Writing a Complex Protagonist by Sarah Hawthorn
Lucie evolved over a long time. She started life in another book altogether, which I ditched after several chapters. But I liked my feisty young lawyer who had a messy love life and didn’t suffer fools gladly, so I wanted to reprise her.
For A Voice In The Night, my female protagonist needed to be career-driven, working in a high-stress, male-dominated professional arena. I chose law because at the time my daughter was a family lawyer and she gave me terrific background about life in a contemporary legal firm.
However, that was as far as Lucie’s similarity to my daughter went; I’d discovered early on in my writing career that trying to base a character on someone you know is creatively restrictive. I prefer the freedom to invent every character from scratch and let them develop organically rather than feel constrained to make them fit a mould of someone I know. In particular, choosing to mimic a real person can result in holding back from portraying less likeable aspects of their personality for fear of offending.
For Lucie’s emotional journey to make sense, she had to be complex, yet relatable. Despite losing the love of her life in her early twenties, she’d married and divorced, experienced a few dead-end relationships and then decided to forget forging a meaningful bond and just enjoy an occasional fling whilst putting her career first.
By her early forties, Lucie had achieved financial independence, enjoyed her own company and appreciated the finer things. In her work life, to compete around the board-table, she had to appear strong and in control, even when, deep inside, she questioned her own sanity.
The challenge was showing how she’d never quite got over the loss of her first love, so that twenty years later, she’d still hold out hope of him being alive and want to do her utmost to discover the truth. I had many spirited discussions with my fabulous editor, Kate Goldsworthy, on this aspect of Lucie’s character, as it was fundamental to keeping the reader engaged. In my first draft, Lucie was portrayed as stuck in a time warp, unable to move on from her 24-year-old emotional self and still pining for her dead lover. This was deemed unrealistic, so the balancing act became depicting a mature woman who’d gone on to enjoy other relationships, build a successful career and have a fulfilling life, but had never been able to completely forget her first love, as evidenced by some of her behaviours.
Along the way, Lucie needed to show personal and professional growth while she navigated the hurdles placed in her path in her attempt to resolve the mystery of her past, and its impact on her present life. During this journey, I had to ensure she remained true to her core values and face up to difficult decisions, or risk disappointing the reader.
About The Book
‘A FAST-PACED AND EMOTIONAL PAGE-TURNER.’ Christian White, bestselling author of Nowhere Child
Following a bitter separation, Lucie moves to London to take up a position with a prestigious law firm. It seems an optimistic new beginning, until one day she receives a hand delivered note with the strange words: At last I’ve found you. A shock I ‘m sure. But in time I ‘ll explain. Martin.
Lucie hasn’t forgotten a man called Martin who was tragically killed twenty years ago in the 9/11 attacks. When she was working in New York as a young intern Lucie had fallen in love with him and he vowed to leave his wife to be with her permanently. As an inexplicable series of events occur Lucie wonders if her long-dead lover could have staged his own disappearance under the cover of that fateful day. Or could it be that someone else is stalking her, or that her vivid imagination is playing tricks?
In a novel filled with compelling characters, and set in London, New York and Sydney, it seems that anyone could be out to sabotage Lucie’s memories and ambitions, including herself. A Voice in the Night is an addictive thriller of twists and turns, a gripping and emotionally resonant debut from a striking new voice.
‘With masterful pacing and stealthy execution, Sarah Hawthorn’s accomplished debut keeps you on the edge of your seat and guessing right up until the end. Brilliant!’ Julietta Henderson, The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman
‘A Voice in the Night will intrigue you and wrap you into an eerie and riveting story that won’t let you go.’ Lynn Hightower, The Piper
A tightly-crafted, clever thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end! Sarah Clutton, Good Little Liars and The Daughter’s Promise
About the Author
Born and raised in the UK, Sarah Hawthorn lived in Toronto, Dallas and New York before emigrating to Sydney, Australia. After career jumps from actress to journalist and then publicist, she relocated to the village of Bundanoon in NSW’s beautiful Southern Highlands to pursue her dream of being a full-time novelist. When not writing, Sarah enjoys theatre, cooking and walking her dogs. A Voice in the Night is her debut novel.
Connect with Sarah:
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TO WIN A COPY OF A VOICE IN THE NIGHT DROP US A COMMENT TELLING US WHO YOUR FAVOURITE COMPELLING PROTAGONIST IS, AND WHY.
Sarah will select the winner who will be announced at 6pm Thursday July 22.
A second copy of A Voice In The Night is also up for grabs on the Writes4Women Instagram page. Click here for details.
Good luck!
