How Can Something So Good...Be So Bad?

Our heroes and heroines all have them: a weakness or fatal flaw. An Achilles heel. A failing in their character that takes an otherwise mighty character to their knees. With Achilles, it was literally his heel. (though he had some significant personality flaws as well.) With Oedipus, it was his pride. In my new book 'Toxic,' chocolate is the culprit. My heroine Briony Theale has an overwhelming love for chocolate. In fact, her weakness kicks off the major events in the story and nearly undoes her romance before it truly begins. Unfortunately, her hero Rico Montgomery also has a weakness: her beloved chocolate is a toxin to him. So when Rico's wolf comes across Briony's chocolate....yeah. Not good.

However, Briony is not a tragic heroine and all is well in the end. I promise.

There is often a temptation for an author to make a a lead character too perfect. I want to make my heroes the most wonderful, flawless characters ever to grace the pages of a book. They never lose their tempers, make a poor judgement call or lose a fight. During sex, they are always in perfect control, knowing what their partner wants. Heck, they probably never fart in bed either.

And heroines, well, I want to be my heroines. Seriously, I've never written a heroine without projecting myself into her life. Growing up, I wanted to be a vet. Like Briony, I have a real weakness for chocolate. Unlike Briony, one of my many flaws is a crippling weakness in math. I never had the chops for the hard science major it would have taken to be accepted into vet school.  Briony lives where I want to live, and she even looks like I wish I looked.

But you know, perfection is boring. Yes, Rico is a big, buff werewolf. He's her dominant, but he's many steps down the ladder from Chase, the Pack's alpha. He questions his journey in life; as a child he was removed from the Pack and grew up far away. As an adult, he's returned to find a new power structure and he's not sure where he fits. He's not completely comfortable as a wolf. And face it...the only reason he stumbles across her chocolate is because he dumped her trashcan. Yeesh.

Briony is self-confident and talented, but she's sure the extra weight she carries keeps her from standing a chance with Rico, even after he kisses her. She's not as competent as her mother or as brilliant as her brother. She's beautiful, but even misses that because she compares herself to others.

In Toxic, Briony and Rico share a weakness for chocolate. They both exhibit rather poor impulse control which creates the initial conflict that kicks off the story. If they'd been perfect people, none of the story would have happened. They'd have experienced a calm, dignified and very boring courtship that wouldn't have made for much of a story. Even the supporting characters have their fatal flaws...Chase is judgmental, Sage has a violent temper and Dionne is a bit too ready to go on the offensive. So while a character's strengths bring them up above the norm, often it's their flaws that throw them into conflict.

And that's when things get interesting.

Truckee Wolves: Toxic is related to Educating Evangeline and Hunting Holly from the Doms of Dark Haven anthologies. It was previously released elsewhere and has been greatly revised and expanded. 


Belinda is an award-winning author who writes in multiple genres...sometimes at the same time! She lives in far Northern California with her family and a motley pack of Siberian Huskies who provide her with unending sources of story ideas.

You can find Belinda's Loose Id books (including Toxic) here:
 http://www.loose-id.com/authors/a-f/belinda-mcbride.html

Please visit Belinda's webpage at: http://www.belindamcbride.com

Memorable Heroes: Courage, Conviction & Vulnerability

I guest blogged earlier this week at Book Lovers Inc. about men and what makes a hero stand out. So today I thought I’d continue with that theme and give a few examples of memorable heroes.

I find all types of men interesting and sexy, but I’ve come to the conclusion that a man who displays courage, conviction, and vulnerability, even if it’s hidden underneath all the walls he’s built, is one of the sexiest types of men.

They are imperfect people who are vulnerable, honest, funny, and caring, and they don’t mind showing those sides of themselves, at least once in a while. They’ll speak up when it really counts -- when they believe strongly in something or when someone needs them.

Who are these guys?
I thought it might be fun to share some of the fictional characters from television and movies that stand out for me. They are vulnerable yet tough, courageous guys you can’t help but fall in love with.

Clark Kent, Superman
“Really, Lois, supposing that man had shot you? Is it worth risking your life over ten dollars, two credit cards, a hairbrush, and a lipstick?”

Atticus Finch, To Kill A Mockingbird
“Courage is not a man with a gun in his hand. It's knowing you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”

Johnny Castle, Dirty Dancing
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”

Malcolm Reynolds, Firefly
“Someone ever tries to kill you, you try to kill 'em right back! Wife or no, you are no one's property to be tossed aside. You got the right same as anyone to live and try to kill people.”

George Bailey, It's a Wonderful Life
“Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him. But to you, a warped, frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well in my book, my father died a much richer man than you'll ever be!”

George Hazard, North and South
[to Orry Main] “I've missed you, old friend.”

Vinny Gambini, My Cousin Vinny
“When you look at the bricks from the right angle, they're as thin as this playing card. His whole case is an illusion, a magic trick. It has to be an illusion, 'cause you're innocent. Nobody - I mean nobody - pulls the wool over the eyes of a Gambini, especially this one. Give me a chance, one chance. Let me question the first witness. If after that point, you don't think that I'm the best man for the job, fire me then and there. I'll leave quietly, no grudges. All I ask is for that one chance. I think you should give it to me.”

Hawkeye, M*A*S*H
“I will not carry a gun, Frank. When I got thrown into this war I had a clear understanding with the Pentagon: no guns. I'll carry your books, I'll carry a torch, I'll carry a tune, I'll carry on, carry over, carry forward, Cary Grant, cash and carry, carry me back to Old Virginia, I'll even 'hari-kari' if you show me how, but I will not carry a gun!”

Han Solo, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope
“No! Stop, Chewie, stop! Chewie! Chewie this won't help me! Hey! Save your strength. There'll be another time. The Princess. You have to take care of her. You hear me? Huh?”

Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Ark
“Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?”


So what do you think of this list? What characters would you add?

Sloan Parker
www.sloanparker.com