Guest Post: Helen Lacey Talks About Heroes + Giveaway

hosted by: Jennifer Faye

The Hot Pink Typewriter is pleased to welcome Helen Lacey. Helen, thanks so much for joining us. And congratulations on your newest release!

When a hero comes along……

I think the first hero I fell in love with was Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables. I was nine years old and adored the way he would do anything to get Anne’s attention. Of course, the fact he later spilled his heart out and got it crushed, gave up his job so that she could be close to her family and then later became a doctor, really cemented what a wonderfully generous and loyal man he had grown into. Later I discovered Mr Darcy, Mr Wentworth and Rhett Butler….but I’ve never forgotten Gil. 

Now, when I set out to write a new book, one of things I always work out is what are the most significant qualities of my hero and what will make readers fall in love with him? Of course he has to have flaws (Even Gilbert Blythe was stubborn and often self-righteous). Because even though a romance novel is essentially the heroine’s journey and as a reader we walk in her shoes for the duration of the story, she has to fall in love with the hero, and he needs to be worthy of that love.  Remember the movie Sabrina? (The Harrison Ford version) Here was a man who was a ruthless, impatient, sarcastic, dismissive, money-driven workaholic. He was described as the worlds only living heart donor and his brother said his idea of a committed relationship was letting his date order dessert. Doesn’t sound particularly lovable, right? And yet, when pushed and at his lowest ebb, he was prepared to give up a business deal worth billions of dollars to ensure Sabrina was protected and would get what he believed she wanted – which was his younger brother. So, he was prepared to lose what most important to him….money and power….and that vulnerability is what made him the kind of man worthy of Sabrina’s heart.

If pride is your heroes Achilles heel, bring him to his knees. If distrust is what he feels most, force him to take a leap of faith. If fear of commitment runs through his veins, make him commit to the heroine because if he doesn’t there will be consequences. Pushing him will test his flaws and showcase his strengths. 

When I wrote Date With Destiny I had a hero who was afraid of rejection…so I forced him to pursue the heroine in a short time frame because if he didn’t he believed he would lose her forever. This tested his fear of not being good enough (stemming from a childhood issue and previous rejection from the heroine) and it also highlighted his strengths, like his integrity and compassion. Once I worked out who this man was I was able to build the story around him and endeavoured to create a hero who was not only the kind of man the heroine would fall in love with, but one that readers would fall in love with too.

So, give him flaws. Give him weaknesses. Pile on the imperfections. And then make him work hard to be worthy of the heroine’s heart. Because we know the ending will be a happy one, but the journey is what keeps readers turning the page.

I have a copy of my August Harlequin Special Edition Date With Destiny to give away to one commenter.

 Date With Destiny

Financier Grace Preston did fourteen-hour days in New York City. She didn't do small towns in Australia. Not since she'd fled almost twenty years ago. But when a personal trauma sent her home-with a secret she couldn't reveal-the last person she needed was her first love.

Local cop Cameron Jakowski had loved Grace for most of his life. But he wanted marriage and family and she didn't. He was small town, while she was big city-and lived half a world away. But for now she was right here-a walking, talking temptation. One he managed to avoid...until he made one mistake. He kissed her. And reawakened the passion that could change their lives...forever.

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Buy Links:

Mills & Boon UK | Harlequin US | Amazon 
Amazon UK | B&N | Powell's Books | BAM | IndieBound

About Helen:

Helen Lacey grew up reading Black Beauty, Anne of Green Gables and Little House on The Prairie. These childhood classics inspired her to write her first book when she was seven years old, a story about a girl and her horse. Although, it wasn’t until the age of eleven when she read her first Mills & Boon, that she knew writing romances was what she wanted to do with her life. Her parents’ love of travel meant she saw much of the world in those early years and she feels fortunate to have had a diverse and interesting education over several continents.

She continued to write into her teens and twenties with the dream of one day being a published author. A few years and careers later, including motel operator, florist, strapper, dog washer, and retail manager, she got the call from Harlequin Special Edition. She loves writing about tortured heroes, both cowboys and CEO’s, and heroines who finally get the love of the man of their dreams. She now works part time in her sister’s bridal shop, where she gets to meet fascinating people, some of whom might one day end up being in one of her books.

From Welsh parents and a large family, she lives on the east coast of Australia in a small seaside town at the southern most point of The Great Barrier Reef, with her wonderfully supportive husband, many horses and three spoiled dogs.

Connect with Helen:

Website    Blog      Facebook    Twitter     Goodreads 

Don't forget to comment in order to entered to win a copy of Date With Destiny...