Selena Laurence | It's All About the Boys

We love our boys in Romance fiction, don't we? I mean, really, for most of us that's what it's all about. Heroes. Hot guys. Mr. Right. But, typically, it's the heroine who readers relate to. We understand her, we share her weaknesses and fears and hopes. She's us, right?

That's why it's been an interesting experience for me as a Romance writer to discover I actually think from the hero's point of view.

This isn't to say that I don't like my heroines. I adore them. But, I don't view myself as them. I view myself as the guy – when I'm writing that is. Call me weird, but I just have a real affinity for guys. Oh sure, I have the usual "affinity" for them...you know...yeah, that one. But I also have a passion for the way they talk, the things they're interested in, how they relate to other people. For me, it's all about those boys.

Owen Martin, the hero in LOVE, LIES, AND BRITISH SPIES, was the object of my passion for several months. And what a passion it was. He's sexy, he's charming, he's funny as hell, but underneath it all he's a really sweet guy who just needed the right woman to hold his heart. It turned out I knew the perfect woman for him, so I introduced him to Eva Anderson, and they are living happily ever after now.

Maybe what this means is: I'm in love with my heroes. When I sit down to write a book, it's like I'm have a love affair with that guy. I find him to be the most fascinating person on the planet. For about three months. Then I go and create another imaginary boyfriend and I'm off again, hearing his voice, thinking his thoughts. It's one of the reasons I love writing Romance, I get to go through that first blush of love, over and over again, and then I get to send a book out into the world that will help others have that experience too.

Now I've moved on to my new guy, Nick. He's brave and honest, and really sexy, plus he surfs – *sigh*. I think maybe he's my one true love. Just don't tell Mr. Laurence!