Are You Similar to Your Main Character?

Hi Friends and Family,

Welcome to month two of my blog series—all about THE STARS OF SCOTLAND. I’m celebrating the upcoming release of my swoony travel romance and answering your burning questions.

This month, I’m answering: are you similar to your main character?

I think every character I write has some element of me such as a personality trait, physical element, or even similar hobbies. But of course, every character, including the main characters are unique and fictional.

The female main character in THE STARS OF SCOTLAND, is Brielle Finlay Hunter (Brie), single mom to three-year-old, Phoebe, and six-year-old, Noah, and budding memoirist. Following a painful divorce, she devotes herself to rebuilding her young children’s lives. And when the pain engulfs her, she writes in her journal—a journal that has transformed into a work-in-progress memoir about her journey to finding happiness. When her best friend surprises her with a ticket to Scotland, she embarks on a birthday adventure that changes everything.

A bit more about Brie: 

💕 She loves her two kids fiercely.
♥️ She has an incredible, feisty bestie who’s like a sister.
🎨 She watercolors and runs to relax.
🥞 She loves pancakes.
🌲 She goes into nature to rejuvenate herself.
♥️ She has a soft spot for a curly, auburn-haired Scotsman.
❤️‍🩹 But she doesn’t believe in happy ever after any more…

Like Brie, I am a mom to two beautiful, energetic kids. At the time I wrote this novel, my children were the same age as Phoebe and Noah, and yes, Brie’s children resemble mine, though Phoebe has mossy-green eyes like Brie, while my daughter has chocolate brown like me. My son actually has incredible hazel green eyes versus Noah who has blue in the book. When I was writing Brie’s kids, I did think of mine, though I also thought about who Brie’s kids were, their unique personalities, and what traits they’d share with her in addition to physical similarities.

I’m also working on a memoir, which focuses on my husband and my journey back to love after his near-death accident nearly four years ago and continued recovery. And, I’m lucky to have an incredible, feisty bestie like Brie—my twin sister, Rachell, who is my cheerleader and rock. Brie’s best friend is an imaginary character with elements of my sister and a few friends mixed in. I also run to relax, though I need to get back into a regular routine. I run a few times a week, typically, on my return from walking the kids to school and do yoga three times a week to help reduce stress and help my posture from too much typing. ;)

Watercolor is something I do for fun as well, but not nearly as often as Brie. Typically, I pull out my paints with my kids for an art break, though I’d love to take more formal classes one day to sharpen and strengthen my art skills…maybe even illustrate a children’s picture book or two I’ve written for my kids.

Pancakes. My kids request pancakes two to three times a week. I do enjoy them, especially blueberry, but my favorite breakfast is poached eggs on avocado toast.

Like Brie, nothing steadies me more than being in nature. I enjoy going to the beach, hiking in the mountains, and am happiest when I’m away from the big city lights. I grew up on a farm with acreage and miss it tremendously. I currently live in the city in a rental home similar to Brie (though mine is a two-story) with dreams of purchasing my own home with acreage for my kids to run, play, and explore.  

Brie has a soft spot for a curly-haired Scotsman named Bryce Fraser. Bryce was inspired by Diana Gabaldon’s character, Jamie Fraser (see last month’s blog post for more!). Although Jamie Fraser is my book boyfriend, my real-life love interest and hubby is named Charles, and he’s a cajun boy from New Orleans.

Charles and I on a Recent Date Night

Charles has a fondness for shrimp, rally racing, and mixed martial arts, and loves the kids and I fiercely.

Lastly, Brie doesn’t believe in happily ever after any more... I do. As a romance author, I believe wholeheartedly in love. Perhaps it’s because I was introduced to love stories at a young age or maybe it’s due to the fact that I was literally raised on location at a wedding venue and witnessed couples saying, ‘I do,’ every weekend, but I believe in the power of love. And what’s more, I believe everyone is worthy of love, which is one of the reasons why I write romance—to inspire readers.

So, to answer your question: yes. Brie has many elements of myself, but she’s also fictional with her own unique charm, wishes, and fears, and I can’t wait for you to meet her!

Which literary character do you relate to?

Sending you love on this leap year!


Erica Mae