And Rosy and Jeanne — Weird? Maybe. Interesting? Definitely. But Mark is smart and witty! Always a good combo for a hero.

More on hero qualities in a future post. …

I literally laughed out loud when you wrote that about Mark! Too funny. And for the record, I like weird! Maybe it would be better if we just termed it “interesting…”

And on a different note, having just read some of your comments to Mark, he says he’s thinking of getting a hair transplant…on his back. You haven’t discussed the attractiveness of WEIRD.

And I think you’re right Laurie – I do read it as cookie cutter. And truly, how would it be interesting if it read “I was immediately drawn to his double chin and hairy back.” Ugh. Yet, it’s possible to fall in love with someone with both those characteristics. So I totally get what you mean when you talk about the chiseled jaw being intrinsically male. I guess it’s just not my particularly cup o’ tea. Now the strong arms? Yes, please. ;p

I’ll have to look up the authors you mentioned. I love to read and am ready to go and get more books from the library anyhow, so it’s perfect timing.

Now, that said, there is usually one stand-out characteristic. If you’re really, really good, you make the physical characteristic represent an emotional need he will end up fulfilling for the heroine. For instance, if he “sees” something in her that no one else does, his unique characteristic might be his eyes. Or if he “protects” her in a way she’s never experienced before, his unique characteristic might be his arms.

The jaw thing is usually a “catch all” characteristic to make him simply, intrinsically male! It’s like mentioning an Adam’s apple or a forearm muscle. So Jeanne, it probably just rubs you the wrong way because maybe it seems sort of lazy! Like it’s an attempted “shortcut” to quickly get you to think “hot.”

Some writers have heroes who are not hot at all, though, which you guys might get a kick out of. Suzanne Brockmann does this especially well — she has heroes who often look weird or slightly bizarre. Laura Kinsdale, too, has heroes who are super flawed, physically. (One, believe it or not, is a stroke victim!) But great storytellers like those two can make their heroes sexy by their behavior and other heroic characteristics (honesty, courage, etc.). They work at it, but man, it works!

I love your feedback, both of you!