What a Character is here with you again.
This month we have Leesa giving us an insight into a character in her manuscript
From: Winning the Player by Leesa Bow
Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance/Sport
Character: Aubree Taylor
Age: 20 years old.
Set in Adelaide, South Australia.
1. What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?
Two things have impacted my life.
The first when I was twelve, my father died in his sleep, resulting from an overdose of prescription drugs mixed with alcohol. He was an alcoholic but not the abusive type. It was a difficult time, especially seeing my Mum extremely distraught so I threw myself into basketball and trained everyday to block out the pain.
The second incident happened when I was seventeen. I injured my knee playing basketball for South Australia in a National tournament. It wasn’t just any injury. I’d ruptured my anterior, medial and lateral ligaments, after going up for a rebound and landing off balance while my opponents knee crashed into mine causing it to buckle and hyperextend. I remember crumbling to the ground screaming in pain.
The damage snowballed from physical to life changing.
Everyone believed I could make a come back and return to an elite level. It was my physiotherapist and surgeon who yanked me back to reality, emphasising how tough it would be and how I’d have to work three times harder.
The devastation wore down all my mental strength and I didn’t see the point. Swamped by so many positive people believing I could make a come back only pushed me further away. To disappoint myself was one thing but let down those who loved and believed in me a whole different ball game. So I pretended to be over basketball with a new interest of seeing the world, creating new adventures, and finding out who I really was.
Subsequently I took off overseas for the next two years.
2. How would you describe yourself in one sentence?
Tall, slim, long brown hair, and green eyes like my mother; lacking self-confidence like my father.
3. What makes you laugh out loud?
My best friend Maddy. She has a great sense of humour and claims it’s her Irish heritage. I think it’s her temper and having a smart mouth along with not being afraid of anyone.
4. What is your greatest fear?
To have my heart broken.
5. What do you hate?
Arrogance.
Especially arrogant athletes like some football players.
6. What is your idea of happiness?
Being surrounded by family and close friends.
Finding inner peace and a sense of belonging.
And of course true love! Secretly I’ve always enjoyed reading the steamy romance books under my mother’s bed. They have kindled a yearning for happy-ever-after.
You can find Leesa on Twitter and on her Facebook page.
