What Do Men Want...

...To Read? HA! Gotcha!

As I probably mentioned before, I enjoy Stephen King’s articles in Entertainment Weekly. His humor, intelligence, and plain ol’ horse sense always makes me think and see things from another prospective. Now, it doesn’t mean I agree with everything he says, but I usually learn something new.

Last month his article was “What a Guy Wants.” You can imagine it caught my eye. I’m all the time wanting to infuse in my book what guys want, along with how they think and react to certain situations. Well, we know what all men want...but this article had to do with reading material.

One aspect I find in all of Mr. King’s articles is his respect for women writers. He tells us the publishing industry believes the male readership is shrinking, and because of that, editors are looking for the next breakout female writer. Then he points out “seven out of 10 New York Times hardcover fiction best sellers were by women” in the last week of August. (Click Here to See.) My chapter's own Sherrilyn was Number 3 then; the week before she’d been Number 1.

Then he went on to say women objectify men, as men do women in fiction. I agree we can do that at times. He also says men want the same thing women do when they read, “escape and entertainment.” True.

He talks about how many recent male writers have included female secondary characters who are more than sex kittens a.k.a. James Bond’s BHB (Before Halle Berry) babes.

Okay, I know you’ve been waiting for me to tell you what men want in books. As Mr. King said, “...men like to imagine going to war against an army of bad guys with a Beretta, a blowtorch, and a submachine gun (grenades hung on the belt optional).”

LOL! I love men. Ooh-rah!

Oh, it's Friday. I'm thankful for MEN! What did you expect? BFG!

Role Models

I was thinking today about my role models when it comes to being a writer. Luckily I have several and most I see on occasion.

A special thank you to Sherrilyn Kenyon, Linda Howard, Kelley St. John, Peggy Webb, Debra Webb, Paula Graves and Lyn Randal.

Sorry, Acheron

After reading Sherrilyn Kenyon's ACHERON, I was talking with a friend of mine about the book and how we would love some time with the hero, Acheron. Then I told my friend I felt kind of bad about wanting to use him for my own gratification. You know, he'd been used and abused so badly in the beginning of the book.

Yeah, yeah, I know. He's a fictional character. But Sherri does such a good job. She makes you feel sorry for him, even want to protect him. Now I call that writing! LOL!

Anyway, fiction or not, I have to say, sorry, Acheron. I shouldn't think of you as a piece of meat to lust over. You proved yourself to be a true hero and I look forward to you showing up in more Dark Hunter books.