We all know the stereotypical SFC, right? Katniss, from The Hunger Games - I’m sure she’s on all the lists for her archery skill and perseverance. Wonder Woman, she’s got that invisible jet and those awesome ricochet bracelets. And Lisbeth Salander from the Dragon tattoo series, since she’s about as tenacious and creative as they come, especially in her revenge schemes.
But strong characters should be about more than violence and ass-kicking. And strong female characters really need to round out their resume to make it on my list. So may I present J. A. Huss’ Top Ten Attributes of Strong Female Characters:
10. Listening Skills – Men, especially military men like those Junco associates with, can be severely lacking in this area, but strong listening skills are a hallmark of a SFC.
9. Cooking skills – I know, not very PC, is it? But think about it – everyone has to eat, right? So why not be good at serving up one of life’s most pleasurable requirements? Luckily, Junco knows how to fish and hunt, so she can whip up a dinner on the fly no problem.
8. Knife throwing (or rock throwing in a pinch) – If you have no rifle, shotgun, or other projectile weapon, throwing things is your next best bet. It pretty much ensures you won’t have to resort to hand-to-hand combat and that’s always a good thing. Junco can stick a wild animal in the eye running full steam, it comes in handy, I swear.
7. Long nails – Let’s face it, in the absence of a knife, rock, or projectile weapon, your fingernails can really come in handy. The longer they are, the more potential for eye-poking. Junco could care less about fingernails, but in Fledge, the second book in the series, she does grow some pretty cool claws.
6. Colorful language – It doesn’t necessarily have to be foul or dirty, but colorful? Yes, that is required. I like a SFC who can express herself like a soldier. Or porn star. Junco’s nasty language is a point of contention both in and out of the books…but it’s a minor character flaw as far as she’s concerned.
5. A cool outfit – Ditto for PC stuff, right? I mean, we say we want our SFC to be judged on her skills and not her looks, but let’s face it – fashion is important to most women. A SFC doesn’t need to go overboard; it can be as simple as Wonder Woman’s bracelets and belt or Lisbeth’s leather jacket. But both ladies have something in common – they know how to accessorize. Junco prefers uniforms, but camo gear works well for her too.
4. A gentle side – Preferably when the hot guy steps into the scene. We like a foul mouth when she’s fighting, but there’s a time and a place, am I right? Junco’s only wish as a child was to grow up to be a housewife and mother…she never got her wish, but she still hopes for it.
3. Good manners – Yes, this is a must. A strong female character should absolutely thank her fellow ass-kicking soldier when he holds open the airlock for her. And if her favorite partner wants to step in and save her ass once in a while, tirades about how she could’ve done it herself are not necessary. Junco welcomes anyone who will put their ass on the line for her.
2. Brains – Not the kind that zombies crave, I’m talking street-smarts here. A strong female character should be able to change directions mid-scheme and not miss a beat. Dumb girls are not cool – even if they have a cool outfit that’s properly accessorized and they kick ass. Studying is something Junco always loved to do, right after weapons training.
1. Loyalty – this one little trait trumps all the others, so if our favorite SFC has this and nothing else, chances are we’ll still respect her. Loyalty drives the men nuts, too. And really, isn’t that why we all want to read about SFC in the first place? (I kid, I kid) Junco reserves total loyalty to just one person, but you’ll have to read the books to find out which character that is. ;)
If you’re looking for an exciting plot filled with a brand new strong female character, then give the I Am Just Junco series a try. Start your journey into Junco’s world today by purchasing the first book in the series called Clutch. It’s at Amazon for only 99 cents.
When you’re done, please leave a review at Amazon and/or Goodreads and tell me if you think I hit the mark when I created the Junco. (But no spoilers, please!)
Thanks!
J. A. Huss
And let's not forget the other amazing traits us strong women should have ;) Thank you so much for stopping by Darkest Addictions Book Reviews!
J. A. Huss never took a creative writing class in her life. Some would say it shows. Others might cut her some slack. She did however, get educated and graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Equine Science. She had grand dreams of getting a Ph.D. but while she loves science, she hated academia and settled for a M.S. in Forensic Toxicology from the University of Florida.
She went on to write science curriculum for homeschoolers and now runs a successful home business that creates and offers online science unit studies. When she’s not writing science curriculum or fiction, she works as a farm inspector, traveling the Eastern Plains of Colorado in variety of environmentally friendly vehicles that never have four-wheel drive, so when she gets stuck in the mud in said vehicles, she has to beg for assistance from anyone who will help her. She is not bitter about that at all.
She’s always packing heat and she is owned by two donkeys, five dogs, more chickens and ducks than she can count, and of course, the real filthy animals, her kids. The I Am Just Junco series was born after falling in love with the ugliest part of Colorado and the Rural Republic is based on the area of the state she currently resides in, minus the mutants, of course.
For more about J.A. Huss & the world of Junco, visit her:
Website || Blog
You can also find her on
Facebook & Goodreads
She went on to write science curriculum for homeschoolers and now runs a successful home business that creates and offers online science unit studies. When she’s not writing science curriculum or fiction, she works as a farm inspector, traveling the Eastern Plains of Colorado in variety of environmentally friendly vehicles that never have four-wheel drive, so when she gets stuck in the mud in said vehicles, she has to beg for assistance from anyone who will help her. She is not bitter about that at all.
She’s always packing heat and she is owned by two donkeys, five dogs, more chickens and ducks than she can count, and of course, the real filthy animals, her kids. The I Am Just Junco series was born after falling in love with the ugliest part of Colorado and the Rural Republic is based on the area of the state she currently resides in, minus the mutants, of course.
Website || Blog
You can also find her on
Facebook & Goodreads
(Click the Covers for Goodreads synopsis)
Thanks for hosting me Neyra! Great blog! I love it! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Julie! You're welcome, and thank you for the tour ^_^ & thanks, glad you love my blog ^-^
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