Girl Spoken For by Suzie T. Roos
Girl Spoken For is the first in an all new YA series that is edgy with a splash of innocence and a smidgen of humor that fans of Some Boys by Patti Blount and Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles will enjoy.
I was “spoken for” by a Mob grandson, which was either terrifying or kind of cool – I wasn’t sure which one yet.
When the realities of life shatter her fragile innocence, Tatum Duncan’s courage and resilience are tested. She’s determined to be in control of her future. But the love of her life, Zach Bertano, and his mob family may have other plans.
Will she “speak for” Zach, like he has “spoken for” her? Or will Tatum walk away?
Please welcome Suzie T. Roos to Brooke Blogs! She is here with an interesting guest post about creating a YA character with resilience. I hope you enjoy her post as much as I did!
Hi Brooke,
Thanks for having me! One thing you’ve mentioned that I haven’t talked about yet is: creating a YA character with resilience.
Obviously that’s Tatum, but Zach definitely qualifies as well.
Like every last character of mine, Tatum has evolved. In Tatum’s case, she evolved into the “resilient”, determined and smart girl she now is in Girl Spoken For. When Tatum was “born” in 2008 my intention was to write about the challenges a teenage girl faces and experiences when having a child in high school.
Because I did. I lived it. I gave birth to my first child at 16 years of age.
I know exactly what it’s like and how hard it is, and how you get ulcers from stress, the struggles, the people waiting for you to fail…it’s not easy.
Once Tatum went on paper– and Zach was there from the beginning too — Tatum kind of looked at me and wasn’t happy. It’s as if she said, “Suzie, seriously? I’m more than this. I’m more than what people see, I’m not just some dumb girl who fell in love and gets pregnant. Now . . . show them what I am. Let me lead.”
I swear, my fingers couldn’t type fast enough. Tatum took the lead and began telling her story. I fell in love with her! And once this evolution took over my initial idea, other characters subsequently were born. Then it kept expanding and, before I knew it, I was in Tatum’s world.
Then Tatum’s “lead” me to another idea . . . the Mob. My mob. (You will soon understand what the word “lead” means in Tatum’s life).
Maybe some of my young determination came through. Thankfully, my own tenacity and stubbornness came out of its dormancy. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know how a young girl could survive like Tatum does. Dear lord, NO, Tatum is NOT me! I would never want to be her. Whenever I’d throw another obstacle in her way as I was creating her, I’d cringe and apologize. But being who she is, I knew she’d be fine and would soon come out on top. It takes her a while, but I just loved making her so strong in a completely realistic way.
About the Author
Suzie T. Roos is from, and has settled in, St. Louis with her husband, two children and a number of foster pets at any given time.
She and her husband have lived everywhere from Philadelphia, PA to out West in Santa Monica, CA. They’re thankful they could expose their children to different American lifestyles and cultures.
Besides writing, Suzie’s hobbies include movies, traveling, and especially concert going with her husband and friends.
She’s always been an animal lover and animal rights advocate. She is certified by FEMA in IS-00011.a Animal in Disasters: Community Planning. She’s also an active volunteer at the Humane Society of Missouri.
Connect with Suzie: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
