I hope you enjoyed NEVER MY LOVE, book 1 of The President’s Daughters series. People have asked me why I chose to write about this family, these women, these issues. For one, I’m fascinated by politics, even though the news is hard to watch. I’m intrigued by the personal lives of our representatives in Congress and the US president. And, I’d already established Jim Manwaring in the To Serve and Protect series. I liked him so much (as did fans), I featured him in that entire series. Yes, he’s an ideal president and his successes may be unrealistic. But I prefer to write characters who are the best of us and behave as they should behave. (This comes from my literary background in the classics, particularly Greek lit which portrayed their heroes as larger than life.)
So, it was a good fit for me to pick this subject. The challenge was how to make each woman different. While doing preliminary research, I found that presidential children often exhibit the following traits: ambitious, shy (wants out of the spotlight), independent and drawn to helping others . So, I had a starting place.
Annalise’s ambition is not foreign to me. She’s a go-getter and has the self-confidence to doggedly pursue what she wants in life. She got that from her father. Wasn’t it fun to see her confounded by Luke? He doesn’t fit into her plans, especially when they admit they’re attracted to each other.
As for Luke, she kicks into his insecurity, formed by his bad experiences as a foster child. He’s been on his own all his life, and though he does resent her entitlement, it’s her closeness to her family that he envies most.
But Luke and Annalise are good for each other. He helps her to see that her ambition might not be as important as he is. She urges him to find his brother and establish a relationship with him, even when Seth balks. So many complications befall Luke, but eventually he gets what she’s had all her life. And didn’t you love his relationship with Andy? With Tim?
Thematically, there are many issues in the book: foster care, sexual abuse, loss, prioritizing goals, and maybe my favorite one, finding a way to merge both personal and professional lives. In other words, to have it all. But, as in most of my books, having it all comes with complications, heartache, compromise and giving in to a love so deep it can’t be ignored.
You also see four of the president’s daughters in this book and each successive story. I liked exploring their lives gradually and letting the reader get to know them. It’s not until book five that readers meet the fifth sister.
As always, happy reading. And enjoy the President’s Daughters!
Kathy
Visit or contact Kathryn at www.kathrynshay.com