I have two topics today. I have been thinking on them both and instead of choosing, I am putting both. Comment or commiserate on either or both…

What’s your type? Last week, I asked you about how you start your stories. It varied, but the “what if” game is usually the key to starting. Then the new book gets legs—once you get the idea gelled. For me, I am finding that I have a “type” of character I write. Truth be told (and I have mentioned this before) I always pretty much envision a (better looking) version of myself for all my female leads. Always. A little on a broader scale, though, she is typically between 5’1” and 5’6” and usually about ten ponds above skinny. In every other book I’ve written, I don’t think she’s varied much more than that.

For the hero, he’s typically over 6’ between 210 and 220 and all muscles. In my head anyway. I really do try to vary it on paper but that’s always how I think of my peeps. There are only so many hair and eye color combos so that does make the man stand out or not. And scars. Usually an interestingly placed scar. Other than that, it’s hard to vary and change it up. In my defense, in my mind, as a reader and a writer, once I get into the book, every character has their own “feel” or “vibe” and it almost dictates what they *look* like. And really, this guy’s blonde blue eyes is totally different than the other’s guy’s. This is one instance where I am not so nit-picky specific (and I usually tend to *way* overthink things so…).

Romance is killing my marriage. The other night the dh and I had an argument. I can’t even remember exactly what it was about (something to the effect that he wasn’t living up to my opinion of what he should be), but I got all huffy and uber dramatic then didn’t talk to him for two days (I’m a sulk-fighter, because yeah, giving his the silent treatment is *so* much punishment…).

Anyhoo… later, once I was back to my norm, I looked at him and told him he was screwed when I got in a mood because I read and write to much romance. He can’t possibly live up to it—frankly real life is seldom all that terrifyingly dramatic or heart-pounding fantastic from one family/kid issue to the next. Don’t get me wrong, there are fun and good times and there are times your heart hurts. But even more, there are way less highs and (thankfully) less lows than in a book. And let’s face it, while I’d like to think so, I am not some super smart, uber-chic, wafer-thin model with big breasts and perfect hair and he’s not some former Navy SEAL, Army Ranger self-made millionaire Rancher Fortune 500 CEO. That *is* a lot to live up to. And I told him as much. His reaction was pretty much an “I told you so” grin and playful smack to the arse as he made his way into the other room. Good thing he thinks I’m kinda cute ~