Bigging your hero or heroine

My recent visit to The Hunger Games movie got me thinking about heroic qualities. I'm not going to talk about the Hunger Games because I know a lot of people are going to see it over the next while, and I don't want to be responsible for any spoilers, but I will say that there are a lot of heroic qualities on show in The Hunger Games, and they make it a compelling piece of work.

So, back to writing romance. We call our characters 'the hero' and 'the heroine' rather than 'the bloke' and 'the gal', and sometimes don't have our characters be heros and heroines, but rather blokes and gals.
Why does it matter - and does it matter? I think it does.

A hero/heroine doesn't have to be Thor or Supergirl, but they should, right at the beginning of the story, have something about them which means that we, as readers, care about what happens to them. An admirable quality, which doesn't have to be a big one, but has to be there. Maybe they care about someone else, a sibling, a parent, an animal. Maybe they have something to overcome, their fear of loving another or self doubt.

Blake Snyder talked about this quality in 'Save the cat'. He said to have a scene which reveals an inner quality of the hero/heroine that makes the reader/audience identify with them. He called it the 'save the cat' moment because he used the analogy of a character that initially perhaps we can't see the humanity in, taking time out to save a cat, acting in a small, heroic way that changes the way that the reader sees that character, giving the character humanity.

The words hero and heroine give an image of an over the top character, who's brave and fearless. But real heros and heroines aren't. They're human. With a spark inside that challenges them to care or act in a way against their self interest in the pursuit of someone else's happiness or wellbeing.  No matter how damaged they are by their past experiences, they try. And because they try, we root for them. Care about them, and want to turn the pages to see if they will win. If they will get their happy ever after. They have a lot to learn, a journey to take through which they'll learn and change, but the spark should be part of them from the first moment that they appear on the page.

That makes them true heros and heroines for me.

Going with someone's request from last time, I thought we could look at another Bollywood Hero today, well since it's Friday and approaching weekend is extra cause to celebrate. :-)

So up today- The man who probably can give new meaning to playboy- Salman Khan, also the man who  introduced body building and rippling muscles to Indian masses. Name a recent Indian actress and this guy would have dated her....He also has the hilarious habit of taking his shirt off wherever he appears, be it, tv shows, awards etc.

So what does everyone think? Do we think him hot enough to be induced later into the Bollywood Man of the Month poll?

Author Spotlight - Emmie Dark

Today we welcome debut author Emmie Dark into our Spotlight.  Emmie hails from Australia, and writes for Harlequin SuperRomance. You can find out more about her at her website and on her blog.

• What is your writing process?

I like to write every day if I can. Usually it’s the first thing I do in the morning, and because I’m not yet a full-time writer, I get up early, grab my laptop, get writing and then once I’ve hit my day’s word count, I get on with the rest of the tasks for the day. I’m definitely a pantser not a plotter, I need to get quite a way into my story in order to work out what’s going to happen! Once I get a good way into the story then I find the threads start to come together and I can go back and layer things in.

• Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

Some days it is definitely hard. It’s not much of an answer, but I just literally force myself to sit down and do it anyway. Even if I don’t feel ‘in the mood’ or inspired by what I’m writing. I just keep going. Sometimes my eyes are peeled to the word counter at the bottom of the screen and I’m just desperate for that number to reach my goal for the day so I can move on. But at least I’ve written something. Sometimes I might have to go back and change or edit, but that’s better than still having a blank page!

• Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Like many writers I have back problems so I’m quite religious about doing stretching exercises every day. I like to walk and do yoga, so although I’m not really a gym junkie I do realise I need to take care of my body so it can keep my brain and typing fingers in business!

• Do you believe in writer's block?

Hmmm! Tricky question! I don’t know. I’m not sure if I do. I’ve certainly had times when writing hasn’t come easily for me, and times when it’s just flowed as if I was possessed. I’ve found being a published author has been challenging because while I’m trying to write a new book I’ve had to be very focussed on publicity for Cassie’s Grand Plan, and that means I keep having to shift my ‘head space’ from one story to another. That, and all the activity involved in publicity, has got in the way of me writing – but I’m not sure if I’d call it writer’s block!

• Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

Cassie is the manager of a chain of retail furniture stores. My parents ran their own furniture businesses most of my life (they’re retired now) and my sister worked in a furniture store for a long time. So I had a lot of material to draw from. But my mother and sister have read the book and they both loved it, so I’m not in any trouble with them.

• In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

I didn’t realise there would be so much non-writing work involved! Revisions, edits, publicity... Back when I was still trying to get published I used to wonder what full-time authors did with their time – how could it possibly take up a full working week?? Now I totally get it!

• Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

I’ve been doing a blog tour to help promote the book. I’ve been trying to make sure I go to each blog and reply to readers’ comments – and I’m seeing some of the same names pop up and I’m definitely getting to know some people! I’m also very active on social media and I have my own website and blog. I’m still very new at this so I’m still learning what works and what doesn’t, but for now I’m just giving everything a go and seeing how it turns out.

• What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Get some help! I have had assistance with organising my blog tour (from Nas Dean) and there’s no way I could have done all the organising and scheduling myself – I simply wouldn’t have had time. You also need to take advantage of all your networks and contacts. While you’re still building your reputation you need all the help you can get with reviews, comments and getting the word out on social media. It’s also a karma thing – you need to help others so they’ll return the favour when it’s your turn!

• What did you learn while writing this book?

The value of perseverance. As my writing group pals can attest, before Cassie got published I was almost at the point of giving up on the whole thing – I felt I’d been so close but just hadn’t managed to find the ‘magic ingredient’ that would get me over the wall. I’m glad I didn’t give up!

• What was the most fun part of writing this book?

Planning Cassie and Ronan’s road trip! I used places I had been before, and did some further research so I could get the right feel when it came to writing up their adventures. The hotel they stay at in Sydney and the breakfast room with the view of the Harbour Bridge are based on somewhere I’ve stayed during business trips.

• And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Hmmm. Ronan is a pretty gentlemanly, sophisticated guy. I think he might like to take Cassie to the Whitsunday Islands because he’s also fond of Australia and I think he’d enjoy seeing a new part of the country. I’m sure he can sail, so I can imagine them staying in a resort villa overlooking the ocean and taking lazy daytime sailing trips around the islands.

Cassie's Grand Plan

Cassie Hartman knows what she needs to do to get her life under control. First, she’ll get herself promoted. Then she’ll update her appearance. Steps three and four—marriage and family—well, those will have to wait.

Then Ronan McGuire shows up. The too-sexy, too-polished business consultant has the power to derail Cassie’s plans before she’s even really started. If he doesn’t approve her promotion, she’ll be back to square one—and that’s not an option. Cassie needs to keep her focus on that first step, no matter how much Ronan tempts her to skip ahead to the third and fourth ones….


You can buy Emmie's debut novel on Amazon, AmazonUK, Book Depository, Barnes & Noble and Harlequin.

Favorite First Lines

I have a confession: the first line of a book is one of my favorite things. It's right up there with chocolate. Give me a good quirky line, shock me or wow me and I'll buy your book on the spot. Yes, I'm that easy.

So, today I'm going to share some of my all time favorite first lines. Here we go:

The day Kevin Tucker nearly killed her, Molly Somerville swore off unrequited love forever – This Heart of Mine, Susan Elizabeth Phillips

“Let me get this straight,” Jodie Pulanski said. “You want to give Cal Bonner a woman for a birthday present.”

Nobody's Baby But Mine, Susan Elizabeth Phillips

If Annabelle hadn’t found a body lying under “Sherman,” she wouldn’t have been late for her appointment with the Phython.

Match Me If You Can, Susan Elizabeth Phillips

If Darcy Jensen had known she was going to be kidnapped, she would have worn better shoes.

The Marcelli Bride, Susan Mallery

Okay, so here's the thing. My mother's worst fear has come true. I'm a nymphomaniac.

Hot Six, Janet Evanovitch

Mia Marcelli was used to sleeping alone so it came as something of a shock to wake up with astrange man in her bed.

The Marcelli Princess, Susan Mallery

One hot August Thursday afternoon, Maddie Farraday reached under the front seat of her husband's Cadillac and pulled out a pair of black lace underpants. They weren't hers.

Tell Me Lies, Jennifer Crusie

Francesca Marcelli had only been pregnant for twenty minutes and already her back hurt.

The Sassy One, Susan Mallery

So, what are you favorite first lines?

The Hunger Games

Just like the Twilight books, The Hunger Games books seem to have overtaken the world these last few months. Everyone who’s read it has raved about it. I haven't read tthem yet and to be honest, I don’t even know what the stories are about.

Today the first movie of the books comes out worldwide.

*This* I’m rather excited about even though I still have no idea what it’s about, lol. This got me wondering why I tend to prefer movies made about books than over the books themselves. Truth is, I’m not sure, because I love books! I never read the Twilight books either and everyone tells me how much better the books are over the films.

On the other hand, I’m told The Help makes a better film than the book!

How about you? Are you a movie first, book later person or the other way round?

One other question – 50 Shades Of Grey. What's that all about? And is the publicity worth it?

Discuss.