Anti-Heros and The Mistaken - Guest Post by Nancy S. Thompson

Nancy S. Thompson is a fellow mom, blogger and writer. She's stopping by on her The Mistaken Blog Tour to get the word out about her newly released novel, The Mistaken. Today she discusses when the hero doesn't always act like a hero. Let's face it, the best kind of hero is one with flaws, something we can identify with. That's why anti-heros are so popular. Take it away, Nancy!

Most readers want a clearly identifiable hero in their fiction.  While they don’t necessarily require perfect shades of black and white, the varying hues of gray often need to be discernibly defined.  As a writer, I understand this concept, but I also tend to lean more toward troubled heroes with tangible human frailties, whose mistakes affect and disrupt the world around them. 

The whole idea behind my debut novel, The Mistaken, is founded on human flaw and weakness.  I wondered what could make a truly good, law-abiding man commit a violent crime, and, afterwards, if he could ever return to the man he used to be. 

We all experience loss and tragedy, but what if a man’s misfortune were caused by the deceit, greed, and malice of another?  What if those entrusted with the power to enforce the law and bring his tormentor to justice prove impotent?  How would he feel if the offender were allowed to run free while his pregnant wife lay cold and stiff six feet beneath the heavy earth, his unborn child a tiny speck of immeasurable possibility heartlessly quashed into nothingness? 

Guilt, rage, and bitterness simmer alongside self-hatred and loathing.  All those years of staying within the boundary of the law ring hollow as the memory and potential of his beloved cry out for justice—for revenge.  And if the means of that vengeance guarantees the life and freedom of the only kin he has left—his brother—why would he not pursue personal justice?  What would he have left to lose? 

In The Mistaken, it’s not just the hero’s identity at risk.  It’s his very humanity, because in his quest for vengeance, he betrays the very core of who he is, of what his wife loved most about him.  After committing an egregious act in the name of revenge, his eyes are made clear by the stark reality of his mistake, and while he yearns for redemption and the opportunity to make amends, his life and that of his brother depend on him following through with his ill-conceived plan.  Can he defend the woman he has wronged yet still secure his brother’s freedom?

The character you come to love, whose downward spiral you somehow understand, even as you abhor his choices, desperately tries to do what’s right.  But is it too late? 

The Mistaken ponders the idea of the anti-hero and his redemption after touching the fiery face of hell.  I invite readers to go along on his journey.  Then afterwards, ask how well you really know yourself, how far would you go in the name of love and vengeance? 

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Visit Nancy’s blog, follow, and leave a comment during her book tour for a chance to win an ARC of The Mistaken.  Plus, 5 runner-up winners will each receive an ebook. 

You can also find her on her publisher’s website, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook. 

The Mistaken is available at Amazon. Books,  AmazonKindle, and Barnes & Noble beginning October 18, 2012.  It will also be available at Sony, Kobo, iBooks, Diesel Bookstore, and Baker & Taylor in November.

Early praise for The Mistaken:

“A deliciously slow burn that builds to a ferocious crescendo, Nancy S. Thompson's THE MISTAKEN kept me riveted until the very last page. Tyler Karras is a complex and flawed protagonist, and his redemptive journey makes him the perfect anti-hero. This psychological suspense is a standout, and I can't wait for Thompson's next book.”

~ Jennifer Hillier, author of CREEP and FREAK

“Nancy S. Thompson's debut novel, The Mistaken, is a first-rate thriller full of hair-raising twists and turns.  Pursued by the police and the Russian mafia in San Francisco, brothers Tyler and Nick Karras are fascinating, fully-drawn, desperate characters.  The action is non-stop.  Thompson's taut, intriguing tale of revenge, mistaken identity, kidnapping and murder will keep you enthralled and entertained.” 

~Kevin O’Brien, New York Times Bestselling Author of DISTURBED and TERRIFIED

“Fast-paced and emotionally gripping - once the ride begins, you won't stop reading until it ends."  ~Alex J. Cavanaugh, author of CASSAFIRE and CASSASTAR


Thanks so much for visiting, Nancy, and good luck with your blog tour!

Do you enjoy a flawed hero?  Have you picked up your copy of The Mistaken?  You can use the links above to purchase the Kindle version and the Barnes & Noble copy.

May you find your Muse.