In honor of Women’s History Month, I decided to tell you a little about the women in my book – how their characters developed and why they are important to the story. I selected ten female characters to profile. Some are minor characters, but they each come alive in different ways as the plot evolves. When I was writing Everything in Between, I started with three main characters, Sabrina, Adam, and Clay. As I began to explore their lives, I had to consider how the people in their lives impacted who they became. This quickly led me to Steve, but I’ll talk about him in detail in the May issue.

First, let’s talk about the women.

Sabrina Carr is a high school English teacher. She is an only child. She grew up across the street from Adam who was also an only child. She fell in love with Adam and never imagined spending her life with anyone else.

After his death, she struggles to let go of their plans for the future. She’s able to accomplish many of their plans on her own, and believes that’s enough.

Then she meets Clay, who challenges her to live more than half a life. Sabrina has to find the inner strength to accept that challenge and other challenges.

Beverly Carr, Sabrina’s mother, is a former elementary school teacher. She went back to school to become a librarian after being a stay-at-home mom until Sabrina started school. Beverly and her husband Dennis are loving parents and have a happy loving marriage. Beverly is a strong role model for Sabrina. She works hard,  volunteers in her community, and values friends and family over possessions. She’s kind, caring, and compassionate. Beverly believes in her daughter and supports Sabrina’s decisions even if she gives her a few subtle hints and nudges along the way. Beverly is the sort of person you want in your corner.

Gwen Williams, Adam’s mother, is only referenced in the book. After Adam’s death she leaves her husband and starts her life over. She and Beverly were close friends, but maintaining their friendship is too painful for Gwen. I use Gwen as an example of how some people handle grief.

Danielle Templeton is Clay’s mother. She is a wedding planner and bridal consultant. Danielle and her husband David went through difficult times after their daughter Angela’s death, but they are working through their grief together. The Templetons moved from their home, and Danielle displays only a few photos of Angela in their new home. It’s bittersweet for her that she gets to share in the joy of so many mothers and daughters, but she will never get to plan her daughter’s wedding. Danielle is elegant and sophisticated. She seems reserved, but is actually warm and gracious. She’s an example of not judging someone by their appearance.

Tracey Hodges is a minor character in the book, but she has a powerful back story. Tracey is originally from Haiti. She is a talented operatic singer who came to the United States to sing for the Pittsburgh Opera Company. She met a young attorney, fell in love, married, and started a family in addition to her demanding career. She shares with her son Steve the decisions she had to make after the unexpected end of her career and challenges him to find his second act. Tracey and Alan are happily married, and she is active in her community. She’s an example of a strong woman who accepts the challenges of life and turns setbacks into triumphs.

Marianne Hodges is Steve’s wife. They met in college, and he credits her with changing his life and helping him find his second act. Marianne is a working mom who loves her husband and isn’t threatened by his close friendship with Sabrina and her family. Marianne is a minor character, but her relationship to Sabrina is a wonderful example of women supporting other women.

Kathy Greyson is only a minor character, but she dominates every page she’s on. She is Sabrina and Clay’s legal representative from the Teacher’s Union. No spoilers here, but they need her when the school’s new superintendent goes rogue. She takes no guff and knows how to do her job.

Glenda is another minor character worth mentioning. She’s a grief counselor and the leader of the grief support group Clay initially forces Sabrina to attend with him. She’s caring, compassionate, and persistent. She helps break through Sabrina’s defensive walls and gets her to open up about Adam’s death to the group. She is there for every member. Glenda has an interesting back story, but you’ll have to read the book to learn more.

Desiree Fleming is one of Sabrina’s former students. Sabrina helped Desiree become more confident and self-assertive. Desiree comes to Sabrina to warn her about something she overhears her mother say about replacing Sabrina at the high school. Though her part in the book is small, Desiree’s actions help save Sabrina’s career and expose the superintendent’s corrupt plot.

Gilda Carlisle – Gilda is Desiree’s mother. She took back her maiden name after divorcing Desiree’s father. Gilda is a middle school English teacher who wants to teach high school English. I’ve saved Gilda for last because she is one of the main villains in the story. As we learn more about Gilda’s past, we begin to understand why she behaves in self-serving ways. Not every woman is noble and kind. Gilda draws strength from diminishing others. She feeds on misfortune and turns it to her advantage. She will lie, manipulate, and threaten people to get what she wants. We’ve all known a Gilda, and just when we think she can’t get any worse, she proves us wrong.

I purposely left Talia Sloane, Sabrina’s rival for Clay’s affections, off the list. Is Talia a femme fatale? I hope this makes you curious enough to read the book.