All right.  I like to think I’m a nice guy, generous even.  However, that’s obviously getting me nowhere.   I let Alexis use my blog to talk about heroes, thinking she’d wax poetically about me.   Did she?   Not so much.    Then she demanded a second week on the blog to talk about heroines.   I said, sure, why not?   Especially maybe, just maybe, she’d talk about my future heroine.   Maybe drop a hint about her being blonde or brunette or redheaded.   Smart?  Dumb?  Long legs?   Big . . . umm . . . eyes.   But no, that didn’t happen.

And now she sticks some cowboy’s picture on my blog?    How rude is that????   Well, just for her being such a brat, I’m retaking control over my blog.   She doesn’t seem all that worried about it, especially because she’s leaving town on Friday and won’t be back for a week.   She says it doesn’t matter if I won’t let her on if she can’t access the internet from where she’s going to be.   Tell me this–what kind of hell hole doesn’t have internet????   Do they even have electricity or indoor plumbing?  

<OUCH>   (rubbing his arm)   Here’s a little known fact for you–Alexis swings a mean punch.   So okay, I’ll make nice and apologize.   And I might sort of promise to behave while she’s gone and out of touch.   <snort>    Once she takes off  for the week, I may check out for a few days myself for a little downtime.   However, I’ve arranged for a special guest to blog for the two of us on Monday, July 6th.   I know you’ll enjoy the surprise. 

Well, off to save the world.

DJ

Okay, Chris is last week’s winner for being the first to respond to the blog on heroines!   Congratulations, Chris!   Email me your snail mail address at alexismorgan @ alexis morgan.com (without the spaces. 

I’ll be sending you a copy of THE OUTLAW GROOM.   Although it was part of a trilogy, the story stands alone.   Luke is one of my own personal favorite heroes I’ve ever written.  He has been damaged by experiences both during the Civil War and the aftermath, seeking only to find some peace in his life.  Cora is a particular favorite from among my heroines, too.   I hope you’ll enjoy their story.   Besides, the cover is great! 

Alexis

I promised DJ a piece of cherry pie if he’d let me post another blog this week.  So thanks, big guy.  I’ll remember this when it comes time for me to start your book.  Maybe I’ll go easier on you–but probably not.  <g>

Last week we had a great discussion about Dark Heroes, whether paranormal or not, that appeals so strongly to us as readers–and for some of us,  as writers as well.  This week I’d like to talk about the heroine and what she must bring to her role in a Dark Hero’s story.   Here are my thoughts in no particular order. 
 
1.  The heroine must be strong.  I’m talking inner strength, but some obviously also bring physical strength to the party.  She may not be aware of how truly strong she is until she is placed in a position where she must defend not only herself but the hero.  For me, I think that she has to have shown some glimmer of strength in the past–surviving her own traumatic past, carved out a successful career for herself, taken on responsibility at a young age.  Something, anything so that her determination to protect the hero from further hurt doesn’t come out of left field leaving the reader wondering where it came from
  
2.  She sees past the hero’s scars, both emotional and physical, to the honorable man that he still is.  She doesn’t ignore those scars or what caused them, but puts them in perspective, seeing them as part of what made him the man she loves.   She shows him compassion, but not pity.
 
3.  She trusts the hero on an instinctual level, even if everyone else thinks she’s crazy to do so.  She KNOWS he will keep her safe both physically and emotionally or die trying. 

4.  She may have her own issues to deal with.  On the surface they may be in direct opposition to the hero’s conflict.   An example would be Bella–she’s just escaped being kidnapped and abused.  Yet, she knows that the one man who will keep her safe is Zsadist, the most unstable and violent of the Brothers.  In my own writing, Brenna finds out that both her father and Trahern kept her in the dark about who and what they are.  Yet despite that betrayal, she knows that Trahern will keep her safe.  Lacey wants to find a way to keep her brother and the Paladins safe, yet she falls in love with their enemy.  

5.  The heroine acts as a catalyst to bring about profound change in the hero’s life–and therefore her own.  She makes him see that there are more possibilities in his life than just the mission, whatever that might be.  She forces him to trust her–with the secret world of his kind, not to betray those he cares about, and finally with his badly wounded heart.
   
6.  She doesn’t fear his strength or his capacity for violence.  She know he’ll never use them against her.

7.  She makes him believe that she really does trust him with herself, with those she cares about, and with her heart.

8.  She has characteristics that speak to him despite the loneliness of his kind or the weight of all his years, or his fear of being betrayed yet again.   Some examples are  personal integrity; gentleness;  strength of a different kind than he possesses; a fierce protectiveness for those she cares about, including him; and her fear for what the mission, however necessary, will cost him.

9.  She has the ability to convince him that she’s not just worth dying for, but that she’s worth living for as well.

In my own writing,  I try to keep all of these characteristics in mind as I develop my heroines.   Laurel fights against the accepted dogma that Paladins eventually all lose their humanity.  Lacey sees Barak as the honorable warrior that he is and makes others accept him as well.   Brenna will not accept that Trahern is on the verge of destruction.  I could go on.  

So, let me know what you think.   Are there characteristics that you like that I haven’t mentioned?   Characteristics that you hate in a heroine?   

And just for grins, I’ll be giving away one of my westerns this week to one lucky person–

Alexis

Okay, I know this is DJ’s Blog, and he’s not going to be happy to have it hijacked two weeks in a row.  But at least it’s me doing the ‘jacking and not DJ’s archnemisis, Jake.   I hope that he will accept my apologies for taking control for the day, but I promise I’ll give it right back.  Really.   

I don’t often  step in here wearing my author hat to write a blog,  but I’ve had something on my mind for a long time and want to lay it out on the table to see where the discussion takes us.   You see, I been thinking about all of my favorite heroes in books–both my creations, but also from my favorite authors–and trying to see what they have in common.  What is it about them that really appeals to readers?    I can tell you this much right off the bat:  I love dark heroes, the darker the better.   You know the ones I mean, the guys in black leather dusters, haunting the shadows with their tortured souls.   I especially love the ones who  have the farthest to go in their journey  in order to get anywhere close to something resembling happy in their lives.  

It’s why I prefer Spike to Angel (although Angel definitely has great appeal, as well), Zsadist to Phury, Vishous to Butch, and Zarek (silver claws and all) is my favorite from among all of Sherrilyn Kenyons wonderful heroes.   I like Eric Northman more than Bill.   Bill has always had a sense of honor, I think.   Eric’s  strong feelings for Sookie has been a bit of shock to him, and I’ve enjoyed watching their relationship develop.  

In my own books, Blake Trahern really does it for me.  Hunter, too, although you won’t see his story for a while.  Larem is shaping up to be a heartbreaker, too.   In my westerns, Luke and Brody really stand out.   For those who remember him (waving at Bonnie here), Grant Sullivan in Linda Howard’s Midnight Rainbow stole my heart twenty plus years ago and turned me on to reading romances and eventually to writing them.   Just about any Anne Stuart hero works for me.   And a friend and I have been talking about Rachel Lee’s Conard County series–there are several really great dark heroes scattered throughout the books.  The list goes on and on–thank goodness, or eventually I’d run out of things to read.  And reread, for that matter.

So what is it about them?   Here are some characteristics that many of them share.  I’m sure there are more, but for the sake of discussion these will help get us started.
1.  Dark Heroes have suffered betrayal at some point in their lives, either by their enemies or worse yet, those they considered friends.
2.  They are emotionally closed off, not because they feel nothing, but because they feel too much.
3.  They have a strong code of honor (I’m thinking Angel more than Spike here)  that may be the last thing they cling to that gives their life, their cause meaning.
4.  They are scarred–some physically (Hunter), all most all of them emotionally.
5.  They are warriors who have dedicated much of their life to defending the cause, whatever that might mean.  (This is also the reason I’m a huge Suzanne Brockmann fan.)  
6.  Allowing themselves to care about someone is a scarier proposition than going into battle, guns blazing or swords swinging.

Those are the characteristics that quickly come to mind.   I’m sure there are others I’ve not listed, and of course, each dark hero has his own uniquie blend of traits that make him memorable.   I’d like your opinions on the subject.  What makes dark heroes so popular?   Whose book do you have on your keeper shelf because the hero haunts your dreams?    

Let me know what you think.  Inquiring minds want to know. 

Alexis  

I promised to pick a lucky winner to get an autographed copy of Sandor’s cover last week.  With my computer woes, it totally slipped my mind.  For that, I apologize.  To make up for my brain malfunction, I’ve pick three (count them, three) winners!   So ladies, lease email me with your snail mail addresses at alexismorgan @ alexismorgan.com (without the spaces) and I’ll mail them out next week. 

So congratulations to:
1.  Kay Johnson
2.  Nikia
3.  Kim (thanks for the nudge–I obviously needed it) 

Alexis

Alexis thought you all might like to hear something from some of the ladies in DJ’s life–although we’re his friends.  Our guys might not like it if DJ were to even hint that we meant something more to him.   I’ll go first, just to give you an update on things–

Hello, I’m Laurel.   My job is to patch all the Paladins back together.   As I’ve pointed out before, I know how they all look naked.  Devlin doesn’t find that as amusing as I do.   Seriously, As much as they get hurt trying to protect us all, I need everything I can find to laugh at.  Otherwise, I’d be crying all the time.  Don’t tell Devlin I said that either.   I love my life with him.  I just wish his life was easier.   As far as DJ goes, he lives to drive Devlin crazy.  It’s a tough job, but the man has a real talent for it.

Hello, I’m Brenna.   My job is to make Blake Trahern lighten up.  So far, I’d like to think I’ve made some progress.   Why, some days he actually smiles more than once!    I’ve yet to adjust to being in an Americal League town instead of the National League, but that’s a small price to pay, I suppose.   DJ–well, he’s unique.   His since of mischief also brings some entertainment into Blake’s life.  

Hey there–I’m Lacey.   I love my brother’s enemy.   Makes for interesting family dinners, however, Penn has come to terms with the fact that Barak is a permanent fixture in my life.  Our lives.   I owe DJ for introducing my guy to human sports–I think.   Now Barak is as bad as all the rest of them when it comes to the playoffs–and it doesn’t seem to matter what sport it is.

Greetings.  I am Lusahn.   I live with Cullen along with the two children we have adopted.   Your world is bright, noisy and confusing.  However, Iwould live in the darkest of caves if it meant I could be with the man I love and keep my children healthy and  happy.    DJ is the crazy uncle the kids need in their lives.   Who else would teach Bavi  how to skateboard or  have tea parties with Shiri?

Hi–I’m Gwen and the newest of the bunch.   Jarvis entered my life looking more dead than alive.    We’re still learning to balance our lives together–his duty to the Paladins and his time with me.   I’m not complaining, though.   Every minute we have together seems like a gift.   Do I worry about him and my brother and Jake?  Sure, but they worry about me just as much.   I haven’t met DJ, but from what I’ve heard, he and Jake have much in common.   I’m not sure the world could handle the two of them being in the same place for very long.   

 We’ll try to pop in and out if you have questions.  

Okay, ladies.  I’m ordering new bookplates to match my new autographed copy stickers and stationery.   I’m soooooo pleased with how they’ve turned out.   Laron Glover at Ninth Moon has designed all of them for me.   She has a lot of cool stuff on her website for both readers and writers.    Here’s the link to her website if you want to check it out:   www.ninthmoon.com

If you’d like me to personalize any bookplates for you, send me a self-addressed stamped envelope, along with how many you need.   I’ll sign them and send them out as quickly as I can.   BTW, I’d like to limit each person to no more than three.  

Enjoy your day! 

Alexis 

Sandor Kearn here–Believe it or not, it is now less than two months until my book comes out.   I’m starting to have a lot more sympathy for what that Paladin guy–Jarvis–went through as the count down continued and he sweated bullets over what Alexis would put him through before reaching the happily-ever-after stuff that we all secretly hope for.

Personally, I’d settle for just getting over everything that went on in Ranulf and Kerry’s book.   I know you were all following their story, but don’t forget they dragged me along for the ride.   We all went through some tough times together, which brought us closer together in someways, but also changed us all in some pretty fundamental ways.

I’m still trying to come to terms with a lot of it.   It doesn’t help to know that Alexis has already moved on to another Talion’s story, so she doesn’t have much time to listen to my  . . . well, I call them questions.   She says my inquiries are starting to seriously grate on her nerves.  That’s never a good thing when she controls my future beyond Dark Warrior Unbroken.   It’s important that I not forget that.   

Here’s the back cover copy:

Enter the secret world of the Talions—fierce, passionate warriors fighting for their very existence—in Alexis Morgan’s sizzling new paranormal series. Sandor Kearn is the Talion Enforcer tasked with policing his people, the Kyth.  His latest assignment is the new killer  stalking the streets of Seattle.  But while Sandor is hunting the Kyth renegade, someone else is hunting him.  

She’s on a quest for the truth.When Lena Wilson’s friend and mentor died investigating an arson case and the police ran out of leads, she vowed to find justice herself. Lena—who doesn’t know she is part Kyth—has the ability to see fragmented flashbacks of the crimes she’s investigating through her sense of touch. And when she meets Sandor, she feels suspicion—and desire—like she’s never known. It’s only a matter of time before they touch. . . .With dark forces closing in, Sandor must keep Lena from digging deeper and exposing the existence of the Kyth. The only way is to convince her of his innocence. But how can he when he can’t keep his hands off her?

(Alexis will pick one person to receive an autographed copy of my coverflat this week–good luck to you all!–Sandor)
 

Well, actually, what I meant to say is that it’s chilly outside.  Our area had a great weather for the past three days–sunny, warm, pleasant.  Now today it’s cloudy and chilly.  Typical spring weather here in the Pacific Northwest.  

Of course, in the Underground where our offices are and down in the tunnels, it’s always on dank side–damp, chilly, dark.  Yep, all those things that go into making a work environment pleasant–NOT.   Sorry, don’t mean to be a downer, but my M’s are playing like they’re on a teeter-totter: up one day, down the next.   I’ve seen them make plays that are state of the art and then kick the baseball like they should be back in T-ball.  

How long until football season anyway?   

At least the weekend was quiet.   Alexis parked herself out in the sunshine to read JR Ward’s newest book.  She’d been saving it for a day when she could just read  . . . and  read . . . . read.   She started the book Saturday afternoon and finished it early Sunday morning.   Tell me–what is about a guy with a mohawk and purple eyes (sorry, real guys don’t say amythest) that had her in tears???   Sheesh.

She also was happy dancing because she bought tickets to two more concerts this summer–Los Lonely Boys and Keb ‘Mo.    I’ll have to let you know what I think after I hear these guys in person.  

Well, back to work. 
DJ

I’d like to take today to honor and express my gratitude to all of those men and women who have served our country in the past and continue to do so today.   I also want to acknowledge the sacrfices their families have made, because in their own way, they serve right along beside them. 

I do know not all of those who read DJ’s Blog are from the States, but you  have your own family and friends who serve where you live.   A tip of the hat to them as well. 

Saying thank you never seems like enough.

Alexis