I was having lunch with my editor a few months ago when she startled me with a comment about my heroine’s boyfriend, Alec: “You have to do something about your hero. He’s too much like a real guy.” My god, was she right? Okay, so maybe Alec was kind of a jerk (but a very hot and passionate jerk)…just like a real guy: He looks at other women (in fact, takes his girlfriend, Mallory to a burlesque show – on her birthday!). He wants threesomes (and isn’t shy about asking for it). And then when Mallory dishes it out, he can’t take it. Sound the alarm bells. But wait: my “real” guy served an important purpose. In Blue Angel, I want to explore what happens when a woman is able to turn the tables on a flawed hero (and aren’t all men flawed?). It’s the norm in our culture for men to be the ones who have to be reigned in, to be tamed, to “settle down.” I’m watching re-runs of Sex and the City on E!, and frankly, I’m cringing a little. Carrie seems so needy – no wonder Mr. Big runs off to Paris and hooks up with Bridget Moynihan (who in real life gets left, pregnant, by Tom Brady who runs off with Giselle Bunchen, but that’s another story…) I wanted to create a romance in which the woman responds to the slippery hero not by holding on tighter, but by going off in a wondrous and slightly threatening direction of her own. I realize that my inspiration in writing Blue Angel was not to give my readers an ideal man, but to show them an ideal woman. I think we should all go for it, ladies. Maybe we won’t all get up on stage and take off our clothes (I admit, I’m still working up the nerve), but we all have that daring alter-ego just waiting to come out. And who wouldn’t fall in love with that?
10 comments:
Boy are you ever in the right place! LOL, I've caught so much slack because I have a habit of writing, the "anti hero." Gruff, moody, hot as all get-out but still something of a gloriously manipulative bastard.
In erotica especially, it's all about the heroine's journey. Since I read BLUE ANGEL this weekend I think you did a beautiful job creating a heroine women can relate to. It may not be heavy on traditional romance but your book is definitely a feel good one!
Let's hear it for the girls! I tend to prefer flawed heoes who are redeemed by the women who (sometimes grudgingly!) love them. I like my heroes outwardly alpha, brought in touch with their inner nice guys only when matched with the right woman. Now...off to purchase Blue Angel. I'm such a dance nerd! :) Can't wait to read this one!!!
It sounds like your hero needed to be a bit of a jerk so the heroine wouldn't look like a skeeze when she explored her own potential. I'm looking forward to reading this book.
Ha! Gail, I think you just nailed it. I'm really thinking a lot about heroes. Can you guys recommend any novels in which you just fell in love with the hero?
Jenna, I had successful, published romance novelist read Blue Angel for a potential blurb and she said she literally just couldn't deal with my hero -- like, HATED him.
You mean other than ours? ;-) Dare you to try one of my Laundry Hag books and NOT love Neil. Haven't found a woman worth her estrogen yet that hasn't hot-flashed over that guy.
Kay, shameless self promotion over.
One of my all time faves is Kresley Cole's Immortal's after dark series. Start with A HUNGER LIKE NO OTHER, NO REST FOR THE WICKED and WICKED DEEDS ON A WINTER'S NIGHT. JR WARD Black Dagger Brotherhood.
For Non-paranormal more action based romance, Suzanne Brockmann's OVER THE EDGE and OUT OF CONTROL. Shannon MacKenna's McLeod brothers series. My personal favorites are EDGE OF MIDNIGHT and FADE TO MIDNIGHT.
Our own Kaylea Cross's League Series, (ABSOLUTION is next on my TBR pile ;-)
If it's possible, I'm even more excited for your book now.
I am sick to death of the double standard applied to women even sometimes in romance and erotica. Why do we label women who are comfortable in exploring themselves and the world around them? We shouldn't.
Behavior that's traditionally been acceptable in men is considered some sort of apocalypse of societal values in women. We're all raging Whores of Babylon if we're content to say don't let the door hit you, or don't call me, I'll call you and by the way, make me a sandwich on your way out. (Yeah, don't forget the cold beer. I'm thirsty.)
I love the idea that women should take pleasure in their own bodies, their beauty and ultimately in the way they live their lives.
Apart from all of the other trappings, a heroine who finds herself comfortable and happy in her own skin is the key. It sounds like that's what you've done with this book is to take us on the journey with her to that place.
Hi, Logan! *waves* Glad to meet you finally :)
I love the premise of your book. You have to admire a woman that isn't afraid to go after what she wants, because I think most women have some sort of insecurity that holds them back a lot of the time.
I've had body image issues my whole life, but I've come a long way from where I was as a painfully self-conscious teenager. The closest I've ever come to being in a Burlesque show was shaking my booty at a couple belly dance shows, fully decked out in a sequined cabaret costumes. Basically, a sparkly bikini top and a low slung skirt with a slid up the sides. Now that's a change for me! Hubby thought it was the most awesome thing ever. Like, EVER. o_O
As far as heroes go, Jenna already mentioned Luke, and yep, he's my absolute favorite. But I loved Rhage in JR Ward's BDB series, and I loved John Medina from Linda Howard's All the Queen's Men. The title has nothing to do with the book, but I'm telling you it's one awesome read.
I'm looking forward to reading your book! Keep those stories coming, lady.
Thanks so much you guys. I've got some reading to do! :)
Kaylea, as far as body image goes, that's part of the reason why I fell in love with burlesque. I've never been to a show in NYC where I didn't believe any woman could leave that night feeling better about her body than when she walked in.
I love the idea of a woman striking out on her own because the guy she likes is a poop face. I would read that book in a second!
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