Welcome Guest Goddess Erica Ridley!
Mar 3rd 2010
Your Friendly GoddessesGuest Goddesses & On Writing!
Give a warm Mt. Oly welcome to debut author, Erica Ridley!
Erica writes Regency-set historical romances, often with a touch of paranormal. Since becoming active in the writing community, all of her manuscripts have finaled in or won various RWA chapter contests. Erica is also the webmistress of her local writing chapter. Her first book, TOO WICKED TO KISS, debuted March 2, 2010.
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found riding camels in Africa, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
Real Men Wear Starched Cravats
One of the most fun and most challenging things about being a romance author is writing scenes from the hero’s point of view. On the one hand, I want him to be equal parts strong and sexy and thoughtful and romantic and understanding and compassionate and witty and logical and intelligent and charming and objective. On the other hand, I want him to be realistic. (What? Choice A isn’t always realistic? LOL.)
Luckily for me, I have four brothers and a wealth of male friends from which to draw upon when trying to decide what a man would really say and how a man would really react. I am also dating someone who is a walking icon of the male/female divide and therefore a constant source of entertainment.
Last Christmas, while I was out of town, he and I had the following two phone conversations:
Boyfriend: Hey, I went to a huge party last night.
Erica: Cool! How was it?
Boyfriend: I don’t have time to tell you right now. I’ll explain later.
[4 hours go by]
Boyfriend: OK, now I have time to talk.
Erica: Great! So, how was the party?
Boyfriend: Fine.
That right there pretty much sums up the difference between men and women, does it not?
How about you? Have you experienced dissimilar man/woman expectations of what makes for satisfying conversations? When you’re reading a romance, do you prefer the hero to behave more realistically or more idealistically? Name a favorite hero from your keeper shelves!
Erica will be giving one lucky commentor a signed copy of Two Wicked To Kiss!
Visit Erica on the web at: Her website, her book bonus feature website, Facebook and Twitter.
68 Comments »
68 Responses to “Welcome Guest Goddess Erica Ridley!”
Karen Hawkins on 03 Mar 2010 at 5:48 am #
Welcome, Erica! Great topic! I’m looking forward to your book; I can tell it’s going to be FUN!
Oh yes, I’ve discovered the vast difference in ‘talkology’ between men and women. I experience it every time I talk to my teenage son. Our conversations are multi-syllabic on my part and mono-syllabic on his.
Me: Whew, I got a lot done today! How about you?
Him: sure
Me: What do you mean ’sure?’ Is that a yes or a no?
Him: sure
Me: Uh huh. Well, did you make it to all of your classes, including your English which I know you hate?
Him: yes
Me: How was class?
Him: fine
Me: Have you finished your homework yet?
Him: no
Me: So are you planning on doing it any time soon?
Him: yes
After about ten minutes of fines and yeses and nos, I’m tired. He can wear me out with so little effort. It’s like I’m TALKING and he’s TEXTING.
Although my son is NOT the stuff of romance heroes (yet — give him ten more years), I have to admit that I like a real-seeming fantasy man in my romance books. I mean — it’s a romance, so naturally I want a more romantic than usual hero, but I don’t want him to be toooooo perfect or I won’t be able to fall for the fantasy.
LoriHandeland on 03 Mar 2010 at 6:02 am #
Congratulations on your upcoming book, Erica, and welcome!! We’re glad to have you here.
Since I live in a houseful of men, I have these conversations often. I often feel like I’m trying to pry open my son’s mouths and pull the words out manually.
In romance I prefer an idealistically realistic hero. I want it all! A hero who talks like a man, yet still . . . talks.
A favorite hero from my keeper shelves is Lord Dane from Lord of Scoundrels. He didn’t say much, but he certainly had a lot of interesting thoughts.
Angela on 03 Mar 2010 at 6:16 am #
I do not experience the kind of conversations that others do with men as I am not dating or married.
I do like my heroes to be somewhat realistic. Too perfect is just not going to happen.
Your book will be on mt to read list.
My fav hero is Tony Mallory from Tender Rebel.
Wishing you only the best in your writing success.
Virginia C on 03 Mar 2010 at 6:21 am #
I prefer a masculine, realistic hero who has suprising, endearing, captivating moments of tenderness and romance : )
Anne on 03 Mar 2010 at 7:00 am #
Congratulations and best of luck on your book Erica. I like my heroes to be realistic yet with a flaw, tall dark and dangerous, you know. I have two favorite heroes, Michael Stirling, 9th Earl of Kilmartin from Julia Quinn’s WHEN HE WAS WICKED, and Fortitude Ware, the Earl of Walgrave from Jo Beverley’s SOMETHING WICKED.
Gannon on 03 Mar 2010 at 7:38 am #
Hi, Erica. Fancy seeing you here! I’m used to the monosyllabic replies of guys, especially teen boys–I have two. Sometimes they can be fairly talkative, but get them on the phone….please! “Yes, no, um, I guess, okay.” What’s up with that?? LOL
My husband is much better, except when he’s watching something on TV, then it’s like trying to communicate with a cave man! *rolling eyes*
Kirsten on 03 Mar 2010 at 7:41 am #
When reading a romance I want the guy to talk to her. Yes he may be a bit arrogant or analytical. He is a guy after all but I also want him to tell her in beautiful words that he loves her and she’s his one and only. So I guess the fantasy guy that is thoughtful, romantic, strong, understanding and caring is what I love to read about. Realistic and disappointing men I know already & don’t care to read about.
A “conversation” I had recently:
Me: Hey G. come on in, glad you could be here. How was your trip.
G: Fine.
Me: Much traffic?, I expect not since you’re on time and all.
G: Yep.
(Yep what? I wonder but I say)
Me: So can I get you a drink, tea, water, orange juice, milk, coffee?
G: Fine
ME: Fine what? What do you want to drink?
G: Whatever
Me: Well Ill make us some tea then shall I?
G: No
Me: No tea, ok so Orange juice?
G: No
(This went on till I got to coffee)
Me: So why don’t you tell me that you want coffee. I ask what you wanted and you said whatever.
G: That’s fine.
Whatever & fine started to get on my nerves. I Shouted: Fine is a 4 letter word, you know just say what you want!
G:Whatever
(Men!!!)
ladydawgfan on 03 Mar 2010 at 7:53 am #
I think all men’s brains were constructed on the Planet Strange and then distributed around!!! All of the previous replies could be my father watching TV or talking about work.
Me: Dad, how was work?
Dad, watching TV: *grunt* Good.
Me: Anything happen?
Dad: No
A little later, Dad’s eyes are closed, the news is still on, Mom and I are wondering why we are watching this instead of something we want to watch.
Me, softly: Dad?
Dad: ZZZZZZZZZZZ
Me, softly: Dad?
Dad: ZZZZZZZZZZ
I turn the channel, off of the news to something Mom and I want to watch. Dad immediately wakes up.
Dad: Hey! I was watching that!
Mom: You were sleeping.
Dad: I was just resting my eyes. I was listening to it!
Moms have eyes in the backs of their heads. Dads have transparent eyelids so they can watch TV while “resting their eyes!!”
Amy on 03 Mar 2010 at 7:54 am #
Welcome Erica! Congratulations on your book!
I laugh at this because I am usually the one giving my husband one word answers.
I like my heroes to be tough on the outside and soft on the inside. I also like them flawed or tortured.
One of my favourite heroes is Ethan Sharpe from Kat Martin’s Devil’s Necklace.
jcp on 03 Mar 2010 at 7:59 am #
prfe ralistic menincontemporarie, not inhistoricals. ne of my favorite heos wa te heo in The Cowboy’s Baby by Ptricia Thayer.
Lisa H on 03 Mar 2010 at 8:00 am #
Welcome Erica!!! I love Historical Romance and would love to read your book!
Here is a recent text conversation with my 14 year old son:
Me: Hi honey…I have really been missing you lately. You’ve had basketball everyday and I’ve had to work, I an I feel like I haven’t seen you in a week! Next week when you have off from school, how about we go see Avatar? I just heard last night from one of my customers how great it was…or maybe we could just go to the mall and walk around? I love you, honey, let me know.
My son: Maybe
Now, I’ve seen his fingers flying over his qwerty keyboard when his friends text him,so I know he is capable of typing more than one word.
My favorite heros are: Ruarke from KEW’s “Shanna”, Christian Easterbrook, from Madeline’s “The Sins of Lord Easterbrook” and Edward from “Twilight”
I too like a mix of the real male hero and the idealistic male hero!
Leigh on 03 Mar 2010 at 8:04 am #
Hey, Erica! Lovely to see you here today! Congrats on the book.
Sue on 03 Mar 2010 at 8:10 am #
Erica: Your book sounds great. I’m not a real big paranormal, Gothic fan, but I will give it a try.
My husband will get a phone call from one of his sons and I have to come from another room and ask who called and are they okay. The usual answer is “B and he’s fine.” Then I have to ask after the daughter-in-law and grandkids and get the same answer. It’s the same when I ask how his day at work went. “It was okay.” Then much later he will tell me about a problem at work (we used to work together until I retired last fall) or something funny that happened.
ladydawgfan: Are you sure your dad & my husband aren’t the same man? I get that when I change channels, too even when I know he’s sleeping!
I like Michael from Julia Quinns’ When He Was Wicked and Simon fromTeresa Medeiros Some Like It Wicked. Is there a wicked pattern here? I just finished Some Like it Wicked and I cried when Simon finally declared his undying love to Cartiona.
Stonehawk on 03 Mar 2010 at 8:51 am #
welcome to the boards Erica. I don’t have much experience with men or conversating with them other than talking to my Dad. His most popular answer to my questions when I ask him about his health, how’s he’s doing and how his cats are doing is the word “Fine”. That’s all I get from him mostly to my questions and requests to do things is that word. Ugh makes me annoyed that he can’t be that talkative. Oh well.
Pesky on 03 Mar 2010 at 8:53 am #
I’m glad to hear this. I never experienced the guy that poured his heart out to me, it always tended to be the little things that made me feel all warm and gushy on the inside. I love reading it, but trying to see Newguy forming any of the declairations of longing in most of the books, not really seeing it.
It took 4 months for Newguy’s phone conversations to break 2 minutes. He’s in law enforcement and “just the facts m’am” totally applies. Now at least I get a little more detail on the facts.
HewhoshallnotbenamedbuttowhomIamrelatedandshareahouse drives me nuts with the things he leaves out.
“Spoke with the Bombshell today. Everything’s fine. She’s whining you don’t call.”
so I call and this conversation is the follow up one.”
“So, when you said fine, you meant in the present? Or no one’s lost a limb I guess because The Squid has a broken leg and is in a cast up to his groin.”
“I told you to call.”
Favorite Heroes: Marcus from “It Happened One Autumn”, Ferrin from “One Forbidden Night”, Gabriel from “A Secret Love”
Claudia Dain on 03 Mar 2010 at 8:57 am #
I can never play well in these discussions since I’ve always been surrounded by (I’m assuming, based on the evidence of others) talkative men. Every guy I ever dated TALKED. They talked and talked. I can ask Big D (my husband) the most innocent and innocuous of questions and I’ll get fifteen minutes of exposition as a reply.
This is an example from last night:
Me: How was the drive (three hours from another city where he had a business meeting)?
Him: Horrible. It started snowing, really snowing, blizzard snowing at 2. The meeting ended at 3 so it was a mess by then. I was thinking I’d have a leisurely drive home, put the car on cruise control, just sit there and think about everything I’d learned, really let my thoughts just drift, but no way. The traffic wasn’t bad since I left before rush hour, but the road was just a mess. I couldn’t even go the speed limit. Did you know that the speed limit on that highway is 70MPH? Well, I did 80 on the way there since I left late. Did I tell you I left late? My alarm didn’t go off. All night long I kept waking up every 45 minutes, waiting for my alarm, and then finally I just let myself relax and it didn’t go off! I woke up at 5:58 and left
Claudia Dain on 03 Mar 2010 at 9:02 am #
(cont) at 6:15! I didn’t wake you, did I?
Me: No.
Him: I drove 80 the whole way there and got there at 8:45, fifteen minutes early!
Claudia Dain on 03 Mar 2010 at 9:07 am #
(cont)
Him: So I find a seat in the front row. You know how I love to sit in the front row. I was one of the first ones there. But the front row was too close (he pantomimes staring straight up in the air) so I moved back a row.
Me: Were there snacks?
Him: Yes.
Me: How many people were there? Twenty?
Him: Thirty five, maybe forty guys.
Me: There were only guys? No women?
Him: Two women, three if you count Janet, but who’s going to count Janet.
Me: Oh. (I’m pondering why Janet shouldn’t be counted, but decide I don’t want to hear 10 minutes about Janet)
amy1242 on 03 Mar 2010 at 9:16 am #
Welcome, Erica!
Yesterdays conversation with DH…
Me: Hi Honey, how was work? (I ask every day, so I shouldn’t catch him unaware by the question.)
DH: It’s work. (His usual answer.)
Me: I saw a fire truck parked in the parking lot when I went by today.
DH: Yup.
Me: Any fires or hazardous spills?
DH: Nope.
Then he walks out of the room to check on some project he’s working on in his mancave (the basement).
This is why I read books, mostly with female authors. I’ve noticed some male authors skip over parts to confuse me, just like in real life. I don’t enjoy those books nearly as much as my female authored books, where conversation is smart and complete.
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 9:50 am #
Karen:
–It’s like I’m TALKING and he’s TEXTING.–
Hahaha, I have so been there! And I totally agree, my ideal is definitely the real-seeming fantasy man.
Lori:
LOL re: pry the words out manually. At least it’s not just me! =) You make a great point with Lord Dane from Lord of Scoundrels. When I’m reading, fabulous internal dialogue can go a long way, even if the character himself isn’t particularly verbose.
Angela:
Thanks! Ohhh, Anthony Mallory from Tender Rebel. Johanna Lindsey’s Once A Princess is responsible for introducing me to romance, and I haven’t looked back since!
Nicole Jordan on 03 Mar 2010 at 9:51 am #
Welcome, Erica! It’s great to have you here on Mt. Oly. And huge congrats on your first baby!
I’m with Kirsten, wanting heroes to talk to their heroines… or at least to the reader. I love macho alpha males but the best ones for me know how to use words to their advantage.
And in real life I like the same thing but less macho. Some of my best guy friends are more the androgynous types.
Dominic from Heyer’s DEVIL’S CUB is probably one of my all time fave Regency heroes.
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 9:56 am #
Virginia C:
“a masculine, realistic hero who has suprising, endearing, captivating moments of tenderness and romance”
Well SAID! A hero like that definitely works for me!
Anne:
Mmmm, I’m definitely on your side with tall, dark, and dangerous! (You will probably love Gavin Lioncroft, in that case! *g) I loved JQ’s When He Was Wicked, too. Jo Beverley’s Something Wicked is also a great call!!
Gannon:
Maybe phone waves interfere with male brain waves…? LOL. The guy I mentioned above definitely has his moments of describing the most random things in excruciating detail. And then other times, when I’d *like* detail… Viva la difference! =)
Kirsten:
“I also want him to tell her in beautiful words that he loves her and she’s his one and only”
I think this is my very favorite moment in just about any romance novel. I *need* to see it. It’s the moment I’m reading for, even if I don’t consciously realize it as I’m inhaling the pages. And when that scene finally comes… ohhhh, /swoon!
Kim on 03 Mar 2010 at 10:03 am #
Welcome Erica!!
Ha! My husband is a talker. There are no yes/no answers from him. In my romances, I want a cave man. Grunt, beat up the bad guy and haul me off to the bedroom *G*
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 10:14 am #
LadyDawgFan:
LOL, my dad always tried to pull that “resting his eyes” nonsense! It must be ingrained in the psyche…
Amy:
Tough on the outside and soft on the inside is definitely a great combination. I haven’t read Devil’s Necklace yet–but I’m adding it to the TBR right now!
JCP:
I agree, I think it’s easier to play fast and loose with “realistic” in historical and paranormal, not so much with contemporary. What was it about the hero in The Cowboy’s Baby that you liked so much?
Lisa:
Hi!! LOL re: your “conversation” with your son. Those are great heroes!
Leigh:
Thank you!!
Janae on 03 Mar 2010 at 10:24 am #
Welcome Erica!
I volunteer quite a bit in my children’s classrooms, and I have this theory about men talking. I swear that they do most of their talking under the age of 12. You wouldn’t believe the conversations I have with these boys. It was the same way with my younger brother. Then, he hit puberty and stopped having in-depth conversations. Although, if I had to choose which one of my brothers to have a conversation with, I’d pick my younger brother over my older brother every single time. My younger brother grew up with 4 sisters and can carry his own in a conversation, when he chooses to talk. Our older brother, being so much older than us, just can’t.
As for my heroes I think I prefer them more realistic than idealistic. Too perfect just isn’t appealing.
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 10:24 am #
Sue:
Oooh, Some Like It Wicked! Teresa Medeiros is fabulous. (And since my debut is called Too Wicked To Kiss, I sure hope that all these “wicked” books take over the world!!)
Stonehawk:
LOL, you can see you’re not alone with getting “fine” as the response to any question! Men… gotta love ‘em, monosyllabic grunting moods and all.
Pesky:
“I told you to call.” LOLOLOLOL!!
As to your favorite heroes, you listed two that I don’t yet know, so I will have to read those and fall in love too!
Claudia:
Hahahaha! Maybe the rest of us have a blessing in disguise! I think I would’ve skipped asking about Janet, too.
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 10:26 am #
Amy:
LOL re: your conversations with DH! I love my female-authored books, too. What are you reading now?
Nicole:
Thank you!! LOVE Dominic. And I agree, knowing how to use words to their advantage is definitely a plus. Most of my closest guy friends are capable of having great conversations. I actually love talking with guys (who talk.) Sometimes their views are facinatingly different!
Kim:
Hahahaha… Being hauled off to the bedroom is often a fabulous idea!
Janae:
“they do most of their talking under the age of 12″ – LOL, so often so true!!
I definitely agree, I don’t want *too* perfect, either… I want to believe the hero could be real! =)
Gillian on 03 Mar 2010 at 10:45 am #
My husband either has a LOT to say–or nothing at all. I like variety in my heroes, and I love it when confessing their love is killer hard on them. Most heroes are way too used to getting their own way.
Erica, your website is lovely, and full of fun information. Great job!
amy1242 on 03 Mar 2010 at 11:13 am #
Erica, I just finished Tami Hoags Deeper Than the Dead and will start on Christina Dodds In Bed with the Duke, later on tonight. As you can tell, I like to mix them up a bit. I have a Mary Jo Putney in my TBR pile also. I’ll look for your book this weekend while I’m out and about. Always looking for new authors! Enjoying the men v women dialog recounts today!!
Maureen on 03 Mar 2010 at 11:21 am #
I always laugh when I’m reading a story and the hero says something my husband or son might say. I think it definitely makes those heroes more realistic.
Teresa on 03 Mar 2010 at 11:25 am #
Welcome Erica!
I must admit that I enjoy men who aren’t very chatty, as I myself am not very talkative. I prefer the strong, silent type. I’m not much for conversations.
If I had to choose, I enjoy heroes who behave more realistically. Though if they are well written and have at least one redeeming quality, it’s all good.
Some of my favorite heroes are Sax (Forbidden Magic, Jo Beverley), Acheron (Sherrilyn Kenyon), James Malory (Gentle Rogue, Johanna Lindsey) and Edward Delanza (After Innocence, Brenda Joyce). There are many, many more. Too many to list.
Your book sounds great! I hope it’s a huge success.
Sabrina Jeffries on 03 Mar 2010 at 11:49 am #
We’re delighted to have you here, Erica!
I know what Claudia means, though. My hubby isn’t talkative (unless he’s talking about one of his pet subjects or he’s complaining about some crazy person who made his life complicated while he was out running an errand), but ALL the men in my family are. My dad is as bad or worse than I am. My brothers don’t talk much on the phone, but they’re chatty the rest of the time.
Even so, I know they don’t always think as emotionally as women, but I don’t care. I like a hero who’s emotional. I want him to straddle reality and fantasy, I guess.
And the men in my life DO have emotional moments. My brother had me sobbing years ago when he told me about his wife’s miscarriage (they have twins now, so it worked out for them, but I’d never heard him so overwrought). And my husband will come out with some stupendously romantic or emotional remark when I least expect it. So I figure it’s okay for heroes to do it, too. *G*
Favorite heroes include Dain from Lord of Scoundrels, Ian from Almost Heaven, and James Malory from Gentle Rogue. And lots, LOTS more!
elsiehogarth on 03 Mar 2010 at 12:00 pm #
Welcome Erica and congratulations on your new book.
My favorite heroes are always the dark, brooding, mysterious, no nonsense but that have a hidden fun side. I guess it’s due to all that family responsiblity. I also like the ones that have a big attitude problem that always say they will not get caught in the marriage trap like all their other friends that are happily married with children. Those are the best because the bigger they are the harder they will fall.
Ohhhh, I just love Dominic Alastair. When you read “These Old Shades” you just wonder what kind of child the strong minded Duchess & Duke of Avon would produce and the Devl’s Cub is a great crazy adventure.
I love Stephanie Lauren’s A Fine Passion with Baron Jack Warnefleet, of the Bastion Club. It’s great that at the very beginning Lady Clarice Altwood is not meek or mild and he knows that this is the woman for him but how will he convince her of that.
Rachel Gibson on 03 Mar 2010 at 12:04 pm #
Welcome Erica,
In my house, Mr. G is the talker. I swear to God he knows without being told when I want to listen to something on the TV. He’ll talk all through it like he’s getting paid by the word.
Rachel
Suzanne Enoch on 03 Mar 2010 at 12:05 pm #
Welcome, Erica! I love writing those big, strong men – especially when they suddenly realize that being a cave man will NOT get them the girl. *g*
GSM on 03 Mar 2010 at 12:28 pm #
I’m laughing as I read though these comments. It seems that if heroes in books talked like men converse in real life, books would be a whole lot shorter and probably far less interesting. (The exception Rachel pointed out about when you want to watch something on TV is a given!) Congratulations on your new book, Erica.
willaful on 03 Mar 2010 at 12:32 pm #
I also find men more talkative than not. In fact, my husband frequently incurs my wrath by telling people *my* stories — like all about my pregnancy and son’s childbirth! — before I’ve necessarily decided I want to or have a chance to. It’s hard to get a word in edgewise, no wonder I blab so much on computer.
Michelle B on 03 Mar 2010 at 12:51 pm #
Welcome Erica!
Maybe we all should get in a time traveling Delorean and go back to the Regency era. There were no TV’s or x-Boxes. Last night DH was channel surfing, so I started to tell him some important news about DD#2 at college. He had just stopped on a channel with gun fire, and didn’t even realize I was trying to tell him something. He’s a just the facts kind of guy, so I have to cut to the chase a lot. Unfortunately, I like to describe things and many times he just tunes me out. Still love the Lug.
Quilt Lady on 03 Mar 2010 at 1:00 pm #
I perfer a more realistic hero my self! One that is kind and always there for the heroine no matter what! He’s by her side through thick and then!
colinfirthfan on 03 Mar 2010 at 1:02 pm #
I have to confess… I too grunt adn give monosyllabic responses while I am reading a book.
LadyDawgF – my DH does that too. I change the channel and he will realize only 30 mins later that I changed it.
He also loves to complain that I am reading while he is sleeping. He can’t sleep with the light is on apparently.
I tell him to pretend that the T.V. is on since he sleeps perfectly well with the T.V on and all the lights blazing.
Chelsea B. on 03 Mar 2010 at 1:04 pm #
LOL! Such a guy thing to do! I have to admit, though, in romances I like when the hero acts idealistically. Don’t we get enough of the realistic in real life?
colinfirthfan on 03 Mar 2010 at 1:04 pm #
I think Sylvester is my favorite Heyer hero! I love Johann Lindsey’s Malory brothers too.
jackie on 03 Mar 2010 at 1:21 pm #
I like heroes who are all tough manly men on the outside but soft as whipped cream on the inside. I look forward to reading your book, for me few things are better than discovering a good new author!
I have quite a few favorite heroes; The Earl of Mayne from “Pleasure for Pleasure” by Eloisa James and James Malory from “Gentle Rogue” are two of my favorites. Last month I fell in love with the Marquess of Stoneville from the Sabrina Jeffries novel “The Truth about Lord Stoneville.”
evlqn on 03 Mar 2010 at 1:27 pm #
Welcome Erica, glad to have you here.
It’s been a few years since I lived with DH but I remember that for the first 30-45 minutes after he got home from work was “quiet time”, everyone had to just leave him alone to detox from work. After that he would relate his day to me in typical guy fashion.
Him: “It was a slow day today, I only fell in lust three times.” I want to know that!
Me: “So did anything else important happen?”
Him: “No.”
Me: “Okay.” I would go in to finish making supper and the phone rings, it’s Steve, they work together. The two of them would stay on the phone for the next hour talking about work. That’s where I find out he had hung up on Jane Fonda for using foul and abusive language for something he had no control over. I also found out the mechanics were all threatening to roll their boxes if things didn’t change at the shop.
So it isn’t that guys are uncommunicative, it’s just our poor little brains couldn’t contain all they have to impart so they spare us.
Julia London on 03 Mar 2010 at 2:57 pm #
Erica, welcome to Mt. Oly! Congratulations on your first book — the cover is gorgeous.
You described every conversation Jack London and I have. Unless it’s baseball or Nascar or cars. He likes to talk about that stuff and me….I pretend to be listening, but I am practicing my triple sowcow in my head.
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 3:24 pm #
Gillian:
“I love it when confessing their love is killer hard on them” — ohhh, me too!!! And I’m so glad you enjoyed my website. I had a lot of fun making it!!
Amy:
I’m like you–I read everything! I love historical (obviously, lol) but I also read a ton of paranormal and romantic suspense, and I also love romantic comedy. A good book is a good book!
Maureen:
It cracks me up too when a character in a book reminds me of someone I know in real life. =)
Teresa:
What a great list of heroes! I agree, I’m willing to fall in love with many different types of heroes who at least have one redeeming quality! *g
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 3:26 pm #
Sabrina:
Hi and thanks!! Unlike yours, the guys in my family (I have four brothers) are almost uniformly untalkative. Ever since he retired, however, my dad has been getting chattier and chattier, so maybe if I just stick it out another decade or two… LOL. But you’re absolutely right–even the quietest men of my acquaintance occasionally come out with something that just makes my jaw drop. So it’s definitely okay with me for heroes to do so! =)
Elsie:
“the bigger they are the harder they will fall” — an excellent maxim. I love when they fall! Muahahahahaaaa =)
Those are great books! I totally agree!
Rachel:
“he’s getting paid by the word” — ROFL. Maybe he is! =) Is he quiet when he’s watching something? Or does he like to talk through his movies and TV shows, too?
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 3:28 pm #
Suzanne:
“they suddenly realize that being a cave man will NOT get them the girl.” — LOL. I love those moments of realization! And I love even more when they have to think of the right thing that WILL get them the girl!
GSM:
“if heroes in books talked like men converse in real life, books would be a whole lot shorter and probably far less interesting” — Hahaha! You could be right!!
willaful:
“my husband frequently incurs my wrath by telling people *my* stories” — Oh no! LOL. He’s just so proud he can’t stand it!!
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 3:31 pm #
Michelle:
I am 100% on board with the Delorean plan. I wouldn’t necessarily want to live forever in Regency times, but I definitely wouldn’t mind popping in for a visit!
Quilt Lady:
I love loyal heroes, too!! Maybe at first they don’t think they need the heroine, but by the end of the book, there’s nobody they want more in their lives. Yum!
ColinFirthFan:
You are better than me, in that case… I don’t even manage to grunt, if I’m reading. Basically, unless the book is physically snatched from my hands, I usually have no awareness whatsoever of the “real” world!
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 3:32 pm #
Chelsea:
“Don’t we get enough of the realistic in real life?” — Exactly why I don’t mind bending the truth a little bit!
Jackie:
More fabulous heroes! (And it looks like we were all total suckers for James Malory!!! Mmmmm…)
Evlqn:
Thank you! And oh man… that would make me crazy too!!
Julia:
I can’t even do a sowcow in my head! LOL. But you make a good point… there are a few topics (or possibly stories I’ve heard for the 85th time) that trigger an instant tune-out response in me, too. And thank you about my cover! I love it!!
Solveig on 03 Mar 2010 at 3:50 pm #
Great blog Erica :Ö)
I´m afraid that at my house this is reversed. I´m the one who says and shares little and my hubby complains I don´t tell him stuff :ÖD How about that!! lol As for the idealistic/realistic question… If writers are going for realistic in male/female convestation would they ever get more than half a book since most men so often only use one syllable to answear our questions??? My brother does that to me all the time and it drives me up the wall even though I know perfectly well I do it myself all the time :Ö)
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 4:34 pm #
Thanks, Solveig! And very true… I guess it would be a short story instead of a novel if the man’s conversation and POV never consisted of more than a single word at a time!
Judy on 03 Mar 2010 at 4:38 pm #
You mean this doesn’t go away? My teenage brother does that to me ALL the time. I’ll go to his room to try to get some human interaction from him, and all I get are monosyllables. I was hoping it’s a teenage thing, cause I used to do that all the time at his age….
I like my heroes with a balanced mix of fantasy and realism. But I’ve noticed that when the hero is realistically male, I do tend to like him more. It amuses me how the complicated, yet simplistic thought process a male tends to have. Like only speaking in monosyllables.
Favorite Males: Christian Rothwell (Easterbrook), Hayden Rothwell (Rules of Seduction), Harry Rutledge (Tempt Me at Twilight), Valentine Corbett (Sins and Sensebility), Christian Jervaulx (Flowers from the Storm), Trevelyan d’Augustin (Lessons in French), Stoneville, Anthony Dalton (Let Sleeping Rogues Lie), Sabin (Darkest Whisper), Conrad (Dark Needs at Night’s Edge), Billy (Lady of Desire), Devlin (Devil Takes a Bride), Sebastian (Dain from Lord of Scoundrels), Wildcard (Out of Control)
Among many
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 4:45 pm #
Sorry, Judy… it may well be an incurable condition! LOL. That is a FABULOUS list!!!
cail on 03 Mar 2010 at 5:25 pm #
Welcome, Erica! There are few things I love more than a new author who made it through the guest goddess vetting.
I’m blessed with mostly descriptive men in my life. my DH always tells the full story, if i give him a chance to talk
I’m quite chatty. My father can talk on the phone for hours, and does.
My brother, however got the grunt gene. This usually applies to phone calls that he does not initiate. I now only call when i have something interesting to say or something to ask him. If he wants to chat, he calls. Then he’ll talk. It works out pretty well.
Karen Rose on 03 Mar 2010 at 5:54 pm #
Welcome, Erica!! I have to start by saying, goddesses, that TOO WICKED TO KISS is a wonderful book!! I had the privilege of reading it last year.
Buy it. Read it. You will love it!
Yes, there is a marked difference in communications in our house, although usually the roles are reversed and I’m the one grunting responses. Especially if I’m on deadline. Luckily Mr. R has a lot of patience with me!
Favorite heroes: Ethan Quinn from Rising Tides, Ian Thorton from Almost Heaven, and Phin Tucker from Welcome to Temptation. I’m trying to figure out what these guys have in common… But am coming up with nothing other than they’re all gorgeous men with tortured souls and good hearts (although it took me a little longer to believe it about Phin Tucker, LOL).
E.R. on 03 Mar 2010 at 6:00 pm #
I have three older bros who gang up on me when I act “stupid” in their eyes. :roll eyes: Thankfully, my eldest bro is married and out-of-state, whereas the other two….yeah, not good.
I’m not a talker, so I rather type (I’m better at that; not a good conversationalist here). I don’t mind males talking “their” way so long as I can prompt them to elaborate.
As for romance, I don’t mind them being either more realistic or idealistic, but I prefer a mixture of the two. A balance between realistic and idealistic makes a great “romance” man, IMO. I can’t think of a fave, but I guess Lisa Kleypas’s Sebastian from THE DEVIL IN WINTER and Marcus from IT HAPPENED ON AUTUMN (they aren’t from my keepers’s shelves but they deserve to be acknowledged) are some males I like as well as Christine Feehan’s Mikhail from DARK PRINCE and Mack from STREET GAME comes into my mind. I got others, but they are the ones that just plain comes up in my mind.
Robin/RBL on 03 Mar 2010 at 6:33 pm #
Welcome Erica and good luck with the book (s) !!
You ladies crack me up! Some of these conversation examples are hilarious!! My dh is not a talker either. The worst is when he goes to the dr.
Me: How’d the dr’s appt go?
Him: Fine
Me: What did he say?
Him: Everything’s good.
Me: Did he run tests? Did he give you a prescription? Do you have to go back?
Him: Nope, he said everything was ok.
Now if I’m telling the story, I start from when I tried to get parking, tell how long I had to wait, and all that before I even get to the meat of the story! LOL
Ever wonder if theres a blog board out there where men are talking about us talking *too*much? LOL
Fave heros? Too many to list them all…and I’m also a James Mallory fan. I also dig Wolfe McKenzie (L.Howard), Gian Ren (D. Joy), Roarke (JD Robb), Beau (Susan Johnson), Archer and Wolf Lonetree (E.Lowell), Luc (R.Gibson), Cal (Susan Elizabeth Phillips), Darius (C.Feehan), Sam (S.Brockmann)(Okay okay, I admit, I like em a little on the caveman side!! I like em witty and sometimes snarky and sarcastic too).
chey on 03 Mar 2010 at 8:35 pm #
Hi!
I prefer a hero tho behave realistically.
My favourite hero is Jamie Fraser from the Outlander Series.
Sue A. on 03 Mar 2010 at 8:43 pm #
I’m glad I’m not the only one having communication problems with the opposite sex.
With dealing with brothers, I have to say make the time to talk, really take, even if you have to pin them down, because sometime down the road you’ll find you wish you had.
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 9:44 pm #
Cail: “my DH always tells the full story, if i give him a chance to talk” — But what’s the fun in that?
LOL!
Karen: Thank you!!! Gorgeous men with tortured souls and good hearts sounds pretty darn good to me. (And I loved Welcome To Temptation–Crusie cracks me up!)
E.R.: Oooh, three older brothers! Any sisters? I have four brothers, myself–two older, two younger, with me the only girl. I always liked it that way… although it might’ve been fun to have had someone to hang out and swap clothes and giggle with. (Well, if that ever happens outside of the movies! *g)
Erica Ridley on 03 Mar 2010 at 9:45 pm #
Robin: “if I’m telling the story, I start from when I tried to get parking, tell how long I had to wait, and all that” — hahaha, exactly! If I ever say, “I don’t have time to tell that story right now”, that’s because it really is a long story! (Although I probably could pare it down if I *had* to…)
Chey: Hi! Outlander–great choice!
Sue: “make the time to talk, even if you have to pin them down” — I think this is great advice! I remember going out of my way to make sure I took the time to talk with my younger brothers, and I’m so glad I did… now we’re friends as well as siblings!
chelleyreads on 03 Mar 2010 at 10:01 pm #
i like my romance heroes more idealistic. it’s romance after all
one of my all-time fave heroes: nathan from goddess julia’s book of scandal. he said some sweet, swoon-worthy word 
Debra on 03 Mar 2010 at 11:57 pm #
HI Erika, I got your book as a arc and really enjoyed it. I talked about it tonight at my romance group. Although I have to admit there were some times I wanted to hit your herione, over all I really enjoyed the book. I am looking forward to Susan’s book
Barbara Elness on 04 Mar 2010 at 12:44 am #
I think I like a mix of idealistic and realistic – a hero needs to have some idea of reality, but there’s nothing wrong with having dreams. My favorite hero in a recent book was Eloisa James’ Duke of Villiers in A Duke of Her Own. In the series preceding that book, he was a not so sympathetic character, and his character grew and changed as the series went on until he deserved a happily ever after of his own.
Julianne on 04 Mar 2010 at 11:24 am #
*laughs* I’ve heard my hubby have similar conversations. But my fictional heroes (when I do write them) tend to be much more wordy! I guess I need to work on that.
E.R. on 04 Mar 2010 at 1:28 pm #
Erica, sadly I’m the youngest and only girl. Of course, being the baby isn’t so bad sometimes, but when my bros are teasing me….uh, yeah.
Thankfully, I got a younger cuz who is dynamite at girl stuff. In fact, if her old clothes fit, I can nab it and for free! *twinkle* I also got her into the romance bandwagon. Especially to authors like Christine Feehan, Stephanie Laurens, and Julia Quinn. She got me looking at Diana Palmer and Johanna Lindsey. We may be living in two states, but we still keep in touch.
And even though my bros bug me MOST of the time, they do have their moments. Not enough of them, but there are some.
Amanda on 06 Mar 2010 at 1:27 pm #
I think I’d like my hero to be a little more idealistic!