Fictional Characters in Panto: The Wedding Proposal in Anti-Panto

Something a little different for you today from Sue Moorcroft for the festive Fictional Characters in Panto feature.

Pantomimes don’t lend themselves to my books. Panto heroines are too wishy-washy, hanging around and waiting to be rescued, and my heroes tend to be a bit too attitude-laden to fulfil the role of Prince Charming.

So here’s my anti-Panto: Elle, wishes for a new life on a boat in a marina in Malta, leaving behind her old self in Corporateland and volunteering at a drop-in centre. As she doesn’t have a fairy godmother, she makes this happen herself. Or maybe Simon, who lends her the boat, is her fairy godfather? I can’t see him in a tutu and wand. And he could equally be cast as a mischievous elf because he has also lent the boat to …

… Brooding Prince Lucas. Lucas is the good guy, he really is. Truth and honesty are his constant companions and right is always on his side. Unfortunately, he has been blinded to any form of the truth that’s not black or white, making him a teeny weeny bit judgemental, especially where Elle’s concerned. Beautiful Elle is hiding a boatload of secrets. And Lucas doesn’t like them. He does not need her turning up just when he’s reinvented himself as a divemaster in a magical land of sun and fun. 

I do have a cast of villains. Ricky, Elle’s ex-husband, is one of the reasons she’s secretive; Fiona, Lucas’s mum, has already tried to cast Elle out of kingdom (should that be queendom?); Oscar, one of Elle’s co-volunteers, has got some nasty habits and has wicked designs on Elle’s comely body.

I also have a clown, Charlie, Lucas’s brother, much beloved by everyone, who clowns his way right into hospital.

To win out in this anti-Panto Elle must banish her shady past, best the villains and show Lucas that right’s not always as right as you think it is and it’s sometimes OK to be wrong. (Oh no it’s not! Oh yes it is!)

Then they can live happily ever after.

About Sue

Sue Moorcroft writes romantic novels of dauntless heroines and irresistible heroes. Is this Love? was nominated for the Readers’ Best Romantic Read Award. Love & Freedom won the Best Romantic Read Award 2011 and Dream a Little Dream was nominated for a RoNA in 2013. Sue received three nominations at the Festival of Romance 2012, and is a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner. She’s a past vice chair of the RNA and editor of its two anthologies.

Sue also writes short stories, serials, articles, writing ‘how to’ and is a competition judge and creative writing tutor. 

Website www.suemoorcroft.com 
Blog http://suemoorcroft.wordpress.com 
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Twitter @suemoorcroft

Sue's latest book:

Can a runaway bride stop running?

Elle Jamieson is a private person, in relationships as well as at work - and for good reason. But then she's made redundant and with no ties to hold her, Elle heads off to sunny Malta. 

Lucas Rose hates secrets - he prides himself on his ability to lay his cards on the table and he expects nothing less in return. He's furious when his summer working as a divemaster is interrupted by the arrival of Elle, his ex, all thanks to his Uncle Simon's misguided attempts at matchmaking. 

Forced to live in close proximity, it's hard to ignore what they had shared before Lucas's wedding proposal scared Elle away. But then a phone call from England allows Lucas a rare glimpse of the true Elle. Can he deal with Elle's closely guarded past when it finally comes to light?