by Kris Kennedy
First, I have an admission: I stole this idea from the lovely Maggie Robinson http://romancebandits.blogspot.com/2011/01/meet-mistresses-by-midnight.html Stole it right away like a loaf of bread.. But I stole it because I needed it. Desperately. I love this idea, and wanted to share it today.
Many of us read for character, for the romantic conflict between hero and heroine. Yes, we need a plot, some of us more than others. And we love strong world-building, so we can get lost in a new world, be it a fictional town U.S. town in 2011 or a medieval castle in 1153. We need tension, tough choices, and sensual energy.
But all this is in the service of character we can totally fall in love with. And those become the ‘keepers.’
To get into Keeper status, heroes and heroines have to be remarkable. Not ‘remarkable’ in that they’re performing acrobatic feats of strength or turning on their super-powers to turn rock into molten electricity and solve our power woes forevermore. I mean, they might be doing that, of course. But that I man is that they need to be remarkable insofar as their actions are worthy of being remarked upon. They need to get our attention, then keeping it, page after page, all 350-400 of them. They need to be fascinating, intriguing, compelling. They need to make us sit up and say, “Holy cow, what’s s/he going to do next??”
Heroes, I think, have the biggest part of that load. I hear readers all the time say that even if they didn’t like the heroine, as long as the hero was wonderful, the story can still work for them. Might even make it onto the Keeper shelf with a heroine that doesn’t rate an ‘A+’. I rarely hear it the other way. If the hero is a flop to any particular reader, then for that reader, the book generally is too.
Clearly, we love our heroes.
In my May release, Defiant, the hero and heroine are doing both pretty remarkable things right from the start. The hero, Jamie, is a chief lieutenant for King John. The e-e-e-vil King John of Robin Hood legend. The King John whose paranoid, cunning and mercurial leadership prompted the barons to rise up and demand Magna Carta. And yes, the hero serves him. The reasons are complicated. The appearance of the heroine, Eva, who happens to want the very thing he wants, makes it even more so. (And then Eva steals away, so Jamie has to hunt her down and capture her and…oh, it’s all very complicated and involves ropes. 🙂 )
The point is, Jamie has a long and winding road ahead of him, what with both being captor and protector to the one woman in all of England who can bring his world—and maybe the kingdom–crashing down around him.
Poor guy. 🙂
So, let’s do our own little Mad Libs on those remarkable heroes we love so much.
How would you answer this fill-in-the-blank question?
Heroes should always _________ and should never _________.
My answer: A hero should always be capable of mayhem, and never use it on the heroine.
Let’s hear yours! One commenter wins a signed copy of my new release, DEFIANT!
Kris Kennedy writes sexy, adventure-filled medieval romances for Pocket Books. Visit her website http://www.kriskennedy.net and sign-up for the newsletter, read exclusive excerpts, or just drop Kris a line saying Hi!
Heros should always thrive on a beautiful woman and should never grovel at her feet.
A hero should always worship the heroine and should never be a wimp.
Hi, Kris! I just read your newsletter and visited your site. The cover for DEFIANT is delicious!
Heroes should always bring chocolates and should never hide them!
A hero should alway have courage and should never lose honor!
Heroes should always win and should never lose.
A hero should always be brave and should never be dishonorable. or A hero should always have a sense of humor and never be unfaithful.
A hero should always be a strong, alpha but should never abuse others.
A hero should always protect his lady and should never be unfaithful.
Ladies, these are great!
Mel~ LOL–“always bring chocolates and never hide them.” Agreed!
Heroes should always be loyal and protect their women and should never betray or harm them.
Heroes should always be a gentleman and should never display his lack of honor. Heroes should always be cowboys and never mistreat their horse!
Heroes should always be alpha enough to sweep a lady off her feet and never so alpha she can’t sweep him off of his!
Heroes should always put their heroine first and should never take them for granted!.
A hero should always compromise (the heroine, that is!) and should never croak!
Congrats on the new release, Kris. Heroes should always fight fair and should never do anything that goes against his better judgment.
behave like a gentleman in public with his lady and never forget how to act the rake with her in private 🙂
Heroes should always Be strong, courageous, and honorable and should never dishonor the heroine.
What a cool idea. Thank you. And thank you for the giveaway!!
Heroes should always be faithful and should never act with dishonor.
Heroes should always strong, courageous and daring and should never be cruel or unfaithful.
Heroes should always be loyal and strong and should never be cruel or dishonorable.
A hero should always be a gentleman and never cheat.
Your upcoming book DEFIANT really looks good! Great cover!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Heroes should always be loving and should never complain. Your book soulds fab and i would love to read it.
A Hero should always be loving and should never lose his alpha status.
Heroes should always be broad shouldered and never be under 6 feet in height!
All the best for your release, love your books Kris~
Heroes should always butt heads with the heroine, but never, ever underestimate the resources or quick wit of a woman on a mission.
I love everyone’s comments! Karyn and I must be on the same wavelength! I want my heros BIG.
Heroes should always be clean and never leave their socks laying around.
A hero should always be a little bit quirky and never act unworthy of his heroine.
Oh, how fun! Heroes should always be right in the nick of time and should never forget that all-important date.
Heroes should always be brave and should never treat the heroin badly.
A hero should always adore the heroine and never be unfaithful.
Heroes should always stand behind their beliefs and should never leave a woman unsatisfied!
Heroes should always be true to themselves and should never believe everything they hear.
Heroes should always light up a room and never harm a lady with anything more than words.
Hi Kris!! I know, I’m unforgivably late. Congrats on the release of DEFIANT! I’m looking forward to reading it. My reviewer LOVED IT!!! Review coming soon…