Shannon here: Cindy Bonds shares insight into how she creates characters and her latest release, Failed Protocol, plus a chance to win a print copy. Deadline: April 5th, 11:59 pm central. Here’s Cindy:
As a romantic suspense author, the two most important things I look for are characters that can build tension and a thrilling, suspenseful incident that forces those characters (at least one of them) out of their element.
When writing characters typically I’m looking for tension. Either two people that share the same endgame but achieve that in different ways, or two people that have strong personalities that have to find a way to work together.
My latest novel, Failed Protocol, is my seventh published novel. However, it began at least four years ago when I started writing about Kenton Matthews and his strong, silent type demeanor.
As I worked to develop Kenton, I had an idea of Olivia Lloyd and how she would respond having grown up with a duty of military service, to Kenton’s need to protect her- even when she was adamant he stand down!
Kenton and Olivia are both headstrong and are working to not only protect the firm but also keep Olivia and her uncle safe from an old nemesis. Kenton has years of experience to lean on and is slow and steady when studying his foe and how to defeat him.
Olivia is more interested in proving her abilities and taking control of her life. She has a need to solve the situation and protect herself without Kenton or her uncle stepping in. This job, it was a way to take control of her future. These two completely different character dynamics help push the tension as Kenton learns to step back and Olivia learns to trust.
These characters must learn and change, face their fears as they navigate their situation. If they don’t grow, the situation hasn’t pushed them enough. Then I have to go back to the crux and ask is this incident enough to help the character have that lightbulb moment.
In Failed Protocol, Kenton faces the fear of losing the only two people in the world he considers family. Olivia’s uncle has been his mentor and friend and Olivia was offering a friendship he’d never experienced before. He feels his past has not only proven him a failure, but his inability to commit to a relationship has made him a poor choice for Olivia and he could never make her happy.
Olivia’s life has spiraled and she’d moved to the states in an effort to take control. Every job, all the training, it’s left her empty. But Kenton is a dangerous option. He’s easy to talk to, to open up with and getting close to a man here when she’s moving back to the U.K. wasn’t in the cards. As much as she wants to control her life, falling for Kenton would disrupt that once again.
Even though none of us are in the same situation, (I would be willing to bet none of us are in fear for our life and depending on a strong, handsome man to protect us), I think most of us can relate to either Olivia’s need to control our life or Kenton’s need to protect those that are close.
I hope you enjoy Failed Protocol!
Question for Readers: Can you relate to one of these characters? Which one and in what way?
About Cindy: Growing up in Northwest Arkansas as a child, Cindy accompanied her father to visit a lot of men and women in nursing homes or their own homes, to offer company and to listen to stories of the good ole days. Most were former military, several having survived World War II.
Her father, both grandfathers and uncles were all former military, so as she grew up, she was inundated with stories of heroes, chaos and the burden of war.
Having listened to stories her whole life, it was easy to put pen to paper and begin her own journey of storytelling. As God led her through grace and mercy in her own life, it was only natural to put it all down on paper and include the hero types she’d heard so much about growing up.
She currently lives in rural Arkansas with her husband and two children. Although she works for an aviation insurance broker, she has a passion for reading and writing. Presenting stories about God’s love, grace and mercy are the reasons she writes and looks for ways to share the gospel through fiction.
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About the book – Failed Protocol: 
Olivia Lloyd has left the U.K. to work in Texas as head of security for a tech firm. Her training in the British Army had given her a chance to get into the SAS- Special Air Service. But she washed out with the help of her uncle and his contacts. Now she’s here at her uncle’s request, miserable and lonely after running away from her last life-altering loss.
Kenton Matthews’ Recon days are over as he now works as a detective in Dallas, offering assessments for security when high-value targets come to town. But a request from an old friend has his heart pounding as the threat to the large tech firm holds more than just a breech of security.
Kenton is determined to battle the failed mission from long ago and will do everything he can to protect Olivia from facing the same torturous man her uncle did. But Olivia isn’t sure she’s ready to trust the one man her uncle deems more than worthy.
Come back March 28th for Shannon’s Book Bargains Roundup!
I tend to relate more to Kenton in this case. I’ve always been kind of the protector in my family, and struggle with situations where I’m not able to shield them from unnecessary pain. (Usually emotional, but sometimes the emotional struggles are the deepest.) I’m getting better at giving it all to God, and letting Him take the lead, but it’s still a struggle at times. 😅
Totally agree. Allowing God to take over is a big struggle!
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your comment!
I can relate to Kenton since I am protective of my precious family. I also have been told by others that I am easy to talk to.
Thanks for the response! Being labeled easy to talk to is an awesome trait. It’s sometimes hard to find people willing to listen!
Kenton. I felt like a failure a lot of my life.
I think failure is subjective. We’re much harder on ourselves and how we feel we’ve responded to situations. I find that very true in my life!
I have a winner! Stephanie Lynn won the drawing. I appreciate Cindy for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.