Guest Blogger – Sharon Ashwood & Contest
Today we have a special treat. Sharon Ashwood the author of Ravenous, an up-coming Urban Fantasy release, is here to guest blog! She’s written an awesome post about where authors find their characters, so without further delay, I’ll let Sharon take the page. 🙂
Dark Hero Product Testing
Where do authors get their characters from?
Always a good question. When I needed to choose my hero for RAVENOUS, I perused the Author Supplies Emporium catalogue very carefully. What should he be like? I flipped through the Romantic Tycoons, the Sexy Cops, and the Hard Hat Hunks. I wanted just the right guy for my book: definitely an alpha hero, but not one of the overly pushy types. He’d have to be heavy-duty enough to like smushing villains, because I had a lot of action planned. There was no getting away with the affordable but flimsy Comic Lite products.
Picking the right model took time. My favourite heroes may be a little twisted as well as dark, but there’s always some line they won’t cross, and it’s that restraint that divides these edgier heroes from the villains. Still, a little envelope-pushing keeps things interesting. For me, the best kind of dark hero has to earn his way into the light, and the price he pays for his happy ever after is high. This kind of hero doesn’t stumble into love and flop down on the couch. He has to earn it, and it takes a strong heroine to stand up to him.
When I found the model I wanted, I placed my order, being careful to select the “sense of humour,” “fully operational brain,” and “redeemable soul” options.
I was so happy when my order arrived! Unlike most true life heroes, mine came with instructions:
Hello, and welcome to your new Dark Hero, Vampire Edition 3.2! Warranty provisions require that you follow these instructions for safety and for optimal customer satisfaction:
1. This unit may be damaged if left for long periods in direct sunlight.
2. This Hero unit may be cleaned using products designed for dark wash. Do not bleach. Dry flat. Cool iron only.
3. Your Dark Hero, Vampire Edition is intended for nighttime use only. Recharge daily.
4. Use of the unit during the “brood” cycle is not recommended.
5. If unit begins to watch Underworld repeatedly, remind him that he wears leather way better than Kate Beckinsale. This should reset unit to “arrogant” mode.
6. It is not recommended that unit operate heavy equipment during full moon.
7. This unit is not designed for domestic use. For daily household tasks, we recommend the Dark Hero, Djinn Slave 4.0
5. If you wish to disassemble unit, use stake provided.
By way of product review, the Dark Hero, V.E. 3.2 worked a treat. I have to admit, though, I’m curious about the 3.3 upgraded “green” model. The solar rechargeable batteries might present some issues.
LOL. I LOVE this post! Sharon’s got a wicked funny sense of humor. And now, lucky readers, we have a contest to WIN a signed copy of Ms. Ashwood’s Ravenous! In the comments, tell me about what characteristics your favorite heros have. For extra entries, subscribe to my blog or blog about this contest and leave me the link in the comments.
I’ll use the random number generator on February 11th to pick the winner, so start commenting, blogging and subscribing! I’ll make every attempt to contact the winner & the winner’s name will be posted on my blog on Feb 11th. If I don’t hear back from the winner in 4 days, I’ll draw another winner. Good Luck Everyone! 🙂
I prefer my men dark, athletic and forceful, but the overriding required characteristic is intelligent: if they are stupid, they aren’t for me.I can like them Sidhe, vampire, or furry, but I don’t like them mean.
(And I am already subscribed.)
Hi Sidhe! What a fun post, I loved it. I like my heroes to be Bad Boys, but I also want them to be honorable. (Even if they don’t want to show it.) Thanks for running the contest!
I like my men to be a bit dark, strong, sexy, but in the end they have to have a bit of goodness in them. Great interview and I can hardly wait for this to come out…it is on my to be bought list.
Oh, I subscribed to your blog…I cannot believe that I have not done this sooner.
I’ve posted this at Win a Book. Don’t enter me in the contest.
My heros are broad shouldered, tall, have a nice rear, and are bad to the bone and great lovers!
Would love to receive a copy of Sharon’s book!!!
Thanks so much,
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com
I like my heroes to be able to show strength and compassion and that they are human too!
I’m a new subscriber.
Ladies, you all have wonderful Hero Requirements! Great to see you know what you like.
Thanks for entering. 🙂
I prefer characters who are intelligent and wise more than fighters. I don’t want them to be perfect; in fact, I love it all the more when they are flawed whether they know it or not. I would rather a very kind, almost fatherlike figure than a fighter.
Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com
Blogged:
http://morbid-romantic.net/2009/01/26/book-giveaways-0126-0201
Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com
Definitely a cute post!! Thanks. I like my heros dark, smart, sensitive and with integrity.
I like my heros dark, intelligent, and occassionally vicious. But only when it’s a means of protection.
Love the post, and will definitly be getting my hands on the book!
I like my heros to be bad ass women!
I’m a subscriber
I would say tall, dark, rich, & and good-hearted.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
XD Kind of reminds me of the japanese manga/drama Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Lover). Pretty much that’s the premise–you order what you want your ideal ‘boyfriend’ to be like. Looks, temperment, abilities…
I’m on the fence on how I like my heroes. I love heroes that are a little bit on the dark side, who can smile and joke about themselves without wallowing in self-pity, who appreciate the hard work a girl puts into how they look, loves to read, tall with dark hair and does something athletic (soccer for instance or lacrosse).
Smart, strong, tall, dark hair, light eyes.
Great post. And I am subscribing to your blog next, dont know how I missed it before.
Principles and flaws.
Thank you all for stopping by and entering the contest!
Great question by the way. Let’s hear it for great hair!
[…] RAVENOUS is out this month. For a chance to sample her unique voice and maybe win her book, go read her hilarious post on Dark Hero Product Testing before February […]
Awesome product review! I’d buy that djinn edition.
I like my heroes big, muscular (but not like a bodybuilder) and with a slighly dangerous “aura”.
Hair colour I don’t care even if long or not as long as it is the right thing for the hero…
They should be able to fight for what is important and care completely about their woman. I like it when they tease one another. And I like a lot the “one for all, all for one” credo.
I’m NOT entering but I have to throw my two cents in. 😀 Hmmm… I like my heroes to look like Edward Cullen/Robert Pattinson or Dean Winchester/Jensen Ackles. My respective Movie and TV “boyfriends”. 😉 (At least in my own little happy place) Oh! And Eric from True Blood as well. Mmmmm
So, I like them tall with blue or green eyes, a little bit of a smart-a$$, great sense of humor, tough but vulnerable, lean but muscular and hair color or length isn’t a big issue although I like darker hair usually. Creative, intelligent, trustworthy, loyal, integrity, and commitment are all qualities that I would love.
Ok, I’m off to my “Happy Place” now, lol. Keep the awesome comments coming ladies!
Well, I love heroes that are much like me, they have flaws, they aren’t perfect, but they are strong minded individuals and they have hearts of gold!
Love the product review!!
My favorite hero qualities: Dark, delicious, and a sense of honor that proves his undoing…
Love your warranty provisions! Too funny! Can’t wait to read RAVENOUS!
I like heroes that are somewhat unlikely. I love when someone who is considers a nerd outsmarts a bad guy.
I’m following.
tall, dark and handsome. 🙂 And smart. they have to be smart. oh yeah. and funny 🙂
I love a hero with a strong alpha personality, sexy, smart, and has a sense of humor. Can be a good partner in love and life with the woman he loves. Don’t require my heroes to be drop dead gorgeous, but like the strength of his character to show in his face and body.
In real life I like to be on equal footing with my man, but in a good story I like him to take charge. He should look good in jeans with just the right amount of muscle, be smart, have a sense of humor when needed, and know all the right moves.
I want to read about a hero with a dynamic sense of humor and dark, sexy eyes.
He should be, above all, unable to live without the heroine.
bad bad boys :)))) though that have a reall good side
does that make sense, it does in my head, but not sure it came out right
I love my hero to be someone the other characters would not expect to be a hero. In terms of supernatural powers, he would lack in it and be force to use hit wit and intelligent to outsmart his oponents. He would be funny and goofy at times but is serious when actions for it.
I’m following your blog via email and blogged about this contest this contest at my LJ:
http://okibi-insanity.livejournal.com/3401.html#cutid1
I like the dark, brooding, gorgeous, and toeing the line at every opportunity kind of hero. Oh, yeah, also with a sense of humor.
Blogged: http://fantasydreamersramblings.blogspot.com/2009/02/contest-for-ravenous-by-sharon-ashwood.html
I just subscribed in Google Reader (egret17).
I like my heroes dark, with some brooding and angst. But! Must have sense of humor and be intelligent. The guy on the cover of Kresley Cole’s Dark Needs at Night’s Edge is PERFECT, IMNSHO.
I like my heroes to be strong, confident and willing to do anything for the people they love.
does our Rob count as a hero;)
[…] To read the hilarious guest blog that Sharon Ashwood wrote back when Ravenous came out, click HERE. […]
This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your excellent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
[…] this post in 2009 for Sidhe Vicious Reviews shortly after I released RAVENOUS. The original post is here. It remains one of my favourites, so for a Friday Flashback, I’m running it one more time! […]
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