Let's Talk Redheads

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

When I think of St. Patrick's or Ireland, I immediately think of redheads with freckles.

Redheads are synonymous with Ireland for some people, and with good reason. Did you know between 10-30% of the Irish population has red hair, compared with 2% of the global population?

And freckles, of course, go along with red hair. Some say redheads "wear a map of Ireland on their faces."

So I've been thinking a lot about redheads because Grace O'Leary, the Irish-American heroine in Make Me Whole (Mended Hearts #2, coming soon) has fiery red hair and freckles.

Did you know redheads are more sensitive to cold? I just finished writing a scene where Grace is outside in winter and is cold, and Joe remarks on this fact. Redheads can also be more sensitive to pain and require more anesthesia to be sedated.

Redheads are also known for their short tempers. I don't like to think of Grace as a hothead, but she certainly does not take any crap from anyone. She will tell you straight up what she's thinking, and gets frustrated by deception and lies. Oh, and poor guys hitting on her in the first class lounge. :)

I'll leave you with the first paragraph of Make Me Whole (coming this spring). Erin go Bragh!

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Grace O’Leary was five-foot-seven inches of red hair and attitude. So when the creep in the first class lounge started hitting on her, it was amazing and impressive, though not at all surprising that he found himself shot down, dressed down, and turned away within a couple of short minutes. Grace did not suffer fools. And she didn’t pay extra for a first class seat only to be harassed by some scumbag who thought just because she was pretty and alone, she was fair game.