Mar
The Perfect Man and Don’t Underestimate the Power of the Setting
The Perfect Man
He doesn’t exist, but I keep trying to write the perfect man. Well, that’s not really true. Even though it’s fiction, no male character could be perfect. It would make him boring. Flaws are what make people interesting. Still, I have a tendency to write male characters that are extremely appealing to me.
In the “Charmed & Dangerous” series Dr. Sam, a small town doc who falls in love with Bronwyn, is pretty darn close to the ideal man. He’s gorgeous, can cook, and takes care of people, and he’s calm in a crisis. He’s also jealous, stubborn and is often possessed by evil dudes. Though that last bit really isn’t his fault.
Sheik Azir was never intended to be a love interest, but he sort of insisted upon it as I was writing that first book. Now here’s a guy who is one of the wealthiest men in the world, but he’s also a great humanitarian. He risks his life to save women and children in trouble, and he’s set up safe houses all over the world for them. But he’s also stubborn, always gets his way and doesn’t understand the word ‘no.’
Rock star Zane in the second book “Charmed & Ready,” is sexy beyond belief and also has a caring side. But he’s a shopaholic, womanizer, who is always worried about the way he looks. Bronwyn’s brother Brett is another caring but stubborn soul in “Charmed & Deadly,” the June release. He risks his life to save children in Africa, but he’s so self-involved he doesn’t realize what’s going on around him.
In “Like A Charm” (Feb. 2008) Kira doesn’t understand how Caleb can be so perfect, but she soon learns it isn’t so. While he can cook and treats her beautifully, he’s secretive and never talks about his life. Even after she discovers why, it still isn’t easy for her to take.
For me the perfect guy would be a manly man who makes me laugh, loves to cook, clean house and do laundry, likes to go dancing and treats me like the Queen I deserve to be. My husband is a manly man who makes me laugh and he does his own laundry, so I guess that’s a start. (Smile.) We don’t agree politically. Actually, we don’t agree about a lot of things and have to agree to disagree. But the conflict keeps things interesting and I’ve never been bored.
My guess is that’s why my male characters are never quite perfect because that would be boring. It’s those dangerous guys who get us revved up and we like the unexpected.
So tell me: What is your idea of the perfect man?
Candace Havens
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Don’t Underestimate the Power of the Setting
In the romance world we hear a lot of talk about genres. Do you like paranormals or suspense? Historical or category? I like them all. And I doubt I’m the only one J
The genre isn’t what makes me stick that book in my basket and march up to the check out line. 8 times out of 10 I buy a book because of its setting. (The other 2 are most likely my must-by-authors). Yep, you read that right. The setting.
Place and Time. (Remember those words from your freshmen English class?)
I am going to be very truthful for a moment. I read romance to escape. E-S-C-A-P-E. The guaranteed “Happy Ever After” means I can fully relax when I read a romance. I know all will work out in the end. Even during the darkest of dark moments, my “anxiety” for the character isn’t too traumatic.
But the other part of that escape is the fantasy part. In romances I can travel to places I’ll never visit. Man, I time travel when I read romances. The Place and Time are my mini-vacations that keep me sane. (Which my family fully appreciates.)
That is why the setting is so important to me as a reader. I’m a curious woman. Interested in the world around me. Believe me, National Geographic is one of my all time favorite magazines. But let’s face it. How depressing are some of those articles????
Enter the hard working romance novelist. These women and men research and imagine places so incredible, so interesting they transport me out of the ordinary. They do the work and I benefit! If I stumble across an unusual setting, say…medieval France, the 1920’s, or the moon…swoosh, in my shopping basket it goes. Cheaper than a plane ticket.
Of course, now that I’m writing I have to do some of that work, but it’s one of the most enjoyable aspects of my work. I could spend hours on the internet learning about ancient Greeks (story in progress) or fantasy spas (1st manuscript–currently residing in a drawer). I have a page of settings that I’d like to use. Some common and other’s a little on the different side. The list includes the post-Civil War west, the medieval Russian countryside, and the China steppe.
I want to add that the e-pubs are doing a great job of satisfying this yearning for exciting and new settings. Marketing professionals have to do their job, and editors have to contract what sells, but it’s great to see the new e-pub industry taking chances. The readers win in the end.
Okay, it’s your turn to be heard:
What is your favorite setting?
What setting would you like to see more often in the romance aisle?
Oh, can I do some shameless self-promotion? If you’d like to read about a werewolf pack that has set down roots in modern-day Seattle, check out my new book, Half Moon Rising over at Samhain. I’m lucky that Washington state had a great on-line tourist site 
.
Margo Lukas
First of all, I want to apologise for not being around yet this week to comment. I’m on one of my travel sprees again! I’m now in The Netherlands (arrived yesterday) and on Monday I continue on to the US and will stay there for nearly 4 weeks.
Ok, as for my comments
PERFECT MAN:
For me personally.. Hmm, difficult. I want someone who would treat me well and love me (obviously!) but still could give me some personal space (I’m a loner at heart!). He has to be able to accept me spending hours and hours writing at the computer *lol* If he cooks is a great plus since my cooking skills are.. well.. um.. abysmal. (I’d be hard pressed to make something new for each day of the week if I couldn’t order something in!) And please, a sense of humour. Please please please!
In romance novels I love the tortured heroes, the rakes and any other man who can I suppose.. live up to the challenge. But I like just about any romance hero as long as he’s not cruel or overbearing.
FAVOURITE SETTING:
Well, I’m a sucker for England, 1800s. Regency, Victorian… I’m a history nut. I’ll pick up other books too of course, if they’re by a must-buy author or the story/characters really intrigue me. But admittedly a story set in 1800s England has a bigger chance of being picked up by me. I can’t help it! I just sort of read Jane Austen and never left the era!
March 28th, 2007 at 6:01 amEmily,
March 28th, 2007 at 7:30 amI’m with you on the romantic heroes! And the personal space. I guess that’s something my husband is good at most of the time. If he sees me writing, he leaves me alone.
Perfect man? Is there such a thing? lol Well, my hubby is pretty darn close.
As far as romance heroes, I enjoy reading about men with flaws or tortured pasts. I love it when they find the right woman to help them heal. And yeah, being romantic helps. 
Favorite setting… I’m with Emily — 1800s England, whether it be the country or London, is my favorite. However, I also enjoy the Medieval and Georgian times as well as a good western. There’s just something about a sexy cowboy…*sigh*…
March 28th, 2007 at 8:14 amCandy, I love your “guys” and I love your books!
March 28th, 2007 at 8:23 amThe perfect hero, well as you said he may not exist but one can dream, right? My hubby does most of the cooking and the dishes, nad I do everything else, including emptying the kitty litter. Oh, the humanity!!!
My favorite setting is Medieval, my first two books are medeiveal series. hehehe. ((Shameless plug, I know.)) But I also love Regency, Victorian, and some contemps as long as they have vampires or time-travel involved.
Michelle
March 28th, 2007 at 9:08 amCook? Men can do that? Yes, my perfect man would cook (and that means more than popping something in the microwave.)
But, Candace is right. Perfection is boring. I get all hot for heros in the vein of Jane Eyre’s Rochester. He needed a strong woman to handle him. No TSTL ladies for men like him. (Am I spelling his name wrong? It looks wrong to me, but I’ve got to take a child to the doc so I don’t have to check. Sorry.)
March 28th, 2007 at 9:23 amhahaha I’m not even going to touch the “perfect man” comment…
But about setting, my fav setting is Tudor England. Oh, the drama, the intrigues–and the beheadings! LOL
March 28th, 2007 at 10:17 amCandy,
My idea of the perfect man: Unconditional love. One who loves you even when you’re broke. One who still finds you attractive even after you gain 50lbs. One who encourages you even when you feel like you are at your lowest. One who stays to work things out even when you are angry and want him to leave and will stay put through your three hours of silent treatment until you are ready to talk.
Unfortunately, I didn’t find that man. Fortunately, he found me
Adrienne
March 28th, 2007 at 10:18 amThere is no perfect man. Nor should there be. Their flaws and quirks are what make them appealing. And the perfect hero is only perfect for his heroine.
Gia
March 28th, 2007 at 11:06 amIn real life I admire honesty and integrity above all else…I find it is a rare and precious thing these days.
Of course, I appreciate good eye-candy as well as the next hot-blooded woman.
Wow, the perfect man?!? The perfect man for me would of course be a manly man. But he would also understand me! I am sometimes moody, sometimes bitchy. On occassion I can lose my temper. I want someone who can roll with the punches, so to speak, without being a wimp. A man confident enough in himself that he can allow me to be myself.
March 28th, 2007 at 11:38 amPerfect hero? Dark yet funny. I love a good humorous hero, and what better way to hide a tortured soul is there than a fantastic smile?
Perfect setting? I love Regencies, though I’ll branch out occasionally. Don’t usually do contemporaries unless they’re funny enough to make me forget.
Seattle? You could have asked me!
March 28th, 2007 at 12:48 pmHi Candace! Could have the Sheik for myself? I hope he’ll
March 28th, 2007 at 2:14 pmhave more romance in a future book……The perfect man would be able to read a woman….I know thats stretching it,but maybe one day a technological device will be made……Favorite setting, Arturian England and other worlds….Authors have such great imaginations,its always a joy to see what kind of different worlds an author can make up.
Oded Fehr is about as perfect as you can get in the real world (from what I’ve heard and seen of him; I haven’t met him, so I don’t really know him). He’s gorgeous, sexy, adores his wife and children, faithful, funny/has a great sense of humor, a terrific actor, physically fit, into a healthy lifestyle, has a great outlook on life, and really seems like a great guy. Granted, these are all impressions I’ve gotten of him from seeing him on TV and movies, in interviews, from others who have met him, etc.
In fiction and fantasy, those qualities above would still apply, but he’d be magick, to boot! Lots of sexual magick and abilities, an excellent lover (I’m sure Oded is a wonderful lover, but I don’t have the experience to say–but his wife, Rhonda, always has a beautiful grin on her face and twinkly eyes in every photo I see of her!
), strong, powerful, rich (hey, it’s my fantasy, and I want to live in luxury–but for the record, in this fantasy, I’m rich too, because I want to have money of my own), smart, knows how to dress, knows how to dance, sings well, cooks well and does housework (or will hire people to do that–paying them well, because I’d truly appreciate those who do these things for me).
I dream big, you see.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:49 pmUh, I should add that some of those “fantasy” qualities apply to Oded as well…like dressing well and being smart.
I also want to add that my fantasy perfect man would also be a shapeshifter; at the very least, he would be able to transform into a large cat or wolf.
March 28th, 2007 at 5:53 pmMy perfect man would be imperfect. I don’t want too many flaws, but enough to balance my own. I want someone who’ll understand I need space when I’m mad. Let me walk away and know I’ll come back - usually loaded for bear. I didn’t say I was good in a temper. I want someone that can stand up to me, but also not be overbearing and condesending. I hate men that put women down to make themselves feel superior. So a character that does that better have a really good reason.
Setting, I love places I can relate to. I admit, I like some paranormal and move between parallel worlds and contemporary. I’m not big into future worlds and historicals distract me with the history (I minored in history and only like certain periods). I want to go and research to find out the correct info - especially if it’s hitting me as not quite right. [I know, I'm a lunatic, but its the anal retentive part of the personality that comes out!] I prefer contemporary settings overall. I enjoy exotic locals or someplace I am familiar with or mountain settings… I love the mountains of Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho. I could live on a ranch there and be happy, even snowed in. Just give me a bunch of good books with wonderful settings.
March 28th, 2007 at 11:04 pmI don’t think there’s any such thing as a perfect man in real life. I’ve learned in 32 years of marriage that some of the things I hate are the flip side of traits I love.
Example: DH is a very social talkative person. I love this. Being an introvert myself, I love that I’m with someone who knows lots of people and when we go somewhere, we always run into people and talk and laugh and have a great time. Also, we never run out of things to talk about. You know those older couples who can eat an entire meal in a restaurant and not speak two words to each other? Definitely not us. Flipside: sometimes he won’t shut up. If I have a book in front of my face, and I only lower it enough to give him the evil stinkeye, wouldn’t you think he’d get the hint?
As to settings, I miss the good old days of a rich variety of settings. I’m old enough to have read romance novels that ran the gamut from ancient Egypt to WWII. Even though I’d hate to go back to the days of pages and pages of description that slowed the story, I’d still like a little more variety and detail than I’m currently reading.
I don’t have a favorite setting, but one that I don’t feel gets done enough is late 1800’s, early 1900’s, the Gibson girls, women riding bicycles and everyone learning to drive the new motorcars. The books I’ve read during this period are some of my favorites.
March 29th, 2007 at 2:41 amQuite personally I try to avoid ‘perfect’ people in my works.
My characters will have something that won’t be physically perfect. They’ll be thin, in less than wonderful shape, too broad across the shoulders and hips, rail thin or something. I believe it adds a fillip of believability to my stories. My readers won’t have try as hard to suspend disbelief.
March 29th, 2007 at 9:05 pm