Confession: I really dislike anti-heroes
Despite their popular acclaim, I’ve never watched Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, or Succession. And I stopped watching House of Cards and Barry when it became clear that there was no redemption arc for their lead characters. There was just a steady descent, which I don’t find enjoyable in my fiction.
It’s probably because there’s no shortage of real-life anti-heroes. Powerful people doing awful things abound, as well as powerless people doing awful things to feel powerful. All of that awfulness has led to record low consumer sentiment, dismal approval ratings for Congress and our recent presidents, and record low faith in national institutions. The world is so uncertain and unsafe that US birth rates are at historic lows.
I’m looking for hope, both in real-life and in my entertainment. And in my novels, I strive to give hope.
Stories of Redemption
In all of the novels I’m currently working on, the stories have clear heroes, who are often making up for past sins and missteps. Often, they make more mistakes on their way to redemption and self-acceptance.
Even some of the antagonists have redemptive arcs, since I’m also not a fan of cartoonish villains.
The world is an imperfect place full of imperfect people, and so are my novels. But the vast majority of the characters you’ll find my stories are trying to do the right thing for those they care about. If that sounds good to you, I hope you’ll stick around and follow me on Instagram or Substack.
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