HEROES
Currently I'm doing an online read at www.eharlequin.com and a reader
posted a comment about visualizing heroes in romance novels as movie
stars/someone famous and asked if others did that and who they saw.
Truth is, often I do this. Perhaps its because I'm trying to
visualize the hero and take the author's description then transform it
as closely as possible to something I can 'see'.
I'm not one of those organized writers--oh, if only I was!--who does
plot boards and picture boards, but I do generally have an image in my
head when I write characters. Sometimes the visual is only in my head
and sometimes I'm thinking of a movie star/famous person.
So, I'm curious, how many of you visualize characters in books as someone famous? Do the heroes in romance novels transform into Patrick Dempsey, Hugh Jackmon, Daniel Craig, or some other yummy studmuffin? For those writers out there, do you use Hollywood hunks as the inspiration for your heroes?
For anyone interested, I'm also holding a contest over at www.eharlequin.com on the Single Doctor, Single Dad online read discussion thread and am giving away a book bag & autographed book to anyone who posts who they think the hero of my free online read looks like.
I'll give away a copy of Surgeon Boss, Surprise Dad (currently available at www.eharlequin.com), The Heart Surgeon's Secret Son (winner of the 2009 Golden Quill for Best Traditional Romance) or The Doctor's Pregnancy Bombshell (winner of the 2007 National Readers' Choice Award for Best Traditional Romance) to two lucky folks who leave comments! Jen will pick the winner on Thursday, June 18 around 5:00 pm PST. To be entered in the drawing, you must leave a comment and either leave your email address in the comment or send an email to admin.bookblog@gmail.com.
BIO: Janice Lynn has a Master of Science degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University and works full-time as a family nurse practitioner in a small, rural town in the southern United States. Juggling the aspects of day to day life and her life-long dream of writing happily-ever-afters, Janice lives with her husband, their four children, their three dogs: Lily, Trouble, & Jackson, their turtle Misses Turtle, and a lot of unnamed dust bunnies who have moved in
since she started her writing career.
As a teenager, Janice fell in love with romance while sneaking her mother's Harlequin novels. She dreamed of fictional worlds where good always triumphs over evil and where the girl gets her man. Since then, she's dreamed of creating stories that touch readers' hearts and
takes them into fantasy worlds of their own.
Janice belongs to Writers At Play, the Wet Noodle Posse, Romance Writers of America, and various RWA chapters where she's served in numerous capacities. She can often be found procrastinating at Facebook or www.writersatplay.com's blog when not working on her next
Harlequin Medical Romance.
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Janice Lynn is a fabulous writer. I love her medical romances but I wonder how she manages to succeed in her two careers and her family life. Thumb-up.
Somehow all of my heroes look like various Gerry Butler characters. Wonder why that is? *snicker* Ahhh, the inspiration he provides! LOL!
I'll procrastinate with you on Facebook! :-)
Hi Jen & Jessica! Thanks for allowing me to be here with y'all today. :)
Waving from the west coast, Janice. I agree, you're a fab writer. The answer is YES and I am with Leslie, all my heroes lately speak with a Scottish accent and look and act remarkably like Gerard Butler. He is my inspiration for all things hunky.
Wow! How can you accomplish all you do!!
I love reading Harlequins and suspect I'll read even more once I get my ereader! Thanks for the interview.
LOL on all the heroes looking and sounding like Gerard Butler. I've no problem with that. ;)
I read a lot of Harlequins. I love romance stories. Haven't read your books yet but they sound like the kind of books I would like.
I don't normally visualize characters in books as someone famous. For me they become their own person, even when authors use famous people for their insperation. Go figure. :)
When I do write I don't uaually use famous people for my hero or heroine's either. But if I'm surfing the net and come across a good pic of someone I sometimes have a story fill my head around that picture. For example I was checking out TheGoddessblog and came across a pic of some actor and in that specific picture I thought "wow! he'd make a wonderful werewolf" and then I sat down and wrote a few scenes.
Thanks for pointing me in this direction Janice, now I have another blog to add to my favorites... :)
I left the wrong email on my earlier comment Janice. I am still reading your book and the more I read the better I like it but please change my email address to :
lindacabler@charter.net
I probably visualize characters more as someone I know personally. I'll read about a character and think, "that sounds just like so and so." Strange!
I don't visualize the heroes as anyone and I don't know why I don't.
I don't necessarily visualize the hero as anyone, but I like it when the hero somewhat resembles the guy on the cover! Of course, a mental image of Gerard Butler, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig would always be welcome! HEHEHE
kkhaas[at]bellsouth[dot]net
Oh I love Medical romances/stories. How nice to have the chapters to read online. Thanks so much for doing this for us.
I posted on e-H who I thought the hero looked like.
yourstrulee AT sasktel DOT net
Hello Janice,
I've noticed that not all book covers actually portray what the author has described as the hero. I've caught discrepancies such as hair color, eyes, etc. Sometimes I wonder if the art department has read the description of the hero. I try to keep my mind open to what the author describes and not put another person in for the hero. Have a great day.
I forgot to put my email address.
house_mouse88 @ yahoo dot com
Hi, Janice,
I must be lacking something because
I never visualize book characters
as real persons/actors. I am, as
usual, so deep into the story that
is where my head and imagination are. Whatever is wrong with me, Doctor Janice? Can you help me?
email:p-cochran@juno.com
Pat Cochran
I dont usually visualize the characters in books I read as someone famous. When the authors are really thorough with their description, the characters themselves becomes real in my head. I can visualize the voice, mannerisms and physical looks.
Sue
okibi_insanity[at]yahoo[dot]com
Jen, such a busy lady; So glad you have time to write your wonderful books :)! I love the medical theme.
Pam S
pams00@aol.com
Thanks for this - it was a great interview! Can't wait to read the books. :)
I haven't actually read anything by Janice because I'm more of a paranormal romance / scifi reader, but I'm always looking for stuff which actually has plots and witty characters, is it just me or the interview was a bit short?
Cheers.
sscout@gmail.com
Congrats to Pat and Linda, our winners of Janice's contest. Both ladies have been contacted and have until next Thursday to claim their books.
Jen
admin.bookblog@gmail.com
Hi! Just wanted to pop by to say thank you for all the wonderful comments. It's interesting to see how each of our minds work when it comes to visualizing what's in a book.
On the comment about the cover looking different than what the author describes--absolutely. Authors pray they'll be blessed with a good cover, an accurate cover, a cover that will sell. Sometimes we get covers that are great, but don't necessarily match our books. It's just one of those things you have to learn to roll with. :)
Pat, hmm, maybe it's because you have a great enough imagination that you don't have to visualize the character as anyone other than the person on the pages. Others need something more concrete in their head. Neither is the right or wrong way--just how each of us differs.
Ladies, this has been fun. Thanks, Jen, for letting me stop by and congrats to the winners of the free books!! :)
Oh, Sscout, it's my fault the interview was a bit short as I wanted to keep it simple. Perhaps I was a bit too brief. Sorry.
Joan, you'll have to let me know if you give the Medical line a try. Would love to know your thoughts. :)
Sue, very cool. There are some books where I can easily do this. Others, I use my imagination. Others they end up as some Hollywood hottie. You're probably hitting the nail on the head with saying it's in the author's description and how thorough it is shown. Excellent!