http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=14738&picture=johnny-depp
And no, I don’t mean vampires. Although as I’ve brought it up, it seems rude not to post (another) picture of the newest vampire on the block—dear Johnny is an irresistible enigma more than an alpha conqueror, but maybe that’s what makes him so heroic. Because I have to say I’m not a huge fan of alphaholes. Stuck somewhere in the late 1950’s, insisting their women apologize for not pandering to their every need, these characters seem far less heroic than the dapper Mr. Depp and his ilk. (Sorry Geek Goddess, while I like your style, I’m a Picard gal – see Wendy Lyn Watson’s post on the 29th.) I may get lambasted for this when my readers start dissecting my books, but I’m new, start as you mean to go on, right?
As I’m down under, The Luna Goddess seemed an appropriate nom de plume to pick up, and with the moon comes the night. So what I mean by heroes of the night are men who sweep us off our feet for reasons other than their transcendental powers of persuasion, or because of our “need” for the strength they provide. I mean night shift Emergency Room doctors who deal with the drunk and disorderly, and even the dead. I mean those truck drivers that distribute food for charities so the homeless have soup for dinner. I even mean bartenders, they listen, and most of the time they don’t judge. That’s the sort of man I want carrying my feisty, career minded, independent and intelligent heroine off into the moonlight. She’s evolved, grown up and I think she’s even become a little picky. So I want her man of the night to match her convictions and her aspirations. I want him to be a little quirky, and plenty feisty. Working at night does wonders for your character I think. Maybe it’s the darkness. Maybe it’s just that if you have to squint to see, the edges of things become clearer.
Just yesterday I caught myself falling into the trap of having my heroine simper away, practically swooning as she imagined how her life would be so much better when her hero married her and ‘made everything okay.’ And I had to give myself a stern telling off and gave her a promotion at work instead.
It’s not that I don’t want my characters to fall in love. I do. I really do. I just don’t want my heroine to wait around for her man to fix everything for her. She’d never do that. (My husband would laugh at me if I tried to do that). She’d graciously thank the doctor for saving her neighbor’s brother, she might even entice him into bed for a real thank you. But she wouldn’t expect a marriage proposal the next morning. Or even the next month.
What do you think? Am I being too harsh? Should the heroines of romance novels be allowed more than a few simpers? And does Johnny make a good vampire…?
About Michele de Winton
I don’t like Johnny. Sorry. I also don’t like vampires, so chances are he makes a fine one.
To be honest, I tend to write (and enjoy reading) heroines who are a bit softer and sweeter. They may sleep with the hero without expecting a thing in return – in my WIP, the hero and heroine meet in a bar when she’s out on the town looking to get laid – but they’re still romantics at heart. They may not expect a marriage proposal the morning after, but they do start fantasizing about seeing the guy again. Maybe even on a more permanent basis. They may be OK on their own, with careers (or at least jobs), but they’re always looking for someone to love. That’s the whole point of a romance novel, isn’t it? And when push comes to shove, yes, they would be willing to give up the career for the guy. I don’t think that makes them weak. It just makes the love strong.
As for heroes of the night, I love me a bartender. Got one of those coming up in a book very soon!
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Misa Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 5:03 pm
You don’t like Johnny? Bente, I don’t know if we can still be friends.
Okay… I thought about it, and we’ll just have to agree to disagree on this. Johnny is the bomb! Love him and his quirkiness.
I’ll love your bartender, too, but then again, I love all your heroes. Rafe? Mmm. Derek? Mmm. Bartender? Mmm.
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Hi Michele,
Welcome to TNH! I haven’t seen Johnny as a vamp yet… Looking forward to it. He can be anything and still be sexy as he!!.
As far as heroes of the night- Nigh shifts of any kind from doc to cop to bartender to hotel manager is difficult. And turn one into a sexy hero and they better have a darn feisty heroine to make it worth it to wake up when the sun is still shining! I like all my heroines to be strong- some know they are, some haven’t figured it out yet and some have forgotten but they all have a core of strength that attracts the hero. Those are the kind of romances I like to read and write.
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I think Johnny Depp makes a good anything except for a Tourist. He didn’t make a good one of those at all. I have high hopes he’ll make a good vamp, or at least a funny one.
My heroines don’t have to start off as strong, but they have to be that way by the end. The hero in my WIP is a bartender/owner. She’s a script writer who’s confidence is shaken. They’re both creatures of the night and he becomes her muse. Love me some night owls!
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Great post! And not simply because of JD, although it’s a definite bonus =)
I think sometimes the strong vs weak heroine debate comes down to a reader’s taste. I’ve received reviews on books where readers feel the heroine is too weak/no self-confidence, and then receive reviews for the same book where the heroine is loved for her strength of character. I’ve written heroines who are extremely successful in business and ones whose biggest dream is to have a family. But they never ever sell themselves out. They’re always a challenge, a match, for the hero.
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Michele de Winton Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 1:29 pm
That downunderness means I’ve only just got up to read your replies. Thanks for commenting, and thanks for having me on TNH! I agree it’s all about readers taste. I’m so new it’s great to hear everyone’s opinions…learning learning learning. Oh and reading reading reading!
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Here’s my dilemma–I like my heroines and my heroes to kick butt and take names, individually and as a team. I have difficulty reading stories where the female HAS to be rescued. She may need to be rescued, because of injuries, limitations, or situations but so to would her male counterpart–because neither is a super hero. I’m okay with nerds and geeks in these roles, I just can’t deal with rugs.
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Good post!! I’m not a fan of the vampire, but no one seems to care what I think so vampires just keep coming. Just keep sucking everyone’s blood. Ugh.
I honestly don’t care how tough my heros or heoines are. Maybe if I wrote suspense I would. But in contemporary romance I just want the man and the woman to find a place where, with each other, they can let their walls down for a while.
And I love night time heros. Someone on the job while the city sleeps. And I can always use a good bartender, especially if he has ‘peanuts’!
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I’ll watch Johnny Depp play pretty much anything (I haven’t seen him as a Tourist, though). Loved him as a writer, a pirate, a Charlie Chaplin wannabe, Edward of the Scissors… So I’ll probably like him as a vampire, although I’m with Bente and don’t love vampires in general.
And you go, Michelle. Start out with who you are.
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Well havin worked night duty most of my adult life I can’t say I see the appeal
but I do know what you mean.
Put me down as a meh for JD too. I love the risks he take but he’s never really appealed. also put me down in the meh column for vamps and nit really caring who wins out of pickard and kirk – sorry just a straight contemporary girl.
Now George Clooney as Doug Ross in ER – yes pease!
And I like my heroines to have back bone. And i want to see compromise between the h and h – not one person giving it all up for the other.
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My favorite Johnny Depp was Don Juan De Marco! Hearing his speak with a SPanish accent and be so sexy…. *SWOON* Schnikies!
Shew!
Okay back on track… I love vampires, but it needs to be the right vampire!
Coline Farrell made a super hot vampire in Fright Night! LOL And Keifer Sutherland as David in The Lost Boys too… *sigh*
Wait were we talking about heroines? LOL I like a softer heroine. Too much kick ass and snark can easily bleed over into bitchy and unbelievable… So I think they’re entitled to simpler once or twice…
And Amy… Dr. Ross on ER was SOOOOOO yummy!!!!
Lisa
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micheledewinton Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 10:03 pm
Thanks everyone for your comments. I have to say Johnny does it for me most times but totally agree he makes an awful tourist – maybe it was his co-star’s fault – zero chemistry! And while I like to think that because it’s Johnny, his Dark Shadows revamp (ha, sorry) will be good, I too am not actually a fan of fangs (okay, I’ll stop now). I’ve trie to get into True Blood, but honestly, too much cheese turns my stomach.
George Clooney as Dr Ross…okay, maybe a few simpers and batted eyelashes…
Michele
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Oh, fellow Goddess, never fear … as much as I love Kirk as a hero, he would never love me (or my heroines). My standard heroine would be the captain of the enemy ship, trading zingers with Kirk across a comm system (not falling at his feet in chains). I agree. Let’s keep simpering to a minimum. And for happily ever after, let’s look for guys with a little more give.
I think it’s important, though, to give both hero and heroine a smidge of vulnerability. No whining, mind you, but perhaps an insecurity or two? A past tragedy? Something to make both a bit approachable. That’s why the Dark Knight works: he’s alpha, but with hidden pain that is a genuine chink in his armor, a vulnerability that can be exploited by bad guys (and very good girls).
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