EVERYBODY has a hero/heroine. It can be real-life or a fictional hero/heroine.
Options...
1. The Perfect Hero
2. The Misfit
3. The Grizzled Old-Timer
4. The Everyman
5. The Anti-Hero
6. The Prodigy
7. The Loner Hero
8. The Tragic Hero
I shared a whole A to Z series about real life heroes, so today I'm going to share a fictional one--someone who has been with me a long, long time. Here we go, in 300 words or less...
I was emotionally black and blue. At the ripe old age of 10, my classmates latched onto my maiden name (Hicken...now add my first initial...) and I became the target of much bullying. (Including a group pledge to the rubber chicken.) I came home
to a big brother who was also being bullied at school, so he took it out on me. At church I was the youngest girl in my age group, and in a different grade than everyone else, therefore, I was only worthy of being shunned.
Life was awesome.
It
was about that time Kiri appeared. She emerged in my sketches and told me her
tragic story: an orphan, alone in the world, abandoned by every decent scrap of
hope. She was meant to be an heir--pampered, adored, respected--but instead
ended up a foster child to an abusive man, essentially a slave who was fed for her labor. Kiri had every
reason to complain. To hate her life. But she never did.
Instead,
she found people to train her with weapons. She sacrificed her nights and risked her safety to sneak out and
learn. She dedicated herself to a cause--protecting and serving others who
were unable to defend themselves.
Kiri
didn't want the glory. She didn't want the notoriety. She didn't want the
praise.
All
she wanted was the family she'd lost.
Since
that was impossible, she set out to keep others from losing the one thing that
mattered most.
She’s
been with me since I was 12. I hope to one day share her story with the world,
but until then, she remains an integral piece of my heart, a hero who helped me
conquer my own dark days.
Follow the blog tour for wonderful reading and (ready for this?) FUN:
Gina shares an excerpt: The Soulless are Here
Gwen Gardner introduces you to Men with Lies
Rae at A Writer's Dream shares a steamy excerpt AND me, reading chapter 1
And be sure to enter the
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Follow the pony on to the rest of the tour. He will lead you to cheese and danger...erm, I mean fun. Yes, fun.
Do you have a literary hero? A character who carried you through some of your dark times?
I still have to think of an answer to your question. But you've inspired me. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI loved hearing about Kiri. I think I used my characters and writing as an escape quite a bit when I was younger. No wait, I still do that. My current MC is the complete opposite of myself so writing as him can be therapeutic.
ReplyDeleteI'd go with Frodo if I picked a fictional character. He was the epitome of reluctant hero.
ReplyDeleteKiri sounds like an amazing character. Wonderful piece and you've known her since you were 12. That's incredible!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely introduction to Kiri. I can't wait to meet her someday=)
ReplyDeleteBullies are horrible. Sorry to hear about your experience but I can totally relate because I was severely bullied in elementary and junior high school... all because I got straight A's and teachers loved me. Kids can be very cruel.
I would have to say my heroes are people who inspire children, like authors. Someone who inspires a child to chase after their dreams, as desperate and far away as they may be, is a person I can admire and look up to.
I read and reread Jack London stories when I was growing up. I wanted the dangerous adventurous life he led and the characters in his book did. But looking back, my parents were the real heroes in my world.
ReplyDeleteKiri sounds amazing...can't wait to read more someday. Such an interesting question. I guess I never thought much about my hero, but there are many people who have inspired and guided me!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry! Kids can be so cruel. I hope you do write her story one day.
ReplyDeleteI love this: "a hero who helped me conquer my own dark days" ... great post!
ReplyDeleteThat gave me chills all over. From out of the darkness, your own unconscious supplied you with the hero you needed. THAT is really fantastic! I hope one day that you give her a voice.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking story. Bullying can really damage people. Glad you were able to find a way to cope. Maybe it's our creativity that can often serve as a savior when we're dealing with trauma.
ReplyDeleteBullying really bugs me. Especially over something as silly as a last name. When I was a kid, a boy by the last name of LOONEY constantly picked on me for my last name, Faris. I had the "ferris wheel" comment the whole time I was growing up. Real original, I know. I guess I was lucky Ferris Bueller hadn't come out yet! But my dad couldn't believe a boy with the last name of Looney had the nerve to make fun of anyone's last name!
ReplyDeleteHi, Crystal,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't help but to laugh at Stepahie's comment. That boy Looney had a nerve to b poking fun at other people's last name.
Sadly, bullying continues to be a fact of life. That's a long time to be carrying Kiri, but I'm glad she was there when you needed help.
Thanks for participating, Crystal. I hope you're enjoying your tour.
Hi Crystal .. I love the sound of Kiri .. and her awakening for you to help you through those miserable times ... I'd sure like to know more about her ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteI love that list of hero archetypes...I'm totally using that for reference:) My dad is my hero, so I suppose I'm drawn to father-son relationships and family-oriented stories.
ReplyDeleteKiri sounds like a fictional character I would love to meet. So great that she decided to stay positive and take care of herself and others.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to one day reading about Kiri's story.
ReplyDeleteWe were lucky kids to have our imagination to escape to. My taunts came in Jr. High- my nickname was Grit and I was blessed with a C cup early in life, so I picked up a rhyming surname for Grit. I walked humped over for years- still don't have good posture!
ReplyDeleteI have poor posture, too, though I try to stand up straight. It's from years of trying to disappear by slumping down.
DeleteBullying just makes me so sad. Glad you had Kiri, she sounds wonderful! Her story will be amazing when, yes *when*, you write it. :)
ReplyDeleteI have a hero like that I haven't written about either. Been with me for a long time too.
ReplyDeleteWell done. Laura Ingalls was my childhood heroine. When I was very, very sick and pregnant with The Hurricane, and I'm talking Duchess of Cambridge sick, I reread all The Little House books. They helped get me through it.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Very sweet story, Crystal!! :)
ReplyDeleteKiri ROCKS! (And so to you, BTW.) I'm glad she was there for you, and hope to get to read more about her soon!
ReplyDeleteSad story, but amazing hero. No, I don't have a hero. I was asked this once before, and I came up with nothing.
ReplyDeleteSorry you went through bullying. Me too. I know how much it hurts.
ReplyDeleteKids are just awful, aren't they? They used to sing that Beetlejuice song at me because of my last name (Dayyyy-oooo, dayyyyyyy-oooooo). I'm so glad you had Kiri to help you and carry you through that, and I sincerely hope you'll get to share her story with us one day! <3
ReplyDeleteYour school days sound as awesome as my school days. As horrible as it all was, I'm kinda glad we didn't have to deal with social media bullying as well! (Gotta look on the bright side, even if that bright side is a little dim). ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's great you had Kiri during that time too. Hugs
I was bullied a lot as a kid, too, and that's how I created Avrianna at the age of 12 (you met her while beta reading Ghost of Death). Isn't that funny? Kiri sounds like a great character, and a wonderful hero. She and Avrianna would get along well, as they have a lot in common. :) Great minds...
ReplyDeleteHow creative to invent your own hero. You were sure to be a writer at an early age. Many children have imaginary friends that save them from depression and loneliness. I'm glad you had such a creative outlet to keep you going during such traumatic times.
ReplyDeleteKiri is a model protagonist for me. I'm more drawn to the anti-hero, one who isn't glorified and revered, but flawed and unique. It is the hero I want to follow and ensure they come full circle in their journey. That's why I'm not into classic heroes and heroines.
ReplyDeleteWow, Kiri sounds like an amazing character. And how wonderful that she was able to get you through the rough patches in your life. Looking forward to the day when you are able to share her story.
ReplyDeleteKiri sound so wonderful Crystal... growing up is really rough, especially those teen years. It breaks my heart to hear what children have to endure with bullying,... I know what they had to endure...
ReplyDeleteHave a great week xox
You must tell her story one day! It sounds amazing. It's really beautiful what can come out of feeling alone in the world. ^_^
ReplyDeleteKiri sounds like a great character...and kept you from feeling lonely too.
ReplyDeleteShe sounds wonderful! I want to hear her story too!
ReplyDeleteWow, she sounds awesome, and you DO need to write about her!
ReplyDeleteOn your list of heroes -- you need to add The Unlikely Hero. My favorite kind!
Based on your description, it's easy to understand why Kiri is a hero to you and why she has an interesting story. And I'm sorry about how you were bullied. I still don't understand why kids feel the need to be so cruel. And these days they've even taken their bullying online, and it's just so mean.
ReplyDeleteKiri sounds special, and I bet her story is special too.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read Kiri's story...one day...
Thank you for participating in the Hero Blogfest!
Aw! I love this so much, I had such heroes as I grew up too, I was black, foreign and smart that got me a share of bullying too, I needed friends from the imaginary world to aid me. You’re the best to talk about heroes, as always ;)
ReplyDelete