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For book 1, Lord Have Mercy: Crafting her character was a deliberate choice. I wasn't certain if readers would see her as weak because I didn't create her as a kick-arse, take-no-prisoners type. I wanted her to be vulnerable, indecisive, questioning, and occasionally in the wrong. My goal was to make her relatable, highlighting her strengths, beliefs, values, and eventually her abilities. I aimed to show that despite the darkness, she still retained her sense of humor.
I recognize that many readers seek strong female characters who surpass their male counterparts, and I think those characters are fantastic. I believe I incorporated that strength into Mercy, albeit in subtler ways that might go unnoticed or unappreciated by some.
I wanted Mercy to wrestle with herself, having grown up without guidance through life as a female, let alone as a half-breed Angel and Demon. The harshness of her world and the life forced upon her led her to navigate the deep waters of abandonment, loneliness, grief, instability, and burgeoning rage, with her ever-growing Demon feeding upon it all. This inner turmoil made her question the kind of person she was becoming, as parts of her still yearned for friendships, acceptance, and love, while harboring hatred and a desire to strike back. These inner conflicts kept her in a constant state of vigilant fact-seeking, as well as pursuing situational and emotional introspective consistency.
Ultimately, one's true self shines through, and those who see it naturally gravitate towards it. The choices we make determine whether they will stay. This theme runs throughout the series.
In the second book, Mercy on Your Soul, it was crucial to depict Mercy grappling with the idea of fated mates. It's one thing to be destined to be with someone who loves you unconditionally, but Mercy has a choice since she is neither wholly Angel nor Demon. I didn't want her to choose based solely on appearance or who treated her better; I wanted her to choose for love, and be influenced by her expectations and those of others. I wanted her to fight for the path she'd been pursuing in life.
Mercy's character needed to be pulled in various directions, with her heart tested by lust. Her control over her rage also had to be challenged, and her character and abilities needed to grow. However, I never wanted Mercy to be complete or polished. She wasn't meant to be flawless, but her strengths and potential had to be evident.
Writing about Mercy's growth in her relationships was fascinating. I'm not a prude, but I chose not to depict her romantic scenes with overt eroticism, as it didn't fit the book's tone, despite the presence of lust demons. I wanted the passion to be clear but expressed in a more poetically descriptive style.
Book 3, Sweet, Sweet Mercy, took an unexpected turn. The story evolved on its own, and Mercy followed. Despite this, she remained true to herself. Her traits and values stayed constant, but her beliefs were tested—religious or otherwise. When the hidden parts of Lucifer come to light and blow everything apart, Mercy needs answers as she clings to her core beliefs amid the chaos.
I consciously decided not to portray Mercy as a superhero. I wanted her to stay true to her core self while learning to be what she needed to be. I aimed to show that no matter her choices or the hardships she endured for herself or others, she wouldn't always be thanked or treated as she deserved. Sometimes, good intentions backfire, and no superpower can change who she is deep down. I wanted to get across that superpowers and abilities aren't the be-al-and-end-all of everything. It was important for me to have Mercy experiencing happy endings that come at a price, known or otherwise.
If you've read this far, thank you for taking the time to read such a long post. If you enjoyed learning more about Mercy's character, I'm glad I shared more about her.
Have a Fabulous Day Reading, Writing or Relaxing.
H. M. Mills aka Hayley
🎄😇🖤😈🎄
I hope my intentions and efforts in writing the series came across. I recognize that my writing skills have evolved from book 1 to book 3, and I still have much to learn.
Thank you for giving Mercy a chance to grow on you and perhaps even like her. Soon, I will share my thoughts on writing other characters from the books, like Talus, Af, Petram, Gekas, Lucifer, Chayyleil, Anthony (Ant), Abigail (Abi), Bethany, and Mathew Slayter, among others. Until then, Happy Reading, Writing, and Christmas peopling, H. M. Mills aka Hayley
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