Most novels begin right in the middle of some kind of action. The characters are often confronted with a new situation in their lives, or the reader might catch a glimpse of the everyday life of a character. The reader learns something about the characters, but you don't know what has brought them to this place or this situation. That's where backstory comes in.
When I first starting writing, I was told it is a no-no to have what is called an info dump about the character's backstory. This is so true. The backstory needs to be woven throughout the book. This way a reader will learn about the character's past a little at a time. Below is an excerpt from Annie's Hope, the first book in The Village of Hope series. In this excerpt, there is information about the hero and heroine's past, but the reader doesn't learn it all.
***
Doubts
crowded Annie Payton’s mind as she paced in front of the windows looking out on
The Village of Hope’s campus. Redbrick buildings with white Georgian columns
formed a quadrangle around an expansive lawn. Tall pines and majestic oaks
accented with maples and flowering dogwoods added to the beauty of the scenery.
She always loved early spring in Georgia, when the dogwoods
dressed the landscape in lace. The pleasant warmth of a late March afternoon
helped to take away some of her anxiety as she waited to meet with the lawyer
who hopefully could help her get her kids back. Could this place really return
hope to her life?
The scent of newly mowed grass wafted through the open
window. Closing her eyes, she breathed deeply and wished she could mow down all
the bad things in her life and make it fresh and new. But isn’t that what God
had done when He’d covered her sins with His grace? Why did she doubt that God
had forgiven her?
The click of the door on the far side of the room made Annie
turn and look. A man, with his back to her, talked with someone in the hallway.
Annie braced herself for this meeting and prayed that the decision to come here
was a wise one.
When the man faced her, Annie gasped. What was Ian Montgomery
doing here?
“Hello, Annie.” He looked as handsome as ever with his tobacco-brown
hair and gray eyes that reminded her of a stormy sky. Those eyes held no
welcome.
Her pulse thundered all over her body. She swallowed hard.
“You’re the lawyer?”
“The one and only.” He motioned toward the chair in front of
his desk. “Have a seat.”
Like an automaton, Annie sat on the black leather chair. Why
did Ian have to be the one person who could help her get what she wanted most
in life? Pastor John from the rehab facility often told her things happened for
a reason. Could God use this meeting with Ian for good, too?
Annie sat there, not knowing what to say.
Ian broke the silence. “You’re looking good.”
Annie wanted to tell him he looked great in his dark
pin-striped suit, but she thought better of it. “Thanks. I’m feeling good, too.
I’ve been clean and sober for a year and twenty days. I intend to stay that
way.”
“I’m glad for your sobriety, but I have to be honest, Annie.
You told me that several times before, and you didn’t follow through.”
“I know.” Annie smiled halfheartedly. Everything he said was
true, and he had the right to doubt her statement. She would show him that his
doubts were unfounded this time.
Ian gave her a look that told her she would have to work hard
to prove she had changed. “I understand Melody Hammond, our women’s ministry
director, has explained our program and gotten you settled in an apartment.”
“She has. She said I have more paperwork to fill out.”
His gray eyes narrowed. “I hope Melody also told you I only
have a few minutes with you today.”
“She did. She said you have an important meeting to attend.”
Nodding, Ian grimaced. “The quarterly board meeting.”
“You don’t look too excited.”
“Let’s just say it’s not one of my favorite things.” Ian
tapped the file on his desk. “You want your kids back. That’s what we need to
discuss.”
Annie nodded, a lump forming in her throat at the thought of
Kara and Spencer. Her babies were nearly four and three—babies no longer, but
she’d missed a whole year of their lives. She longed to hold them in her arms,
kiss them, and tuck them into bed at night. Could she ever make it up to them?
She promised herself she would get her kids back. She would.
“How long have Kara and Spencer been in foster care?”
“Over a year. DFCS took them away….” Annie stopped as her voice
cracked. She pressed her lips together as she tried to regain her composure.
She wouldn’t cry in front of Ian. “I was more messed up than ever, but losing
the kids made me realize I had to get help and get it right this time. I want
to reunite my family.”
“Annie, I don’t know whether I can help you. I have to be
sure you’re going to stay sober before I can. Besides, I don’t feel comfortable
being your attorney considering our past relationship.”
“But Melody said the lawyer here would help me. Since you’re
the only one, doesn’t that mean you have to represent me?”
“Not necessarily. I have a friend who can probably take your
case.”
“I can’t afford to pay someone.”
“He volunteers his services here from time to time.”
Annie breathed a sigh of relief, but her heart ached because
Ian didn’t believe she could stay clean. Could she blame him? He’d seen her
relapse too many times, but this time was different. “When will I get to talk
with him?”
“I’ll arrange a meeting as soon as I can.” Ian stood as he
picked up the file folder and headed for the door. “I’m sorry I have to go. We
can talk again later after I contact Scott Bartlett, the other attorney. I’ll
set up a time for the three of us to meet.”
“So this is it? Hi and goodbye?” Annie followed Ian to the
door. He had a meeting, but his eagerness to be rid of her punched a hole in
her heart.
“That’s the way it has to be today. Melody wanted me to talk
to you, so I agreed.” He put his hand on the doorknob.
“She doesn’t know about us, does she? Does anyone here know?”
Annie couldn’t believe she was confronting Ian this way. Was she trying to
alienate him?
Staring at her, Ian took his hand from the doorknob. “That’s
a fair question. Adam Bailey, the administrator here, knows everything, but no
one else. I’m not going out of my way to talk about my former wild life.”
“Guess my presence is going to open up your past whether you
like it or not.” Annie wondered why she continued to needle him. Maybe it was a
defensive mechanism. She needed to keep him at an emotional distance because
his presence aroused old feelings that were better buried and forgotten.
“You’re probably right, but I’ll deal with it in my own way.
You don’t have to worry about it.” Ian opened the door and held out a hand.
“After you.”
“Thanks.” Annie stepped into the hallway.
Ian closed the door behind him. “I’ll be in contact.”
“Okay.” Annie stood there, not knowing what to do now.
Ian looked as if he was going to dismiss her as he walked
into the hallway, but then he turned back. “Walk with me.”
His request caught her off guard, but she was grateful he
didn’t dismiss her as they headed toward the reception area. “Sure.”
“Do your parents know you’re out of rehab?”
So that’s what he wanted. More information. He didn’t really
want to walk with her. “No. My parents haven’t spoken to me in over three
years. For all they know I could be dead.”
“Are you sure about that?”
She nodded, not wanting to think about the parents who had
abandoned her. They’d called it tough love, but Annie called it no love. Could
she ever prove to them that she had changed? She had to show them all that she
had. Ian. Her parents. The court.
“Annie, if you need help, talk to Melody. As the director of
the women’s ministry, she’s here to give you advice while you settle in. This
is a good place for you to find your way again.”
Annie forced a smile. “Thanks. I guess I’ll see you later.
Hope your meeting goes well.”
“Thanks. Me, too.” He smiled in return.
Annie nodded and hurried away with the image of Ian’s smile
filling her thoughts. She didn’t want that smile to make her think he might
care about her on a personal level. That kind of thinking could only lead her
to more heartache. She’d had more than her share, and she had no one to blame
but herself.
Annie forced herself not to run or to look back at Ian. The
whole meeting with him had been surreal. He’d been so matter-of-fact. He
obviously didn’t have any remnants of those long-ago feelings they’d shared. To
a casual observer, his demeanor would have given no hint that he’d been talking
to his ex-wife.
***
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Amazon:
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Apple: http://bit.ly/3FTPYeq
B&N:
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Google
Play: https://bit.ly/3nmxXzf
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3FT26wk
What do you most like to learn about a character's past?
Merrillee
Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance
Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her
husband of forty-plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with
her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.
Mother's Day is right around the corner, and that holiday always makes me think of family. I know, it's a little strange, because I don't get that same feeling from Father's Day. (Then again, I'm not a dad, ha!) Family is very important to me, and I'm sure to many of you as well. 
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