There's more to being a hero than broad shoulders and ripped abs. My Calvin has broad shoulders; they're just more stooped than those of my paper heroes. And at eighty-one, his swagger is a tad slower. But his actions and attitudes are no less heroic.
As romance writers, we often get bad press for creating men that couldn't possibly exist. That we make ordinary men look less-than. I take offense to those claims. For I use the many good and cherished qualities of my intelligent, humorous and sentimental husband to infuse my male characters with the attributes that make them truly heroic.
For there's more to being a hero than ripped abs and swagger.
20 comments:
Vonnie,
Sunflowers in winter. Beautiful. You're very lucky. Thanks for the lift today.
Vonnie, you expressed my opinion perfectly. My husband has the same qualities as Calvin. We are both very lucky, aren't we? And I disagree that our heroes make mortal men seem to fall short in comparison. Rather, I think we inspire women to look for good qualities in the men with whom they have a relationship. We know they DO exist.
What a lovely post, Vonnie. Thanks for the lift this morning, and hug that man every chance you get. You found a keeper, honey! :-)
Thanks, Margo. He is a charmer. We met online when he sachayed into my mailbox on a jazzbeat and a smile.
Caroline, truer words were never spoken. Our husbands aren't perfect, but neither are heroes. But, oh the endearing qualities they do have! We're very lucky.
My husband is the best hugger, Kathleen. And he is my biggest supporter when it comes to my writing, but then he's a writer, too.
I feel that part of my job is to give my readers a fantasy. We don't fantasize about men with pot bellies and receding hairlines.
The real heroes in our lives may have those problems, but when we love them, we don't tend to see that. My husband may not look like a romance novel hero, but he's my hero and he's perfect for me.
Sunflowers in the winter??? So sweet!
Sandy, isn't it grand that love blurs the edges of imperfections? And you're so right, it IS our job to create the fantasy...sometimes our fantasies are right there in our everday lives.
He surprises me every few weeks. My hero is a sweetie, for sure.
That is so VERY true, Vonnie. I've gotten comments from men to that same effect, that no man could live up to a hero in a romance novel. It's so not true! Our heroes are flawed, beautifully so. It's those flaws as much as their so called "perfect" attributes that attract the heroine. Perfection is rarely appealing - unless it's dessert. Or shoes. :)
Thanks for stopping by, Angel. I so, so agree with your comment. Perfection in shoes? Now you're talkin'!!!
Love that 'jazz beat and smile.' You brought tears to my eyes, Vonnie!
Thanks for visiting and leaving a comment, cher.
Oh, Jessy, I hope they were happy tears. I was alone for twelve years so I appreciate everything Calvin does for me. He's loading the dishwasher as I write this. Oh yeah, he's my hero...LOL
Amen... Well said and What a lovely touch with the sunflowers. :)
Hi Vonnie,
What you have written is so true and you have your very own hero. Calvin sounds like a true gem of a man.
Cheers
margaret
Calisa, you should have seen the look of pride on his face the time he came home with a bouquet of pink tulips. "See, Angel, I even remembered pink ROSES were your favorite." I took the tulips from him, smelled them and batted my eyes as I cooed, "Oh, you did good, baby." Tulips...roses...what's the difference? It's his desire to please that adds an extra skip to my heartbeat.
You're so right, Margaret, Calvin is a gem. I am a blessed woman.
Hi, Vonnie (and Calvin, too)!
What a lovely read! Thanks for sharing.
Post a Comment