Since our house fire, my muse has left me high and dry. I've been working hard to get my sexy back, both personally and in my writing. It's been weird, trying to find my stride as an author again, but the good news is, all is well on the homefront for the first time in a looooong time. The word count is slowly picking back up.
I don't know if it has anything to do with the trauma our family suffered over the last year, or if my tastes are shifting for other reasons, but lately, dark and angsty isn't doing it for me in the sexy dude department. In fact, I'm finding myself a bit maxed out on the typical, dark, intense paranormal hero. Pretty scary given paranormal is my genre of choice!
I find myself writing a paranormal hero who is *gasp* blond and blue eyed. One who isn't afraid to laugh even in the darkest situation. Still, I can't help but wonder if I'm taking a risk by bucking the current trend in heroic beefcake. Studying at the romance books on the shelves suggests my nordic hero might not be well accepted by readers. Let's face it. Those images are combed over by marketing departments who know what readers are buying.
Dude, where are the Nordic vikings? The golden knights in shining armor?
Standards of perfection change. I imagine our tastes in what gets our motors purring does, too. Is it time for a change? Are you ok with the status quo, or are you also hunting for a bit of strange in your beefcake?
In my quest to get y'all talking about the kind of hero that is an "auto buy" for you, I've offered up a(gratuitous) brief history of beefcake.
****WARNING! This is R rated material, folks!****
***If you'll be at the RWA literacy signing next week, please stop by and say hello! If you're the first to tell me you're a WGW reader, and you've left a comment in the last month, you'll win a mother of pearl and gemstone mermaid pendant from Offerings
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9 comments:
Maybe you'll be the one who gets everyone out of the funk of brooding leading men! I think it would be wonderful to read a romance that doesn't sound like Edward Cullen revisited. Help us, Liane, you're our only hope!
LOL, love that...Edward Cullen, revisited. From your keyboard to God's ears~
LOL! I hear you, ladies! Gimme a guy with a sense of humor, pleeeease! And I do like blonde heroes.... Brennan from Let Sleeping Demons Lie, for example ;-) Mmmm. Blonde Nordic types.... Oh yeah. Eric Northman all the way, baby!
Actually, the best thing about Twilight Eclipse? Jacob keeping Bella warm in the sleeping bag, and sporting a big grin on his face as he teased Edward.... who is useless at warming up cold bodies because he's cold. And dead. And the ability to sparkle ain't much freaking use in a snowstorm. LOL. Such a great scene. Go Jacob!
I don't know why the marketing teams conclude that a blonde hero on a cover won't sell as well as a dark-haired hero, but word is, they have. So as readers and authors, it's up to us to change that! Let's hope we can bust yet another stereotype.
Buck that trend, baby! I'll read whatever you put out. (Why did that sound, dirty? ;-) You never know when the next one will start!
Have a blast at the conference and be sure to look for my inside gal who'll be handing out my buisness cards!
I've written a few heroes that are blonde with blue eyes. LOVE THEM!I've definately got more blonde haired heroes going right now.
Blonde works just as well for me. If he's alpha and romantic I'm so there.
Hugs,
Tambra
I heard Eric's name so I thought I would come by to see who was talking about my future 3rd husband. lol. I love all types of men as long as they're hot and manly.
Maree, what a classic scene! I may have to go look that one up. How perfectly manly cake can you get? :D
Tambra and Jennifer, women after my own heart. And Queen, darlin'. Hands of 'o mah man! :D
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