A Woman of Worth-Our Heroine

I've described Boundary Water's Search and Rescue: Beyond Belief, as, in part, a romance. By definition, that means that our hero, Jack, is probably not going to remain alone as he lives and works in Ely, Minnesota. Otherwise, Beyond Belief would be the shortest romance in the history of the written word, and rather boring. Fortunately, Jack doesn't remain alone. So today, I'm going to talk about my heroine and how I created her.

Let's start where we started with Jack, and ask ourselves, what is a heroine? Beginning with the 1913 Webster's definition, a heroine is 'the principal female person who figures in a remarkable action, or as the subject of a poem or story'. Merriam-Webster adds this definition, 'a woman admired and emulated for her achievements and qualities'.

Using the dictionary as my baseline, I looked to my heroine archetypes, my mother, my mother-in-law, my sisters-in-law, my Aunt Dorothy (amazing woman---not a blood relative, but my heart aunt, nonetheless), Kay Arthur (Precept Ministries), a woman who, though not a personal friend, taught me so much about studying and internalizing God's word, and many, many female friends and cousins (who are dear friends) who have been and are treasures in my world. Collectively they form a definition of heroine that far eclipses any dictionary definition. These women have taught me the meaning of selflessness, of talent, and of faithfulness.

We first encounter the heroine of Beyond Belief in Chapter Two of the book. She and Jack meet under unusual circumstances. We learn that, physically, she's a pretty ordinary middle-aged woman. Of average height and build, her description could fit many of us in that stage of life. We don't really get a glimpse of her personally until Chapter Five of the book. It is then that both Jack and you, the reader, get a glimpse of Elizabeth Talbot. I hope you will find her a respectable heroine, not because she is larger than life, but because she, like my heroine archetypes, embraces life.

One day soon, I will share my introduction of Elizabeth, by sharing another chapter of Beyond Belief. In the meanwhile, I would love it if you would share your essentials for heroines in the comments. I will share one signed, advance copy, paperback of Boundary Waters Search and Rescue: Beyond Belief, (when I receive them) with a randomly selected commenter. Thank you!