Three Heartbeats Away, then, send a link or a screenshot of your order to me at cc@cchunterbooks.com, and you’ll be entered to win. I’ll be closing this contest on June 18th.(Sorry, but this contest is limited to U.S. residents only.)