The famous hardboiled writer Mickey Spillane, who was at one time the bestselling author in the world, once said, “Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle. They read it to get to the end. If it’s a letdown, they won’t buy anymore. The first page sells that book. The last page sells your next book.”

We’ve all had this experience, in movies and with books––an ending that let us down. As writers, our task is to never, ever let that happen.

Not as easy as the opening. I love openings. I can write openings all day long.

But endings? That’s the hard part. Here are a few thoughts that have helped me along the way.

1. Think of the ending as a final battle

Every ending should be a final battle inside and outside of the main character, often both. By outside, I mean that there are physical or circumstantial against the Lead. This might mean the forces of the Empire in Star Wars or the physical stammer of Prince Albert in The King’s Speech.

By inside, I mean a psychological battle that has to be resolved.

In Casablanca, for example, the real fight is inside Rick (Humphrey Bogart). He has spent the whole movie as the anti-hero, not taking a stand against the Nazis. Then the love of his life, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) comes to his saloon, with her husband, the war hero Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid). At the end, Rick can have Ilsa back. She has consented to leave with him.

And it’s freaking INGRID BERGMAN! Talk about having your ideal within reach!

But if he does take her, he’ll be violating a central moral tenet of society. The writers set it up, too, that it will devastate Lazlo, thus hurting the war effort itself.

Rick has to make an inner battle decision, and ultimately sacrifices what he wants most in the world for a greater good. It becomes the most famous ending in Hollywood history when he gets an unexpected reward – the French police captain, Louis (Claude Rains) does not arrest Rick for murdering the Nazi major. Instead, they go off together to rejoin the war effort. It’s “the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

So aim for that in your ending. If it’s an outside forces type of ending, as in a thriller, the Lead must find the courage to fight against strong odds. If it’s inside, the Lead must find the moral courage to do the right thing. If he doesn’t, the story becomes a tragedy.

2. The Q Factor

True character is only revealed in crisis. That’s why novels put characters through the crucible of conflict. Ideally, that conflict reaches a climax where the end is in doubt, the odds are stacked against the Lead, the final battle looks bleak.

The character will need some emotional push to get over the doubts and fears. I call this push The Q Factor. It comes from the character in the James Bond movies, the one who is always giving Bond his gadgets and telling him not to play with them. There is a very important reason this character exists.

Let’s cut ahead to the inevitable James Bond ending. Bond has been hung by his ankles over a school of piranha . The bad guy grins and says something like, “Enjoy your swim, Mr. Bond.” Then he sets the timer to lower James Bond into the pool of piranha and walks out.

As Bond is lowered toward his doom, he manages to get his thumb on one of his cufflinks. The cufflink turns into a small, rotating saw. He uses that saw to cut through the restraints on his hands.

He is able to reach into his jacket pocket and pull out a fountain pen. The fountain pen is, in reality, a device that holds a compressed nitrogen charge and shoots a small grappling hook and line across the piranha pond, enabling Bond to cut his leg restraints and swing to safety on the other side of the pool.

Now, if we had been reading along in the story and gotten to this point, and Bond simply produced those items for the first time, we’d all be groaning. How convenient! What a cheat!

But of course, it was all set up by the Q scene. Because we saw these items before, we are perfectly accepting of them when they come out at the right time.

In fiction, the Lead character should reach a point near the end when everything looks lost. This can be something outside or inside the character, or both. But he is, in figurative terms, dangling over a pool of piranha.

What he needs is courage for the final battle, the ultimate test. This is where the Q Factor can help. It is something that is set up early in the story which will provide the necessary inspiration or instruction for the character when he needs it most.

Luke Skywalker hearing his beloved Obi-Wan’s voice, reminding him to “Use the Force,” is one example of a Q Factor. Simba seeing and hearing his father in the clouds in The Lion King. The voices of these loved ones come back to provide an emotional lift, a jolt of courage, at a crucial moment.

Or the Q Factor can be subtle and implicit. In Casablanca, Rick finally decides to take a stand against the Nazis by getting Victor Lazlo and Ilsa out of Casablanca.

Why does he do the right thing? What triggered it? In an early scene, the Nazi major, Strasser, is trying to figure Rick out by questioning him. Rick doesn’t want to make waves, but Strasser prods him, hinting that the Nazis might someday be in New York.

Rick says, ” Well, there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn’t advise you to try to invade.”

We see here that Rick has good old American attitude somewhere down deep. Near the end of Act 2, Rick allows his orchestra to play the French national anthem at Lazlo’s request. Lazlo is doing this to counter the Nazis who have started singing their own tune in Rick’s saloon.

This is a Q moment. Rick is moved by Lazlo’s bravery. We sense a connection between Rick’s lost idealism and his admiration for Lazlo. When Rick makes his sacrificial decision at the end, we accept that it has built to this point.

In a romance, the Q Factor may be that moment that changes one of the characters so they can truly love. Scarlett sees Ashley as he is, after Melanie’s death, and realizes that she has made an ideal of him. He never really existed at all, except in my imagination, she thinks.

And then she realizes the meaning of a dream she’s been having—it is her running home to Rhett. She now knows Rhett is the one she truly loves. Of course, by then it’s too late. Not all stories have happy endings. (I sometimes wonder if, in the first draft, Margaret Mitchell’s final line was, “Tomorrow will probably pretty much suck, too.”)

So a Q Factor can be a helpful way of thinking through a character’s inner journey. It’s highly flexible. It’s helped me tighten up my endings and might do the same for you.

3. My Own, Personal Method

When it comes to the actual writing of my endings, I have a method I call “Stew, Brew and Do.” It’s a little eccentric, but it works for me.

Stew

I spend a lot of time at the end of a manuscript just stewing about the ending. Brooding over it. I’ve got my final scenes in mind, of course, and have written toward them. I may even have written a temporary ending. But I know I won’t be satisfied until I give the whole thing time to simmer. I put the manuscript aside for awhile, work on other projects, let the “boys in the basement” (Stephen King’s great metaphor for the subconscious mind) take over.

I tell myself to dream about the ending before going to bed. I write down notes in the morning.

Brew

Then one morning I’ll spend a couple of hours poring over my notes and pages, thinking hard about the ending. Then I forget about it.

I take a long walk.

There is a Starbucks half an hour from my office. (In fact, there is a Starbucks half an hour from anyplace in the world). I put a small notebook in my back pocket and walk there, listening to music, not thinking about my story.

I get to Starbucks and order a brew—a solo espresso. I down it, wait a few minutes for it to kick in, and then start writing notes in the notebook about my ending. I write whatever comes to mind, without editing. The most original ideas for the ending happen here. My goal is to have lots of ideas and then choose the best ones.

Do

I go back to my office and write until finished.

4. Resonance

Finally, when I’m in the editing phase, I pay special attention to the very last lines. I want a certain sound, a “resonance.” It’s not something you can formalize. Each book is different. But I often tweak my endings twenty or thirty times. I want to get something like Salinger gets at the end of The Catcher in the Rye:

It’s funny. Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.

That is a line that sums up the entire book in a few words and jerks your emotions at the same time. And it’s possible to get this in any genre. You just have to work hard for it.

But the work is worth it because readers will not only be happy with your ending, they’ll be clamoring for your next book, too.

***

What book ending has stayed with you for years?

Join us on Friday for a Debut Author’s Interview with our very own Adrienne Giordano!

***

Bio: JAMES SCOTT BELL is the bestselling author of Deceived, Try Dying, Watch Your Back and several other thrillers. He served as fiction columnist for Writer’s Digest magazine, to which he frequently contributes, and has written three bestselling craft books for Writers Digest, including the #1 writing book of the decade, Plot & Structure.
Jim attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver. He graduated with honors from the University of Southern California law school, and has written over 300 articles and numerous books for the legal profession.
A former trial lawyer, Jim now writes and speaks full time. He lives in Los Angeles. His website is www.JamesScottBell.com.
You can follow him at Twitter.com/jamesscottbell and on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Scott-Bell/108765742543789

Today is a continuation of our Man Panel post from December 9, and we take out Man Panel into third base territory, below the waist. If you missed it, check out Part I to find out which of our guys are breast men…

Serving on today’s Man Panel are: Rob, age 38; Ethan, age 21; Jack, age 50-something; Trace, age 40.

Feet

Rob

Turn-on: Nice and soft well pampered and sexy

Turn-off: Banked up and cracked dry with a bad smell

Trace

Turn-off: I don’t even think about them.

Jack

Turn-on: I don’t have any foot turn-on’s or fetishes. Although, I do like the look of French manicures or is that a French pedicure?

Turn-off: More than six toes on one foot.

Ethan

Turn-on: Clean feet in open toed shoes with polished toe nails.

Turn-off: When a girl wears heels and doesn’t know how to walk in them or complains about how much her shoes hurt. That’s an intelligence test right there – if you know you’ll be doing a lot of walking, wear more comfortable shoes. Guys will not pity you if your feel hurt, they will just think you’re stupid.

Legs

Rob

Turn-on: Long lean legs with shapes and tone skinny ankles

Turn-off: Straight plain with cankles

Trace

Turn-on: Shaven
Turn-off: Unshaven

Jack

Turn-on: Long legs that are firm and slender. But a woman doesn’t have to be tall to have long legs. The legs just need to be proportioned a little longer that the upper torso on a woman of average height.

Turn-off: Second only to hairy armpits, legs on a woman that are hairier than mine are a definite a turn-off.

Ethan

Turn-on: Long slender legs mostly hidden behind a flowing dress in heels.

Turn-off: Spider veins and cellulite. And just because you don’t have skinny legs isn’t a turn off, but wearing a pair of daisy dukes with them is.

Butt

Rob

Turn-on: High and tight

Turn-off: Soft and sloppy or just flat

Trace

Turn-on: Covered just a little with sexy stuff from VS or Fred’s.
Turn-off: Too large or without any definition.

Jack

Turn-on: I might be sounding a little redundant, but firm and proportioned wins the turn-on challenge. The biggest turn-on however is the area where the lowest part of the back meets the very top of the butt and the lowest part of the butt meets the highest part of the leg. Those are great spots to explore with soft kisses and gentle — oops, sorry! I’m digressing.

Turn-off: Butts that should be de-emphasized because of their disproportioned size that are squeezed into clothing that makes you wonder, “what was that woman thinking when she decided to wear that?”

Ethan

Turn-on: A firm round butt. Big is ok, but I don’t want to be scared that you’ll knock over tables when you turn around.

Turn-off: When it’s just not there…going straight from legs to back with nothing in between. I also don’t like when girls wear clothes that don’t flatter themselves. I realize that there are many different shapes and sizes out there, but be smart when you put clothes on – there on some things depending on your body shape that you just should not wear.

Any Other Body Part(s) 

Rob

Turn-on: Brains

Turn-off: Dumb as a stump

Trace

Turn-on: Brain, brain and the brain. May be the sexiest part of a woman. Now don’t get me wrong, these others are very important; and required at various degrees, but I love an intelligent woman.

Ethan

Turn-on: If they have the stomach for it, a belly button piercing is dead sexy. I also really like long slender necks and think that there’s just about nothing in the world sexier than bare shoulders.

Turn-off: Too much makeup, the downfall of many an almost-pretty woman.

I don’t know about our readers, but I was heartened to see that a couple of our guys are adamant about smart women being a turn-on! Now, you tell us, what do YOU think turns men on or off?

Be sure to join us Friday when Special guest Tracey Colson-Kensinger starts us off on the right track with her New Year inspiration.

Serving on today’s Man Panel are: Rob, age 38; Ethan, age 21; Jack, age 50-something; Trace, age 40.

NOTE: Our guys had a lot to say on this topic, so today we’re going to stay above the waist. Join us on January 6 as we head into third base territory.

Hair

Rob    

Turn-on: Long and curly

Turn-off: Sloppy

Trace

Turn-on: Long or short. Dark is my first choice and well kept is the key.

Turn-off: Messy, unhealthy or just on someone that doesn’t care that much.

Jack

Turn-on: I’m partial to blonde, but long or short, pony tailed or braided makes little difference to me. I’m turned on by a hair style that fits the personality and features of the woman. Is she sophisticated, intelligent, playful, or tom-boyish? Is she all of these things at different times? A woman’s choice of hair style should complement her personality and if she can pull off a different look to fit the mood that’s a bigger turn on.

Turn-off: Hair that looks like it hasn’t been washed or cared for. Hair that’s over styled or over colored.

Ethan 

Turn-on: I like being able to play with hair. So anything that’s touchable. It doesn’t really matter whether it’s curly straight just as long as it’s touchable. Some of the times I find my girlfriend most attractive is when she has her hair up in a pony tail just lounging around in sweats and a t-shirt, no effort necessary.

Turn-off: Greasy hair and dandruff. Also, there are two hairstyles that should never be worn by anyone. The first is the bump. It’s awful. The second is the straight hair with straight bangs going across the forehead right above the eyes. Not attractive either. Oh, and super fake platinum blonde hair.

Eyes

Rob

Turn-on: Any two that looks good in her head

Turn-off: She looks like a mad scientist or cross-eyed

Trace

Turn-on: I like to see a sparkle in them, ones full of life.

Turn-off: Full of evil, anger, or without zeal for life.

Jack

Turn-on: Eyes that have flecks of colors mixed in with the primary color — very sexy. Eyes the color of a wolf’s, would be very sexy and very scary, but I guarantee men wouldn’t be able to look away. I would be remiss if I didn’t say that eyes that light up when a woman smiles is a turn-on and, last but not least, eyes that hint at a little mischievousness when accompanied with a smile are a turn-on.

Turn-off: I can’t think of one.

Ethan

Turn-on: Smiling with your eyes.

Turn-off: Clumpy eyelashes from too much mascara. Or creepy colored contact lenses

Lips/Mouth

Rob

Turn-on: Two lips and not so opinionated

Turn-off: No lips and very outspoken

Trace

Turn-on: I prefer lip stick on the lips and for them to be kissable. Other than that, no preference

Turn-off: One that talks too loud or talks too much.

Jack

Turn-on: Oh my god, there are so many jokes I could share right now, but I’ll remain focused. I like lips that are invitingly full with a mouth that is wide enough to soften the fullness. This might sound like double-talk but it’s not. Full puffy lips on a small mouth can make a woman look like she is always sucking on a lemon and thin lips on a wide mouth can make a woman look like the Grinch. Lips that are well proportioned and natural are a turn-on.

Turn-off: Lips that have been Botoxed; too much lipstick and lipstick that is too red or dark

Ethan

Turn-on: A bright smile behind kissable lips. Also I’ve always thought a lip ring was really hot.

Turn-off: Chapped lips, bad breath, yellow teeth, LIPSTICK ON YOUR TEETH. You don’t even need lipstick. Lip gloss or chapstick is sufficient.

Breasts

Rob

Turn-on: Two any size

Turn-off: Fake boobs

Trace

Turn-on: More so than the butt or legs. Like them just about any way they come

Turn-off: Nothing comes to mind.

Jack

Turn-on: Big, huge, ginormious — I thought I would get the answer that most women expected out of the way. Actually, I’ve never been captivated or enamored by large breasts. Like legs, lips and mouths breasts that are proportionate to the rest of the body are a good foundation for the “turn-on” breasts. Turn-ons are breast that are proportionately well shaped with a little poutiness (the nipple a little higher on the median line). The nipple is actually the biggest turn-on related to a woman’s breast. A nipple that is responsive to slight teasing touches or soft warm breath is a big turn-on. Please don’t make me describe “responsive”.

Turn-off: Women who think they have great beasts by virtue of their size and dress to show them off to the world.

Ethan

Turn-on: I’m definitely a boob man. There’s not really a particular size that I like, both petite and athletic or a more voluptuous and curvy can be incredibly sexy.

Turn-off: Big saggy boobs. But really, is that surprising? Oh, and here’s a little rule of thumb I use when deciding in my head if a girl is fat: if her stomach sticks out farther than her boobs, she’s fat. Otherwise, she’s just curvy. I realize that it gives petite girls a slight disadvantage, but hey, it is what it is.

RU crew, do you think the members of our Man Panel were completely honest? If you’re a woman, will their answers change how you view yourself? If you’re a man, are these guys on target with what you find attractive?

Please be sure to stop by Friday when agent Holly Root is here to talk about publishing contracts!

Serving on today’s Man Panel are: Rob, age 38; Ethan, age 21; Jack, age 50-something; Trace, age 40.

Jack Russell kicks us off by stating: The perfect Man World? Thank god men weren’t given the power to create it. Let’s just say that in the “perfect” man world we would self-destruct by age thirty — um, make that twenty-five. It’s kind of the kid in the candy shop thing. So instead of creating the “perfect” man-world I’ll remain grounded in reality and share the “Best I Could Hope For” man world.

Car

Rob: SUV and sports car

Ethan: Truck. Done and done. And not a wimpy little Toyota truck that rides as tall as a Honda. A REAL truck. Currently I have an old half broken down Dodge Ram 1500 with 4 wheel drive for off-roading and I love it (minus the half broken down part…).

Jack: Limited edition of course; Fast; Black; Lots of chrome, real chrome not the plastic stuff; Bitchen stereo system; Leather appointments; and, electronic gadgets out-the-ass. And, did I mention fast?

Trace: One that has very clean lines, conforming interior, awesome sound system, class, sleek engineering, and lots of muscle. This car would have a body that is medium in size, adequate head room and seating for 4, and is very defined in its curves in its rear fenders, quarter panels and hood. Under the hood is lots of horse power and has a sound that is distinctive and specific to this car only. Gas mileage isn’t near as important as power and speed. Like a 2010 Camaro RS 2SS.

Food

Rob: Yes and a lot of it even better if we are going out for it

Ethan: Grilling my own steak outside in 74 degrees and sunny while sipping on a beer and listening to music full blast while watching football on a 72” plasma screen in HD. That would be heaven.

Jack: Pizza! Lunch or dinner and especially the day after for breakfast cold right from the refrigerator.

Trace: Is different depending on the occasion. It has to fit the environment and social group which it is being served. It will be accompanied by the perfect drink or it’s not the perfect food. Most of the time a hotter and spicier flavor is preferred over any other option. I prefer Mexican over any other choice most of the time with Tequila in some form.

Vacation

Rob: 3 a year

Ethan: I love to travel and experience different cultures. My favorite vacation though would be relaxing on a beach with a good book and a drink hearing the waves crash in the background.

Jack: Warm tropical location along the ocean with warm night breezes — the fewer the clothes the better and definitely no dress-up clothes packed in the suitcase; Bare feet or sandals; No crowds and no particular place you have to be. A few years ago my wife surprised me with a vacation to the quiet remote northwest shores of Maui. It was the best vacation I ever had.

Trace: Sun, ocean, sandy beach accompanied by a great book, iPod, and a cold drink of choice in my hand.

Pet

Rob: Take it or leave it…but if I take it, it would be a large dog

Ethan: I want a boxer so bad it’s not even funny. His name would be either Leonidas or Maximus.

Jack: There’s only one pet worth having and that’s a dog. I like real dogs with real dog names — not fluffy or precious, a dog that is loyal and protective of one master and only responds to the commands given by its owner. I’m going to go out on a limb here and state that unless you’re a man over the age of 70 living in Florida and wear black socks and dress shoes with Bermuda shorts, you shouldn’t have a dog that looks like a mutant rodent. I currently have a 70 pound boxer/husky mix dog named Brody who is definitely loyal and protective, but I have to admit needs some work on obeying commands.

Trace: A well trained dog.

Woman

Rob: Yes, someone easy on the eyes and fun to talk to…not high maintenance

Ethan: The perfect woman…I feel like this is a question I could get in trouble for answering…but the perfect woman, besides being beautiful (but not so much that every other guy is trying to steal her from you) would be able to cook FANTASTIC food, be able to throw a football, have intelligent conversations, be comfortable around my friends, not be scared to drink a beer instead of a mixed drink, know when to argue and when to concede, and not withhold…

Jack: Intelligent but never condescending; Reflective but never moody; Prioritizes my needs above hers; Is an energy giver not an energy drainer; Sleeps naked; Thinks I’m the most handsome and sexiest man alive or dead; and, quickly forgives me when I’ve made an ass out of myself. I’m actually deeply in love with and married to a beautiful woman who comes pretty damn close to my “perfect” woman — If I could only convince her to sleep naked.

Trace: One that is by my side at all times because she loves me and knows I love her. She is classy, educated, attractive, a little country as well as refined. She is funny, and a little naïve. She makes me want to be better each day.

Sport

Rob: Football and Softball / Baseball

Ethan: Football reigns supreme.

Jack: I’m a huge fan of mixed martial arts. And yes, I believe it is a sport. Its one-on-one competitive contact that requires athletic skill, tremendous conditioning, controlled aggression and a warrior’s heart. Any man who has been in a real fight at some point in his life knows what I’m talking about. I don’t like aggression in day to day life and believe intellectual discussion is the correct means to resolve conflict.  But in a controlled setting with rules to prevent serious injury combat sports are true tests of one man’s ability to physically dominate another. Sorry ladies, it’s a man thing.

Trace: One that matches the mental aspect of the game with the physical requirements. Golf and baseball are two great examples.

Hobby

Rob: Driving my Sports car  / SUV to the airport to go on vacation with a women take in a sport event and some good food in warm weather then hit the beach to get her in a bikini

Ethan: I enjoy reading a good book, especially the classics. Currently I’m reading the unabridged Oxford World Classic version of Count of Monte Cristo.

Jack: I’ll let you know when I settle on one, but archery is coming close to being my first hobby.

Trace: One that takes a little time and gives my mind and body a break from the demands of life and being a husband/dad. It’s something that I can do a regular basis.

Drink

Rob: VODKA

Ethan: Route 44 Dr. Pepper with extra Sonic ice – there is not a drink in this world more refreshing than that.

Jack: Full bodied red wines, but a cold beer on a hot summer day can be really, really good. Amstel Light is a good choice for beer.

Trace: Melon Rita. That equal parts Tequila, Watermelon Liquor, and Sweet and Sour.

Job

Rob: Not really into that but she should work…lol

Ethan: My dream job is to be a linguist and study the origins of development of languages and how they are interrelated. Oh yea, and have that actually pay money…which is why I’m pursuing my second choice – engineering.

Jack: If I had the ability to restart a career I’d be a dentist. I know what you’re thinking; a dentist doesn’t evoke an image of a mysterious, dark and handsome manly man or a powerful, wealthy world dominating man. But, right from the get-go they’re their own boss, set their own hours, make good money and — OK you’re right, I was kidding. My perfect man job, however, is a self-made business man billionaire making more money than I could ever spend.  Don’t try to tell me that money can’t buy happiness. It can buy a lot of happiness. And, if I couldn’t be a self made billionaire, I would want to be a cowboy.

Trace: One that is in and out of the office. Making a difference in people’s lives and changing the world to a better place. Kind of like the one I have now without the corporate stuff that comes down with it.

Weekend

Rob: Sunday Football and Sauce with pasta and lots of garlic bread    YUM!!!!

Ethan: My perfect weekend would involve sleeping in and making pancakes for breakfast, doing something outside (rock climbing, Frisbee, camping), a fancy date out at a nice restaurant and then going out to a play, watching Sunday football with the guys, and a good cigar. All of that in one weekend would make up the perfect weekend.

Jack: Driving to an out-of-the-way location with my wife. I have the best time when we jump in the car and go for the day or overnight. We even have a ritual of making our first stop Starbucks for coffee and McDonald’s for egg McMuffins. We’ll drive to a Historic town and walk through the local shops or drive to a state forest and hike the trails.

Trace: Full of friends, food, live music and dancing. Lots of down time for cooking accompanied by a beverage of choice and finished off with night life on the dance floor, enjoying each other’s company and having fun.

Sexual Position

Rob: What ever gets you off …then try what she likes

Ethan: Reverse cowgirl. ’Nuff said.

Jack: Whichever one is working at the time. And, sometimes more than one at the same time.

Trace: If we are hot and passionate, stooped doggy dog. Slow and intimate, missionary with my body weight resting on top of her, her legs wrapped around me.

RUers, did our Man Panel’s perfect Man World surprise you? If so, why? Did you learn something new about men’s deepest desires? Members of our Man Panel might stop by on and off today so feel free to toss out questions!

Don’t forget to join us Friday when Theresa Stevens discusses passive and literary writing!

Read on to learn what Jack thought about Suzanne Brockmann’s Into the Storm, a New York Times bestselling novel. Here’s Jack!

Some of you may recall that this past June I was interviewed by RU faculty member Tracey Devlyn to provide a “male” perspective on romance novels (A Male Perspective — 06/17/09). During the interview, I shared the fact that I had read two romantic suspense books without knowing they were in fact, romance books. I was then asked if I thought I would read another one. I believe that as a result of my wishy-washy answer RU faculty promptly challenged me to read and respond, from my male perspective, to another romantic suspense novel chosen by the results of a readers’ poll. I readily admit that I am totally unqualified to do so other than by virtue of my maleness. In hindsight, I should have given more thought to this request before agreeing to the challenge, because as I write this response I can’t help but feel that unless I say that I loved the book and have become a romance fan I will be worse than “Jack Russell Terrier crap” in the eyes of the RU faculty.  I really believe they want to convert me to a romance book enthusiast. I imagine their desire is similar to a woman who is convinced they can turn a gay man straight after they’ve have had sex with him.

The road to my current dilemma started in July after the reader poll identified Suzanne Brockmann as the author I would read. RU faculty recommended that I choose one of three books: Flashpoint, Over The Edge or Into The Storm. Ok, fine, now what? I was lost. Fortunately, my wife came to my rescue and suggested I look on Ms Brockmann’s website and read the book blurbs and choose the one that sounded interesting to me. After doing so, I keyed in on the book Into The Storm:

In a remote, frozen corner of New Hampshire, a Navy SEAL team and the elite security experts of Troubleshooters, Incorporated are going head-to-head as fierce but friendly rivals in a raid-and-rescue training exercise. Despite the frigid winter temperatures, tension smolders between veteran SEAL Petty Officer Mark “Jenk” Jenkins and former cop turned Troubleshooter Lindsey Fontaine … the Troubleshooters’ new receptionist (Tracy), vanishes while playing the role of hostage during a mock rescue operation.

Teaming up with the FBI to launch a manhunt in the treacherous wilderness … The trail is colder than the biting New England climate until a lucky break leads to a horrifying discovery—a brutally murdered young woman … Suddenly there is a chilling certainty that Tracy has fallen prey to a serial killer—one who knows the backwoods terrain and who doesn’t play by the rules of engagement.

In a race against time, a raging blizzard, and a cunning opponent, Jenk and Lindsey are put to the ultimate test. Risking everything, they must finally come together in a desperate attempt to save Tracy …

Navy Seals, elite special operations experts, former L.A. cop, serial killer, FBI, and treacherous wilderness. Yes, I decided, I can read this book. And, truth be told, the book cover didn’t look like a romance book and the other two books did. Off to the book store I went, but only after my wife agreed to go with me and search the romance section for the book in question. I mentioned in my interview that men don’t peruse the romance section of a book store unless they’re willing to give back their “man card.” I know there are exceptions to every “guy” rule, but I’m not willing to step out on this one. So, while I hid behind a copy of a Guns and Ammo magazine, my wife went in search of the book.

It didn’t take her long and she soon strolled over to the magazine stand and gave me a thumbs up sign.  She slipped it to me on the “down low” and I took a quick glance as I was adjusting the book in my hand to make sure that the cover side would be held against my hip — it wasn’t. Whoa there, and hold on one second! Unlike the book cover depicted on the website, the paperback in my hand had a background photo of a sultry woman lying on her back with a shirtless muscular man on top of her. Both the man and woman had their eyes closed and blissful contented looks on their faces. How nice for them. “Not fair,” I whispered. “This looks way too much like a romance book. I can’t take it to the cashier.” My wife’s eyes gleamed and the corner of her mouth turned upward in a nefarious grin. “Well, I suppose I could buy it for you,” she said. Isn’t she wonderful? I thought so until the moment we were in front of the cashier and she said in a loud voice, “Honey, is this the only romance book you wanted to buy today?” Knowing that in the wit department my wife can slice and dice me like a Ginsu knife I elected to not attempt a witty comeback, I turned and slowly walked away.  

Once home, I opened the book and flipped through the pages. “Holy crap” the paperback was 500 pages and there wasn’t a lot of white space. This was going to be a longer than normal read. The book then sat patiently on the bedside table waiting for me to resign myself to the task. I didn’t lose interest in the “assignment” or the storyline, but come on this was a romance book. How many words does it take to lay out a passionate interest, which leads to sex that turns into a fight that awakens a romantic spark and ultimately love? Throw in some suspense and a happily ever after ending and you have a romance novel, right?

As it happens, Suzanne Brockman wrote a story that, for me, would have otherwise languished had it not been for the interesting and appealing characters she created. A few of them were quirky to say the least and others burdened with emotional scars, which seems to be an element of romance books. The emotional baggage was a little too complicated, in my opinion, in regard to the main female character (Lindsey). My “guy” reaction to Lindsey was that she was irrevocably emotionally damaged and Mark, the love interest, should have cut his losses and ran.

But the storyline is intricately woven around several characters and they all play off of each other’s personalities very well. I also liked the way Suzanne Brockmann presented the underlining suspense of the serial killer who is holding a woman captive for use in his private and deadly “chicks only” fight club. As I read the story, I felt certain that at some point this subplot would collide with the main storyline and my assumption kept me very interested in reading the final outcome. As a side note, the serial killer is seriously disturbed and reading about him will cause women to look twice over their shoulder when walking alone at night.

My biggest surprise was that parts of the book were really funny. There were several one-liners and a lot of dialog between characters that caused me to laugh to myself and on a few occasions I actually chuckled out loud. I’ve read so many books over the years that it’s not often I come across fresh humor. It was a pleasant surprise.

Having said all this, is it time to share my “guy” response? I think by inference you can tell that I believe Suzanne Brockmann wrote a very interesting story. The out of the ordinary and appealing characters and the humorous dialog made it a good book. The romantic relationship between Mark and Lindsey, however, detracted slightly from my overall enjoyment. Remember this is my “guy” response and personal opinion. The development of their relationship and Lindsey’s conflicting emotions became a little too much for me. It got to the point were I thought Lindsey should schedule an appointment with Dr. Phil and get back in touch with Mark after a couple of years in therapy. I know what you think I’m thinking and your right, I think as far as their relationship was concerned, the guy had it together and the girl was the “head case.” Nevertheless, I knew they would eventually work things out, realize that they loved each other and would overlook her (oops, I mean their) emotional deficiencies. As a result, I lost interest in the romance part of the storyline. Outside of the romance, I really enjoyed the book.

Have I become a romance novel fan? In truth, no. BUT, I enjoyed the three romantic suspense books that I’ve read, but not because of the romance. I liked the suspense built into the stories. Will I read more romantic suspense in the future? Maybe. I am pretty certain, however, that you won’t see me perusing the aisles of the romance section at the bookstore. And I’m absolutely certain I won’t take a book to the cashier that has a picture, drawing, photo or other visual illustration of a woman and man embracing or any depiction that seems to be customary for romance books. Sorry, it’s a guy thing.

I would, however, like to repeat a thought I shared during my past interview with Tracey. I think it’s important to weigh my belief against any negative comments you may feel that I’ve made about romance books. I believe that romance novels merit an equal status in the literary world. I don’t consider them to be fictional stories less deserving of readers and fans. I believe good books touch something within us, stir emotions and evoke response and internal debate. Therefore, by virtue of their popularity, I would say that romance books are doing what good books do. I think a lot of romantic suspense fans would certainly place Suzanne Brockmann’s book, Into The Storm, in this category.

So there you have it. A male’s perspective on romance. Again. This time with his eyes wide open. Do we have any females out there who have read Into the Storm? Do you share any of Jack’s opinions, or do you think he’s full of dog poo?

Managing Editor Theresa Stevens returns on Friday to discuss passive voice and how to avoid it.

Yes, we will be discussing the man hug. 

Scary, I know.

I recently read an article in the Chicago Tribune on how men hug each other.  I found this fascinating because I’ve never seen an article in the Trib on how women hug each other.  I mean, what’s the big deal?  I quickly found out there is a whole dynamic with men hugging each other that I was unaware of.  Who knew the man hug could be so controversial?

I consulted a couple of my favorite “guy” blogs for more information and hit the jackpot on my first two attempts.  The following is an excerpt from an Esquire magazine post about “the shug.” 

 The combination of a shake and hug has been around for years. One hand grasps the other man’s hand, and one arm goes around his shoulder. The handshake is facile. The hug is tender. But the shug is right there in the middle — masculine and affectionate at the same time, reserved but expressive. It allows you to put yourself out there by bringing the other guy in. Close but not so close. It’s more than a shake, less than a hug. It’s a shug.

This next excerpt is from The Art of Manliness and it’s a step-by-step on how to give the proper man hug. 

The How of the American Man Hug

1.    Begin with a traditional firm handshake.

2.    Keeping your hand clasped with your buddy, wrap the left arm  around the shoulder of your friend.

3.    Slap your friend’s back two times.  The back slap is key.  Somehow hitting your fellow man makes the hug more manly.

4.    Release embrace.

We thought it would be fun to have our man panel review this information and give us their thoughts.

As usual, they didn’t disappoint!  First up is Rob:

The man hug or shug is utilized to covertly and discreetly speak without lip readers or standers-by who would be able to hear what is being said. In the real man world this is used to give more affection than usual by men. I personally have used the man hug (shug) at weddings, funerals and also with very, very close friends. However there is a tell as to how sincere the affection is and I will explain.

 1- You have not seen your friend in a long time and you are great friends.  You trust this person with your life.  Full court press is used here.  A firm handshake followed by a quick pull in chest to chest, and then the man hug with the loud and abundant slapping on the back. This has been known to last more than the normal greeting time would allow and, if truly heartfelt by both parties, does not cross the line into the uncomfortable!

 2-Behind your very good friend stated above, there are other men that feel THEY are just as close to you as your best friend and YOU do not share the same sentiment. This is where the awkward feelings come in.  To avoid this you give less chest to chest and less time on the back slaps, but you are not trying to insult this person so you put up with it.

 3-Further down the food chain there are some wannabes that attempt to imitate the top dogs in this scenario. They have elaborate handshakes that last 45 seconds and then a series of hugs and back slaps that look like they are trying to knock each other’s lungs out through their oral passages. This is a total waste of time and is only for show, no personality or real emotion is attached to this. It is a dog and pony show to attract attention to them.

Gotta love that Rob!  Our good friend Jack Russell chimed in with the following:

The man hug referred to as the “shug” is absolutely okay in today’s man-world — under the right circumstances. In my mind, the shug elevates the friendly handshake greeting to the level of acknowledged mutual affection (manly affection of course).  I know some men might cringe at the use of the word affection when describing feelings about another man. Okay then, let’s just say another man that we really like in a manly way. As such, I reserve the “shug” for men in my family and close friends. The kind of friendships that have lasted years and developed through shared experiences. I’ve been friends with some of my guy friends for 35 or more years and we don’t hesitate to shug each other hello and goodbye.

It’s not necessary however to know someone that long before it’s okay to shug him, but I think the shared experiences need to be significant. If you shugged every guy you met, the act would no longer be expressive of a close friendship or camaraderie.  And then, if the need arose to be expressive — no, no, no I’m not moving to the full hug. So guys please don’t overuse the shug!

I have a few additional rules about shugging I’d like to offer. First, no shugging in the work-place, it’s not professional; If you see your friends or male relatives every day, forget the shug because it violates the overuse rule; Don’t add pats on the back to the shrug, it may be interpreted as being patronizing; If you’re in a mixed crowd, some close friends and some acquaintances, don’t overplay the shug with your close friends, use the subtle shoulder bump instead of the arm around the back. It’s impolite to make the acquaintances feel left out, and just in case you’re thinking about including them, that would, at the very least, be disingenuous; A rule to consider for you guys in that 6’ 3’’ range and taller, use the handshake and shoulder bump with us average sized guys, it’s unnerving to have a big guy hunched over the top of us. And lastly, when in doubt, stick with the handshake. There is nothing worse than a self-conscious shug.

 I followed up with the 6’5” Rob regarding Jack’s suggestion to the tall guys.  Here’s what Rob said:

I don’t really think about that usually. The man hug is used with those people that are close to me, so the awkwardness of the size difference has not come into play. Also the shug has been a way for friends, not strangers, to greet and show affection. Having said this, take a look around your close circle of friends.  You most likely have similar sizes, hair styles, likes and dislikes so the size differences most likely will not be an issue. And if you do have a tall glass or a short stout in your group you may not want to invoke your shug privilege.  

So, what do we think?  For our female readers, did you ever imagine there could be so much involved with men hugging each other?  It’s a whole other language.

For our male readers, do you agree with Rob and Jack Russell?  What are your own thoughts on the shug?

Also, in case you are curious, below are the two links for the Esquire blog and the Art of Manliness.  They were very entertaining!

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/endorsement/obama-shug-021109#ixzz0JZEH6UMo&D

http://artofmanliness.com/2008/03/07/the-mechanics-of-the-man-hug/

Join us on Friday when Leslie Wainger will discuss the benefits of a book doctor.  See you then!

RU Faculty polled readers to see which romantic suspense author they’d like Jack to read. And the winner is…Suzanne Brockmann.

After much sniffing around back cover blurbs, Jack has selected Into the Storm. He’ll spend the next month reading the book and typing up his manly review to be posted on August 26.

Please stop back on 8/26 to see what Jack has to say about Into the Storm. You’re sure to be entertained and enlightened!

So we’re asking you, our Romance University readers, to decide which author’s work Jack will read.

[poll id="2"]

Today, on Anatomy of the Male Mind, we have “Jack Russell” visiting, who’s going to give us his perspective on a romance novel. “Jack” will pop in throughout the day to answer any burning questions you might have for him.

Meet Jack:

Age: 55

Region: Midwest

Education: Bachelor’s degree

Status: Married

Reading Preference: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Suspense/Action, Fiction

Tracey: Have you ever read a romance novel? If yes, what type (romantic suspense, romantic comedy, historical)?

Jack: I’ve only read two romance novels and they were categorized as romantic suspense. So it’s fair to say that my book choices don’t really lean toward the romance genre. I did enjoy both books, however.

Tracey: When you purchased the book, did you know it was a romance? If not, what drew you to the book (cover, back cover blurb, author’s name)?

Jack: No, I didn’t realize it was a romance. I was definitely drawn to the book by the cover, which is typical for me unless I’m in a store looking for a specific title or author. One of the romance novels was in a stack of my wife’s books. She is a huge fan of historical romance and it’s not unusual to find books in every corner and flat surface of our home. The cover didn’t look like her usual covers, which may be why I picked it up to take a closer look. The author’s name (female) and the title of the book filled the cover changing from black to red as the letters moved toward the bottom of the page. The last word of the title rested upon yellow and red flames. It caught my attention enough to read the back cover. The story-line seemed interesting. Homicide investigator teams up with an arson investigator to track down a serial arsonist murderer who ends up stalking the investigators — I couldn’t resist.

The other book I actually took off a carousel display of new paperbacks at a bookstore, not realizing it was a romance. Similar to the other book, the cover contained the author’s name (female) and the title of the book. The title was written in white letters behind a shattered opaque window on a background of pale blue/grey. The letters were very clear where the glass was missing and slightly blurry where the glass remained. The story-line on the back cover described a suspense plot that involved a female criminal prosecutor, an ex-police officer neighbor with a secret background and an unknown assailant who was attempting to kill the prosecutor. These are the types of stories that interest me when I’m in the mood for a suspense novel.

Tracey: What did you think of the male character in the book? Did the character act like a man would?

Jack: The male characters in these books were believable for the most part. They were portrayed as intelligent, determined men who also had a calm, softer side. However, I think they were more introspective about the developing relationship with the main female character than I think most men would be given the circumstances described in these stories. They certainly weren’t wimpy men, but I’m not sure a man who is focused on protecting and surviving would be in the right frame of mind to analyze a developing relationship. I believe this type of analysis is difficult enough for most men and normally happens after the relationship has matured. In other words, after sex moves a little further down the guy’s priority list. The two male characters in these books were in their mid-thirties. It did seem unlikely that they would have been able to intellectualize their emotions in the manner and detail described by the author. At the time I was reading the book, however, these thoughts were not a distraction for me.

Tracey: Rate your level of enjoyment (1-10, 10 highest).

Jack: I think a rating of 7 would reflect my enjoyment level.

Tracey: Tell us what you liked about the story and what you didn’t.

Jack: I liked the intrigue and suspense created by not knowing who the “bad-guy” was and what his motives were. I also enjoyed the action and pace of the story. The action was physical. In both books, the characters moved from one location to another in pursuit of, or being pursued by, the arsonist and assailant. The stories weren’t violent by most standards, but they did included physical confrontations and some gun-play.

In regard to my dislikes, you may expect me to say the parts of the stories that described the developing romantic relationships, but that wasn’t the case. Many of the fictional books I read include the development of a relationship between the main character and the opposite sex. However, sometimes these relationships never move beyond satisfying physical desires and sometimes the characters decide they’re not ready for, or they’re incapable, of entering into a committed relationship. The relationships don’t always end with “happily ever after.” For me, this unknown adds to the intrigue of a story.

Back to your question regarding my dislikes; I really don’t recall disliking any aspect of the books.

Tracey: You might not be familiar with romance subgenre lingo, but what do you think the difference is between a regular romance novel, erotic and porn? Is there a difference?

Jack: Great question. I should preface my response, though, by admitting that I know very little about romance novels. I believe my wife told me that romance novels require a happily ever after ending. If that’s the case, I would guess erotic and porn do not. In general, however, these terms have very different meanings to me. I believe romance is the means by which we express our love or significant interest in another person. It serves to draw two people together and creates and nurtures an emotional bond. Erotic, is the steamy physical expression of love or intense attraction, which culminates or nearly concludes with sex. For me, it implies the build-up of sexual tension created by the intense desire for physical contact. Erotic has an edge and heat with one or both partners focused on drawing out and intensifying the pleasure being given. Porn on the other hand, seems to only depict the visual or written rendition of sex with very little, if any, need for romance, intimacy or the build up of sexual tension. I think pornography is one of those things that is hard to describe, but you know it when you see it.

Tracey: Would you purchase another romance? Why? Please be specific.

Jack: I would read another romantic suspense novel with a similar plot to the two I’ve read. I didn’t feel as though those two stories focused more on the romance than the suspense and action of the plot. But your question was, “would I purchase another romance?” You turned up the heat with this question. The straightforward answer is, probably not. In my “guy mind,” “real men” don’t read romance novels. “Real” men don’t even linger in the aisles of the romance section unless they’re standing with their wife or girlfriend. I know that’s a huge stereotyping and sexist opinion, but the litmus test for most men in determining acceptable male actions or reactions is–would I tell my “guy” friends? How would they react to knowing? Would they say, hey that’s cool so do I? Or, would they beat me up with it every time we get together until the day I’m buried? I have no doubts over my “guy” friends’ responses.

Tracey: Have you ever set a book back down when you realized it was a romance?

Jack: Answering this question may also get me in trouble. I related earlier that the two romance books I read I only picked up because they didn’t look like romance books and because of the story pitch on the back cover. Other than those two books, I’ve not picked up any others because the cover or title usually makes them very recognizable as a romance book. In truth, if I had noticed the words “Romantic Suspense” written on the spine of the one romantic suspense book that I did purchase, I probably would have set it back down for two reasons. One, I would have second guessed my original belief, based on the storyline on the back cover, that I would like the book. Two, I would have felt awkward taking the book to the counter believing that the cashier would find it amusing, to say the least, that a man was buying a romance book.

I understand that my response to these last two questions may place me in poor light with your readers. I actually consider myself to be a progressive modern day male fully comfortable with the broad range and intersections of the male and female genders. And, in no way am I a “macho guy” but I have adopted the belief that romance books are written by women for other women with the intention of eliciting a woman’s emotional reaction to the romantic side of the story. Therefore, even though I enjoyed the two romance books I’ve read, my “guy” mind focused on the action and suspense of the story, not the nuances of the romantic relationship.

Tracey: In general, what do you think of romance novels? Why do you think romance novels hold the largest share of the consumer book market?

Jack: Actually, I’m very surprised by the statement implied by your second question. I didn’t know that romance novels held that title. They obviously have a broader worldwide appeal than I realized. In response to your first question; “In general, what do I think of romance novels?” I certainly think they merit an equal status in the literary world. I don’t consider them to be fictional stories less deserving of readers and fans. I believe good books touch something within us, stir emotions and evoke response and internal debate. Therefore, by virtue of their popularity, I would say that romance books are doing what good books do. Romance books, however, probably won’t be my first or second choice when I’m looking for a book to dive into, because my reading preferences lean toward different genres. I’m not going to say never though. I may, some day, pick up that one book or read that certain author that hooks me.

Thank you, Jack, for stopping by today! Okay, readers, it’s your turn to delve deeper into Jack’s male mind. Have fun!

Please join Kelsey on Friday to hear what Agent Lois Winston has to say about balancing the Writer and the Internal Editor.