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On Writing a Female Protagonist

…when you’re a male

by MARK HENRY

The Victoria/Victor Syndrome

When Bam told me I’d be her first guy. I was honored. Nervous. Excited. Dare I say…aroused? She’s a beautiful, articulate and giving woman, after all, and her first time should be special… magical. We met on the veranda of her sumptuous Savannah manse, serenaded by the whippoorwills in the Spanish moss draped chinaberry trees, and the clopping of horses on the square, carriage wheels shirring against cobblestone. It was there that we shared our first kiss, slow at first, tentative, and then suddenly brazen, tongues tangling, fingers searching out each other’s flesh. I swept her into my thickly muscled arms and wrapped her in a cocoon of passion and ecstasy.

Um… hold up [Yeah… hold up! -bam].

Actually, that didn’t happen. It wasn’t real at all. But it felt so…No. What really happened was this: Bam asked and I said, uh…yeah I’ll do it, since you’re super popular, and all! But, who am I to take up space?

My name is Mark Henry and I’ve written a little book called HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED. You might have seen the title bouncing around here and there. Here’s a short synopsis…

Getting used to the afterlife can be a daunting process. Advertising executive/diva extraordinaire Amanda Feral has barely adjusted to being turned into a zombie, and now she’s trying to make her way through Seattle’s undead scene—filled with bloodsuckers, reapers, horned (and horny) devils, celebrity blood donors, PR-obsessed shape shifters, and an extremely hot bartender named Ricardo. When one of Amanda’s undead friends disappears, she knows that the afterlife is about to get really ugly. Something very sinister is at hand, and this time, Amanda may meet a fate a lot worse than death.

Sound fun? I hope it is. It’s as much a comedy, as an urban fantasy (that’s right peeps, no HEA, so let’s clear that up from the get go)—though there is some sex, and projected romance in the series—and it’s told in the first person. Huh? Wait a sec…aren’t you a—cough—guy? Which brings me to my point.

The Victoria/Victor Syndrome

The question I’m asked the most (and I do mean a lot) is how was I able to channel Amanda, who is fashion conscious, cosmetics-laden, eating-disordered (aren’t all zombies ;) ), and snarkier than Hell. The answer is quite simply, I’m a man pretending to be a woman, but not in a hot trannie kind of way. Actually, I imagine it’s a combination of many things.

First, I’m an only child of a family that moved around a lot. My father worked constantly and I hung around adult women. This was the seventies and the parties were weekly, cocktails had great sophisticated names like Manhattan and Gimlet, and you dressed up to go to a friend’s home. You can learn a lot about people, about women, once they’re lubricated. Duh!

Second, I’m an observer, I study mannerisms, tone, accent, everything. It’s a habit from years as a psychotherapist, but one I’m not likely to give up for Lent. As writers we have to all be observers to some extent, lest our descriptions stink up the place like an open-faced diaper in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Third, I did tons of research for the fashion pieces, after all, how else would I know that the Devil doesn’t wear Prada, but instead is enamored with the South American designer Carolina Herrera’s rich textures and Edvard Munch inspired shades of grape, ash, poppy and bark?

I usually ask the questioner the following, “How do you read a book with a male/female protagonist? How can you identify?” But it doesn’t matter. I still get cocked heads (tee hee, that sounded dirty) and crooked smiles, usually accompanied by shrugging. Always with the shrugging.

I’ll give you this: a guy’s name on that cover looks incongruent. Maybe this is all a ruse, you’re thinking. Maybe Bam and I are staging some elaborate trickery, a flim-flam, or pettifog. A chicanery, even. Wouldn’t that be fun?

Decide for yourself.

___________________________________________

You can find Mark here (daily) and here (Wednesdays). According to Amazon, Happy Hour of the Damned will be released in February of 2008. Mark is going to send me an ARC… so nyeh-nyeh-nyeh on the rest of you.

Oh, and here’s what some folks gotta say about it:

“Gruesome, ghoulish and utterly groundbreaking. Mark Henry is daring and scathingly funny.” —Jackie Kessler, author of HELL’S BELLES

“Call them the splatterati — werewolves who always know what to wear, zombies with bodies to die for, and vampires who know their fang shui– just don’t call them late when it comes to happy hour, or the drinks might be on you.” —David Sosnowski, author of VAMPED

This entry was posted on Friday, October 19th, 2007 at 12:04 pm and is filed under Guest Author. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

28 Responses to “On Writing a Female Protagonist”

  1. Rae
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
    1

    You forget bunburying (but that’s just my Oscar Wilde fan coming out)…

    You’re fun, Mr. Henry. I’ll look forward to the book. :-)

  2. Richelle Mead
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
    2

    As one of the lucky people who’ve gotten to read Happy Hour, I have to say that Mark really nailed writing a woman. Mark, I think you might write female protagonists better than I do–which is a bit disturbing. And arousing.

  3. Wendy
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
    3

    (tee hee, that sounded dirty)

    You made me spill my drink on my keyboard! I hope you’re happy.

    Mark is going to send me an ARC… so nyeh-nyeh-nyeh on the rest of you.

    I hate you. And the only thing that would make me not hate you, Bam would be if you send me the ARC. Yeah, I’m shameless, I know. ;)

  4. Mark
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 1:19 pm
    4

    Thanks Rae. For the nice words and the Wilde reference.

    You guys are too kind, especially that Richelle. Me, write a better female protagonist? Why that’s crazy talk.

    Wendy, it fills my heart with joy to know that. There’s nothing finer than a good old-fashioned spit-take.

  5. Mardel
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 1:21 pm
    5

    Mark,
    Two things (though related)
    1. Just reading your post on BAMs site made me laugh (and this is while I’m suffering after having a tooth pulled….complete with dental hammering, facial swelling up to my eye, …..Ugh Thank god for Norco!). Anyway, you made me laugh so much that now I’ve decided I’m going to get your book when it comes out. I haven’t even read an excerpt yet! I hope your book is as funny and well written (ya’ know, sometimes the dialogue style will just kill a book) as your post.
    2. I usually don’t read books written by men. Sexist maybe, but usually they don’t interest me, maybe because the women characters in the books are usually portrayed as ultra sexy/intimidating, or ultra sexy/dumb, or non-important (this is just my personal experience in reading, it could be that I just haven’t come across many good books by men). The men I do read are Terry Pratchett (my all time favorite), Neil Gaiman, Dave Barry (Big Trouble) and Marc del Franco (it took me a few trips to the bookstore to actually buy his book, but it was worth it.) I’ve tried Jim Butcher, but I was frustrated by his character in the first few books. So you might actually widen my reading field a little. How’s that for pressure?
    Mardel

    P.S. Bam- I like your site so much. I have actually tried out new authors after reading your reviews, and by looking at your side panel books on your list to be read. Good authors like Jackie Kessler! Have your read Kim Harrison, Kelley Armstrong, Vicki Pettersson or Rachel Vincent? Give them a try if you haven’t. Thanks.

  6. Jaded Bee
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
    6

    I’m excited to read Happy Hour, I think it’s awesome that you are writing first person through a chick. That must mean that you have a leg up on most men, thinking like a chick could sway in your favor if it doesn’t already.

    :)

  7. Jaime
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
    7

    The book sounds great! I have put it on my “send it to me when it publishes” list…I love being able to do this because quite honestly I forget and then a surprise comes with Mr. UPS (and he is fffiiine). The book sounds interesting and a little more intriguing with Mr. Henry as the author. Thanks for the article - I enjoyed it. Peace.

  8. Missy S
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
    8

    Hiya Mark! Just stopped by for a read and wanted to, well, say hi! So hi again! I liked your piece. (haha… I can be dirty too!) ;)

  9. Ann Bruce
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
    9

    Since I’m a huge fan of JA Konrath, I can definitely buy a man writing from the first-person POV of a female protagonist. And a COMEDIC urban fantasy…you just brought me out of my paranormal-buying drought.

  10. Mark
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
    10

    Hi Mardel,

    I’m glad to have you give another male writer a shot. I think you’ll enjoy yourself at Happy Hour.

    Ps. Have you read Good Omens, the Pratchett/Gaimain co-authored novel? It’s in my top ten ever!

  11. Mark
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
    11

    Jaded Bee,

    It snagged me a wife. But…wait a sec. She thinks like a guy. What the hell is going on here?

    ;)

  12. Mark
    Posted: Oct 19th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
    12

    Jaime,

    I wish you happy reading and UPS guy ogling! May he suffer a wardrobe malfunction at your door!

    Thanks Missy, you dirty bird!

    Ann,

    I love JA’s Jack Daniel’s series! His stuff is awesome, and he’s on my ARC list. I can’t think of a cooler quote for Happy Hour than one ending in Whiskey Sour, or Dirty Martini. Perfect.

    Thanks for stopping by!

  13. clare
    Posted: Oct 20th, 2007 at 1:22 am
    13

    Hey you’re funny! and I like the sound of your book :)
    Look forward to Bams review and adding to my lookout for list. Don’t worry that leads to an amazon buy not a rifle shot ;)

    Most of my books seem to be by women authors though it’s not a conscious selection, I usually just pick up whatever sounds interesting to me.

  14. Teresa W.
    Posted: Oct 20th, 2007 at 7:00 am
    14

    This book sounds great and it will be good to get a males perspective on a read looking forward to it!

  15. Mark
    Posted: Oct 20th, 2007 at 7:17 am
    15

    Thanks Clare, I look forward to Bam’s review as well, and not being shot, of course.

    Teresa, What can I say? It is great! Thanks for commenting!

  16. Jackie
    Posted: Oct 20th, 2007 at 9:55 am
    16

    Bam’s reviews are a rite of passage, Mark. Chin up, camper — you’ll do fine!

  17. SweetNSourGirl
    Posted: Oct 20th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
    17

    Kudos to you, Mr. Henry! It’s comforting to know that some guys really do want to understand women and won’t settle for stereotypes.

    Any tips for making guy characters more realistic?

  18. Mark
    Posted: Oct 20th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
    18

    Thanks Jackie! I’m sure Dionne won’t hold back any punches, and that’s fine with me.

    Sweet N Sour? Girl, that’s my favorite combo. When you write guy characters:
    1. They’ve got to think about sex (weird, normal, masturbatory) with a certain degree of frequency, or they’re just not normal.
    2. Men in general distance themselves from their emotions, particularly those that elicit physiological responses (this is leftover from childhood conditioning).
    3. Characterizing them as uncomfortable during dialogue that does not specifically relate to sex, business, and/or the hobby of their choice works great.
    4. Grab yourself a Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus and read up.

    Then…

    Toss it out and flip your characters. Give the man some feminine attributes, do the same for the woman. Keep it fun. Remember, people–in general–are completely nuts!

  19. Teddy Pig
    Posted: Oct 21st, 2007 at 4:30 am
    19

    Oh Mark, you stud boy you!

    I am so getting this one.

  20. SweetNSourGirl
    Posted: Oct 21st, 2007 at 8:11 am
    20

    “People in general are completely nuts!” How very true. I’ll keep this in mind when I write, thanks for the tips!

  21. Andi & Stien
    Posted: Oct 21st, 2007 at 9:19 am
    21

    This sounds great! I think I’ll put your book on my list too. I’m very, very interested in how it will end.
    Btw, is this book going to be a stand alone, or is it the kick-off of a series? ;)

    Andi

  22. Jackie
    Posted: Oct 21st, 2007 at 9:25 am
    22

    And Mark? “Deadutante” and “zombedy” should be trademarked by you, immediately. Got it?

  23. Mark
    Posted: Oct 21st, 2007 at 10:02 am
    23

    Andi & Stien - HAPPY HOUR OF THE DAMNED is indeed the kickoff of a series, book 2 is called ROAD TRIP OF THE LIVING DEAD and 3 is tentatively titled, AMERICAN MINIONS. And if we cross our fingers and wish real hard, the Showtime network will exercise their film option and greenlight the series (it’s in the early stages).

  24. Mark
    Posted: Oct 21st, 2007 at 10:04 am
    24

    Jackie,

    Now you know Edgar Wright–of Shaun of the Dead fame–has the trademark on zomedy. As for Deadutante, I can’t take credit for that terminology, that one is ALL Liz Scheier (Del Rey, Senior Editor).

    Fun idea, though.

  25. lane craver
    Posted: Oct 21st, 2007 at 11:48 am
    25

    I can’t wait to bite into your funny urban legend. I liked the idea when I met Mark at the 2007 conference, and the more I hear about, the worst my yearning gets :p

  26. Tez Miller
    Posted: Oct 21st, 2007 at 5:34 pm
    26

    You get ARC? You lucky thing ;-)

    Have a lovely day! :-)

  27. Mark
    Posted: Oct 21st, 2007 at 7:48 pm
    27

    Hey Lane and Ez. Thanks for stopping in.

  28. Mardel
    Posted: Oct 22nd, 2007 at 1:06 am
    28

    Oh hell yeah, Mark.

    Good Omens is the first Neil Gaiman book I ever read, then I read Stardust, then Neverwhere. And I’m in love with Pratchett. (they were the only two men in my literary life for quite awhile, in real life I have a husband and THREE sons).

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