….Laurie G (comment 17) and Colleen (comment 6). Ladies, drop me an email on sarah@sarahmayberry.com and let me know which book you’d like to receive, either my November Superromance, Home For The Holidays, or one of my backlist – there are excerpts from all of them on my website (www.sarahmayberry.com).
Best wishes to everyone, and thanks for chattting! Great fun, as always. And I’ve got a few ideas percolating away in the back of my brain now…
Original Post:
One of the things I spend a lot of time thinking about when I start planning a new book is what my hero and heroine will do for a living. Sometimes, of course, their careers will be part of the seed of the story – like in Below The Belt, my June 08 Blaze, where both the hero and heroine were boxers. Other times it’s about finding a profession that feels right for the characters and story that is forming in the Freudian-soup of my mind.
One of the things that I have noticed about my heroines, in particular, is that I like giving them unusual jobs. Jamie in Below the Belt was a professional boxer, Zoe in She’s Got It Bad was a tattooist and artist, all of my Daytime Divas worked behind the scenes on a soap opera. In my current Superromance release, Home For The Holidays, the heroine, Hannah, is a mechanic – yet another not-so-common profession for women.
I’m not sure why I’m attracted to these unusual professions for my heroines. There’s definitely a tomboyish bent in there – the boxer, the mechanic. I can kind of trace that back to the fact that I was a huge fan of Trixie Belden and George from The Famous Five when I grew up – partly, I think, because my mother kept my curly hair cut short and both these girls were always depicted as having short haircuts on the covers of the books!
There’s also the fantasy element that’s always inherent in the careers chosen for the heroes and heroines in romance novels. We all like a walk a mile in someone else’s shoes for a while when we’re reading, so why not make them glamorous and exciting shoes rather than orthopedic sandals?
I really enjoy researching my heroes’ and heroine’s careers. I watched on-line videos on tattooing and read articles and talked to friends who had tattoos and spoke to a tattooist when I was writing She’s Got It Bad. I took some boxing classes before I wrote Below The Belt, as well as attending several kick boxing events. I also love getting into the headspace of the kind of person I think might be attracted to the kind of work I’m writing about. It often helps me find their attitude and idiosyncrasies.
So, what are your favorite professions to read about? Are there any that you feel are overdone to the point of cliche? Any you’d like to see more of? Or are there any careers that you absolutely never want to see depicted within the covers of a romance novel? Do you have different expectations for Blaze heroine’s careers than for heroines in other books?
I’m going to a offer up a giveaway to two posters this month – the winners get their choice of either my current November release Superromance Home For the Holidays, or a book from my backlist (excepting Can’t Get Enough, which I am sadly all out of!) So, hit me with your best heroine and hero career suggestions and ruminations!
Entries (RSS)
Sarah, I am like you, I like reading about the women who have cool or different jobs. I really like the tough women too. It’s so different from what I am personally that when Im reading it its like I get to experience what it would be like to be that tough chick who no one messes with. Reading about women who work in what would normally be scene as a mans job always makes for a great story, especially when you get those pigheaded men for them to go up against!
Oh, yes, the pigheaded (and often sexist, let’s face it!) colleague. Solid romance gold. I like writing tough women, too, Alina, even though I am a complete wuss in real life. I am far too strangled by middle-class politeness to ever be as ballsy and bolshy as one of my heroines. But I do love to give vent to that aspect of myself through the pages of my books!
Sarah, you’re blog really got me thinking there !!
I never actually realised it but after thinking about it, I have to say I’m more into manual work, for both H/H.
I love a heroine who bakes. She might have a cookie shop or a bakery. Florist too. In fact, my ideal heroine makes beautiful things with her hands. Her work in manual and artisitc.
As for the hero, I love architects/lanscapers/contractors. I have also a thing for firefighters and cops, but really, who doesn’t ??
Hello Emmanuelle. Long time no speak (over at the Supers blog!!!) As a writer, its definitely more interesting to give my hero and heroine a very physical job that allows them to DO stuff. Imagine, if you will: “Derek rolled up his shirt sleeves. Now, if he could just get the last column of figures to add up, he could move on to checking the new actuary tables. He hoped like hell he’d be able to get it done before the department meeting at midday.”
Not quite the same as having some hot guy slide down a fire pole and race out to an inferno where he then rushes into the teeth of mortal danger to be a hero. Sure, the desk-jockey guy is doing his bit for society…and he’d probably make a lovely, reliable husband…but I think we both know who we’d rather spend a few illicit hours with within the pages of a book… Lovely to “see” you again!
ha ! Right, I guess accountant aren’t as sexy as firemen (in books anyway)
I like reading about the interesting careers. One I’m less and less enthusiastic about is the romance novelist heroine as written by someone who is NOT a romance novelist.
One of my critique partners jokes that her heroines can be anything since they’re always on vacation during the book!
Oh, I actually have an instinctive toe curl about writers writing about writers as their heroes or heroines. It seems so “look at how interesting writers are!”. (Having said that, I am now remembering that my hero in my January 10 Blaze, Her Secret Fling, is a journalist and novelist. Hmmm…) I can just bet how romance novelists are depicted by non romance writers. Fluffy dog, anyone? As fabulous as she was in her own very pink way, Barbara Cartland did us all a huge disservice by sprawling on that chaise lounge and eating chocolates while she dictated her books. I’m sure that’s how so many people think of us – if they think of us at all!
I always enjoy characters with cool jobs. Heroines especially. I like them when they have the tougher edge to them and can handle themselves but aren’t snotty, bitchy, or over the top. It’s all about that balance, I guess.
Favorite jobs? I’m still a sucker for the PI thing. But I do enjoy the “retired criminal” side as well as the not-so-retired. But I guess any job can have the “quirk” to it to make it unusual. For instance, in Agnes & the Hit Man, he definitely had the “criminal side” covered (even though he was the good guy and technically not a criminal) and she wrote food columns and cooked… but she had rampant, out of control temper. I love those dances-in-the-shades-of-grey good guys (and girls) with bad boy edges.
Julie
I love PI stories, or, yes, those shades-of-grey slightly naughty heroes and heroines. I wish I could write those kind of plots, but I’m more of a character/emotionally driven story girl and when it comes to working out what happened next in a mystery my brain turns to mush. I grew up loving Modesty Blaise books – if you haven’t read any, they are so entertaining and hilarious, I adore them! Modesty was once the leader of an international crime syndicate, and she has Special Skills. She’s an awesome heroine. But I think, as you mention, that when the strong woman lead shifts into bitchy or snotty, it’s not good. I guess we want to see a bit of vulnerability in these super women so we have something we can relate to, huh?
And not only that, but when said bitchy/snotty heroine (who for some reason they try to seell as “independent — excuse me, I can be independent and still not be a bitch, thank you. LOL) keeps walking over the hero’s face and being that snotty twit, all I think when I’m reading is, “Oh, you better now take her back. You deserve sooooo much better!” Then he takes her back and I call him a chump. I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to *like* both characters and the couple they make. LOL. Nothing worse than closing a book like that and thinking, pffft, divorce court in 6 months.
Julie
I know! Is there anything worse than sitting there thinking “why does he even LIKE her?!!!” I often feel this way when watching rom-coms – so often it’s enough for the woman to simply be beautiful for the man to want to be with her. I find that so depressing. My fave rom-coms are When Harry Met Sally and lots of Sandra Bullock’s movies, because she always plays a quirky, interesting, full heroine, not some “I’m so pretty, quick fall in love with me” cardboard cut out.
Ooh. That was a bit of a rant, wasn’t it!! Maybe I need to go eat some breakfast…
I like the unusual jobs for heroines. I read She’s Got it Bad and Below the belt and I really enjoyed the Heroines. I think it’s great to have her do a job not typical for a female to do. Though I have to say my favorite profession for a heroine is working at a bakery or owning a little shop. My favorite for the Heroes is rancher/cowboy, sheriff, fireman, policeman, and the army.
Hi Nicole. A bakery – yum. I think I would eat all the profits. I’ve written a few foodie books – a continuity called Island Heat, and Burning Up, a Blaze – and really enjoyed all the food aspects of it. I have also made my own bread a few times and really enjoyed it. I think you’ve just inspired me… As for your list of hero occupations, what’s not to love about all of them? (I think it’s interesting that when I think of them, I actually see them in full Blaze cover shot mode – the barechested fire-fighter, the cowboy stripping down to do something manly on the land. What does that say about me?) I think men who “do” stuff really exemplify the sort of down to earth, real men that make great romance leads. Plus they do exciting stuff all the time, which also makes for good reading!
I love the variety out there… how authors can make their characters come to life in the pages of a book. I love heroes that are firefighters, cowboys, military… I recently read one where he was a stripper/ business owner. If an author can make him interesting and yummy, I am in for the reading!
Hey, stripper/business owner. That’s a fresh take! I assume he was stripping for women. I have been to a few all-male reviews in Australia and he was taking his life into his hands every time he went on stage. Those women are nuts! Yes, I think the key to any profession we choose as writers is to do the research and really get inside the heads of our heroes and heroines so we can make them real and three dimensional. As I wrote in my post, sometimes the research is half the fun.
It’s always fun to read a story where the heroine is doing something unusual. I like reading about what the job entails and what that characters day is like. I can’t think of any profession that I wouldn’t want to see since if it has people doing it then they have a story to tell.
Maureen, I think the unusual career thing gives both authors and readers a chance to stretch their imaginations. Most of us, I suspect, have had some experience working in retail or in an office in some form. But fire fighting or piloting or tattooing or being a private chef – these are unusual places for most of us to make a living and it’s fun exploring another way of living. As a writer, it’s a a great chance for me to live vicariously.
I always want to see a strong heroine, so a job like bounty hunter would be great. For a hero, I can’t get enough of firemen, policemen, or doctor. Although I just thought of a cool one–astronaut. Don’t think I’ve seen that before.
Hi Jody. Nice cat in your avatar piccie! He’s looking very pleased with himself! I love Janet Evanovich’s bounty hunter books. They’re funny, full of action, sexy, perfect. Unfortunately, we don’t have bounty hunters in Australia. At least, I don’t think we do. I might have to investigate this… And yes, astronaut is cool. Especially if one landed on a desert island and unearthed a beautiful bottle and out popped a gorgeous but mischievous genie… Oh, wait. I think someone’s already turned that idea into a successful sit-com. Seriously, though, I saw Ron Howard’s documentary In The Shadow of The Moon on the first astronauts who flew to the moon and was blown away by their absolute bravery and courage and curiosity. Great documentary, amazing men (and these days, of course, women). If you haven’t seen it, it’s well worth a look. Really inspiring.
Below The Belt is one of my favorites, absolutely on my keeper shelf. I’m another one who enjoys reading about unusual careers, particularly athletes, I think it’s the intense passion for what they do that really adds to the heat of the book.
Summer, you and me both. I actually think I have a bit of an obsession with it, between Jamie in Below the Belt and Maddie in Amorous Liaisons (because ballet dancers are actually astonishing athletes, so committed to their art) and in my January 10 Blaze, Her Secret Fling, where the heroine is an former Olympic swimmer. So, there’s obviously something there that really speaks to me. Which is kind of hilarious since I am such a couch potato and my hand/eye co-ordination leaves pretty much everything to be desired. But every time I watch the Olympics, especially the medal ceremonies, I think about how this moment is the very pointy end of a wedge that incorporates thousands of sacrifices that only the athlete will ever fully know about – all the training and commitment and blood, sweat and tears. I get very emotional. Maybe that’s why I like these stories – as you say, people who are that passionate about their work must be pretty passionate in other areas, right? Glad you enjoyed Below The Belt – loved writing that book!
I would like to see more astronauts as the hero or heroine. It’s such an exciting and interesting profession and only a few get to become one.
Hi, Jane, not sure if you saw my post on this above. In The Shadow of the Moon, the Ron Howard documentary on the first astronauts to land on the moon (Armstrong, et al) you get a real sense of how amazingly courageous and adventurous these people are. Those first flights, particularly, since so many of the earlier unmanned rockets simply exploded into huge balls of fire. What they did was completely new, completely untried before. One of the astronauts talks about how much he freaked out on take off, but apparently Neil Armstrong’s heart rate remained steady throughout. He was a very experienced pilot and everybody talked about how very, very cool and calm he was. You’re right, they would make awesome heroes.
I love the not-so-ordinary professions (I adored your dancers, of course!) because it’s always fun to learn a little more about something I really know nothing about! But I also sometimes like the regular people, too–I love stories featuring teachers or nurses or office managers just because sometimes they’re unsung heroes too. Seriously though, you could feature just about anybody as your hero/heroine, and I’m there, Sarah! Hobo? Chick sexer? ;P
Oh, Fedora – the unplumbed, unexplored world of hobo romance! You’ve created a whole new sub-genre. I wonder what the titles would be like? The Tin-Can Hobo’s Secret Love Child? Seriously, though, I agree that the unsung heroes like teachers and nurses and office managers can be just as noble, caring, loving and sexy as the high octane professions. Guys who teach especially – a good teacher is a gift to interested kids, and I remember some of my male teachers because they were both hot and dynamic. They made learning a challenge. And probably fuelled my love of romance novels, now I come to think of it… Lovely to “see” you again so soon!
I’m kind of crazy for heroines in a male-dominated field — I’ll read just about any book if it’s got a heroine in an unusual profession. I even have a special theme for tracking these books in my database, which I call “Heroine in Boys Club.” (Yeah, I’m a dork.)
I think it’s the woman against all odds, breaking down the gender barrier thing that appeals to me. Of course, it’s not really surprising considering that at the age of 9 I dreamed of being a pro baseball player, and would only read Hardy Boys mysteries because Nancy Drew didn’t get into bar fights and car chases. She was totally lame.
Of course now I’m kind of a girly-girl in dresses and heels, but I did end up working in a testosterone-filled environment.
P.S. No need to enter me for the contest.
Oh, those Hardy Boys were awesome. I don’t think I ever read a Nancy Drew – as I said above, I was more into Trixie Belden, and then, later, definitely the Hardy hunks. Sean Cassidy and Parker Stevens in the tv series were a teen girl’s dream casting, I must say.
I grew up in a post-feminism world where I believed I could be anything I wanted to be when I grew up, and I have always been attracted to characters who fight for their right to do what they want for a living – be it a guy in nursing or a woman in law enforcement or whatever. I think there’s plenty of other women who feel the same – witness the huge popularity of kick-ass urban fantasy heroines who, in many respects, are very masculine in their behavior (tough, strong, often pretty relaxed about sex vs commitment). I wonder if it’s a generational thing or if it’s a fantasy/appeal that crosses all age groups? Perhaps the subject for another post some time…
I have to admit that when I read the back cover I’m looking to see what occupations the h/h have. I like interesting occupations. I’d like to see a h/h be a Marine Biologist or Archeologist, Museum Curators, geeky but handsome scientist. I also love blue collar men. That said I like athletes too.
Ooh, archeology. That’s goooood. I should make a note of all these professions, shouldn’t I? (starting new file….now) Lovely to “see” you Liz. Hope the writing is going well.
I actually have a write friend who is a marine biologist. Maybe I should pump her for information? And I’ll be writing a Superromance early next year with a hero who is a park ranger, so I’m looking forward to getting into his head and exploring his world.
I like to read about heroes and heroines that in professions that may not necessarily be considered usual, so long as it fits with the story and the characters. I hate it when the profession choice seems contrived – not that I’ve noticed it in any of the books that I’ve read for a while.
As for my favourite professions – I can’t really say any specifically, although I do find that anything where the hero does physical work is appealing. I do know that anything based around cars (and it doesn’t need to include the hero or heroine being a mechanic) automatically ends up on my reading list. This is probably to do with the fact that I’m a half-trained mechanic myself. I really should check out some of the NASCAR ebooks (we don’t get the NASCAR books in NZ).
I think that writers writing about characters who are writers is fine, so long as its done right and doesn’t rely on preconceptions about the job.
You trained as a mechanic – fantastic! I’ve always loved fixing things. My first car was a Morris 1100, and it needed a new front quarter panel and new passenger door. I bought one from the wreckers and had a panel beater cut the ruined one off and weld the new one on – but then I was stuck with two different keys to get into my car. So I swapped over the lock barrels myself and then my dad and I changed all the wheels on the car together and a bunch of other work-shoppy things. I was so proud of that car! And I totally agree – the contrived career choice is feeble, but I also agree I can’t think of a book I’ve read recently that’s suffered from that problem.
i love sports heores whoo
talk abouit hot sex secene yours are very hot love it
love your books
want more secret agents and fireman, police, paramedics yummm (K) (L) (Y) (W)
would not wnat an assain as a hero
Kim, I’m reading a book with an assassin as a hero at the moment and I must admit I’m really struggling to let go of his past misdeeds and want him to find his HEA. Obviously, we ladies love men of action, judging by the amount of votes for firemen, police, etc, etc. I must admit, I love the covers Blaze do for these professions, so I understand the attraction! Glad you’re enjoying the books, stay well.
I think I don’t really notice the careers a whole lot, because it’s just not too unusual anymore for women to be in certain jobs, as with the men. If it’s a major, integral part of the story, then I might think of it more. . . but I’m so happy to see someone beat me to it with astronaut!
Me, wanting to be an astronaut since I was 5 (in a month, will be 33, alas), that’s something that I’d so love to see. Have read one or two astronomers, but they were in Regency historicals mostly. 
Lois
Hi Lois. There’s a Tess Gerritsen medical thriller called “Gravity” that’s set partly on earth, partly in space. She’s obviously done a lot of research to get all the details right – I found it fascinating. Astronaut is one career I never dreamed of as a kid. I don’t know why, since I’ve alwaysI loved science fiction movies and books. Have you seen the Sam Rockwell movie “Moon”? I found that really interesting and went out and bought the theme song from itunes afterward because I found it so haunting (song is called Welcome to Lunar Industries, if anyone is interested, and you can find it on Youtube.)
I’d love to see a story based on a dancer. I’m in awe of their commitment and stamina!
Musicians, florists, artists. I love talented/gifted people.
I too love the ex-sports heroes and heroines.
You can never go wrong with ex-military. So honorable!
I still enjoy the driven CEO or CFO who finally allow love into their lives.
I like the firefighter, policemen heroes too. Courageous!
Hi Laurie. I wrote about two dancers in Amorous Liaisons, a Blaze I wrote last year (I think!). I did ballet when I was little, and not for long enough to ever be any good, but I have always loved dancing and dancers. Flashdance is still one of my favorite movies ever. So I loved researching Amorous and getting inside my heroine Maddy’s head. Since Maddy was struggling with the news that she was being forced into retirement, I did a lot of research into how dancers handled it – not well, for a lot of them – and what kind of careers they went on to do. I really enjoyed that book!
Laurie — For dancers you must read Sarah’s Amorous Liaisons, stat! I just finished it and it was so good.
Laurie, you’ve got to read Amorous Liaisons! Sarah did an amazing job with Maddy and Max–such a good read!!
Congrats, Laurie and Colleen! You can’t go wrong with any of Sarah’s books! Keepers, all! And Sarah, when can we expect some hobo romances?
It’s going to take a bit of researching, Fedora. I’m going to have to find me a hunky homeless man to model my hero on. Or maybe I will just dress my man in a garbage bag and forbid him to shave or wash for a few weeks. That might do it. Then there will be the exotic locales to scout…the alley way, the dumpster, the park bench. Conservative estimate…it’s gonna take me a while to be able to fully do this idea justice. (!!!!)
Oooh thank you so much for the win!
I will send an e-mail soon… Congrats also to Laurie! (F)
Congrats Colleen and Laurie!!