I have written dozens of books, and I would say that 95% of them have had heroines who are cute, friendly, charming and sometimes funny. But every once in a while, I really get a hankering to write a bad girl. My two Bad Girls Club heroines were fun (Venus Messina and Izzie Natale.) But they were both “bad girls” in a sexual way. Uber-sexy and not ashamed of it.
When I started working on this next fairy-tale Blaze novella (which I am finishing up right now, as I type this, Monday night! YAYYYY!) I decided to do a twist on the Prince & the Pauper thing, and decided that since the pauper was this nice, construction worker type (who also sings in a rock band) the heroine should be the really tough one.
So I made her an Amazon warrior.
It’s lust at first sight for the hero, who admits he had a major Xena: Warrior Princess fixation as a teenager. And she totally fits that bill, other than being blond. She’s wearing the black leather outfit, and pretty much kicking butt, and is certain she can kick his. The one place she’s vulnerable is in bed…because the rules of the Amazon Royal Guard have left her celibate for many years. (I had such a ball writing the scene where she tells him she’s most certainly not a virgin because before any woman can be fully initiated as an Amazon, she must know what she’s giving up with her vow of abstinence…by having sex with any–or all–of the dozen men laid out for her pleasure…his response, “I got dinner at Olive Garden for my 20th birthday. You got an orgy?”)
Anyway, I’ve had a lot of fun with this, and was just wondering what you all think of bad-ass heroines. Not sexy vamps, I mean really tough girls who can fight! I know there are a lot of them in dark paranormals, but I’m just not all that into those. I loved Julie’s Marisela Morales, who was vampy but also kick-ass, and just wonder if you know of any other books featuring that type of heroine?
PS: Anybody else remember the show Xena? I was SUCH a huge fan, as were Bruce and the girls! Though, to be honest, when I was writing this story, I was picturing Callisto as the heroine, because she was blond. (She was also a villain, but I didn’t pay attention to that part!)
Oh, and by the way, since we spent so many Sunday mornings enjoying Xena AFTER we watched Hercules, which was the lead-in-show, I figured I’d throw in a little Kevin Sorbo-shirtless-and-wet action. There was at least one of those moments in every episode, and no matter where I was in the house, the girls ALWAYS yelled for me to come running whenever it came on. Did I train them right, or what?
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
ANOTHER WILD WEDDING NIGHT
Hard to Hold
Love Me If You Dare
Wild For Him
Subscribe to Posts 
Comment
Hi Leslie :)
Thank you for the fun & informative post.
I loved the orgy line too.
I am looking forward to reading this Blaze novella.
I enjoyed the Hercules and the Xena shows also.
Thank you for sharing,
Love & Best Wishes to you & yours,
RKCharron
xoxo
Comment
I love kick-butt heroines. One of my favorites right now is Kate Daniels from Ilona Andrews Magic series. Very self-sufficient, that girl.
Gosh I haven’t watched those shows in years! I loved Xena. Fun show.
Comment
Loving the blogs. Although I prefer heroin to heroines.
LOLZORDS!
Comment
I hope you mean Heroes and NOT heroin. Please say yes…
Comment
I love a kick ass heroine. There are tons of books out there that have them and if you think one will roll of the top of my sleepy brain cells right now, think again. I tend to look for books that have them.
Loved Xena, she’s right up there with Buffy as a kick ass heoine. But I would much rather look at Kevin Sorbo wet and dripping and shirtless any day…oh, wait, that’s drool on my computer screen…
Comment
I LOVED Xena! The only female (fictional or not) who could ever tempt me in *that* way. LOL.
I do read a lot of paranormal romance, so quite like a kick-ass heroine. But not one who is so removed from her feminine side that she comes across as tougher than the hero. I prefer heroines that can stand toe to toe (and back to back) with their heroes, not wait for the man to save them or start screaming or simpering. *Shudder*
Of course, in real life *I’d* be the one screaming my fool head off in any danger….
Comment
The kick-ass heroine that stands out in my mind was Sarah Connor in T2. She was in such great shape even her eyebrows were toned. And boy did she kick some ass! Loved it! I wanted arms like hers. Sometimes a kick-ass heroine can come on too strong and try to act like a man, lose her feminine side completely. That’s a turn off for me. Another great kick-ass heroine was Zoe Washburne in the Firefly series. I would definitely want her watching my back, but she never sacrificed her femininity. In her own way, Inara in Firefly was a kick-ass heroine as well. She kicked-ass with her training as a companion and the status it gave her in society. No one pushed this lady around.
My .02 cents,
Cher :fallleaf:
Comment
I love kick-ass heroines! But yeah…I tend to drool over the heroes. I watched Hercules and Xena, both, when I remembered they were on, but it was Highlander who had my heart.
I’m dashing to the airport so will leave you with the one heroine who could have my back any time! Eve Dallas.
Comment
mmmm……Duncan
really, we need a drooling icon.
Comment
You totally nailed it Silver…EVE!! How could I forget about her…loved Duncan McCleod, from the clan McCleod too…yummy…you know he would have been a great Roarke too, right? I hope that you had a safe and uneventful flight.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment
Oh, heck! I forgot to mention…I finished reading Julie and Leslie’s Blazing Bedtime Stories! OMG! If ya’ll haven’t read it, why the heck not??!?!?!!! I can’t wait for the next one, Leslie. Prince Ruprecht cracked me up! And what a terrific set up for the next Blaze.
Comment
Thanks, Silver! I saw your review on your blog! Appreciate it!!!
Comment
Jules, j’adore Into the Woods…I am reading Les’s Once Upon A Mattress now…LOVING IT TOO!!!! You ladies have such wonderful and entertaining imaginations….Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Silver, I will read your review when I am done with Les’s story.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment
I love the, I-can-take-care-of-myself kick-ass girls.
But they can not lose their feminine side. That connection has to be there for me. And the sex scenes need that dominating factor too. From both sides.
As far as Xena and Hercules…we still watch the shows. The internet is a blessing. And I have to say you have implanted great taste in your girls!!!!
Have a great day!
Comment
I think a woman should be able to kick butt without relying on a man to do it for her. Girlpower!!
Go Xena!
Comment
My girls watched “Xena” but although I would catch glimpses of the show, I
never saw an entire episode! Still, it was interesting to see a butt-kicking
heroine putting down (physically!) the bad guys!
Pat Cochran
Comment
I only remember seeing Xena a couple of times & never saw Hercules, my access to some TV programs has been limited at times!! A kick-ass heroine that still retains her femininity, great reading! Leslie, I loved More Blazing Bedtime Stories & am looking forward to this next one. When will it come out? The sooner the better.
:fallleaf:
:jive:
Comment
Comment
I love kick-ass heroines, but can’t remember any books off the top of my head that have featured them. I’ve never seen Hercules or Xena, although I have no idea why because they were definitely on our screens since a lot of the series were filmed here (New Zealand). Heck, Lucy Lawless, who played Xena, can still be found on our screens on a regular basis.
Comment
I love kick-butt heroines. How about Cat from Jeaniene Frost’s books, or Joanna Archer from Vicki Petterssen’s Zodiac series, also Elizabeth Haydon has Rhapsody in her fantasy series.
Comment
I love the kick-butt heroines too. My heroes are Sarah Connor and Buffy, but I enjoyed Xena too. Fun blog!
Comment
first off… yes I remember Lucy Lawless as Xena… now as for bad ass heroines…..the badder the better, not always but definitely sometimes… I think it has to do with a mood thing for me…just like sometimes you might want to read one of Janelle’s Brava books…other times you might want to read one of Julie’s softer romances… Leslie’s wilder romances or one of Karen’s bachelor or hot romances….Books….authors….heroes and heroines are all mood things to me…. there is always a time and place so why not write what feels right to you at the moment because a true fan is gonna read what you write no matter what….it might not be the first day it comes out but when the mood strikes….and I’m always in the mood for a book by any of you … it’s just the moment that makes the connection… you know what I mean???? I could read a book one day and because of my mood really connect with it…and another day…not so much maybe????
Comment
Hey Les, loving the premise for the next Blaze novella…I LOVED XENA!!! I wanted to be here…she really kicked some major ass…I can say that right? LOL….I loved when she fought with Ares…I watched Hercules too, but I wasn’t as faithful with that one…The only other books I can think of right now with the really kick a$$ heroines are the “bad girls” books. I am sure that I could find some if I went through my collection, but I am just not up to it right now.
Hey guys, could you send up a prayer for one of my friend’s sons….Remember two summers ago I went to Korea? Well, the lady I hung out with sent her son to my school this year. He is really sick right now…I feel like crap about it, but I shouldn’t, which my rational mind knows…he is currently in ICU, and there is no definitive diagnosis as yet. They think that it could be something viral. Myu friend flew into NYC from Korea this morning, and his dad is arriving tomorrow…I visited them in the hospital in Hartford, and she pretty much collapsed in my arms. I felt so bad for her, and she blames herself…I don’t know what else to do…so, I am reaching out to you guys for prayers to help hold her up as well as keep her son healthy. Please. Thank you so much in advance.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Comment
I love a strong heroines but I don’t like one who’s slept with half the world. I don’t think they have to be a virgin but I don’t like one who’s a slut either. I loved Xena but hated how the show ended with her dying. I haven’t seen any reruns in a long time.