Sexy...Politicians Redux

In light of the recent VIE (Very Important Election), I’m re-posting part of a post I did about politicians being sexy. What do you think? Whether you voted for Romney or Obama, who do you think is sexier? Could either have been the hero of a romance? They each carried millions of votes, but could either carry a novel?

Here’s the post:

Yes, there's romance in politics, and I'm not referring to sex scandals. George and Laura Bush, Barack and Michelle Obama, Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, John and Abigail Adams, George and Martha Washington--all these couples have carried an aura of romance throughout their tenure as first couples.

However, we also have JFK and Jackie, Bill and Hillary, and other couples whose relationships have been tabloid fodder for years. Needless to say, having a relationship in politics looks anything but easy...or sexy. Throughout the ages, we've had politicians whom many considered attractive or blessed with sex appeal, including our last and current presidents, some governors, and even some senators. However, I think if we did a poll, most people would probably say they like to think of a politician, especially a president, as focused on leading the country and working for his/her constituents as opposed to being like the hero/heroine of a romance or erotic novel. Therein lies my problem.

As I bemoaned when I posted about the Super Bowl, there aren't too many heroes in romances who are athletes, and there are even fewer who are politicians, if any. Most of the time, politicians are the bad guys, or, even if they're the good guys, the hero is usually working to serve and protect the heroine (like a bodyguard or secret agent). While intellectual power is sexy and physical power is sexy, a man with both intellect and physical power is even sexier.

For some reason, romance and politics just don't mesh. That's not too say that politicians can't or don't have good marriages or love relationships; they just have realistic ones. Real relationships are tough gigs and take a lot of work, even when two people are desperately in love. While that can be subtext in a romance, I think many readers, like me, don't want it to be blatant.

As ever, writing this post got me to thinking. Besides politicians and athletes, who else should I probably not use as a hero in a novel?

1. Cannibals (whether fine and young or not)--Big no-no. While the potential for conflict here is exciting--should I propose or make her into a nice souffle?--I don't think this would be believable.
2. Zombies--While vampires sucking your blood during an encounter can be tre sexy, having a zombie chomping your fingertips off instead of kissing them would just kill the mood.
3. Writers--I just added this to see if anyone was reading, but now that I think about it...
4. Lemur shape-shifters--I do have a lemur shifter who appears in one book, which is about to be reprinted, but he's not the lead. The lead shifter was a tiger...grrrr!

So, a politician be a hero in a romance novel--have you seen it? Do you want to see it? I think there's a phrase, "Politics makes for strange bedfellows." Hmmmm...

I am Cameo Brown, and I approve of this blog post.

My Hero

Happy Memorial Day!

Holiday weekends are always busy for me. This one seemed even more so. My future daughter-in-law's birthday was this weekend, so we took her and the son out for dinner Friday night. Hubby and I went down to camp Saturday, finally getting a chance to spend the night there for the first time this season. Sunday was a BBQ with friends. Now it's Monday already. Memorial Day.

Hubby, as a member of our local volunteer fire department, will be participating in a Memorial Day parade, driving one of the units through the streets. Now I consider the members of our emergency services to be heroes. They respond any time of the day or night, sometimes just to aid an eldery person who's fallen or to clean up after an auto accident. More often they're called to respond in life and death situations and they don't hesitate to leave their meal on the table or crawl out of a warm bed to help the members of our community.

And as well as being a member of our local fire department, my husband a Vietnam veteran.

This is a picture of my hubby sitting on a pile of sandbags outside his barracks at Ton Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon in 1968. He served two tours of duty in Southeast Asia, one each in Vietnam and Korea. I wouldn't meet him for another 7 years.

He came home to a country who didn't support their veterans as we do now. He settled down, raised a family, worked two jobs when he needed to, and joined the local volunteer fire department. Forty years later, the children are grown and he's recently retired, but he still volunteers with the fire department.

In the picture above, he's 2nd to the right, in the lightest colored jacket, fighting a house fire that was right down the road from where we lived.

Although he likes to tell anyone who'll listen that he's the inspiration for all my romance heroes, I have to say that it's no joke. He is my hero.

Have a great week.

Natasha
Plaything - Available now
Silken Canvas - Coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com

What Does Your Hero Wear?

Yeah, I know your answer…“Nothing…if I’m lucky.” :) But what about what our heroes wear when they’re not in bed?

We love to read about those sexy hunks, the ones we want to fall in love with along with our heroines. The ones we want to have hot monkey sex with – at least vicariously. But your hunk and mine might not be the same.

A loop I was on once had a poll that asked: Do you want your hero in blue jeans or a three-piece suit?? Well, I answered immediately Blue Jeans! Duh! Then I was surprised to discover that my blue jean hunk was in the minority. And it made me think about my heroes. And the heroes of the stories I love to read.

Of course, we’re not talking only about clothing. What our heroes wear is simply one way to characterize them. When we meet a hero for the first time, what he’s wearing leads us to make certain assumptions about his character. Blue collar or white collar? Slave-to-fashion or don’t-give-a-damn? Certainly our rich hunk could don a pair of tight fitting jeans and our regular Joe can dress up in a suit and tie, but what he wears tells us a lot about him.

Of the four Paolo Playhouse stories coming out in the next year, my heroes are: a bartender/bar owner, a corporate executive, a landscaper and the owner of a fantasy sex club. One suit out of the four. Just so you know I'm not totally against the hottie in a suit and tie.

Now I write contemporary romance, but if you write/read paranormal romance, I guess the question comes would be…is your vampire a wealthy count or the owner of a tavern?
Is your werewolf blue collar or white when he isn’t wearing fur? Is your historical hero a highwayman or a pirate or a duke? And does he dress the part?

So…before he gets the heroine into bed…what does your hero wear?

Natasha
www.natashamore.com

My Favorite Hero

So, this week's topic is on our favorite heroes, hmm? Like Cameo, I'll focus on my heroes instead of those written by other authors. But instead of telling you about the heroes I've already written, I'll tell you about the heroes I'm currently working on. And yes, you read that right: heroes, as in plural. No, I'm not working on a menage (well, there is that one I started... hmm, I need to go back and work on that one, too), but rather two different heroes from two different stories. I flip back and forth, sometimes as much as a month in between, but these two men have me riveted.

In (tentatively titled) Burned and Broken, we have our hero Marcus Dade. Marcus is a firefighter who, as most alpha males are prone to do, has made his share of mistakes in the past. He left his small hometown five years ago, but he's back now for two reasons: to set his past right and to win the heart of the woman he never stopped loving. Of course, trouble dogs him every step of the way... Poor guy. :)

I think the reason I love Marcus so much is because he knows the majority of his problems are due to the bad choices he made in his past. To set his life right, to make up for the hurt he's caused, he has to own up to those choices. Owning who you are and what you do is something I believe very strongly in. Nobody is perfect, but it's how to take ownership for your mistakes that makes all the difference in the world.

~~~*~~~

In (also tentatively titled) All Tyed Up, I switch gears a little. Yes, Tye Carter works in the public eye as County Sheriff, much like Marcus, but it's not Tye's past that haunts him. It's the woman who needs him now that has him reeling. County Attorney Laine Morgan has been attacked, and it's up to Tye to find the man who did it. Along the way, he ends up taking her on a journey that neither of them expected. Of course, there's a little kink and bondage thrown in for good measure :). Tye's a bit of a cowboy, too, which adds a rough, alpha-ness to his persona. He's one of the good guys, and he'll do anything (and I do mean anything) to help the woman he loves.

I'm working diligently on these two books and loving every inch of these men along the way. I've always loved the strong, alpha male type, and these two fit that bill -- and then some!

Have a great weekend!

Kristin
www.kristindaniels.com
www.facebook.com/authorkristindaniels
http://twitter.com/Kristin_Daniels

Heroes -- Men We Love and Love Watching

Even before I started writing romance fiction, I embraced reading about and watching heroes in movie theaters and on television. Something about those men who remained determined and courageous when facing danger and doom. Men who gave their utmost to save their loved ones and humanity whenever the need arose. I always remained riveted by their bravery and cunning as they revealed the same.

Yesterday my significant other suggested a movie he was certain I’d enjoy. He couldn’t have chosen better. From beginning to end I embraced the plot and characterization in THE POSTMAN. Kevin Costner’s performance was powerful, and I admired the way this movie succeeded in appealing to a masculine and feminine audience. It’s not often when a guy and girl agree on a movie’s impact, but this flick delivered drama, action and romance in perfect measure in my opinion. Not pithy or boring at any point, and I’m one who’s a fairly harsh critic when it comes to the end worth of a movie ticket or time spent watching at home. I cheered, laughed, cried and warmed all over during various moments while this story unfolded.

Here’s a bit for your viewing pleasure –



Later in the evening, I pondered some of my other favorite movie heroes found clips to share with you.

My ultimate favorite movie hero embodied justice and radiated appeal, all without removing a bit of clothing or flexing his muscles. Although the movie in which Atticus Finch was dealt an ultimate task of defending a controversial case wasn’t a romance, I believe he’s a man most women would admire and adore. Here’s a clip from TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD –



A defender of the downtrodden is captured in the book and movie character, Tom Joad. Hemingway’s masterpiece, THE GRAPES OF WRATH, shows Henry Fonda in some of his finest acting moments as he isn’t afraid to go the distance when it comes to championing the cause of displaced Dust Bowl Okies and those whose hunger for food and hope for shelter seems doomed.



Tom Hanks shines as Forrest Gump—a man who rose above physical and mental handicaps to achieve goals, save lives, and start a lucrative business. He remained upbeat despite his tormenters and detractors and finds love and fathers a son with his best friend.



Who are some of your favorite movie heroes and what makes them memorable?

Wishing you many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED -- Ellora's Cave
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

Heroes Who Melt More than Snow and Ice

Stories are much more than tales waiting to be told. Plots eager to unfold. Scenery details prepared to engage a reader and transport them to another time and place. Conversations that give clues as to motivations and impending conflicts.

My favorite part of the fiction-writing process is creating the characters that “live” on those manuscript pages. Most of all, I enjoy the research involved in creating heroes. Each trip to the mall, grocery store or local home-project place brings an opportunity to observe the guys in the aisles—some of whom eventually serve as prototypes for storybook heroes.

If I were to ask romance readers what “makes” a hero, I could guess some of their responses. Some would say a hero is a man who fights for his family and his beliefs. Others would suggest he’s a lifesaver in more ways than one. A good number would contend he is someone who defeats the enemy.

Whatever the cause or circumstance, I know a hero is a man who doesn’t mind sacrifice—in some form or another—when it comes to those he loves. Selflessness in the name of love, respect and honor.

Several snowfalls snarled or suspended highway travel recently. Thawing and refreezing in between the storms also made for slower travel on foot. Suffice it to say, my hero melted more than the ice and snow layers—he melted my heart. Whether armed with the shovel or a snow blower, he cleared my driveway without delay and before completely clearing his own. During a recent spree of vandalism in my development, his help was timely and treasured. His loving actions spoke far louder than any words and showed me how much he cared.

And his kisses certainly warmed me from head to toe better than any mug of coffee, tea or hot chocolate ever could.

Share your thoughts about heroes, readers, and how they’ve made a wonderful difference in your world at one time or all the time.

Wishing you all many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED (Recommended Read) -- Ellora's Cave
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

Tall, Dark and Handsome...Hardly All a Woman Wants

Fortunate is the woman who finds a loving, commitment-focused man early in her life. A man who remains dedicated to strengthening their romance from the first day they meet until death parts them. Real-life heroes are hard to find, but once we find them we do our best to return their affection and share a life with them—a life filled with hope and happiness.

For all the heroes there are also sexy diversions in disguise…

Flirty guys who dance into our lives for a few moments or a season. A fling with them may prove fun, but it seldom makes for monogamy or a happily-ever-after.








Bad boys are born to wreak havoc with a woman’s heart, and they delight on living life in the fast line. Balancing on the blade of the proverbial knife suits their lifestyle, and they don’t mind skipping out if something they temporarily find more interesting crosses their Harley’s path.







What do I find most appealing about a man I’d consider a perfect significant other?

Rugged hero. He’s the guy who doesn’t let anything stand in the way of his love or life with his heroine. Sure he has his separate pursuits, and she has hers, but together the make a team capable of withstanding life’s turmoil.








Helpful guy around the house. He knows dividing household tasks doesn’t take away from his masculinity. He’s secure in his love and knows you’ll show your appreciation for his kindness a thousand-fold. The couple that keeps house together has a better chance of staying together, IMO.









True romantic. He scatters rose petals over the sheets and sips from the same spot on the champagne glass where your lips touched. Despite a hectic work schedule, he always finds time for date nights and cuddling with you on the living room couch.








Outdoorsman. He knows how to build a campfire and start a fire in your heart. You’ll never be lost when this godsend with a built-in compass takes your hand along the pathways of devotion.








Guy who’ll go to great depths for your welfare and to satisfy your passions and wildest desires.








Thoughtful guy. He always remembers what you like and delights in surprising you on a day when everything in your world has been turned upside down. He’s all about face value, too. No sneaking around or hidden agendas.








Protector. This man will go to the mat to win your love and keep you safe from harm. He won’t run at the first sign of danger or demand his way is the only way.








These are some of the many traits I find appealing and necessary in any man I’d consider for a real-life hero. Tall, dark and sexy…? Those are great, but I’d trade them in a heartbeat for a shorter, fairer and average-looking guy if he possessed the heroic traits I’ve mentioned. Looks fade. A meant-to-be relationship filled with love, caring, open conversation, and commitment lasts. While I truly enjoy writing those Alphas and bad boys as heroes, I prefer commitment over devil-may-care. This Cinderella is definitely being careful where she drops her slipper ;)

Would love hearing your thoughts on this topic, readers. Hope you all are having a fantastic holiday weekend!

Wishing you all many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
TORMENTED -- Ellora's Cave (Recommended Read)
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

Real-Life Heroes--Happy Father's Day

When I think of true heroes, one man in my life comes to mind—my father. Today we enjoyed a delightful picnic lunch in honor of Father’s Day. While dining we chatted about events in our lives over the past week. Long before the cherry pie disappeared from our dessert plates, we expressed our appreciation of and gave thanks for close family ties.

A strong work ethic is one of the qualities I most admire in my father. He came into this world during The Great Depression, and he’s always had a level of savvy and resourcefulness I value and respect. From an early age he worked on his father’s farms and later partnered with his dad in a few businesses. During the Korean War, he served our country in the USMC before embarking on a career with the state government.

During my childhood, Dad and I shared lots of special moments. From the time he coached me on to balancing success as I strove to ride my first bicycle sans training wheels, to the fishing derbies where he demonstrated the proper way to cast a fishing line, he urged me to never surrender but to remain steadfast in my goals for they could be achieved with time and a bit of perseverance. My kites got caught in trees, but Dad always got them out and mended the damage done. He attended all parent-teacher meetings and exhibited an interest in my academic success. Dad was always there with sound advice or moral support when I most needed them. He was never too busy to spend time with Mom and me despite the demands of his career. Over the past year and a half of my life, I’ve never been more thankful to have him as a sounding board when matters arise that benefit from the meeting of two minds.

Qualities we all look for and embrace in our heroes? Loyalty. Dedication. Honesty. Fidelity. Logical thinking. Capable. Caring. Brave. Patient. Great listener. Strength, especially of character. Intelligence. Compassion. Respectful. A man who puts his family/loved ones first. These and many other items are on our mental checklists when it comes to measuring up whether or not a guy earns the right to be called a hero.

To all those great men whom we call heroes, I salute and celebrate your worth as friends, neighbors and family men. No matter what your passions and professions, you rank at the top for all the wondrous things you’ve done and all you achieve.

Speaking of dedicated and fearless heroes, the hero of my latest novel, TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN, possesses all the traits I’ve listed and is also capable of bringing the heroine pleasure in more ways than she can imagine.

Click here for more information

Wishing you all many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
TORMENTED -- EC(Recommended Read from Alternative-Read.com, Dark Angel Reviews)
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

Hanna's Hero

Hanna's Hero was one of the possible titles for the novel I just completed for Ellora's Cave. We're talking heroes this week, so I thought since it didn't make it as the title for the book, I could use it as the title for today's blog post.

The final title is Chains of Desire, a futuristic erotic romance with a capture/bondage theme. Hanna, of course, is the heroine. I had her character down pretty well from the beginning, but the hero...well, he took me a little longer. I thought he was going to be a cocky scoundrel, like Han Solo in the original Star Wars movie. I LOVE that character and I was looking forward to basing a hero on him. But the story really wasn't working for me.

Then one day, while I was researching hero images (yes, I consider surfing the net drooling over the pictures of hunky guys research...don't you?) I came across this picture of Duane "The Rock" Johnson. And there was my hero. Hanna's Hero. Jarrod. And all the pieces fell into place.


Jarrod was a jaded escapee from the mines, a man of few words, who won't apologize for what he's had to do to survive. He's also a Master, a sexual dominant, but he's been trying to keep that beast chained inside him...until Hanna brings it out again.

Here's how Hanna, chained to the wall in the spaceship, first describes him:

As he stood before her, she had a good chance to study him as she chewed the food he slid past her lips. She could tell he was strong and well-trained. His well-sculpted muscles bulged beneath his tight black shirt as he moved. His skin was as dark and shiny as the hortnuts on Vanya. His eyes were nearly black and while she studied them for warmth, she never saw any signs.

His hand were wide, his fingers long and strong. Rough and calloused. He wore a wide leather cuff on his left wrist. She knew he could strangle her if he wanted, but he was almost gentle as he fed her. His musky scent grew stronger than that of the food remaining on the plate.

And later:

Hanna had never felt anything like Jarrod’s rough hands caressing her skin. She knew she shouldn’t like what he was doing. Shouldn’t be aching for more of this incredible friction that was sending waves of sensations over her skin. She shouldn’t be wanting more.

But as soon as she awoke and saw him standing there in the doorway, staring at her, she’d wanted him to touch her again. He wasn’t wearing a shirt and she couldn’t help but admire his sculpted muscles.

The tattoo surprised her. It was all black and covered the entire left side of his chest. It followed the curves of his chest, from his broad shoulder down past his tight nipple. Thick black lines radiated out from a center sunburst design to a circular border, with intricate designs between.

Some people on Vanya decorated their bodies in this way, but Hanna had never seen a tattoo that actually enhanced someone’s body as this one did. It made him look even stronger and sexier. If she ever got out of these cuffs and chains, she hoped she’d get a chance to touch it.

The tattoo ended up adding another layer to Jarrod's story. And I never would have known that part of his history if I hadn't come across this picture. Jarrod has ended up being one of my favorite heroes and I think it's because he became his own character, not a second-hand version of someone else.

We were talking about inspiration last week and I should have mentioned pictures. I use them alot. Do you use pictures to get a better handle on your characters? Are you like me, posting a picture up where you can see it as you write? Or do you really get into it, as some writers do, and make up a huge collage of images for your story? Or are your characters all in your head until you get them down on the page?

I can't wait to share cover and release date for Chains of Desire. You can be sure I'll let you all know when I get them.

Natasha
Romance with more...sizzle
www.natashamoore.com