It's all about the Heroes

Happy Saturday, everyone! And Happy Memorial Day weekend for those of you in the U.S. What a gorgeous blog –Sandy, thanks for having me here to enjoy your space.

I can’t decide what I’m more thrilled about this month. The release of my debut Blaze, DOUBLE DARE, or that Pirates of the Caribbean, At Worlds End opens this weekend (have you seen it yet?) and once again, the notoriously naughty Captain Jack Sparrow will be making women lust worldwide.

He shouldn't be, though. I mean, think about it... he's undependable, dishonest, and just a little swishy. Hardly the hunk we'd write as the hero of a romance novel.

Yet millions of women love him. And I don't think it’s simply because Johnny Depp is super-hot. It’s this character he's created that breaks all the hero rules and has grabbed our hearts. Yet as writers, if we wrote a character like that, it'd be a hard road to make it sell. Because, really, as much as we love him (and let me tell ya, I REALLY love him!), Captain Jack Sparrow isn’t really a hero. His every act is based on self-interest (well, except for one that I won’t discuss since it’d ruin the movie for anyone who is going to see it this weekend).

So what makes a hero? Its not just sex-appeal, there are actually quite a few villains who are all-out sexy. It’s not how they look, their wealth or lack thereof, or their profession. If I had to try and narrow it down, I think it all comes down to their conflict. The choices they make and their reasons for doing so. Especially if their choices are in conflict with their natural inclinations.

For instance, in DOUBLE DARE, my hero is an undercover cop who finds himself in total lust with his prime suspect. Jesse has to reconcile his suspicions, his emotional reaction to Audra and his overwhelming attraction to her with his own personal code of honor and his promised promotion. Its how he deals with the conflict, and how he empowers her in the process, that makes him a hero to me.

How about you? What makes a hero true hero material to YOU?

Just for fun, I’ll pick one random name from the responses to win a copy of DOUBLE DARE!

Agent Seeley Booth ~ Alpha Hero Extraordinaire

I have a major crush on Agent Seeley Booth. Who else is with me? Show of hands please. *bg* I mean, LOOK at him.


Ok, looks aside, no one can argue against David Boreanaz’s super sex appeal, but it’s his portrayal of Booth that makes my heart flutter every time. And, before you ask; yes, my darling husband, whom I love dearly and can never be replaced, totally knows of my infatuation with a fictional character. *Sigh*. :-)

Agent Booth is, for me, the perfect hero. He’s totally alpha, but isn’t afraid to joke and smile. Oh, he’s got his share of a dark broodie side, and he’s a bit macho. *Sigh* again. But, he’s loyal and caring and have I mentioned hot? :-)

What fictional character, on TV or in the Movies, is your perfect hero? Tell us why? I, for one, am always looking for a foundation to build my characters on.

Sandy :-)

*May 26, 2007 at Sandra's Goings On - Guest Blogger, Tawny Weber ~ Double Dare

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Hmmmm, relaxing...

The cat pooped on my bedroom carpet...Amelia wouldn't go down to help with my breakfast the first 3 times Keith and Jonas called her to do so and when she finally did get down there, she threw a crying fit because the eggs were already done! ROFL! I told her she should have listened the first 3 times they called her. People aren't just going to sit around waiting on her.

On the good side, Amelia and Jonas came up with scrambled eggs, an English Muffin, a glass of milk (which I can't stand to drink. The only milk I ever get is in my cereal or coffee. LOL), and a small vase with three carnations. I am a very lucky Mama.

Keith got me an MP3 player that also acts like a jump drive with 2 gigs of memory and room for an external memory card. It ROCKS!!!!! He even loaded some of my favorite Celtic music on it. And!!!! He is entertaining the kids so I can get a little done on Andromeda’s Tear before we head to his parent's house for a special lunch.

Does anyone have some special/funny/crazy Mother’s Day stories to share? They don’t have to be about this particular Mother’s Day.

Sandy :-)

*May 26, 2007 at Sandra's Goings On - Guest Blogger, Tawny Weber ~ Double Dare

I Can Seeeeeee!

Ok, so I wasn’t blind to begin with--Just a bit sight challenged in the form of a terrible astigmatism in both eyes. If it weren’t for that, I’d have near 20/20 vision. Now, anyone with an astigmatism would know you need special contacts if you don’t want glasses. I’ve tried contacts and, although I like them, I am soooo freakin’ lazy in the morning, I just don’t bother with them. Glasses go on much quicker. ;-)

There is one alternative I’d been hoping for. Continuous wear lenses. Alas, they never had them for astigmatism. Until now, that is! Wooooo Hooooo! Silicone Hydrogel contacts can be worn for 30—count them, three zero—days. Some people will need to take them out for a day after 6-days of continuous wear. But, heck, I’ll take it! Anything to scrap the glasses.

I just found out about them today. And, being the impulsive person I am, I made an appointment immediately and got fitted for a pair. They went in like a dream…well, after I flipped the left one right side out. Can I say OUCH?! Don’t ever put your lens in backwards. Soooooo not good. Anyway, got it all sorted out and, voi la, amazing comfort and excellent vision.

For the first few days, the doctor wants me to take them out at night until my eyes get used to having something shoved into them. But, by Wed, she said to leave them in overnight and we’ll see how they feel. (All this because I never wear the contacts I currently have. Too lazy, remember?)

After my first day with my new lenses, I can report they were still very comfortable by the time I pulled them out. I can’t wait for the overnight trial. Here’s to keeping the glasses in their case! Hmmmm, guess I need to buy some makeup now. LOL.

Sandy :-)

*May 26, 2007 at Sandra's Goings On - Guest Blogger, Tawny Weber ~ Double Dare

Dark, Dangerous…Sexy!

I recently finished a book with a hero who truly walks the fine line between good and evil. He’s one of the darkest, sexiest, broodiest…make-your-heart-race-and-your-stomach-flutter heroes I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. He’s obsessed with the heroine and would love to kill her to get her out of his head. Of course, he can’t seem to actually do it. But, the thought is there. Often. Instead, he kidnaps her…kind of. She did make a wish. He’s just trying to grant it…But, we all know the saying Be careful of what you wish for. Yet, despite his dark thoughts, the reader will find herself wanting the heroine to see past this hero’s borderline evil exterior. There are so many layers to this guy. We feel his pain just as much as the heroine starts to. She is the one creature in the mortal or immortal realm capable of balancing him; bringing him back from the darkness that has manipulated him for untold years.

Now, that manipulating darkness has a story of his own, I think. I’ve only read the first two books in this series, but there is a story arc that hints at a romance all its own. The author seems to have peppered the smallest seed of redemption for our villain. And, to be truthful, I really want to see his fall from, or rather, rise to grace.

I’m a sucker for the dark, tortured hero and this series delivers. If you are, too, pick up Realm Immortal by Michelle M. Pillow. If I didn’t have revisions for Andromeda’s Tear, I’d be ordering Realm Immortal: Stone Queen right now. But, once I have it, there’d be no way to stop from picking it up. ;-) It’s at the top of my To-Be-Read list, though.

How close to the line are you willing to let a hero go?

Sandy :-)

*May 26, 2007 at Sandra's Goings On - Guest Blogger, Tawny Weber ~ Double Dare