Dec
Julianne MacLean Offers Visual Inspiration
So today is the big day – the official release date for my new book, SURRENDER TO A SCOUNDREL, and I’m thrilled to get to blog about it here. Well, I’m not just going to blog about my book. What I do want to talk about is Men, Glorious Men, and I thought I would share some of my favorite hunky heroes and describe how the drooling and occasional irresponsible daydreaming all comes together to play a very important part in the creative process of the professional romance writer.
Doesn’t that just sound profound and thought-provoking? I surprise myself sometimes. The truth is, I do daydream about different heroes and romantic scenarios, and imagining that pulse-pounding moment of the first glance or the first kiss is what fuels the writing when you’re trying to evoke sexual tension. When I write a scene with a sexy hero, I literally put myself in the heroine’s head (and skin, which is always fun) and summon up all those exciting emotions and titillating thrills. It’s kind of like being an actor, though all I’m doing is sitting in my chair with my pen in my hand. But in my head, I am becoming another person without actually putting on the costume, and it takes rigorous concentration to really feel like you’re her (or him, depending on the point-of-view character in the scene). Sometimes, after writing an emotionally intense scene, I have a pain in my jaw from clenching, or I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck because my muscles are tense and aching. That’s when I know I’ve put my whole heart and soul into something, and I’m usually happy with the result.
So what hunky heroes do I imagine when I’m writing, you ask? Well, the hero in my new book, SURRENDER TO A SCOUNDREL, is Lord Martin Langdon, and he’s dark and brooding on the inside, but incredibly charming when he wants to be, and in great physical shape. The whole time I was writing the book, I had a picture from a magazine advertisement tacked behind my computer, and that model was my Martin. (Here’s the guy. What do you think? If you like him, you should go buy my book ?.)
I would glance at him often, and he would stare back at me, and it helped give me a visual and emotional picture of my hero.
But that doesn’t always happen with my heroes. In fact, usually I just go with what is in my imagination. And my hero is not always based on a specific model or actor. I only drool over the actors on my days off, but again – the drooling is the imaginative “experience” of lust, and that’s what I draw from.
Tomorrow, I’ll blog about some of my favorite men, and why I love to drool over them. Care to guess who some of them might be?
Welcome Julianne! I’ve been looking forward to your visit here because aside from my two or three line emails you’ve gotten from me, I don’t think I’ve ever told you how much I respect and love your writing.
Congratulations on your new book out in stores today. I’m looking forward to getting my own copy soon.
Is Christian Bale (Batman Begins) included in your
December 26th, 2006 at 7:19 amdrool-worthy list? Gerard Butler? Hugh Jackman?
Hi Isabel! Thank you so much for the kind words. And I don’t want to give away too much about my blog for tomorrow - but I will tell you that I have drooled over all three of those delicious guys! You have good taste, my dear :).
Speaking of Hugh Jackman, I recently saw THE FOUNTAIN. It was a very different role for him, and he cries in it, very believably, I might add. The movie is probably not to everyone’s taste, but I enjoyed it. But I usually like things that are outside the box.
All for now!
December 26th, 2006 at 8:33 amJulianne
I saw The Fountain when it came out, and I cried along side Hugh. You’re right this was a different and welcome role for him, it shows he can do other things besides superhero stuff. Which is not bad at all, but it’s a nice change for him.
Since you don’t want to give away too much let’s talk heroines. What are some of your inspirations, if you have any? Love According To Lily was the first book I read from you and it holds a special place in my heart, where did the idea/premise come from?
December 26th, 2006 at 9:15 amHi Julianne!
I see we are in great company.. Hugh Jackman… and that picture! He’s perfect! I can’t wait to read your new book!
Did you write/are you writing during the holidays? When ideas hit you, like the inspiration of this picture, do you have to get to them right away no matter what is going on… like Christmas? :).
I love your title because I intantly think of a whole bunch of scoundrels… .and of course my fav Han Solo lol (big star wars fan lol)…. And why not Hugh Jackman?
Ok… the rest of my post was just deleted by my dd… I was gushing about Portrait of a Lover and how much I loved it and how it’s on my top re-reads list next to Ransom by Julie Garwood…
Also loved Love According to Lily and well… the rest! My top fav is Portrait of a Lover… but I think that might be replaced by Surrender to a Scoundrel… can’t wait to read Martin and Miss Wheaton’s story!! Your writing is so original that I am swept away everytime!
December 26th, 2006 at 9:52 amHey, that guy’s a hottie! Nice.
I was fascinated with the hero’s turmoil in LATL. I’m not going to explain further, but those of you who’ve read the book must know what I mean. Was that hard for you to write?
December 26th, 2006 at 10:30 am“If you like him, you should go buy my book.”
December 26th, 2006 at 11:08 amWell, SURRENDER was already on my TBB list, but that picture certainly adds to my excitement to read about Lord Martin. *drool*
Welcome Julianne! We’re so happy you’re here with us!
I can SO picture that model as Martin! I absolultely loved loved loved STAS. It was a fantastic emotional read with engaging characters that I instantly fell in love with. Martin…*sigh*…
Question: Who was your “inspiration” for Evelyn?
December 26th, 2006 at 1:58 pmAndrea! What a great question. I was thinking much the same thing. I’m suppose to go to the bookstore today and I CAN’T WAIT!
Love this blog! I read it last night when I was posting it and *drool* that guy is so…*fans self*
December 26th, 2006 at 2:42 pmHey guys! Thanks for posting comments!
I want to answer everyone’s questions, so I’ll go in order:
Laura - I usually take time off during the holidays, but it depends on whether or not I’m on a deadline. This year, I am on a nice long vacation because I turned in a book November 1, and decided I would not start writing the next one until January. I’ve been having a very relaxing time, catching up on reading and watching movies. I just came off a three book deal, with back-to-back deadlines, so I definitely needed the break.
Lacey: I’m glad you enjoyed Whitby’s turmoil in Love According to Lily. While it was difficult to write in some respects, I mostly enjoyed it because it was outside the usual themes that I draw from as a romance writer. It’s not often I can write about a hero who is suffering, not just emotionally, but physically, too. What made it challenging and compelling for me as a writer was that both their lives were at stake at different times in the book, and that kind of experience really makes you examine what’s important in life, and Lily and Whitby had to do some very deep soul searching to find their happiness. It allowed me to dig deep, too, and it was a very satisfying writing experience.
Hi Andrea! I’m glad you agree about the model for Martin. I love his intensity, and the confidence and intelligence in his eyes. To tell you the truth, I didn’t have an inspiration for Evelyn as far as a model goes, but I’d love to hear anyone’s thoughts/suggestions. Evelyn is not a classic beauty, but she has a charisma that Martin recognizes and falls for. Maybe a young Meryl Streep with glasses… She’s very reserved, and doesn’t smile much in the beginning. I’ll keep thinking about that….
All for now!
December 26th, 2006 at 5:44 pmJulianne
Julianne, do your characters change their appearance when you write? I find I might start out basing them on Gerard or Johnny or Hugh and then their faces change a bit — become their own instead of the inspiration. It happens with the heroine as well.
December 27th, 2006 at 1:34 amKathryn - That is interesting that your characters change their appearance. I think we write in a similar way in the sense that we get to know our characters as we write the book, rather than having everything preplanned and figured out beforehand. My characters have certainly surprised me midway through the book.
And to tell you the truth, I dont usually base my historical heroes on real life people, because someone like Johnny or Gerard are too much themselves, and I find I need a blank slate. The model in the picture worked for me because I didnt know anything about him. I will usually have separate imaginative scenarios with Gerard and Johnny (or Damien or Daniel) that are not part of my book, and more often than not - those are contemporary stories in my head.
Weird how our creative brains work….
December 28th, 2006 at 8:49 amJulianne