Secondary characters in a novel

As a romance writer, I enjoy creating secondary characters just as much as crafting the protagonists. In my debut novel, Misty Dreams, there are several secondary characters who play both major and minor roles. I loved giving each of them distinct personalities with unique traits and mannerisms, even the less prominent ones. Developing strong, well-rounded supporting characters is crucial for adding depth and richness to a novel. These characters are essential for world-building, giving authors the opportunity to flesh out the fictional world and make it feel authentic. Whether they’re friends, mentors, allies, or adversaries, secondary characters create emotional impact and help readers form a stronger connection to the story. They often add a touch of humor, breaking tension in a dark or intense plot and making the story more enjoyable.

 Secondary characters can be ‘round,’ meaning they are well-developed and play an important role in the plot, or ‘flat,’ meaning they are less detailed and often serve as archetypes to advance the story. While they may not always take center stage, their presence enriches the narrative and adds dimension to the protagonist’s journey.

One of my favorite secondary characters in Misty Dreams is Tommaso, St. Isabel Island’s ebullient chef and owner of the restaurant Canzone del Mare. His prominent physique and jovial nature more than compensate for the ‘flatness’ of his character, making him memorable. Despite appearing only once in the book and having perhaps the smallest role in the story, he leaves a lasting impression. His deep-rooted affection for the female protagonist, Clare, adds warmth to the narrative.

If you’ve read the novel, you’ve likely made Tommaso’s acquaintance and discovered his world-renowned clam linguine. As the main character, Richard, proclaims in the book, “…the best linguini this side of the Pond…” (Notice how Richard mistakenly pronounces it linguini with an ‘i’—a common error for those unfamiliar with the gender rules of Italian nouns. But I digress.)

As readers soon learn, however, it’s not linguine that Richard and Clare order during their dinner date. Instead, they opt for Tommaso’s Marinated Grilled Swordfish, which he recommends with absolute confidence, declaring it to be “simply irresistible!”
This brings me to the main purpose of this post: to share one of Tommaso’s recipes with you. Why not put him to the test by trying his recipe for grilled swordfish and judging for yourself? Can you guess the secret ingredient that makes Tommaso’s version of the dish so special? Drop me a comment if you think you know. 😉 (Hint: it’s not the lemon! 😊)

(As per Tommaso’s note at the bottom of the recipe, you can try it with other types of fish if you can’t get your hands on some fresh swordfish.)