Ransome Trilogy Readers—I Need Your Feedback!
Readers of my Ransome Trilogy, I need your help with my new story!
As many of you know, I’ve been working on a new Royal Navy–Regency romance novel this year, The Spymaster’s Daughter. After several months of being “stuck” (because I tried to write it “by the seat of my pants,” the way I used to write years and years ago before I was published, and discovered I just can’t write that way anymore), I’m getting geared up to try to get the characters and story idea revamped/revisualized and get it finished by the end of National Novel Writing Month (11/30/16).
So here’s how you can help me (part 1).
In the Ransome Trilogy, there are two main female characters—Julia Witherington and Charlotte Ransome.
There are things I like and dislike about both of these characters—aspects and character traits I want to make sure my new heroine has—but I don’t want her to be too similar to them, since this is a totally new story. So the feedback I’m looking for is:
What do you like most about Julia? What would you change about Julia? What do you dislike about Julia?
What do you like most about Charlotte? What would you change about Charlotte? What do you dislike about Charlotte?
What would you most like to see in a new heroine in a story set around the same time?
Feel free to post in the comments below or you can contact me directly/privately.
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KayeDacus.com 
Julia is very intelligent, bold as far as running a sugar plantation, but too wimpy to stand up to her aunt. Charlotte is full of life, but prideful in her desire to prove herself capable. I would like to see a heroine who was a former bad girl but has met her Savior and now wants to right her past wrongs. It’s always the bad boy going good, a role reversal would be interesting. You’re an excellent writer keep pushing!
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I loved Julia. Her strength, responsibility and caring of others were amazing with most people. However, only maternal relatives or not, her strength dissipated when dealing with her aunts. Once she was threatened to marry Sir Drake, she was more proactive in securing her future but where was her fire? Couldn’t she send an express to her father earlier? He was only in London. She obviously flouted society’s rules (e.g. running a plantation, wearing her hair down, color of her gowns) yet acquiesced so easily to her aunts will for fear of society.
Honestly, Charlotte annoyed the snot out of me. She was selfish and that made her behave stupidly. I did like Charles Lott. I know it’s the same person but Charles showed character that Charlotte obviously possessed but didn’t use for herself (other than stabbing lecherous nobles in the neck with a fork). Outside of being Charles, the only saving grace for Charlotte was her relationship with Ned. However, I like heroines that are defined by more than their relationship to a man.
You have a knack for writing strong and smart women. I’d like to see that continue with a new heroine. I’d like her to be proactive in solving whatever problem she faces and not rely on being saved.
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Kaye, I’m reading Ransome’s Honor now (which I’m sure you know from Goodreads), so I can only speak to Julia right now. What I like about Julia is her intelligence, her wit, her boldness about her hair and dress, that she knows what she wants in terms of the sugar plantation. But I also feel that her inability to stand up to her aunt turns me off a little. However, that is probably very realistic for the historical setting. What I love about your writing of Julia is that a little over 50% through the book and I feel that I would know her today if I passed her on the street. She is real and alive. I have no doubt you can do this. You just need to get past yourself and do it!! You know I say that with love and friendship. And, knowing you will probably say the same to me on Thursday!! LOL!
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