Terry Ambrose

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Hero sandwich – a guest post by Kathleen Valenti

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39 Winks by Kathleen Valenti

39 Winks by Kathleen ValentiHero sandwich

I’ve been thinking a lot about literary heroes, specifically the nature of their heroism. 

If you watch blockbuster films—or read books with the same designation—there’s sometimes a suggestion that “hero” equals kickboxing, car-chasing, baby-saving and other over-the-top verbs that most of us don’t perform on a daily basis. And all that’s wonderful. I’m all for superheroes and larger-than-life characters with actions that match. 

And yet I prefer my heroes to be sandwiched by the realities—and complexities— of daily life. I prefer my heroes on a piquant rye with all the fixin’s. 

As an English major, I spent my fair share of time studying Joseph Campbell and the hero’s journey. What I love about Campbell, and those who follow his lead, is the universality of the trek and the criteria for heroism. In Campbell’s world, the hero isn’t always a kick-butt-now-ask-questions-later character, but a three-dimensional person on a path of internal and external discovery. 

This is the path that my protagonist, Maggie O’Malley, follows. Maggie is a super-smart young woman with a relatively ordinary life. She’s shy, nerdy, messy and prone to spilling coffee on her blouse within minutes of dressing. She doesn’t seek adventure or challenge. In fact, she shrinks from it. But when challenge comes knocking, she opens the door. She rises to the occasion. She kicks butt, rights wrongs and saves the day, but only with serious contemplation and initial resistance, ultimately discovering that the hero she’s been seeking is the one within.

So as the release date of 39 Winks, the second book in the Maggie O’Malley Mystery Series, approaches, I channel my inner Maggie. I set aside fears, ignore that voice that says I can’t, and take the chances required to become the hero of my own story. I’m so glad to introduce you to Maggie and to the world she both fears and conquers. I’m grateful to have you along for her—our—journey. Thank you.

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About Terry

I started out as a skip tracer. Just in case you don’t know, that’s the guy who finds the people who don’t want to be found. It was the little things—getting paid to lie—that made skip tracing the fun part of the job.

Those years of chasing deadbeats taught me many valuable life lessons, such as liars come from all walks of life, and always keep your car in the garage.

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Comments

  3. Becky Richardson says

    Do you have a favorite series or characters in the book(s) you have written?

    • Kathleen Valenti says

      I’ve been so busy that pleasure reading has fallen by the wayside more than I’d care to admit. BUT I have been reading The Woman in the Window and LOVING it. Fantastic writing!!

      I hope you’re reading something you enjoy, too! 🙂

    • Kathleen Valenti says

      My best friend and I wrote a “magazine” in second grade. I think that was when I fell in love with writing. I was an English lit major, which really solidified my love for the craft. (SO much writing as an English major!!) I’ve also been writing professionally for 20+ years as an advertising copywriter. I guess I’ve always been a writer in one way or another. It’s my passion. 🙂

    • Kathleen Valenti says

      Such a great question–and so difficult to narrow down the list! I’d say Stephen King, David Sedaris, Harlan Coben, Meg Gardiner…the list goes on! So many wonderful, inspiring authors out there.