Queen of Hearts and Wendy Darling author Colleen Oakes likes writing about characters who don’t always get the limelight. Here are five prime examples.

About ‘Wendy Darling Vol. 2: Seas’

Wendy and Michael are in the middle of the Neverland Seas aboard the dreaded Sudden Night, sailed by the infamous Captain Hook and his blood-thirsty crew. In this exotic world full of mermaids, spies and pirate-feuds, the Darlings could not be further from their London home. Hunted by the twisted boy who once stole her heart, Wendy finds herself struggling to evade his search and keep her family alive. Returning home to London now seems like an impossibility — and the betrayals have just begun.

5 fictional women who deserve to have their stories told — by Colleen Oakes

I like side characters. My two YA fantasy retelling series are both about side characters: The Queen of Hearts and Wendy Darling. The main character in each of their stories have had tales told about them for ages, but I wanted to create something else — a world where these secondary characters were the center of their own action, the protagonists of their own story.

That was the foundation I laid for these novels, where side characters are the star and the main characters are a puzzle piece yet to be discovered. Whether it’s the Queen of Hearts in all her rageful glory screaming, “Off with their head!” or sweet and naïve Wendy Darling getting her first “kiss” from Peter Pan, these are characters to fall in love with too. They are every bit as deserving of their own story in their fantastical world.

And Wendy Darling and the Queen of Hearts aren’t the only ones! Here are some other fictional women — side characters — who deserve their own story:

Lady Macbeth

The wife of Macbeth is one of the strongest — and meanest — female characters in all of literature. She lacks humanity and cares very little for the plight of others — her main ambition is a crown upon her head and damned be those who get in her way. She taunts her husband for his lack of courage and leadership; then she is complicit in his murder until she goes mad. All mad queens can trace their roots back to Shakespeare’s original creation. We bow at your feet, my Lady.

Luna Lovegood

She’s smart. She’s funny. And yet no one listens to her ever, despite the fact that if she teamed up with Hermione Granger they could take over the world. Luna Lovegood (the girl who Harry should have ended up with, cough cough…) is quirky, strong and steadfast in character, even if she is a bit looney. I would love to read some standalone Luna Lovegood novels, where she travels the world, writing for the Quibbler and wandering amongst the flowers.

Edna Mode

As the hilarious costume designer in the movie The Incredibles, Edna Mode is more deserving of her own Pixar movie that anyone in history. Where did she come from? What is her insane accent? As a woman who knows a good look, darling, and possesses a pure artistic sensibility when it comes to dressing — and protecting superheroes (“No capes!”), I would buy tickets to this movie any day of the week. #Ednaforever

Lucy Pevensie

She may the youngest of the Pevensie children, but she is by far the most important. The truthful little girl who found the wardrobe in the first place, the brave Londoner who became fast friends with Mr. Tumnus and the devoted girl who stayed with Aslan until the very end deserves her own story. Peter who?

Catelyn Tully (Stark)

I want to see a Game of Thrones prequel where we get to see all our favorite older characters from the show when they were young: Catelyn, Rheagar, Lyanna. But I think Mama Stark, so fierce from the very beginning, deserves her own story, one that looks at her heart — a protective heart that helped cause a cycle of tragic events which would end up killing two of her children (so far).

About the author

Colleen Oakes is the author of women’s fiction and young adult fantasy. Her work includes the Elly in Bloom series (SparkPress), the Wendy Darling trilogy (SparkPress) and the Queen of Hearts saga (HarperTeen). She lives in North Denver with her husband and son. When she’s not writing, Colleen enjoys swimming, traveling and immersing herself in nerdy pop culture. Colleen is currently working on another fantasy series, as well as a YA stand-alone.