What does it - Trish Wylie

I've been writing for the UK's Modern Heat line for eighteen months now and in May my fifth book Claimed By The Billionaire Bad Boy hits the shelves. This one taught me something. It taught me that it would seem I find hard working guys sexier than a man in a suit... and a combination of both? Cold shower anyone?

In the States I think you call them Blue Collar workers, yes? Over here they're just workmen - plumbers, chippies, bricklayers... and having had the experience of living next to building sites a lot I can tell you that some of them - not that sexy. No Diet Coke break guys round my way. Unfortunately. And yet when I started writing for the Modern Heat line there was nothing as hot on the page for me as the kind of guy who was good with his hands both in AND out of the bedroom.

Which kinda begs the question of what fantasy it taps into... What IS the magic ingredient?

We all know that romance's are all about the fantasy and the escapism and it's a proven fact that Harlequin titles with the words Billionaire or Millionaire or Tycoon or even Boss are all firm favourites with readers. But what about a guy who'd built his fortune out of the office/boardroom environment? Let's take Gabe in Claimed By The Billionaire Bad Boy as an example; Gabe owns a huge construction firm and a property company - he built them from the ground up, literally. As a teenager he started working on construction sites and then he put crews together and so on and so on. He's a rich guy. He owns the company. But at heart he's still that practical guy who dresses down and goes out to do the manual labour when it needs done. Does this make him more or less sexy? Does it feed the fantasy or not?

In my May Presents release Her Bedroom Surrender (a Modern Heat gone Stateside) I have another one. Rory owns a chain of Gym/Health Club businesses with his younger brother. He's the boss. He's well off. BUT he only does it part time cos in order to fund the set up of the businesses he's been working as a Body Guard in the Middle East. He's an ex-soldier. He's home cos he got shot. That hardly makes him man in a suit material...

Even as I speak to you I'm working on another Modern Heat. Now at this point I'm going for out and out fantasy money. My hero is the eldest son in an uber-rich family. They split their time between New York and Martha's Vineyard and the Hamptons. BUT he's the black sheep, at the start of the book he's the returning prodigal. And he turns up on a honking beast of a motorcycle with a bad-boy attitude and a genius I.Q. that means he doesn't suffer fools gladly. He's sexy as the day is long in my opinion. BUT which fantasy does he fulfill? I like to hope a little of all of them. He's certainly doing it for me ;)

Romance novels tap into our fantasy's, plain and simple. And the fact there are so many authors delving into a hint of their own fantasy's to bring something we swoon over to the page means those fantasy's are diverse, right? So let's have a joint confession session...

What does it for you?

You all know I like a guy with a sense of humor, we discussed that the last time I was here. But what about the 'category of hero' - suited businessman or blue collar guy - cowboy or man in uniform - royalty or sheikh - single parent or bad-boy rebel??? Is he 100% removed from what you look for in real life or an exaggerated version of the man of your dreams? Or is he exactly the kind of guy you're holding out for in real life and have yet to find? Fess up. You're amongst friends ;) What's your fantasy guy?

Now just to prove I'm never put off a challenge I'm gonna offer a copy of Her Bedroom Surrender to one lucky commenter who I'll select next week. I've had no success with this thus far but I'm game to try again if you are...

To find out more about Trish and her books you can visit her Website or Her Blog