Tuesday 6 April 2010

Middle-aged lust (a sad thing)


It’s wrong. I know it’s wrong. I really should not fall passionately in love with a 20-something. But seriously, I’d challenge you not to – because he is absolutely totally drop-dead gorgeous. Tall, lean, longish blond hair – looks like a younger version of Sawyer from Lost. Same storm-grey eyes and sardonic smile. He rides a Norton Commando and can play the fiddle better than the devil. He’s a bit moody, bit of a bad boy (never shies from a fight) and goes off in a right strop sometimes. Oh, and when he strips off to go surfing, he shows off a killer six-pack.
I tell you, my thought processes are criminal.

Okay, fear not, he’s not real. I’m not going to dump the Beer God and ride off into the sunset, wrapping my arms round his waist (did I mention the leather jacket?) and clinging tight as tight can be to his muscled thighs as we career round the bends. Phew, sorry, went into a reverie there.

Nope, he’s a character in my WIP, a YA Dark Romance. His name is Samael and he, um, happens to be a demon. Well, hey, every guy has to have a downside.

Then there’s Zeke and he’s pretty damn cute too. He’s nineteen, skin the colour of a good strong cup of tea, hair in dreads, tattoos up his arms. I am so envious of my MC, I could murder her. But seems other people have already got that in hand.

I love, love, love writing this book. I put on Seth Lakeman’s Kitty Jay (which is my muse of a soundtrack) and light up an Aromatherapy Associations Relax candle (which is my muse of a scent) and write and write and write. Actually, I’m now seriously worried – I’ve just heard that the Relax candle is discontinued and so I’m reduced to sniffing the little bit left at the end.

But this falling in lust with your characters...is it normal? Is it okay? Or is it some kind of weird adultery? Some variant of cyber-salaciousness? Or, let’s be brutally honest, more than a little sad for a woman old enough to be his mother?

If you’d like to read the first few (very rough and unedited) chapters of the book, click here

Oh, and (huge excitement) this little blog has been shortlisted for the Author Blog Awards. It’s up against the might of some HUGE name authors so I’m feeling a little David v Goliath right now. If you fancy casting a vote for the small guy (girl), I’d be well chuffed. Click here

15 comments:

-- said...

Empathy!

I suppose these characters come straight from our imagination; they're bound to be just a little bit perfect... *wistful sigh*...

Best of luck in the competition! I'm going to sign up and vote for you now.

Exmoorjane said...

Ah, so glad you feel the same, Alexandra - makes me feel a whole lot better! Huge thanks for voting for me.

Inthemud said...

Sounds just my type! I'm looking for a toy boy! Perhaps they'll make your book into a film and then he'll come alive. I'm rather smitten with the young male actors like R. Pattz and Zac Efron.........oh dear, that just makes me so sad..........

Rob-bear said...

You have an amazing imagination, Jane. And you're a great tease.

Jon Storey said...

Ah! Fiction is a cruel thing..........

LITTLE BROWN DOG said...

Dear Jane - personally, I think it's absolutely imperitive to fall in love/lust with one's protagonist. Mind you, I have a wonderful mental image of the Beer God, sitting cross-legged in a cave, like the Buddha, perhaps, presiding over a perhaps more worldy six pack... Could you think of possibly popping him in somewhere in Chapter 16 perhaps?

(Oooh, word verification is "proiding", which sounds a bit rude!)

Best of luck with the Author Blog awards. Will be rooting for you. xox

Melissa Taylor said...

Middle age lust is my theory on why the Twilight books were so popular . . . with middle aged women.

Shayne Parkinson said...

It's endlessly interesting, the relationships we have with our characters. I'm fond of several of my chaps, which probably makes me sound like a loose woman.

A while ago I was musing aloud to the Mr on which of my characters I think I could be happy being married to (he's quite happy to share me with them, btw. He knows that my very favourite of all is based on him). I named several, and he said, "What about D?", a character he knows I love dearly. I had an immediate and strong "Ick" response - because I was "there" when D was born! I "knew" him as a baby! Some of my other imaginary squeezes might be rather younger than me (to put it mildly), but I "met" them as adults, or at least in their late teens. It makes all the difference.

Last time I commented on your blog I had a Verification word of "write", which was rather gratifying. Today it's "clatto", which sounds like a brand name.

Anonymous said...

Just read your chapters - wow wow wow! Really enthralling, I want more immediately!

Chris Stovell said...

Oh, I think falling in love with your hero is compulsory! I certainly fell for 'Turning The Tide's Matthew and hero of WIP is phwoar too!

Annette Piper said...

The description has me totally hooked! Off to vote for you now!

ArtSparker said...

So, were you also a huge Buffy Fan?

It seems just Wrong to discontinue a relaxation candle.

DJ Kirkby said...

This new novel sounds very exciting! I wanted to read more but when I followed your link it seemed to take me to someone else's chapters. Am I being stunned or what? Help. Oh and good luck with the comp!!!
p.s word veri: 'sodwomp' - dare you to write that into your novel in progress!

Westerwitch/Headmistress said...

Smiling . . . :-)

Rosie said...

That's very funny. I don't write but I completely believe in the people I draw! I like your blog.