Jennifer Estep: Favorite Hero Characters

Greetings and salutations! First of all, I want to say thanks to Lee for having me back on the blog. Thanks so much, Lee!

I’ve been thinking a lot about characters lately, especially when it comes to heroes. There are certain types of characters that I think make great heroes and that I find myself wanting to watch on TV, see at the movies, and read about again and again. Here are some of my favorite hero characters:

Cowboys: What can I say? I’m a sucker for westerns, and there are few things sexier than a rough, rugged cowboy with a heart of gold. When I’m in the mood for a western, I’ll read contemporaries by Linda Lael Miller; historicals by Jo Goodman; or wait until there’s a Clint Eastwood marathon on TV, hopefully featuring The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Pirates: Yargh! I like pirate stories too, although you don’t see them much anymore. (If anyone has any recommendations here, please list them in the comments.) Luckily, there’s Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow whenever I want to watch a swashbuckling pirate movie.

Princes: Whether it’s epic fantasy or a contemporary romance, princes remain popular characters with timeless appeal. Who wouldn’t want to be swept off her feet by a handsome prince? It’s the ultimate fairy tale.

Spies: Ah, spies. There’s something dark and dangerous about a guy who goes behind enemy lines and puts himself in harm’s way for queen and country. I’m currently loving Daniel Craig as James Bond. Here’s hoping that the next Bond movie is as good as Casino Royale was.

Superheroes: I love the idea of superheroes – of folks with these special abilities fighting the good fight. This has been a great summer for superhero movies with Thor, Green Lantern, and Captain America in theaters – and the guys who played them were pretty easy on the eyes too.

Thieves/conmen: Bad boys can be so very entertaining to watch and read about. I love a good heist story, like The Italian Job with Mark Wahlberg or The Thomas Crown Affair with Pierce Brosnan.

Warriors/soldiers: Whether he’s a centuries-old vampire, a werewolf devoted to his pack, or a Navy SEAL protecting his country, you have to love a guy who stands up and fights for what he believes in.

So there you have it – some of my favorite kinds of heroes. What about you guys? What are some of your favorite types of heroes?

USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep writes the Mythos Academy young adult urban fantasy series for Kensington. The books focus on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the gift of psychometry, or the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. After a serious freak-out with her magic, Gwen is shipped off to Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors like Spartans, Valkyries, Amazons, and more.

Touch of Frost, the first book in the series, was published on July 26. First Frost, a prequel e-story to the series, is also available now. The second book, Kiss of Frost, will hit shelves on Nov. 29.

Jennifer also writes the Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series for Pocket Books. The books focus on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

Books in the series are Spider’s Bite, Web of Lies, Venom, and Tangled Threads. Spider’s Revenge, the fifth book, will be released on Sept. 27. Visit www.jenniferestep.com for free short stories, excerpts, and more.