There is always more to the story than just what ends
up between the pages. This page takes a behind the scenes look at It
Takes a Hero including
research I did while writing the book, character tidbits, and more. Happy reading! ~Elizabeth
avon books
ISBN: 0-060-54930-0
April 2004
Writing
Raphael Danvers’ story was inevitable. Apart from Jemmy Finch, (see Once
Tempted and It Takes
A Hero), Rafe has been the
number one subject of the fan mail I receive. And most everyone thought he
should be with Georgie's little sister, Kit (see One
Night of Passion).
But I never thought the two of them would work, besides the fact that Kit
would be long since married and settled by the time the likes of Raphael Danvers
decided to return to England. So there it was-who was I going to match with
Rafe?
The story idea came to me while having lunch with another editor at Avon. We were talking about my husband's upcoming trip to Ireland and how I thought he should take his sister to Lisdoonvarna (the matchmaking village). We laughed about the idea, but it stuck in my head, the notion of a matchmaking village. As I began to plot and devise Rafe's story, I decided to send him to Bramley Hollow and make the little town England's version of the infamous Irish setting. What better to do to a man determined not to marry than to send him to a town known for making matches?
It Takes A Hero also sees the return of several of my favorite characters, Lady Finch, Jemmy Finch and Theonius T. Billingsworth. While Lady Finch has appeared in some form or another in every single Danvers book, I had left Jemmy, wounded and lost in Spain, for far too long. After reintroducing him, I knew it was time for him to find his heart's desire and his story now resides in the anthology Hero, Come Back with Christina Dodd and Stephanie Laurens. As for Mr. Billingsworth, you'll have to read the book to get a chance to finally meet him in person.
Like many of my novels, It Takes A Hero was not the original title for this book. My working title was Tempting Miss Tate. The reason for the switch? The powers that be thought my title sounded "too traditional." I don't know if I agree, but both titles work for the book so I didn’t mind the change.
With each book, I end up by chance or by design coming up with a soundtrack for the book, the music that helps me get in the mood for the book and write the story. As I wrote It Takes A Hero, I found myself gravitating to Sheryl Crow’s album, The Globe Sessions. I think I listened to Mississippi about a thousand times while writing this book. Don’t know why, but the song seemed to fit the story.
- Rebecca Tate –- Would like nothing more than to be the perfect English lady, which would be easy if one had the money to afford such a luxury. So Rebecca has found a way to finance her launch in society, all the while keeping a roof over her head and that of her less than lucid uncle and guardian, Colonel Posthill. The last thing Rebecca wants in her life is some rakish devil like Raphael Danvers nosing about.
- Raphael Danvers –- Youngest of the Danvers brothers, Rafe has scandalized the English society by (gasp) working for a living as a private Runner of sorts. When he is hired to find the author of the notorious Miss Darby novels, he has no idea that what he is really going to discover is his one true love.
- Cochrane –- Mr. Pymm’s young assistant from Once Tempted, Cochrane is now a little older and wiser. He’s eating Rafe out of house and home, but quite capable when it comes to a tight spot. This is, after all, Mr. Pymm’s former aide de camp.
- Colonel Posthill -– The colonel was never cut out for military life, but he muddled through some how and is now enjoying his retirement by firing off his collection of cannons and terrorizing the village of Bramley Hollow. But the colonel has a few secrets and tricks up his sleeve that you might not expect.
- Lady Finch -- My infamous busybody is back again. She’s all too willing to help Rafe find his match, I mean, his quarry.
- James "Jemmy" Reyburn -– Rafe’s friend from Spain and one of my favorite lost heroes, this is the first time I’ve revisited Jemmy since he was wounded and near death in Once Tempted. He’s not the happy go lucky fellow of old, and hopefully Rafe can help him as well. But if Rafe can't, find out the woman who does help him in Hero, Come Back.
- Miss Honora and Miss Alminta -- These twin spinsters make life interesting in Bramley Hollow. First of all, there is their rather questionable and scandalous relationship with the much younger, Sydney Kitling, as well as their mysterious Indian origins.
- Viscount Pease (fka Lieutenant Habersham) -- Rebecca’s old beau from India is back and this time he vows not to lose her. Will Rafe come to his senses in time or is Rebecca going to follow her very sensible heart and marry her handsome and now titled former flame?
- How do the Miss Darby novels and the scope of their influence compare to the sway the media of today holds over mores and fashions?
- Why was Rafe’s choice of profession considered so outside of society? What else could he have done?
- Did Rafe’s Spanish heritage contribute to his outsider status or add to his allure?
- Why were nabobs so universally despised by their noble counterparts?
- Which characters best expressed the different and changing layers in English society at this time period?
- Why was Rebecca’s quest to be a normal English lady an uphill battle?
- Would you say that Rafe and Rebecca had similar upbringing/backgrounds? Did this contribute to their relationship or hinder it?
- Who was your favorite character? Why? Your least favorite?
- Did Rafe do enough to help Jemmy? Do you think Jemmy can find love?
- Was Rafe right to make Rebecca give back the Kalish Ruby?
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