By now, you probably know that Faith is the main character in Promises Kept. (If you would like to download the excerpt, you can by subscribing to my newsletter). Faith was such an easy character to develop because I have known a hundred Faiths. She simply evolved from her East Texas setting, and was actually the catalyst for Keeping Faith.
It is almost impossible to separate the two books because everything is so interwoven. As you follow the blog for the next few months, you will see that I now discuss both books, almost interchangeably at times, because of the characters they share. But that is where the similarities end because each novel is an entirely different story.
Faith was the beginning and the end of Keeping Faith, but she was so much more. The title itself took its name from her character although it was somewhat a double entendre because the name of the book could also be interpreted as referring to Patrick’s faith. Whatever symbolism the reader chooses, Faith is part of the bigger picture. She is and was the glue that held Patrick, Sue, and Alice together over time and place.
So why was Faith easy to portray and others more difficult to develop? There was no single person in my background named or identified as Faith. Instead, she represents so many East Texas women who are strong and determined and even aggressive sometimes. So often, females from small, rural settings are seen as needy and weak. I wanted to change that image with Faith because many of the women I have known from that part of the world are anything but. They are perfect examples of steel magnolias. Perhaps, that characteristic was innate in Faith; maybe it was strengthened by her adversities; the reader can decide.