Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirate’s Life for Me!!
Feb 21st 2007
Suzanne EnochOn Writing!
Something got me thinking about pirates yesterday. Okay, I looked up at the theatrical one-sheet poster for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest framed on my family room wall, and that got me thinking about pirates. We all know that in real life, pirates more than likely had poor hygiene, bad teeth, scurvy, and at least one of several STDs. They were killers, thieves, and had possibly jumped shipped from their native country’s naval service.
So let’s just acknowledge that and then forget all about it. Because I LOVE pirates. 
From movies like Swashbuckler and The Crimson Pirate and that cool one about Henry Morgan and the pirates of Tortuga (the name of which I can’t remember – anybody??) to more recent ones such as The Pirates of Penzance, Cutthroat Island, and of course the two (so far) Pirates of the Caribbean films, I can’t get enough of ‘em. Ah, Johnny Depp.
They wear cool clothes and those big hats with the feathers. They have those awesome boots and that long, sexy hair and at least one earring, and they still look damn sexy. Some pull it off better than others. Some pull it off even when they’re swaggering around and wearing heavy eye makeup. Have I mentioned Johnny Depp yet?
But it’s not even about how handsome a certain few of these pirates are (ahem). Why do women, romance readers, find pirates so attractive? I think Jack Sparrow – I mean CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow – sums it up well when he talks about what his ship, The Black Pearl, means to him. “That’s what a ship is, you know It’s not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails. That’s what a ship needs. 
But what a ship is, what the Black Pearl really is, is freedom.”
A pirate lives the way he wants, does what he wants, says what he wants, takes what he wants. Laws don’t concern him except for the ones that govern the wind and the tide. He’s cunning, intelligent, and probably either has a rakish scar or a meaningful tattoo. And when he wants the heroine, nothing in the world will get in his way. There’s nothing sexier than that. They’re bad boys. Really bad boys. Alpha and with no thought of being anything else.
I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. It’s not just romance readers, either. I live a few miles from Disneyland, and I went to the park the day the Pirates of the Caribbean ride re-opened with the new movie figures and storyline. The line curled 
through Adventureland, through half of Frontierland, and out onto Main Street. I got my Mickey Mouse ears hat with the red bandanna and gold earring. Yes, there were guys there, but there were a lot more women.
The funny thing is, that sexy as I find Jack Sparrow and his ilk on screen and in my imagination, I’m not sure how I would feel about him as an actual guy in my life. The biker, the vampire, the pirate, the highwayman – they make my heart go pitter-pat, but they’re also kind of scary. And I’m not sure they’d be great at maintaining a stable family life. The gold doubloons and silver would be nice, though.
Do you like bad boys? The literary ones? The real ones? Who’s your favorite bad boy? What is it in particular about bad boys makes your toes curl?
49 Comments »
49 Responses to “Yo Ho, Yo Ho, a Pirate’s Life for Me!!”
Judy on 21 Feb 2007 at 12:57 am #
I HAVE to say this….a-hem…
Yo ho ho and a bottle of Rum!
*more throat clearing* So Pirates….Johnny in particular…YUM!
I absolutely love literary bad boys. If there is a bad boy in whatever story I’m reading and he’s at least 1% redeemable, I’m in love, and maybe even if he isn’t, I still tend to fall in love with him. It all started with this one story called “The Witch of Blackbird Pond”, Nat anyone? Unfortunately I also like bad boys in real life. Fortunately, I know the difference between good bad boys (fantasy and romance novels) and bad bad boys (hottie, but unstable in real life).
As for favorite bad boy, I’ve always had a thing for vampires and highwayman. I’m thinking Spike from Buffy and Zorro…or Robin Hood, totally toe-curling worthy.
DebMarlowe on 21 Feb 2007 at 8:06 am #
The boots, I do so love a man in boots……….
I adore the bad boys in my romances, but I have to confess if my dh behaved like my fave pirates, rakes and rogues, I’d have to put the hurt on him! I love his normal, everyday, supportive, slightly spoiled self!
Deb Marlowe
slightly spoiled herself
Claudia Dain on 21 Feb 2007 at 8:49 am #
I love a bad boy in my romances. They’re so interesting to watch, especially when they’re falling in love and getting redeemed in the process. Gentle Rogue was mentioned yesterday and James Malory is my favorite pirate/bad boy.
Bad boys in real life? Eeewwww. I went out with my share of bad boys when I was young and stupid. Anyone think littering is sexy? Opening up that muscle car window to toss out a plastic cup? Yeah, bad boys litter. Not sexy.
It was the littering that cured me, once and for all.
Naturally, to keep the fun in literary bad boys, I never write one who litters.
Julia London on 21 Feb 2007 at 10:19 am #
Okay, Suzanne, I have to know…do you really have a movie poster of Pirates in your family room? :-). That is a decorating touch I would never get away with.
I loved Johnny Depp in the movie (haven’t seen the second one). I love him because he was bad, had a great sense of humor, and a heart in spite of being bad.
I have run the gamut when it comes to men–altho that is not quite as sleazy as it sound, LOL–but my husband has a mix of both. He can be a bad boy, but he;s mostly a good guy. So I get all the bad boy stuff with benefits, I think.
ashefrog on 21 Feb 2007 at 10:51 am #
Bad boys (literary) are absolutely scrumptious. I think we love them because there is nothing better than a reformed bad boy and to know we were the one to tame them. But alas that is not usually real life.
James Mallory is a great bad boy. Two more favorites of mine are both Julie Garwood’s:
Nathan, Marquess St. James - The Gift
Brodick Buchanan - Ransom
Both are written as these big, bad men everyone fears, yet they are fiercely loyal, compassionate and protective of those they love. And of course watching them realize they love a woman, a mere woman is so much fun.
Sandy M on 21 Feb 2007 at 11:01 am #
I think there is a little something in every woman that secretly, or not, likes a bad boy at some point in their life. I grew out of to a certain extent. My husband is a good man but has boy qualities where it counts, in our love life. TMI! My sister on the other hand , is 34, and still loves bad boys. Hmmmm, could be that’s why she isn’t married. I have a huge teenage crush on Johnny Depp lurking inside this old lady body, lol. And just what is wrong with a pirate poster in the living room anyway?
ashefrog on 21 Feb 2007 at 11:25 am #
Bad boys (literary) are absolutely scrumptious. I think we love them because there is nothing better than a reformed bad boy and to know we were the one to tame them. But alas that is not usual in real life.
James Mallory is a great bad boy. Two more favorites of mine are both Julie Garwood’s:
Nathan Marquis St. James - The Gift
Brodick Buchanan - Ransom
Both are big, bad boys everyone fears yet they are fiercely loyal, compassionate and protective of those they love. And of course watching them realize they love a woman, a mere woman is so much fun.
ashefrog on 21 Feb 2007 at 11:34 am #
Bad boys (literary) are absolutely scrumptious. I think we love them because there is nothing better than a reformed bad boy and to know we were the one to tame them. But alas that is not usually real life.
James Mallory is a great bad boy. Two more favs of mine are both Julie Garwood’s:
Nathan, Marquis St. James - The Gift (first sighting Pagan series)
Brodick Buchanan - Ransom (first sighting The Secret)
Both are written as these big, bad boys everyone fears, yet they are fiercely loyal, compassionate and protective of those they love. And of course watching them realize they love a women, a mere woman is so much fun.
Nicole Jordan on 21 Feb 2007 at 11:39 am #
Love bad boys in romance novels cause I know they’ll be redeemed by the love of a good woman.
Don’t love ‘em in real life cause I know they won’t!
NicoleJ
Suzanne Enoch on 21 Feb 2007 at 12:28 pm #
LOL Julia, yes I do have a Pirates movie poster in my family room. It’s my “Hollywood Room”, since the plasma’s in there — another poster from “Back to the Future”, a life-sized Terminator endo-skeleton arm, a sign from “Monty Python & the Holy Grail” that says “Camelot this way, Certain Death that way”, things like that.
One of the joys of being single. I can decorate however I want.
SuzieE
Nicole Jordan on 21 Feb 2007 at 12:36 pm #
Ps. I just remembered who my most recent fave bad boy is: Daniel Craig as a young James Bond at the start of his 007 career in CASINO ROYALE. He played a perfect bad boy snag (sensitive new age guy) wounded by love. And to be honest, I liked him a lot better than Sean, although that will be heresy to many of you *G*.
Did anybody else drool over Craig?
NicoleJ
Andrea on 21 Feb 2007 at 12:50 pm #
I dated a bad boy once… He stole my car. So I married a computer geek who writes books. Whew I totally almost became a trailer park queen. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
colinfirthfan on 21 Feb 2007 at 1:20 pm #
I loved Pirates of the Caribbean -Curse of the Black Pearl. Didn’t like the second one as much.
LOOOVE James Mallory. I have read that book so many times.
If I was married to him though I might have taken my cutlass and cut off parts of his anatomy!!
Ladytink_534 on 21 Feb 2007 at 1:31 pm #
I love bad boys! I mean who doesn’t? But thankfully I outgrew the real life ones. My favorites are usually vampires but I do like pirates and other break-you-heart guys. I honestly think women like them so much because they know that underneath the prickly layer of swaggering self- confidence, more times than not, there is someone who is hurt and needs to be taken care of and loved. My absolute favorite literary bad boy at this second is Calder Hart from Brenda Joyce’s Deadly series.
TheNightPoet on 21 Feb 2007 at 1:34 pm #
I love Pirates of the Caribbean too! Orlando Bloom is damn sexy! haha The bad boys I love, absolutely love, to read is vampires. I don’t know what it is about them, but vampires are sexy and exciting to me. I try and find new ficition books with vampires as the characters as often as I can. I don’t know what it is about them, but they just drive me wild. I think it might have something to do with the fact that they are so dark, dangerous and alluring. In real life though, I think it would be hard to live forever. I think it would also be more dangerous if vampires were real. I don’t think I’d like to come across a real on in life, but it might be fun to tease him and then pull out my weapons to keep him away from me! lol
~Andrea
Julia London on 21 Feb 2007 at 1:52 pm #
How cool, Suzanne! If I had a poster of Johnny Depp anywhere, I would never hear the end of it.
OV_099 on 21 Feb 2007 at 2:44 pm #
Heck yeah, I love bad boys. . . Smallville’s Lex Luthor. . . The Phantom of the Opera, I’m hooked!
Lois
FilmPhan on 21 Feb 2007 at 3:10 pm #
Lois - I love the Phantom too. Christine should have picked him. I would have picked him. Zorro is hot too! Being bad is just sexy.
Susan K on 21 Feb 2007 at 4:15 pm #
Love bad boys! The Phantom of the Opera (movie version…Gerard Butler…yum), CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow is obvious, and my literary bad boy would be James Malory from Gentle Rogue by Johanna Lindsey. *sigh*
Susan K.
ldavis9 on 21 Feb 2007 at 4:18 pm #
Why no mention of Errol Flynn? He was dashing in anything he played. Although, I understand his lifestyle even out did his movies. What saddens me is that he always beat Basil Rathbone who was the far better swordsman in real life. Yes, I know, I have trouble deciding which world to live in :).
The second Pirates of the Caribbean was worthwhile to see what trouble Jack Sparrow could get into. The best scenes included him. Trying to fight while rolling down a hill can’t be beat! Johnny Depp is one of the best actors on the screen today, IMO.
Claudia Dain on 21 Feb 2007 at 4:52 pm #
Oh, yeah, Daniel Craig as 007. I went into that movie a skeptic and came out a convert. He’s the best (here comes the blasphemy) Bond EVER.
I love what they did with his character. He was believable, which is a tough sell in an action movie with gadgets. Not a lot of suspension of disbelief required in this version of Bond, which I so appreciated.
Sabrina Jeffries on 21 Feb 2007 at 5:08 pm #
Okay, I’m warning all of you now. If James Malory ever springs to life, he’s MINE. Hear that? MINE. Although my husband would probably have something to say about that.
Actually, I’m one of those people who believes that bad boys CAN make good husbands. It depends on how exactly they’re bad boys. And there are some awful men masquerading as good guys. So for me, it isn’t cut and dry. But yes, I definitely buy into the bad boy fantasy. I’m writing a bad boy right now, and I’m already in love with him.
Susan K on 21 Feb 2007 at 5:12 pm #
Okay, Sabrina. I love your books and you are on my favorite author list BUT I will fight you for James Mallory!
Susan K on 21 Feb 2007 at 5:17 pm #
Sabrina, I love your books and you are on my favorite author list. BUT I will fight you for James Malory!
Sabrina Jeffries on 21 Feb 2007 at 5:54 pm #
Put ‘em up, Susan K!!
I love the Malorys. James is definitely my favorite, but I haven’t read Jeremy’s book yet, so I suppose the son could beat out the father. I’ll have to see.
And I guess I’ll forgive you for fighting me for James since you like my books.
Manuelita on 21 Feb 2007 at 6:31 pm #
I love fictional bad boys who are then reformed by the love of their life. One of my favorites is Suzanne’s hero from London’s Perfect Scoundrel, St. Aubyn. However, I wouldn’t want to have to deal with one in real life. LOL!
I just recently discovered that BBC America’s new show Robin Hood will star Richard Armitage (from North & South) as Sir Guy of Gisborne. I can’t wait to see him as a bad boy! Robin Hood debuts March 3rd.
My favorite pirate isn’t Captain Jack, but cutie Will Turner (aka Orlando Bloom).
Helen G on 21 Feb 2007 at 6:36 pm #
Dare I mention Sean Bean here? Not quite a pirate but still goddamn sexy striding over the hills and far away in those boots as Richard Sharpe ….
And I love the Malorys too!
kimber on 21 Feb 2007 at 6:47 pm #
Ok, where do I start? Arr!!!
Sean Bean has played so many bad guys (one of which was as 006 in one of the Pierce Brosnan 007 movies) so hot. I would have put up a fight for James, but… if thats the case I think I could settle for Anthony (his brother) and not be to disappointed. Sigh… Pirates are so hot as well as bad boys in general. My guy is a bit of both good and bad and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
By the way my favorite ride at Disney Land was the Indiana Jones ride. Got to love Harrison Ford, little bit of good and bad when he needs to be.
Andrea on 21 Feb 2007 at 9:04 pm #
Seriously I would love to fight for James!
dbrown3400 on 21 Feb 2007 at 9:06 pm #
I’m glad I brought James Malory into the discussion yesterday. It’s too bad he’s a fictional character living in another century — and married no less. I doubt he would do dishes either. But don’t you love it when he calls Anthony “Puppy”?
My favorite bad boy from contemporary fiction is Cash Boudreaux from Sandra Brown’s Slow Heat in Heaven. I have a long list of Bad Boys but he is still pure steam.
Donna
Karen Hawkins on 21 Feb 2007 at 10:50 pm #
Fave bad boys? There are so many though … Cap’n Jack stole my heart from the second he stepped off the mast onto the dock. I love a man with a sense of humor, a dash of danger, and such great eyes! YUM!
But I also like the hard-to-catch aspect. Who doesn’t like a bit of danger now and again?
And Sabrina, I’ve had SUCH a crush on James Malory! That was one of the first romances I ever read and oh-my!!!!!
Pat L. on 21 Feb 2007 at 11:21 pm #
I like Bad Boys - there is just something about them - like the forbidden fruit thing I guess. It doesnt hurt if they ride a motorcycle - adds to the danger.
Pat L. on 21 Feb 2007 at 11:22 pm #
Whoops forgot to name one - Jackson Rule comes to mind by Sharon Sala.
Tammy on 22 Feb 2007 at 10:41 am #
The thing about (good) bad boys is you know they would go to any lengths to protect you.That fierce (she’s mine back off) mentality is a big turn on.
RachelG on 22 Feb 2007 at 11:13 am #
I love pirate books. I wish there were more being written. The boots. The billowing shirts. The hair. Sigh.
I think attraction to alpha men is hard wired into women. We’re all genetically predisposed to be attracted to the biggest baddest alpha in the cave. The biggest caveman offered the most protection and biggest chunks of Wooly Mammoth.
I think vampire books have replaced some of the big bad totally un-pc alpha pirate books that we all knew and loved. Vampires or controlling and protective of “their woman” much like pirates in romance novels.
lori barnes on 22 Feb 2007 at 12:21 pm #
We need to talk, my fascination with Pirates is what got me into reading I just turned 42 and have 2 children I and took up reading a year ago, before then i had only read 1 book in my lifetime and cheated threw that so while i was out of work i thought maybe they have romance books with Pirates in it I started out with “Her Master and Commander” that lead to 20 some books so far i have read it’s probably closer to 30 i have branched out past pirates some Cowboy ones but i love the way writters portray Pirates as the strong, powerful, possesive, bad boy loving heart man. anyone that is fascinated with Pirates email me to exchange notes on the good books out there i have quit a collection.
lori barnes on 22 Feb 2007 at 12:28 pm #
I forgot to enter my email address for anyone wanting to exchange info on some good Pirate romance books
ashefrog on 22 Feb 2007 at 2:28 pm #
lori barnes - I have a few pirate titles/authors I would recommend. Email me at ashefrog@yahoo.com
TheNightPoet on 22 Feb 2007 at 5:34 pm #
RachelG I agree with you, vampires are controlling and protective of their women. I think that’s why they are such a big turn on for some women. (like me!) haha
Lori Barnes, who’s a good pirate author? You’ve got me intrigued now!
If anyone is looking for a good vampire novel, Christine Feehan is a great read!
~Andrea
Kelly Ann on 24 Feb 2007 at 11:42 am #
I married and divorced a bad boy, I prefer to read about them.
My favorite Pirate ~ Gideon in The Pirate Lord!!! Yummy! Sara is so lucky!
TheNightPoet on 25 Feb 2007 at 11:29 pm #
Kelly, who’s the author?
Susan K on 26 Feb 2007 at 7:26 pm #
The Pirate Lord was written by our own wonderful Goddess Sabrina Jeffries!
Kelly Ann on 26 Feb 2007 at 10:27 pm #
NightPoet, Its the best Pirate Story out there! I promise! I thought seriously about setting myself afloat for hopeful, possible capture by a pirate when I was done reading! Fortunately I came to my senses!
Kasey on 27 Feb 2007 at 11:59 am #
While I happen to love Captain Jack Sparrow, I would throw him overboard for Will Turner anyday. Will is the good guy with a bad streak which is a great mixture. Or course Orlando Bloom isn’t only one hot pirate, he is also makes for one fine elf.
TheNightPoet on 27 Feb 2007 at 3:26 pm #
Woops, now I feel bad for not knowing that. ‘looks around sheepishly and bows down to Sabrina’ “I’m not worthy”…lol Thank you Susan K, I will add Sabrina’s book to my list of books to read. ’sheepishly grins again’
Thanks Kelly Ann, it sounds like a great book!
Kasey, I couldn’t agree with you more! Give me Will Turner any day! Man Orlando Bloom is one hot, sexy man! Today when I was on campus, I saw this guy that kind of looked like Orlando!! I kept thinking that all he needed to do was pull his hair back in a low ponytail and dress like Will Turner and I’d be hooked. lol
Andrea
Dulcie on 27 Sep 2007 at 8:08 pm #
I wandered into your blog and this discussion while on a Google search for all things Capn’ Jack. I’m 45, married,with two small children and hopelessly in lust with Captain Jack.
Why, I am most likely going through a serious mid-life crisis and right now my dear husband who lets me walk all over him, is not cutting it. I want a lusty pirate like Jack to throw me on the bed and have his way with me. I want spanked. I want to be completely totally ravished until I’m screaming for more. And then of course I want him to fall in love with me and treat me like the Princess I think I am.
Not asking for much, are we? LOL!
Sharon on 13 Feb 2008 at 6:41 am #
Dulcie, you must be my twin, LOL!
Have written some scorching fantasy stuff involving me and Captain Jack, but it’s not done yet. Sigh. Thank God for dreams.
Johnnydepplvr on 14 Feb 2008 at 4:17 pm #
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i luv potc (pirates of the caribbean) i have seen the movies more times than any1 oh and its all down to one man JOHNNY ah he is my addiction
mssparrow on 08 Apr 2008 at 7:17 pm #
i do love bad boy especially CAPTAIN JACK SPARROW!!!!