I know I have a tendency to write a lot of secondary characters. This crime has been reined in, in large part due to editors who say, “you have too many characters, cut them.” I think it’s part of my personality, I never shut up and neither does that pesky muse. There’s a constant stream of stuff flowing through my head when I start a book and characters all sort of duke it out to be in it. I have to wrestle them and my tendency to have big families in my books.
But when done well, secondary characters can add depth to your story. Some of my favorite books have great secondaries in them. And not as merely sequel fodder, but as real, living, breathing parts of the story that neither overshadow or take up room but add nothing to the story.
Sometimes characters you think are fabulous are ones no one even comments on. But other times, there are characters that pester you incessantly until you give them space on the page and they take over and you know they’re going to be in every book they can push their way into.
This is Polly Chase, the matriarch of the Chase clan. IMO, she’s the true heart of the Chase Brothers series, she’s the thread that runs through the books and she’s big and bold as brass. Moreover, she loves being that way. Polly is probably my favorite of all my secondary characters. She’s so easy to write because she just came to me so fully developed.
She click-clacked into my head with that big bouffant, those sky-high heels and that petite frame. The big purse and the 1970’s Caddy came to me as I wrote . She’s a mass of contradictory images – tiny woman, big hair, big car, big purse, big personality and big, giant sons. Who all adore her and are wise enough to know she’ll kick their butts when they get out of line, adults or not.
Because she’s such a vivid character, she’s fun to read and write. She’s one of those characters who I never have to think on their motivation at all. She loves her children and her husband. Her family means everything to her and she will protect it and love them with every fiber of her being. And she’s not above being sneaky to achieve her goals. I kind of like that about her.
In the end, she’s the emotional center of the books. She’s a secondary character but at the same time, the books would not be the same without her. It’s not that she’s not big enough to have a book of her own either, she’s a mother in every way. Both to the series and to her sons and daughters-in-law.
And to me, a great secondary character is important because even though they don’t get the page space of a primary, they still remain memorable and special, the story is better with their presence. Pushy broads!
I’m in a pretty good mood, wanna win a book? I’ll choose a winner at random from the comments at noon pacific on Wednesday 23rd - winner can choose one of the Chase Brothers books (digital or paper).
Who are some of your favorite secondary characters?
THE WINNER IS COMMENT #18 - Mary! Mary, please email me with your choice of title and whether you’d like it in print (need your address) or digital (need the format) Congratulations
September 21st, 2009 at 6:15 am
I love secondary characters…sometimes more than the main characters
Usually a secondary character that stands out for me has an over-the-top personality, is really funny or just really strange, and they just add some extra zing to the story. A few of my favorites are Jenks, from Kim Harrison’s Witch series, Jim the Demon, from Katie MacAlister’s Aisling Grey series and Jessica, from MaryJanice Davidson’s Queen Betsy books. I really loved the character of Reno, from Anne Stuart’s ICE series and I was so happy when he eventually got his own book, because there are some secondary characters that you just have to learn more about 
September 21st, 2009 at 7:07 am
Secondary characters are often fodder for the next book as we all know… I have a strong desire to know what Sherrilyn is going to do with Simi… she is one of my fave secondary characters… there are many more but brain in fog this morning… LOL
September 21st, 2009 at 7:14 am
One of the most memorable, if short-term, secondary characters was Sgt Bothari of the Vorkosigan saga. Mentally unstable & knew it but also knew which rock to adhere to get stability (Cordelia Naismith).
Then there’s Lula from the Stephanie Plum series; Det. Delia Peabody & Sommerset; the whole Smith pack from Shelley Laurenston’s books; & well, the other packs & prides that the main characters belonged to.
September 21st, 2009 at 8:50 am
I think that secondary characters can really bring substance to a story. It shows who the main characters are by showing what kind of people they are surrounded by and how they interact with them. And developing the backgrounds of the secondary characters can be just as much fun as developing the main characters!
My favorite secondary characters would have to be Micah from Maya Banks’ Sweet series (SO happy he’s getting his own book!), Peabody and Sommerset from Nora Roberts’ In Death series (ok, I love EVERYONE from that series), and Ranger from Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series (something about him makes me want to become a bounty hunter, lol). I have zillions more (because I have a great love of books), but I can’t seem to wake up this morning - even after two cups of coffee!
September 21st, 2009 at 9:05 am
Hi
Thank you for the great post Lauren.
Thank goodness for the editorial process!
(I’m looking forward to it).
Secondary characters are great and often show facets of the main character. (Like Watson to Sherlock).
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo
September 21st, 2009 at 9:23 am
I totally agree, good secondary characters add life and background to a story and makes it much more interesting.
I think one of my alltime fav secondary characters is Lula from Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. She started out as a very minor character very early on, but now she has grown into a key player in the series, and wouldn’t be the same without her…and honestly is one of the main reasons why I still read the series even though they aren’t as good as they used to be.
September 21st, 2009 at 10:45 am
Cheryl named some of my favorite ones. I love Jenks from Kim Harrison’s Hollows series, Jim the Demon, from Katie MacAlister’s Aisling Grey series is hilarious and Jessica, from MaryJanice Davidson’s Queen Betsy books, is very snarky. They add so much to the storyline because it shows the characters life away from the story( or at least I think it does)and I think this in many ways serves to enhance the story.
September 21st, 2009 at 11:13 am
Great post, Lauren. I love secondary characters.
Through them the reader learns so much more about the main characters in their interactions, emotions and behaviors.
One of my favorites are Cal Bonner’s parents in SEP’s NOBODYS BABY BUT MINE. Though they were going through a bad patch in their marriage because of family tragedy, you could tell what a close-knit, loving people and they instilled compassion, honor and love with their sons.
September 21st, 2009 at 11:51 am
Ooh, I have all the Chase books, Lauren~~but I LOVE Polly!! She came so alive for me. Another one that pops in my head is Sandra Hills Tante LuLu…her personality just snaps and pops in those books. And in Sherilyn Kenyon’s books, Mama Peltier…I sometimes like, sometimes hate her, but she grabs you…and then there is Simi, who as a secondary charachter sometimes is truly the heart of the story. There are so many!!
And I love reading secondary stories, getting to see interaction w/ hero/heroine and others. Makes me feel like I ‘know’ them better.
September 21st, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I’m kind of obsessed with the angel (Carter) from Richelle Mead’s Succubus series (so much in fact that I wish he’d fall from grace, become a demon, and start having his own adventures in a spin off series. I loved Jamie/Poe from Diana Peterfreund’s Secret Society Girl series, Vale from Maria V. Snyder’s Study series, Urian from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark-Hunter world, Kinsey Milhoan’s paternal octogenarian landlord/neighbor Henry and his grumpy, meddling Hungarian sister-in-law, Rosie; I adored Gillian Robert’s Philly homocide detective turned full-time criminology student/PI, CK Mackenzie; and I totally <3 Melissa Marr’s dark & twisted faeries Donia, Niall, and Irial.
September 21st, 2009 at 2:46 pm
I love secondary characters and some of my faves are from the J.R. Ward series the development of Qhuinn and I absolutely love Torhment and would like to see something good happen to him after he lost his wife, that was such a heart stopping moment and I would love for something to come of it.
Sherrilyn Kenyon has several secondary characters like Simi and Nick.
September 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pm
I love secondary characters and my favorite are Faye and St. John from Anne Mallory’s books. I hope they get their own story soon.
September 21st, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I love secondary characters! Only one of my secondary characters didn’t get his own book and that was an old fisherman named Pogie. (From The Storm Series at Whiskey Creek Press) I love him.
As for secondaries in books I read, I have to say several characters in Mima’s “Bonded” series at LSB have me emailing her for their story. LOL.
September 21st, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I have a tendency to really fall for secondary characters, especially the characters that authors kill off! I’ve read three or four books like that and I felt could have their own book.
Morag from Anne Bishop’s Tir Alann story.
Simi from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s series
Tante Lo from Sandra Hill’s Cajun
September 21st, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I think the secondary characters always add a delicious layer of extra goodness to a book. The first one that popped into my mind has been listed several times already, Jenks from Kim Harrison’s Hollows series, and I love Eric the Northman from Charlain Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series.
September 21st, 2009 at 7:33 pm
You know I lurve me some Polly. I still think you need to write her and edward’s story. Please don’t enter me in this contest. I’ve got all of those books.
September 21st, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I like the dust bunnies from Jayne Castle’s Ghost Hunters, Sterns the butler from some of Julie Garwood’s novels, Frieka from Angela Knight’s Time Hunters and I could go on. I love secondary characters because I think an author can have more fun with them. They are not required to carry the story, make complete sense, speak (as is the case with the dust bunnies), or even further the plot. They can, however, give the reader a sense of place or a sense of continuity…even become primary characters after much pleading, begging, and gnashing of teeth by an author or a gang of readers.
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I absolutely have to say Polly Chase. I want to be just like her when I grow up. What a spitfire!! I also loved Rhaden from Sliding Home by Kate Angell. Hope he gets his own story.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:17 pm
OMG OMG - you made my day, ironically while I’m reading your new release Sweet Charity in the Holiday Heat anthology. Thanks so much!!