Thanks for coming by. I am still getting better at the whole ‘Worst Thing’ mentality. (Not that I do it for *every* scene. But almost. ) I had to rewrite a scene for just this reason yesterday, and today, I’m going to have to go back about 4 scenes and rewrite something else, to make the outcome much worse. More urgent.

I can usually tell if I missed the boat when I start losing interest in a scene. That’s usually my cue to go back and mess someone up. LOL

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Making things worse for my characters, and then worser still, was hard for me at first, but I’ve gotten over it. Especially in my current WIP.

Today, I have to go back and either make it harder, or have it turn out a little worse.

What a fun way to spend a Saturday, torturing this man.

Any comments from either Barbara or Kris on pairing an alpha heroine with an alpha hero would be appreciated. I’ve got a virago warrior queen with a hunky Highlander right now, and I have to admit, I’m having a blast writing it!

Kris, your comments on the worst that can happen are soooo on target. Since I’m in your HHRW Powerful Openings class, you know I think so.

Everyone, if you get a chance to take Kris’s class at another time, I’ve told her to rename it to Creating a Page Turner, because that’s exactly what she teaching.

Happy writing everyone!

I happen to know that Blythe writes about ‘ordinary’ heroes and heroines in her books. And in my upcoming June release, The Irish Warrior, neither hero nor heroine are noble.

I share your desire for protagonists who like and respect one another, but have other obstacles holding them apart. I think the trouble we storytellers run into is, how do you keep the tension up if they’ve both acknowledged their love, and nothing is keeping them apart? Without resorting to a misunderstanding, that is. Or a prolonged separation.

You may want to check out Blythe’s stories. What other books are out there, ladies?

I only have one book out so far, but the 2nd is coming in June, and I’m working on a 2 books for Pocket right now, and at least one is a medieval. They have thus far been about people who very much love and respect one another, but have external obstacles that present dangers and challenges to their love.

And I tend to write what I call ‘the good alpha’ hero. A strong male figure, in charge, confident, but not a bully or overpowering. He’s decent, and confident, and therefore isn’t afraid to be respectful to and of the heroine.

And in general, I’m noticing my heroines generally get blown out of the water by the hero pretty much right away. They simply fall head-over-heels for him, but have reasons to resist it.

Not sure if any of that sounds like your cup of tea.

I’m quite interested in the Middle Ages, but it’s been a long time since I even tried to read a historical romance set during this period. Indeed, it’s daunting for me to pick up a historical romance with any setting. The problem is, there just aren’t any aimed at readers like me. None that I’ve found yet, that is.

If only I could find one in which the hero and heroine come together because they actually love each other, rather than because they’re forced to marry each other, he kidnaps her, or some such involuntary situation. In histories of the Middle Ages we read much about courtly love. In fiction set in this era we never do.

It would also be great if I could find a historical romance, or any other kind, in which the hero is an ordinary guy. No title, no wealth, no power. Plenty of plot possibilities here. A non-cynical, non-arrogant attitude would also help. A hero who doesn’t try to intimidate the heroine, and a heroine who has no desire to control the hero, would open the door to new and potentially powerful ways in which the focal characters can interact with each other.

My search for this sort of romance fiction has yielded few results. So what can I do about it? You guessed it: I write my own!

Barbara, I promise not to throw produce at you! The first time I heard “noir” used with romance novels was Anna Campbell’s Claiming the Courtesan. If I remember correctly, it was mentioned right on the cover. I thought I was being “vogue” by using the term!