Can A Hero Be TSTL?

We’ve all heard about the Too Stupid to Live heroine.

You know the one I’m talking about. The foot-stamping, thirty-something contemporary heroine who has no excuse to behave this way except that she’s always exhibited this behavior to get what she wants—and she never changes. Her character never sees the light and somewhere near the end of the book, the hero gives a knowing nod or some signal that basically conveys his acceptance of the situation because he wants her. My question is—why?

I ask the same question of a heroine who accepts being treated abominably through the entire book by a hero that doesn’t give any indication he sees a reason to change. There is a danger when writing a hero of making them over-the-top alpha's and so disagreeable that the reader will wonder what kind of “happily ever after” these people are actually going to get. And although it doesn’t speak well of the heroine for accepting or excusing his behavior, presumably for the same reason as above—because she wants him, I tend to lose respect for them both.

No, I’m not anti-alpha hero. I love them as characters and there’s an alpha male on practically every book cover on my shelves and in my e-reader. What can I say; I’m a sucker for a ruggedly handsome face and a muscular bare chest. Throw in a five o’clock shadow and some dark eyes and you’ll get me to the blurb and probably whatever excerpt is available. All of this may get me to buy the book but a TSTL hero/heroine between its covers will get said book deleted or thrown into the donation pile quicker than you can say, “five o’clock shadow”.

A very smart critique partner once told me that as long as my character’s actions were believably motivated the reader would sympathize and even identify with that character. If I had an alpha who was stoic and brusque, I’d better show him casting longing gazes at the heroine and give him a background that explained his churlish behavior (I was writing historical romance at the time). Then I’d better show him struggling to change/grow. In other words, I could make the hero as rough as I wanted, but if I didn’t show his vulnerability and connect it to why he behaved the way he did, the reader wouldn’t believe his actions when he finally revealed his true feelings for the heroine.

How about you? What do you think would make a hero TSTL?

Until next month,

Paris

http://parisbrandon.com

Cross My Heart-NOR Top Pick

Head Over Heels-2^nd Place –Passionate Plume-Novella

Assassin’s Kiss—4 Stars Romantic Times Review

The Balancing Act: Fighting the Urge to Let Secondary Characters Steal The Show

There should be a twelve-step program for writers who become obsessed with their secondary characters. I almost needed one when I was writing Cross My Heart because Archer McCoy, a by-the-book, KCPD officer and the hero’s boss, grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go. He appeared in the first chapter and was the catalyst for the hero, Jack Sutton pushing his way back into Valentine Cross’ life. McCoy was clearly conflicted about what he was doing but his goal made it important enough to order Jack to find out what Valentine knew about a missing suspect.

Yes, I gave a secondary character a goal, and a long-term goal at that. Why? Because much like giving a villain a goal, motivation and conflict, I don’t think there’s any reason that a secondary character can’t want or need something that directly affects the hero and heroine and is a catalyst for moving the story forward.

McCoy didn’t have a point of view but Jack’s observations gave me a glimpse of the kind of person he appeared to be. Here’s a snippet of their first encounter. Jack thinks he’s getting called into his boss’ office about a car that’s been shot to pieces:

“Sutton!” The sharp demand drew more than his attention when Captain Archer McCoy barked from his open office door. He was holding a file and he didn’t look happy. Great.

There were a few snickers but everyone pretended to be working as Jack followed McCoy back into his office and shut the door. He took the chair in front of the desk when his silver-haired captain darted a brisk nod toward it.

“If this is about the car,” Jack started.

“Forget the damn car,” McCoy growled then ran a rough hand through his hair. “Emmett’s looking into why his snitch burned him.”

That’s when he noticed for all of his spit-and-polish appearance, the man looked as if he hadn’t slept in days and his office reeked of fast food and burned coffee.

I knew I was in trouble when I started typing this conversation. I wanted to know why a spit and polish cop would end up in this predicament. It could have been that he was just a good cop and being told to stop wasting time and money on a dead-end case made the back of his neck itch. Maybe it bothered him because he doesn't know if the case he's about to discuss will have Jack looking for a missing person or a dead body. Or maybe it was personal. I’m a romance author, of course it was personal.

But this was a novella and I didn’t have room for two stories and three or four points of view so wrestling McCoy’s character into a manageable word count meant having it revealed by the hero and heroine and a few defining moments where his actions could be observed by said hero or heroine. At least, that’s the way I decided to handle it.

How about you? Have you ever had a secondary character that you were tempted to let steal the show? How did you handle it?

I'd love to know:)

Paris

Cross My Heart

http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8935-50-cross-my-heart.aspx

http://mizlovelovesbooks.blogspot.com/2011/01/cross-my-heart-by-paris-brandon.html?zx=9e999adca2418028

http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nor/Reviews/Paulinemichael-reviews-Cross-My-Heart-by-Paris-Brandon.aspx

http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-reviews/cross-my-heart-by-paris-brandon

Cross My Heart is Coming Soon from Ellora's Cave!

I’m very excited to announce the upcoming release of my fourth Ellora’s Cave title. Cross My Heart is my first venture into romantic suspense and I had absolutely loved it! These characters were so much fun that I had a hard time typing "The End". I hope you enjoy reading about Valentine and Jack, two people who just can't seem to give up on each other.

I’ve also joined the rest of the world and now have a Paris Brandon Facebook page. Come visit for the latest news! I’m also learning about the joys of tweeting—which I’m learning means how to be chatty in 140 characters or less!

Those who know me know that I love any excuse to celebrate. Since this is the season of giving, I’m starting off the month with my first contest. Leave me a comment today and on the books release date, December 17th , you could be the recipient of a free download of Cross My Heart. Be sure to leave your email address so that I can notify you tomorrow. Happy Holidays!

Here’s a blurb and excerpt. Enjoy!

Blurb:

Liberal talk show host Valentine Cross and police detective Jack Sutton’s ideological differences mattered until it came to passion and then the conflagration seemed worth it. Until Jack issued an ultimatum that Valentine was afraid would destroy them both.

Six months after storming out of her life because she refused to marry him, Jack’s boss hands him an assignment that has him walking back into it. He’s got a spray-painting vandal, a missing person that Valentine may be helping to hide and oh yeah, the little problem of not being able to keep his hands off his ex long enough to fix everything and explain that he would have come back to her without an ulterior motive.

Excerpt:
Jack Sutton watched the curvy redhead in the faded denim miniskirt and red cowboy boots wink and flirt under the glare of street lights on the same corner he and his partner, Emmett Daniels had been watching for the past three nights. Half the brick-front buildings had been deserted and their windows boarded up, but there was apparently enough traffic to make the corner profitable.

The brunette standing beside her was older, her clothes a little shinier, her laughter brittle as she darted glances up and down the block. She should be nervous. She was the one who’d given them the tip and if her pimp found out she was going to need more than bus fare from Kansas City to escape Cedric Blood.

He was kind of hoping the son of a bitch wouldn’t check on his girls any time soon. The idiot had beaten up Delia Carson, the only hooker who had ever agreed to testify against him and Jack was going to enjoy putting his skinny, blond ass away.
But he wouldn’t mind watching the redhead for a little while longer. In fact, against his better judgment, he’d like to do more than watch.

She joked and laughed with the other woman but there was something just a little bit off beneath the veneer of heavy makeup that darkened her big green eyes and made her pouty mouth even more kissable. And no matter who hit on her, she never went with any of them.

Which probably meant that she was a little too discriminating for this particular street corner or she wasn’t really a pro. And she wasn’t Vice because he’d checked that out after the first night she’d attracted his attention.

“That’s his car,” Daniels whispered and Jack spotted the pristine red Cadillac convertible. “The fucker isn’t even trying to hide.”

Not only was he not hiding, he jumped out of the car and started smacking the older hooker standing next to the redhead, who then started bashing said fucker on the head with her tiny purse.

So much for fantasy. Jack grabbed for the door and barely beat Daniels out of the car but not across the street.

Daniels used his solid weight to pin the pimp and Jack went for the redhead who let loose with a string of curse words while she still tried to get at the blond, pretty-boy pimp.

“He’s going down for assault and battery, sugar. I’d rather not have to book you,” Jack said, wrapping both arms around her and dragging her back while he tried to figure out why her voice seemed familiar.

She struggled in his grip. “If the girls were protected by law you wouldn’t have to worry about booking anyone,” she growled. “And I know the difference between being frisked and being felt up, so watch it.”

He spun her away so she faced the wall of the brick building and trapped her splayed hands with his fingers. “I always kiss the women I want to feel up, and until that happens, you’re safe,” he whispered, so close that he could feel her shiver. “Now, who are you and what are you doing on this street corner?”

She turned her head and smiled. Her green eyes sparkled and her lush, pink lips were so inviting that he stopped breathing. But then she uttered, “Ever hear of Cross My Heart?”

Oh Fuck! Valentine Cross, the liberal chick from late night radio. The liberal chick who believed in legalized prostitution and medicinal marijuana. She wasn’t supposed to be this hot. She was supposed to have wild earth-mother hair and wear sandals with her long skirts and tie-dyed tee shirts.

Within two weeks he’d found out that although she did possess tie-dyed tee shirts, she preferred jeans to skirts. And she didn’t mind wearing her cowboy boots to bed while she rode him. He figured they could work out the rest.

Don’t forget to leave an email contact in your comment!

Along with the Kris Kringle Kontest that you will find in the right side-bar, I’m having a contest this month on my website. All you have to do is participate in the Kris Kringle Kontest and email me for a chance to win your choice of my backlist.

Happy Holidays to all!

Paris Brandon
http://parisbrandon.com
Cross My Heart—available from EC December 17th
http://twitter.com/ParisBrandon
http://www.facebook.com/index.php#!/pages/Paris-Brandon/170137563009674