Move Over, Men–A Salute To Military Women As Heroines
A journalism major, Linda Lovely has made her living as a writer, tackling everything from magazine features and ad copy to speeches and brochures. Her fiction manuscripts have made the finals in 15 contests, including RWA’s prestigious Golden Heart and Daphne du Maurier competitions and mystery contests such as Deadly Ink, Murder in the Grove and Malice Domestic. She’s president of the Upstate SC Chapter of Sisters in Crime and a member of Romance Writers of America and the South Carolina Writers Workshop.
Her debut mystery, Dear Killer, features Marley Clark, a kick-ass retired military intelligence officer. The feisty widow is fit, witty and sexy. While working security on a resort island, she finds a corpse bobbing naked amid a potpourri of veggies in a Jacuzzi, and overnight her yawner of a job is transformed into a deadly battle of wits. Serving as Deputy Braden Mann’s liaison, the 52-year-old heroine is startled to discover she’s become the deputy’s target as well—for romance. Yet their steamy attraction doesn’t deter the pair from sorting through a viper’s nest of suspects as the body count grows and the pun-loving killer plans a grizzly epitaph for Marley.
“I’m a Stuart Woods fan. So when I started your book I figured you borrowed your
heroine from his Holly Barker series. You know they’re both ex-military.”
I was teaching a course in a lifelong learning program when one of my students made this comment. I was flabbergasted. Though it had been a few years since I’d read any novels in Woods’ Holly Barker series, the remark troubled me. Had I unconsciously incorporated aspects of Holly Barker’s persona in my heroine, Marley Clark?
I asked a few questions. To my great relief, I quickly discovered the student predicated her “borrowing” comment solely on the fact that both literary heroines were retired military and were now involved in some fashion with law enforcement.
While I shrugged off this student’s comparison, it continued to bug me. In fact, I revisited Holly Barker to see if I’d forgotten other background or experience parallels. Nope. Holly was an MP who retired when the officer she accused of sexual harassment and rape was found not guilty. Now in her late thirties, Holly worked as a Florida police chief. In contrast, my character is a military intelligence officer and one-time Polish linguist, who retired from the Army shortly after her husband died. At age 52, Marley works part-time as a security guard on an island community in the South Carolina Lowcountry.
So why would anyone suggest there might be something derivative here? Would that student have thought Lee Child had “borrowed” Jack Reacher from John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee series? Both of their characters are ex-military. In fact, it’s pretty tough to name a male detective in the mystery/thriller genre who hasn’t spent some time in a military uniform. Male ex-military ranks include Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer, Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, and Ross Macdonald’s Lew Archer to name a few.
Finally, I concluded that reading about women characters with military backgrounds was such an unusual occurrence for my student that this single commonality overshadowed the far more striking differences between the heroines. And that raised another interesting question: why are ex-military ladies such a rarity in popular fiction?
According to current statistics, the U.S. military counts more than 1.8 million women veterans. Today, about 14 percent of all U.S. Army soldiers on activity duty are women, and these 214,000 women are represented in 91 percent of all Army occupations.
While I didn’t serve in the military, Arlene, my best friend since kindergarten, did. Like my series heroine, Arlene is a retired military intelligence officer and a one-time Polish linguist. It’s no accident that Marley’s postings and career mirror Arlene’s. I’ve had the good fortune to meet many of Arlene’s Army friends. These ladies are smart, independent, witty, and, often, hold advanced college degrees. They are also physically fit, know how to use weapons, and understand tactics. In other words, they are IDEAL heroines for mysteries, thrillers and suspense novels.
Why don’t more female Army vets populate our novels? While I don’t have the statistics to back up my theory, I’m fairly certain that heroines in mystery/thriller/suspense genre heroines are far more likely to be cops (sans military background), lawyers, or medical examiners than veterans. Yet, women are minorities in these professions as well. Women account for 24 percent of the nation’s lawyers, 25 percent of our forensic pathologists, and an estimated 12 percent of all law enforcement jobs.
So what say you?
- What books have you read that feature ex-military or active-duty service women? Did you enjoy them?
- Is the time ripe for more women veterans to appear in our novels?
- Are literary heroines underrepresented (or overrepresented) in other professions?
- What career path would you most like to see a female sleuth follow in some future book?
December 6, 2011
Posted in: Guest Blogs
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13 Responses
Linda, you make a good point. I’m trying to think of other ex-military heroines, but only nurses come to mind. They should be perfect for mysteries, but maybe most of us don’t know much about them. I found Marley interesting and likeable, a capable yet human protagonist. I want to see a lot more of her. Keep writing and don’t worry about the few readers who don’t see the originality in your story.
A very interesting question, Linda. I can’t think of many heroines with former military backgrounds in mystery fiction which is somewhat surprising. It sounds like your protagonist is unique. I suppose as the Bible says, there is nothing new under the sun. It’s our personal way of expression that’s original.
Thanks for the posts, Ellis and Jacqueline. I keep thinking I must have read books featuring other military heroines, but I’m drawing a blank. As I noted in my post, my protagonist has virtually nothing in common with Stuart Woods’ heroine other than prior military service. Given all the women currently serving in our Armed Forces, I sure hope other women soon keep our military heroines company.
Hi Linda – good points. I have an ex-Special Forces turned bodyguard heroine, Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Fox, which seems to be reasonably uncommon. At least, nobody’s asked if I borrowed any aspects of Charlie from any other fictional characters! On the other hand, she is regularly described as a female Jack Reacher, so maybe that’s it. Even Lee said Reacher would team up with Charlie in a heartbeat.
And Julia Spencer-Fleming’s Rev Clare Fergusson is an ex-army helo pilot. So there are a few out there – maybe just not as many as the men?
I love it when our military get represented well in fiction, whether its women or men. What I notice is the stereotype/cliche of the homeless, drug addicted Vietnam vet. I’m sure it happens, but more of them are great guys living useful lives. Congrats on your book! Thought provoking post.
Zoe, Glad to hear about your main character. Definitely want to read your book. I’d also forgotten about Rev. Fergusson. Thanks for the reminder.
Pauline,
I’m with you on positive portrayals of military folks. For that matter, police and FBI, too. They risk their lives for us and don’t get thanked enough.
Linda, good post. I’d been thinking of adding an Iraqi war vet to my forthcoming Food Lovers Village series, and just realized that I never considered making the character female. Thanks for prompting a rethink!
Leslie, Glad to supply a little nudge. If it weren’t for my retired Army friend, I might not have thought of this background for my heroine either. But I’m so glad I did.
I think my first experience with a woman military character was with Julia’s Clare Fergusson. I’m glad to know you’re expanding our choices, Linda
Linda, two things attracted me to Dear Killer: the protagonist and the location. I find a former military heroine wonderful, interesting and different. The location in so different from where I live it’s intriguing to read. Can’t wait for the next book.
Linda, thanks for these great statistics on women in the military and in other professions. I’ve loved Zoe’s Charlie Fox and Julie’s Clare Fergusson, and I’ve just downloaded your book. My upcoming thriller, Circle of Bones, will feature a woman who was a former U.S. Marine Embassy Security Guard. You’re right that their skill sets from their service careers makes them ideal protagonists.
I really like lists of certain types of books. If anyone knows of a list of books with female former-military protagonists, I’d like to know about it.
CK
Susan Lute’s heroine, Jane Donovan, in Jane’s Long March Home, is a marine gunnery sergeant with PTSD. The story is a romance, not a romantic suspense. She’s the only character I can think of besides yours, Linda.
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