My very first post on this blog was an introduction to my characters in my first book in progress: Twins. Many of you helped beta read that project or have read other past versions of it. The current summary of Twins is on the my stories page of my website.

While I intend to go back to Twins soon and make some revisions, I am finishing the third draft of it’s sequel, Sisters. Sisters takes place five years after the end of Twins. Without spoiling either story, this book focuses on Christa and Celia reigning Leoninus in the absence of Roy, Eleanor, and Richard. At a vulnerable time for the kingdom, a foreign prince invades and takes over. With the help of a trusted general and maid, Christa and Celia must flee and stay in hiding until the kingdom is ready to overthrow him.

While Twins will always be close to my heart as it was the first full length project I’ve worked on, I love Sisters even more! I love getting to dive into Christa and Celia’s characters and creating a villain.

Here is the introduction to the main characters in Sisters!

Christa. Christa was a main character in Twins (for more about her character in that book, read my other post), but her character traits are displayed differently as she takes a role of leadership in the kingdom of Leoninus. Christa moves from an insecure and timid girl to a strong and assertive leader through the course of the story. Though she inwardly still craves the affirmation of those around her, she is willing to make hard decisions for the good of her people and those she loves. This book has themes of leadership and reacting with wise decisions to impossible situations.

Celia. Celia is much more of a main character and active participant in this story as well. She has grown up and moved on from the bubbly sixteen-year old we meet in Twins. She is much more cautious about both people and situations than she used to be. Celia is Christa’s best friend (and Christa is hers) and she often takes on the sometimes unthanked role of supporter to the leader. Celia does not adjust to life in the rural village where they flee as quickly as Christa, but she still easily makes friends, especially with the children. Through much of the story, Celia spends her time focused on helping Christa even though she feels lost herself. However, by the end of the story there is much hope for her future.

Julian. Julian is a new character not seen in Twins. He is the highest general and an adviser to the royal family. Julian is in his late thirties or early forties, but he has seen and endured much. He suffers from PTSD and guilt from the many wars he has been in and the soldiers who have been killed under his command. Julian is loyal and faithful to the royal family and would die to protect those he loves. Though he would never forsake Christa and Celia in their time of need, he is often torn between his loyalty and his own desires. He longs for the simple life, and he longs for Gertrude.

Gertrude. Gertrude is Christa’s maid and bodyguard. Because she appears in this story, I chose to reference her in Beloved, the prequel to both stories. At that time Eleanor is fifteen and Gertrude is thirteen. Gertrude has been with the royal family ever since. Like Julian, she sees loyalty and devotion to the royal family as the highest honor. She fiercely protects them and responds quickly to desperate situations. She loved Julian once, but since she gave him up for her duty, she knows things cannot be the same with him again.

Tessa, James, and their children. Tessa is Gertrude’s sister. She and her husband James raise their three children–Evelyn, Edmund, and Lila– in a rural village close to the borders of three powerful countries. Tessa and James eloped and took Gertrude with them to get away from her father and life in Ardor’s capital when they were teens. Tessa is loud, bossy, hospitable, and lovable. She would take anyone into her house and feed them without question. James is a quiet farmer who always helps the neighbors and anyone else he comes in contact with. He is not the least bit bothered by never knowing who his wife will have invited for dinner that day or who will be staying with them for the next month. He is a kind and gentle father and one of the only true friends of Julian. Both James and Tessa are somewhat aware that the visitors they host are important and potentially dangerous people, but they neither ask questions nor look for answers, knowing that sometimes it is better not to know.

Prince Andreas. Andreas is the villain of this story. He arrives in Leoninus in a seemingly gracious manner and asks Christa for her hand in marriage. However, it does not take long to see his motives are less honorable. Christa refuses his hand and then realizes it is too late. Andreas uses his likable personality, strong leadership, and handsome face to win the approval of a few influential people in Leoninus. He then uses his sizable army to win the fear of everyone else. Andreas responds to situations in a calm and composed manner, no matter how cruel or unreasonable his response is. He likes things to go his way and when they don’t or people don’t obey him, he doesn’t take kindly to it. He went to Leoninus to marry Christa and become king because he wanted a kingdom. But once he arrives, he knows he wants Christa.

I hope you enjoyed getting to meet the main Characters in Sisters! Like I said, I am finishing the third draft of this story, and sometime I will be looking for Beta readers. Stay tuned!