We all know that a romance hero is (generally) very different from a real-life one. The bad qualities can be exaggerated and still forgiven, because frequently the lengths the hero goes to in order to finally win over the heroine are far beyond reality, too. The colors are more vibrant, the conversations are crisper and wittier, and the sex is better.

There is one characteristic that I value just as highly in real life as I do in a fictional romance, however. A sense of humor. I ALWAYS prefer a hero with a sense of humor. The hard part, however, is to make him strong and manly and still amusing. Robin Williams may be funny, but I don’t find him very sexy, for example. And I don’t think I would like Indiana Jones as much as I do if not for his occasional flashes of sarcastic humor.

And yet, how do you take a serious story – like that of Tolly James, a man who’s survived a horrific attack in which he nearly lost his leg and his struggle to regain his humanity, for example – and still make it funny? I actually look to real life for my inspiration. There’s a story, for instance, about a colonel, I believe, who served on the Duke of Wellington’s personal staff. The Iron Duke didn’t have much tolerance for excuses or dramatics. Apparently while sitting on horseback on a hill overlooking some battle on the Peninsula, a cannonball struck the colonel in the leg. He cried out, “oh, my leg’s off!” Wellington lowered his spyglass and glanced over. “So it is,” he said, and returned to his view of the battle.

Now I’ve never used that exact quote in a book, but I do frequently think of it when I’m writing. It’s such a masterful undercutting of the obvious that you almost have to laugh, however horrible the actual event that inspired it. My heroes understate – or overstate – the obvious quite a bit. I can give them their drama and let us laugh at it, so to speak.

Who are your favorite heroes? Do they have a sense of humor? Can you think of a hero who doesn’t have a sense of humor? And do you plan to read about Tolly James in A Lady’s Guide to Improper Behavior?

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we got our new (used) dog. Diesel is a German Shepherd, a former police dog that flunked out of the police academy (he thinks he graduated ahead of his class).

I’ve had dogs all my life, big dogs and little dogs, and while I know that all dogs are different, I am not different. The dogs came and went, but I remained unchanged. Until now. My life is now divided sharply into Before Diesel and After Diesel.

Before Diesel: no dog toys. Find a stick or an old tennis ball in the yard and play with that.

After Diesel: he loves his toys, so I buy them. He has a pile of toys that he carries around the house. And leaves around the house. I didn’t have toys laying around on the floor when my kids were toddlers. Now I do.

Before Diesel: no dogs on the bed or the sofa—ever! Upon pain of death.

After Diesel: he climbs on the sofa every time I leave the house. I’ve put a lap robe there to catch the worst of the hair, a sign of defeat. When I wake up in the morning and say, “Morning!” Diesel takes that as an invitation to jump on the bed and snuggle. He puts his head on the pillow and rubs his face in the blankets. I now think this is adorable. My kids think I’ve lost my mind. I am always washing my bedding. I find this annoying and yet still say, “Morning!” to the dog all the time.

Before Diesel: no puffy doggie beds. A nice carpeted floor should be good enough for any dog.

After Diesel: he has a pillow that he wraps his arms around and sucks on like a giant pacifier. I mean that literally. It is slimy and stained, and I can’t get the saliva out of it no matter how much I wash it. He carries his pillow from room to room, tail wagging, so delighted to have his pillow to rest his head on while I’m watching TV. Every car trip, I bring the pillow. I don’t dare go anywhere with him without his pillow. I’m beginning to live in fear of when the pillow “dies.” I’m looking around now for replacement pillows, hoping to wean him off one and onto the other.

BTW, he came to us with this pillow. This is HIS pillow.

Diesel has turned my life upside down. I hardly recognize myself. My kids certainly don’t recognize me anymore. They shake their heads in bewilderment, talking amongst themselves about early onset Alzheimer’s. It could be true. I’m sure I’d be the last to know. But since I’m having so much fun with Diesel, I don’t think I care.

And now, I have to do a load of sheets again.

Do you do anything now that you never thought you’d ever do? In the past year has your life changed in some way you never saw coming? Has an animal ever changed your life in any way (and that includes Mickey Mouse, Suzanne)?

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The morning I learned that I was going to get my picture taken with the Idaho Steelheads, was the same morning that I learned my book, True Love And Other Disasters, was nominated for a RITA award. I don’t know which I was more thrilled about. The possibility of winning a big gold statue, or my picture taken with hunky hockey players. Hmm.

The Steelheads are in the middle of the Kelly Cup playoffs and the photo shoot was scheduled for a morning after their practice. We had a twenty minute window to get the picture taken and get out before the Utah Grizzles hit the ice for their practice. Driving down to the rink that day, I worried that none of the hockey players would want to stick around and get their photo taken with a romance writer.

I shouldn’t’t have worried. Once Will, the media director, introduced me as a “New York Times bestselling romance writer,” the eight defenceman were more than happy to get photographed with me. They were hot and sweaty and very nice and respectful. They were also curious about what I do and wanted to know if my books “made hockey players look good.” I assured them that I made them look real good.

My lasting impression of that morning is of being surrounded by young hockey players who were very charming and funny. I had a great time with them, but I don’t think I’ve ever been surrounded by that many sweaty men in my life. It was like being in a testosterone steam sauna. For some reason, I just wasn’t bothered by it, though.

What’s your favorite sport? Mine is obviously hockey, but in an another life, I was a soccer mom and really enjoyed watching that sport too.

During the month of May, Avon is giving readers the chance to win a Chicago Blackhawk’s jersey signed by Brian Campbell. All you have to do is fill out the form and you could win. Hmm . . . I can’t get the like to work so cut and paste http://www.avonromance.com/sweepstakes/

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