by Robin D. Owens

When a secondary character walks on to stage I usually decide whether to match them up later or kill them.

In HeartMate, my first book (reissued in August with an AWESOME cover), I had several secondary characters and only one of which I had Plans for (Ruis Elder of Heart Thief). So I had a few pairings that I could think about, even from the start of the series–including two youngsters brimming with hormones and wildness. Tinne Holly and Trif Clover. The thought of a romance between them made my eyes cross and I couldn’t get my mind around that idea, so I knew they WOULD NOT pair with each other, they were too much alike.

Then I wrote Heart Thief and learned a little more about my world and background characters.

By the time I reached Heart Duel (a pivotal book for this month’s Heart Quest), I knew that the guardsman, Winterberry (no first name), who had appeared in all the books needed a mate. What about wild child Trif Clover? Much younger. Ooooh, I liked that idea **rubbing hands.**

When I took one of the chapters of Heart Duel to my critique group, one of my buddies exclaimed (she really did), “Do you mean that a person can open the door of a HeartMate just by putting a magic charmkey on the door?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Then I’d go door to door!”

We all laughed and kicked the idea around a little, joking, but it stuck. And who would be most likely to do that? The young and exuberant Trif Clover. So that was set. By the time I started Heart Choice, I knew that Winterberry (still no first name), would be the hero of the next book, Heart Quest, with irrepressible Trif, much younger than he, going door to door to find him.

So Black Ilex Winterberry (no wonder he likes to go by Winterberry) has turned into a very staunch and honorable hero, tempted and sometimes bewildered by Trif who is determined to find her HeartMate and bag him. I threw in murder and a horrible premonition to keep the story interesting (and for you who have been following the series and know that I have an unresolved plot line regarding a Disinherited Son, Heart Quest ties this thread up).

Oh, and two new characters walked on stage (well, Dufleur was dragged against her will and T’Willow sauntered), so I hope you enjoy them, too.

May all your reading be enjoyable.

Robin