To close out Women's History Month, I've rounded up 5 special women in books that have left a lasting impression on readers. There are a lot of great female characters to choose from which made it difficult to narrow down. But these 5 resonate with me and many other fans out there. Starting with number one....

1. Chyna Shephard - Intensity, Dean Koontz

First of all, Intensity is the reason I wanted to become an author. The entire story is a rollercoaster ride of emotion. A great deal of that is because of the lead character, Chyna. Right off the bat she is faced with a heavy decision that propels the story forward as we follow Chyna's journey in the back of a mad man's van. Her troubled past lends itself well to the choices she is forced to make throughout and it gives her a strength that I love to see in my heroines. Plus, bonus points for the cool name choice. Sadly, the version of Intensity that made it into a TV movie lacked all the spark in the book. Fingers crossed that somehow it gets a reboot!

2. Katniss Everdeen - The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

I don't often envy another writer's work but of all the majorly successful novels out there, I wish I would've wrote The Hunger Games. It's one of those stories that has a really smart plot and the execution of it doesn't go off the rails like other dystopian novels. Katniss is another character who makes a split second decision which changes her entire life. The difference here is, she's just a kid. But, she also has some slick skills with a bow and she doesn't really take shit from anyone. Those attributes alone are enough to make her endearing but once Jennifer Lawrence got cast in the film version of the trilogies that brought even more layers to the character. Lawrence added heart and moxy which made Katniss even more beloved.

3. Hermione Grainger - Harry Potter Series, JK Rowling

You can't have any type of book list and leave out Harry Potter. Only this time we're talking about his studious friend Hermione Grainger. Hermione practically elbow her way into Harry's life and the death defying missions he goes on. What's great about Hermione is that despite being the smartest young wizard at school, she still feels awkward in her own skin. That's part of growing up right? And when Harry Potter burst onto the big screen we see Hermione go from a scruffy-looking little girl to a beautiful and capable young lady. The casting of Emma Watson lent itself well to Hermione's portrayal but JK Rowling added the meat to the bones to begin with.

4. Daenerys Targaryen - A Song of Ice and Fire, George RR Martin

Speaking of sweeping, epic novels one can't forget Game of Thrones. While the Song of Ice and Fire series has many great female characters the one that stands out the most is Daenerys Targaryen who also goes by Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, Rightful Heir to the Iron Throne, Rightful Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, The Mother of Dragons, The Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, The Unburnt, The Breaker of Chains. Or Dany for short! Her journey in the books by George Martin show a very young girl who is unsure of her place in the world rise to power. Oh, and she has dragons so that alone edges her over the other characters! on the HBO series Emilia Clarke brought that same fire (pun intended) to the character which brought millions of viewers to their TV screens to watch what Dany and her dragons would do next. Ending aside, the character had some badass moments that really can't be duplicated or forgotten. Dracarys!

5. Silke Butters, aka Karma - Silke's Strike Force, Cynthia Vespia

Wow, I must be really conceited putting my own character on the list, right? That's not why I'm doing it. I chose to mention my character Silke based on reader feedback. When I started writing the series, I knew I wanted to do something different in the realm of superheroes. After seeing actress Priyanka Chopra on a series called Quantico, I knew I wanted my hero to be Indian-American. After getting some good advice from fellow author Roshani Chokshi, I went ahead with my idea while staying true to the character. It's all about Silke's journey coming into sudden superpowers and trying to navigate through this new world. She's painted like a real person, naive at first but growing into a leadership role, and readers have resonated with that and they've applauded the choice in diversity.

So there you have it! 5 fantastic female characters to inspire readers. Who would you have chosen? Leave a comment and let me know!