I like a hot guy as much as the next woman. What’s not to like? However, over the years I’ve discovered that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, especially when it comes to the covers of romance novels.
There are several instances where I’ve pointed to the hero one of my covers and said, “Ew!” while readers point to him and say, “Ooooh!” So I’ve learned that my idea of hot and the next woman’s is not exactly the same.
When writing a romance novel, one of the usual requirements is a hot hero. Not that writers haven’t written books with so called “ugly” guys. I did it myself in a Superromance originally titled Skin Deep, which became, thanks to the powers that be, A Sheriff in Tennessee. Of course Gabriel Klein had a whole lot more going for him than his face. Most guys do.
I also remember one early Karen Robards novel where the hero was unattractive. I can’t remember the title (anyone?) but I do remember that I thought it was clever, original and exciting.
I always try to make my heroines read like real women with the same body issues and insecurities we all have. The heroine in A Sheriff in Tennessee might be a former supermodel, but boy does she have issues. So today I’d like to celebrate the every day guy. I’ve never been attracted to Brad Pitt, even before the whole Angelina fiasco. Tom Cruise smiles too much. His teeth are blinding. Johnny Depp ruined everything with those tattoos. Okay, okay—Antonio Banderas can come over any time. I’m not a complete idiot.
But here are some of my favorite unattractive attractive guys. Who are yours?
Brett Favre—how can you resist that smile? Those biceps? The scruffy gray beard that matches the stubble on his head? And his great big hands—all hacked up, crooked, re-broken fingers. Now that’s a man!
Adrien Brody-What a nose! Gotta love it. And that skinny body? Mmmm.
Gary Oldman-Probably in his 50’s, with the body to show for it. Non descript in every way, until he comes on the screen and then he is magic. Even in terrible movies (The Scarlet Letter anyone?) he shines. I want to take him home and just listen to him talk.
Dustin Hoffman-too short, big nose, annoyingly nasal voice, but I’ve been crazy about him since I saw him in Little Big Man when I was a kid. And come on, in The Graduate he was adorable. He also makes a pretty decent woman in Tootsie. Much better looking than say . . . Mrs. Doubtfire.
Seth Green—really short, red hair, kind of slouchy. But when he played Oz on Buffy I nearly got over my Angel fetish (not really). He was so sweet and shy, so dead pan funny, and he had that werewolf thing going on. Right up my alley.So, any theories out there? What’s the unattraction?
Lori
If you'd like to check out Lori's hot hero's she has two novellas available in two separate collections this month:Cobwebs over the Moon in Moon Fever (the hero bears a striking resemblance to Brett Favre) and Voodoo Moon in No Rest for the Witches (with a voodoo priest who could step in as Antonio Banderas in Interview with a Vampire)Her next Nightcreature Novel will be Thunder Moon in January 2008.
