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Bec McMaster | How to create a Romance Hero in Five Easy Steps...
May 6, 2013
Maybe I've been reading too many mags lately. How to find the perfect man etc.
etc. But I'm a romance writer, which means I get to create my own. Seriously,
you think I write romance for the fun of it? Nuh, uh. It's all about the hero.
So here's my five easy tips for creating a romance hero: 1. Let's start with the physical, ladies. The romance hero is all about the
appeal. He's the one who walks into a room and owns it, whether he's 5'8"
or 6'8" - of course, he's often closer to the latter rather than the
former. He's the one with hard, chiselled lips and cheekbones that could cut
like a knife. Some mornings I wake up looking like I've been to a rave in my
sleep. Not the romance hero. His hair is always sexily dishevelled, or tangling
over his eyes. As for the physique? He may not be a gym bunny, but he's always
rocking a six-pack. It's a guarantee, even if he's hiding behind some seriously
nerdy glasses and a shirt and tie (Clark Kent anyone?). Warning: The romance
hero can cause heart palpitations and damp panties with a single smouldering
glance. 2.� Sex appeal isn't everything. Seriously, it isn't. There's got to be a
certain values system, something to make a heroine (and a reader) fall in love
with this man. He might be the baddest boy on the block (insert motorcycle, a
well-loved little black book and a penchant for hard partying ways) but
underneath that tarnished heart, there's a little glint of gold. And the one
thing he has to have: respect for her heroine. 3. He's the boss. Whether he's alpha, beta, gamma, or any other denominator in
the Greek alphabet, he owns this show. This is his story and he's got to shine.
He may be the best friend with the heart of gold, but when the shit hits the
fan, he's the one standing beside his heroine, ready to do battle. � 4. And now we come to the smexy times... Let's just say, he won't ever need a
map. 5. Last but not least, let's talk about the dark side - because Darth was so
much more interesting than Luke (I refer only to the originals of course). Every
sexy hero has to have a past, a dark side, a heart-breaking story or tale of
woe. How else can we redeem him? Some woman done him wrong and he's not about to
fall for that trick again.� However, there's always a weakness, and that's the
fun in pairing him with a feisty romance heroine and watching the sparks fly.
And once he meets that special lady? It's sayonara to that little black book...
He is allowed to keep the motorbike though. � So what do you think? Ready to create your own hero masterpiece? Or, if you don't want to go to all of this trouble... here's one I prepared
earlier. He's a little rough around the edges and may need a little taming, but
I'm sure there's a lot of potential romance heroines out there who wouldn't mind
a piece of Will. Granted he doesn't own a motorbike (it's Victorian London after
all), but he can rock a smouldering glare like no man's business. Meet Will Carver, the hero of Heart of Iron. Here's a little glimpse through the
eyes of a certain flirtatious debutante that likes wrapping men around her
fingers and can't quite work out why Will refuses to be one of them:
Fireworks exploded with frenetic enthusiasm. The sky was washed with
gold and blue and pink. Lena couldn't help herself. She looked up, her gaze torn
from the silent ships on the river.
She felt his gaze long before she saw him.
A tingle on her skin.
The faint, earthy anticipation of her body recognizing
danger—even as it thrilled at it.
Will.
Breath catching, her fingers tightening on the fan, she looked down.
Blind spots danced in her vision but she hunted for him. The crowd didn't
matter. Not the approaching ships. Not even Colchester.
She'd been in a state of agitation all day, unable to settle. Unable
to do more than toy with her food or read a paragraph of the Times. His words
kept
playing through her mind. Then we'll see if your
words are worth anythin'.
Lena shivered. She could feel him watching her.
Murmurs started behind her. The crowd shifting. A prickle at the
back of her neck. As she turned, fanning at herself in agitation, the crowd
parted, skirts swishing out of the way like the Red Sea. For a moment she
couldn't see him. Only a man dressed in crisp black, who stepped into the wake
of the crowd with arrogant disdain, striding as if he belonged
there.
She glanced past the elegant cut of his coat, buttoned strictly up
the left side of his breast. And then her gaze shot back to him, her eyes
widening.
Oh, my God...
Lena actually stopped breathing.
She'd never seen him in anything other than a loose shirt and coat.
The sight of him dressed for the evening was utterly devastating. The stark
black of his coat drew attention to the dusky gold of his skin, and his
hair—the beautiful amber locks that her fingers always itched to
touch—was gone.
The fan stopped moving, the ghostly tips of its feathers dancing
over her breasts. Will stepped out of the shadows, gaslight highlighting the
stark bones of his cheeks and brow, the burnished bronze of his eyes locked on
her with an intensity no bystander could mistake for anything other than
interest. Pure, predatory interest.
He had to stop looking at her like that... So what about you? What makes a hero in your eyes? What do you love reading
about in your heroes? And what about flaws? One commenter (US / Canada) will win
a copy of KISS OF STEEL HEART OF IRON BY BEC MCMASTER - IN STORES
MAY 2013 In the mist-shrouded streets of London's dreaded Whitechapel district,
werewolves, vampires and a clockwork army are one step away from
battle... NO ONE TO TRUST Lena Todd is the perfect spy. Nobody suspects the flirtatious debutante could be
a rebel against London's vicious elite—not even the ruthless Will Carver,
the one man she can't twist around her little finger. Will Carver, is more than man, he's a verwulfen and he wants nothing to do with
the dangerous beauty who drives him to the very edge of control. But when he
finds Lena in possession of a coded letter, he realizes she's in a world of
trouble. To protect her, he'll have to seduce the truth from her before it's too
late. "Deftly blends elements of steampunk and vampire romance with brilliantly
successful results...darkly atmospheric and delectably sexy."
-Booklist, starred review for KISS OF STEEL ABOUT THE AUTHOR Award-winning author Bec McMaster lives in
a small town in Australia and grew up with her nose in a book. A member of RWA,
she writes sexy, dark paranormals and steampunk romance. When not writing,
reading, or poring over travel brochures, she loves spending time with her very
own hero or daydreaming about new worlds. The third book in the London Steampunk
series, My Lady Quicksilver will be in stores in October 2013. Read more
about her at www.becmcmaster.com or follow her on Twitter @BecMcMaster. To purchase HEART OF
IRON: Amazon
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Comments
52 comments posted.
Re: Bec McMaster | How to create a Romance Hero in Five Easy Steps...
My hero masterpiece would be similar to Damian of Vampire Diaries fame...sigh...slightly wounded, gorgeous, bad but a teddy at heart for his one femme!
(Darci Paice 10:52pm May 1, 2013)
a real hero helps others without worry for himself...
(Debbi Shaw 11:12pm May 1, 2013)
A hero is a man who stands up for what he believes and doesn't let
others guide his choices
(Lori Thomas 12:00pm May 2, 2013)
I love a hero who would do anything for his heroine to keep her safe and happy!
(Becky Lung 1:27am May 2, 2013)
I love a hero who can laugh at himself and can relax and have fun. But, if there is a problem he can be all business and take care of any situation.
(Kathleen Yohanna 3:53am May 2, 2013)
Great requirements for a hero, but not too much emphasis on the "boss", please.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 6:27am May 2, 2013)
a hero is someone who loves his family and puts the ones he
loves first
(Denise Smith 7:46am May 2, 2013)
I love the alpha heros. ...strong, confident, protective of women and children. Of course strong, handsome and intelligent help too!
(Betty Hamilton 8:46am May 2, 2013)
I don't have one typical hero. I just like it when they have some flaws to them but they are good at heart.
(Pam Howell 8:55am May 2, 2013)
Great list. Mine has to make me laugh too.
(Julie Touchstone 8:58am May 2, 2013)
A hero is someone who is happy with his life but needs to share.
(Beth Elder 9:34am May 2, 2013)
Your book sounds great. And I love your tips on creating a romance hero. A perfect hero must include the deep desire to protect his heroine - even if it's on the sly. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your book. Best of luck with it.
(Nancy Reynolds 10:11am May 2, 2013)
hero sounds good
(Kent Cook 10:32am May 2, 2013)
A hero is someone who is strong of body and mind, and looks after his family :)
(Aimee Robison 11:05am May 2, 2013)
someone who treats everyone like shes the one for him
(Ann Unger 12:21pm May 2, 2013)
I am definitely the hunk hiding behind glasses type. I love
nerdy guys. :-D Loyalty and a sense of morality are my
requirements in a man, too.
(Karin Anderson 12:43pm May 2, 2013)
To me, a hero is someone who does what's right, even if it's
the hardest thing they will ever have to do.
(Sara Doyle 1:01pm May 2, 2013)
A man thats kind, caring, and loyal. He doesn't have to be the most handsomest man ever or
have tons and tons of money. I just like a man thats simple and loving. A hero, to me is
someone that can protect those he loves. Someone who doesn't take advantage of others.
(Lazydrag0n Puff 3:34pm May 2, 2013)
A hero is someone who thinks of others and protects the ones they
love.
(Norma Todd 5:08pm May 2, 2013)
@ Darci Paice-Bailey I love Damon too! It's that whole bad-boy, anti-hero with a
heart of gold thing.
@Debbi Shaw Absolutely. A hero who doesn't help others is no hero in my eyes!
@Lori Shaw I love a man who is strong enough in his convictions to do the right
thing always!
(Bec McMaster 5:12pm May 2, 2013)
@Becky Lung The one thing I toyed with in Heart of Iron, is that if my hero can't
protect his heroine, then he's going to teach her to protect herself. After all, its
Victorian times and she can't be a ninja, but she can certainly learn to wield a
pistol!
@Kathleen Laughter is definitely one of the most attractive traits in a hero!
Great comment.
@ Marjorie Oh, he's definitely not the 'boss' of the heroine (: I just meant that
this is his story - no taking over from side characters or other potential
handsome heroes.
(Bec McMaster 5:16pm May 2, 2013)
Mu hero is a strong, caring and honest man that does what's right and stands up for those who can't.
(Bonnie Capuano 5:16pm May 2, 2013)
@Denise How he looks after his family is a definite plus for a hero!
@Betty I'll be honest, i have a special place for an alpha too.
@Pam Good call. Every hero needs a flaw or two.
@Julie You might like Blade from Kiss of Steel then - he's a charmer!
(Bec McMaster 5:18pm May 2, 2013)
@ Beth Someone who just can't wait for that one special lady to come along.
@Nancy Funny you should mention 'on the sly'. Will knows Lena is in trouble
and refuses his help, so he manoeuvres her into a position where she has to
deal with him.
@Kent Thank you!
@Aimee I think we have a lot of people who admire a man who looks after his
family. Definitely a hero trait!
@Ann The one and only. So true.
@Karin I like the nerd in shining armour too. Can't wait for the latest Superman,
i must admit, not that this version looks like a real 'nerd'.
@
(Bec McMaster 5:24pm May 2, 2013)
@Sara The best fun in writing is pushing your hero into a place where he has to
do the right thing (because that's who he is), but there are so many other things
conflicting against that.
@Xoun Those are the best heroes. I like a man who's self-made - not loaded,
perhaps not classically handsome (though he's always hot in some way) but true
to himself.
@Norma True! Someone who will put himself on the line for those he loves - or
even someone he's just met. That makes a true hero!
(Bec McMaster 5:27pm May 2, 2013)
A hero is one who does things to help others. Also love his family. Book sounds great. Would love to win.
(Amy Milne 5:47pm May 2, 2013)
My hereo thinks of others first and provides fully for his family but does not neglect himself and his own needs
(Shirley Younger 6:24pm May 2, 2013)
you make it look easy
(Janet Gould 6:57pm May 2, 2013)
I loved your list, and what makes a hero for me is the conventional tall, dark and
handsome, with a caring nature (even though he may try to hide it), loyal and
steadfast, who'll do anything for those he loves. Of course there will be flaws, no
one's perfect. :D
(Barbara Elness 7:01pm May 2, 2013)
The one thing I absolutely must have in my hero is absolute
fidelity to my heroine. Being ruled by your libido is NOT
heroic.
(Fiona Marsden 7:28pm May 2, 2013)
My hero would have to be like a boy scout, loyal, trustworthy and brave.
(Sheila True 8:11pm May 2, 2013)
To me, a hero isn't a guy who is necessarily a drop-dead gorgeous guy, although good looks helps!! What matters more to me is what he's like on the inside - what makes him tick. How he treats his woman. If he has a tender side, and how he uses it. He also has to have a strong side, and will use it to defend his woman, as well as be able to take a hold of a situation. A sense of humor is important. He should love to laugh!! After reading your posting, it sounds like you covered the rest of the bases, but I wouldn't cover my romance hero quite as dark as you covered yours. Mine would be a little more lighthearted. I got quite intrigued by the passage that you entered, and would love to read your book. It would be the first one I'm reading by you. I love any books that are set in England, and to have it be a spy novel is all the better!! Congratulations!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:35pm May 2, 2013)
To me, the hero in any book is a man who is not self absorbed and thinks of others before himself. He should also be kind with a bit of mystery about him, but not lacking the talent to be honest. If a hero has a flaw in his character it shouldn't be something that his lady would be repelled by but something that they can work out together.
Would love to be entered in this contest.
(Cynthia Blain 10:05pm May 2, 2013)
Whew! I'd take Will any day ;-)
A like a guy that isn't instantly anything-- but, rather, you discover amazing things about him a little at a time.
(Chelsea Brooks 10:08pm May 2, 2013)
A Hero in my eyes would be a fantastic person that goes out
of their way to always put the needs of others in front of
his/her needs. Always helping and giving to others and going
above and beyond the call of duty for sure. Thanks for the
fantastic contest and I would love to win and read KISS OF
STEEL. Sounds like a Winner for sure. Thanks, Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:17pm May 2, 2013)
My hero is a man that stands up for what he believes in and loves unconditionally. He treats his lady like a queen and strives to be the best man he can be. He is smart and funny, tall, dark and handsome. Going to go write my letter to Santa now.
(Tracie Travis 11:31pm May 2, 2013)
Hi @Amy. It definitely seems like family is a strong thread here today. Good
luck!
(Bec McMaster 4:37am May 3, 2013)
@Shirley Younger Especially when it comes to his heroine and her needs!
@Janet Thank you, but it's certainly not LOL
@Barbara Sounds like you have the perfect hero in mind, but every scrum my
hero needs a flaw or two to be believable.
@Fiona This is a hot button for me too. I kind of figure if a hero can bring
himself to be unfaithful then he's never good enough for the heroine!
@Sheila Three great characteristics!
(Bec McMaster 4:40am May 3, 2013)
@Tracie I love it! Hope Santa is good to you this year LOL!
(Bec McMaster 4:48am May 3, 2013)
Yes, a Hero in my eyes would be a fantastic person that goes
out
of their way to always put the needs of others in front of
his/her needs. Always helping and giving to others and going
above and beyond the call of duty for sure. Thanks for the
fantastic contest and I would love to win and read KISS OF
STEEL. Sounds like a Winner for sure. Thanks, Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 4:08pm May 6, 2013)
Will sounds terrific! :)
I like someone smart, sexy, kind but strong...
(May Pau 4:43pm May 6, 2013)
A hero puts other people before himself, in my opinion.
(Maureen Emmons 4:51pm May 6, 2013)
WHAT MAKES A HERO IN MY EYES IS WHEN THE HERO SAVE SOMEBODIES
LIFE AND HELP TURN THEIR LIFE AROUND. EXCELLENT CONTEST LOVE
TO WIN I NEVER WON ANYTHING IN MY LIFE AND I REALLY WANT TO
WIN THIS CONTEST.....
(Shelly Caggiano 5:33pm May 6, 2013)
someone that saves someone
i love the cover!!
(Jennifer Beck 6:28pm May 6, 2013)
A hero is there for his heroine.
(Cheryl McEwen 7:24pm May 6, 2013)
A hero has integrity, one who despite flaws has the ability to overcome and make the right decisions, one who grows through his love and development, heal through love. He can be abrasive, wanting a debate, but those qualities show intelligence and passion - and that is the perfect combination.
(Carla Carlson 9:24pm May 6, 2013)
Hero looks at you when you speak to him. He takes your hand or places his arm around your shoulders when he speaks to you. He always has a quirky smile on his face. He is wearing a military uniform.
(Suzanne Bischoff 10:25pm May 6, 2013)
Your definition of a hero sounds pretty good. I'd drop the "boss," and add intelligent, honorable, and totally committed to the heroine.
(Janie McGaugh 12:07pm May 7, 2013)
A hero never takes credit of a good deed. He does what he needs to do and get it done. He is a man who stands up against injustice and who will right a wrong done to the victims. He is the kind that never collect an award.
(Kai Wong 1:17am May 7, 2013)
I don't have set ideas on how a hero should act, except being protective of the heroine. Different stories require different heroes, if the story is good, I'll like the hero.
(Carol Woodruff 11:23am May 7, 2013)
I love a hero who protects and partners with his heroine, not
smothers. He seeks to help her grow or heal. One who needs his
woman to fill the hole in his heart.
(Lenna Hendershott 5:00pm May 7, 2013)
there aremany different things i would look for in hero
(Victoria Whitaker 12:15pm May 13, 2013)
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