Behind the Scenes: Rough, Tough and Tumble: Road to Redemption

When brainstorming for my latest series, Rough, Tough and Tumble, I knew I wanted to tell a story about a particular kind of character–or in this case three. I didn’t want traditional heroes with normal or squeaky clean lives. The time travel experiment is dangerous and illegal, so the doctors in charge need people as ruthless as they are.

Though the main characters, Tiago, Sefu and Zandra, have murky pasts, they aren’t without conscience. All three were pushed toward certain paths in life. Zandra, the pleasure shifter or prostitute, was born into her profession. Tiago had a similar life, growing up on the streets and influenced by criminals. Sefu comes from a long line of gladiators. Having been told all his life that he lacks intelligence and needs to depend solely on his brawn, he has misjudged himself. All three characters have underestimated themselves. Like people sometimes feel in real life, they believe they are trapped with little hope of changing their situation.

During the time travel experiment, they discover they’re stronger than they realize and have talent, honor and a sense of duty. Forced to depend on each other, they open up about their secrets. Having suffered emotionally empty lives, they learn to trust and love each other. They accept each other’s faults and encourage each other–sometimes gently and sometimes harshly–to become more than they’ve ever been before.

The time travelers learn that redemption is a rough road to travel, but not impossible, especially with people you love alongside you.

As a reader and a writer I enjoy characters who walk the line between villain and hero, or who start out as less than heroic then search inside themselves and realize that sometimes change is good or necessary. How do you feel about characters seeking redemption? Do you enjoy non-traditional heroes or “bad” guys turned good? Are characters who want to change themselves realistic or too far fetched? Do flaws make them more or less compelling? If they’re looking for redemption, what does it take for them to earn a second chance?