September 4, 2007
Boundless heroes
Read blurbs here. All set?
Now let’s talk about what matters — the men.
Bonnie said:
I’m happy to be a part of the Boundless anthology with stellar stories by Annie Dean and Dionne Galace. The Straw Man is my offering to this trio of tales about otherworldly lovers.
Imagine a lonely farm woman longing for love on a fine October afternoon, wishing she had someone to share her view of the brilliant blue sky and winging geese, aching for a man to share her solitary bed at night. Marie makes a heartfelt wish as she stares at the scarecrow in her field and that evening a man wearing the same clothes comes to her door. She has been given the lover of her dreams for just one night, All Hallows Eve. He will be gone by morning. But Marie’s heart won’t release him so easily.
The man Marie dreams up is more than just a good lover. Sam knows her thoughts and feelings, since he’s conjured from her deepest desires. He is a friend and confidante just as she wished for, but the magic that created him gives him aspects of his own, a personality with quirks and imperfections that make him a unique being in his own right and not just a reflection of her.
Dionne said:
I grew up reading romance novels where the hero is always a well-groomed, ridiculously good-looking man with a billion dollars in his bank account. In real life, I was never attracted to that kind of man. Not that there are plenty of them walking around on the streets of San Diego or anything. Or anywhere else, for that matter. I was always attracted to the more dangerous man: the one sitting in the dark corner of a bar nursing a glass of scotch, the one wearing the beat-up leather jacket with duct tape on the elbows, the one with the yellowing bruise over his eye because he got in a fight with a guy manhandling the waitress… the tough guy who secretly reads a dog-eared copy of Love Sonnets by Pablo Neruda, sits in the dark with his eyes closed listening to Coltrane, works on a novel about a twenty-something guy just trying to make a life as a writer in Los Angeles… yet wouldn’t hesitate to run down a mugger who had swiped an old lady’s purse.
That was the guy I had in mind when I was creating Jack Ridley, the male protagonist of my story. Jack is the ultimate “reluctant hero”. At twenty-eight, he is burned out. Once an award-winning journalist, Jack fears there is nothing else in the world to explore, nothing else for him to see… until he meets a very strange, very beautiful waitress named Kitty. Before he realizes it, he’s starting to believe in things like “love at first sight” even as he wonders if he’s losing his mind. Poor Jack. He thinks he’s got everything figured out until a pink-haired girl who looks like Rocker Barbie comes barreling into his life and turns it upside-down. Suddenly, he finds himself wishing he could be the man she needs… her knight-in-shining-armor. That’s my Jack. I hope you guys love him as much as I do!
Annie said:
In the novella Seven Days, I wrote to the theme of redemption. And what could be more intriguing than an incubus tasked with tempting a novitiate to sin?
A reader called Dev “tortured and endearingly sweet.” My challenge was to create a hero who wasn’t human yet manage to incorporate his desperate yearning for the real world and all of its mundane pleasures. He is inhumanly beautiful but almost completely inexperienced in some regards. Even Teresa, the novice, knows more about certain things. Why? Because she’s human.
Dev’s desire to be real and to be loved threads throughout the story, even though he thinks such a thing can never be. But our ability to crave the impossible is, perhaps, the one thing that makes us human. By turns tender, sinful, impassioned and profane, Dev ultimately turns his time with Teresa, not toward her downfall, but toward setting her free. I hope the way I’ve written him resonates for you as strongly as it did for me, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
And now for the fun stuff. Check this out.
This Delicious Bath Set includes the following:
3.4 oz Coco Banana Slush Shower Gel
1.2 oz White Chocolate Whipped Body Souffle
Candle
Exfoliating Body Polisher
Look yummy? It really is. We’re looking out for y’all, ready to provide decadent, sensual experiences for body and mind. To win this scrumptious bath set and a copy of Boundless, all you have to do is talk about your dream man in comments — whether that’s your ideal hero in books or someone from real life, that’s up to you.
Winner! Larena Wirum come on down — you’ve won the Bath Set and a free copy of Boundless.
The rest of y’all, thanks for playing. I hope you’ll buy Boundless and see what the fuss is about.
Filed under: Contests, Morning After
34 Comments
September 4th, 2007 at 10:21 am
My dream man is
1/4 muscular and well built with big blue eyes
1/4 deep voice that let’s me know he appreciates me
1/4 humorous and fun-loving
1/4 sensual and ALIVE in bed
this adds up to one hunk of a man and all mine
September 4th, 2007 at 10:29 am
I want that bath kit!
too bad I can’t win it. *sniff*
Great post, Ann!
September 4th, 2007 at 10:32 am
I know, right? I keep looking at it, thinking, oh man, wouldn’t it be awesome to take a long bath with that? Sometimes I think I’m too good to my readers.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:35 am
[...] morning, kids. It’s the morning after of our LSB release and BFF Ann has a post over at SEx, LSB’s blog about the heroes of our antho. Post a comment and you might win a deliciously [...]
September 4th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Ladies, this anthology sounds great! Having lived in Kansas and seen the rolling miles of endlessness, I especially look forward to reading about the scarecrow/man who satisfies the longings of a lonely prairie woman.
And a hero named Jack? For me that’s real life, so I always like reading how others see “Jack,” LOL.
The prize loosk luscious!
September 4th, 2007 at 11:10 am
Whoever the genius was that thought of putting the three smutty sisters together should be awarded in spanking and free booze!
I LOVE the sexy cover and the different stories, how they are from 3 fresh angles but combine to make one badass anthology of HAWT men (demons too!) and pretty decent woman (for a change).
Bravo, Ladies. Bravo.
September 4th, 2007 at 11:22 am
My dream man is tall, muscular from hard work, has a sense of humor, romantic, blue bedroom eyes, a nice butt, and knows how to please. If he wears a uniform, that is an added bonus!
September 4th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Joye and Jodi, your dream men sound pretty darn tasty. In Seven Days, Dev has those dazzling blue eyes you’re talking about. *grins*
September 4th, 2007 at 11:57 am
good god ann!
mighty fine present for some one to win and i want my man tall, dark, and dangerous baby!
September 4th, 2007 at 11:59 am
I like spanking and booze!
… wait, who was the genius behind all this?
September 4th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I love the sound of the anthology. The heros all sound great. The prize looks wonderful.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
*raises hand* Pretty sure that was me, Dee.
I’ll take the spankings, but you can have my share of the booze.
September 4th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Mmmmm…. bath stuff is even more addicting than books. Congrats, ladies.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
This anthology sounds wonderful. My dream man is my husband. Not only is he a loving husband but he is also a dedvoted father, I can always count on him and he is honorable and full of integrity. He is a terrific lover and a true friend. I can truly and happily say I married my soulmate.
September 4th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
My dream man is six foot three (a foot taller than I am), with dark hair and skin and green eyes. He has a nine to five job in graphic design, but writes sonnets in his spare time, and volunteers as a big brother every other weekend. He has a dog that he takes running through the park each morning, and he works out to stay healthy but isn’t fanatical about it. He has a hidden geeky side and loves to dress up for Halloween. He can be silly with me when I need it, and listens when I have something serious to discuss.
That’s my “dream man.” As for who I’ll end up with, he’ll probably be a cross between Ross Geller and Niles Crane!
September 4th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
That cover is soooooooo hot!
Wow, dream man, I’ve been doing a lot of talking about this recently. For me, I want a combination of three Cs. Chemistry, Connection, and Compatibility.
Scary thing…I think I may have recently met him.
September 4th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
My dream man in my husband. I know it sounds cheesy, but I cannot imagine being with anyone but him. Attitude wise he always pushes me to do my best, and not in a hollow way. He believes in me. He thinks I’m beautiful even when I don’t and he makes me feel beautiful as well. He’s fun, funny, likes both deep discussions and light hearted silly ones. He laughs at my stupid jokes, he understands when I’m being over emotional, when I’m feeling bad or when I’m frustrated with a story. Most of all he accepts me, for the good stuff and the bad and doesn’t try to change me.
September 4th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Oooh, there’s some really good stuff posted in here. Your husband sounds wonderful, Michele.
And do we get details, Samantha?
September 4th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
My dream man is my husband of 18 years.
September 4th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Fun contest! The excerpts look great.
Funny thing about dream men–If you ever get yours, you may discover that he’s not what you want. I once dated a sensitive, artistic, tall, soulful guy who lived and breathed for me. Drove me crazy. I’m not a glass saint, and I don’t appreciate being treated like one.
When I met my husband, I thought, “Except for being tall, he’s not my type at all.” But he’s hilarious and smart, and different from me in ways that delight and fascinate me.
September 4th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
My dream man is about 6 feet (taller than that and I can’t reach the good parts), has gorgeous eyes, hair on the long side, either black or dark brown, has a great sense of the ridiculous, big hands
), can tease me out of a bad mood, and loves me ridiculously.
September 4th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
My dream man is Sam Winchester.
No, Dean.
No, Sam.
Sam and Dean. With Dr. Who thrown in.
September 4th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
What a great prize! My skin is calling out for that basket. Oh, and I am too. lol
My fantasy dream man and my real life dream man are complete opposites. My fantasy dream man is a bad boy, hot and wealthy, too. In real life it doesn’t matter much how much he makes or what he looks like. He is so warm hearted, caring, smart and honest that you just can’t help falling in love with him. He’s a good friend, too because you need that to get through life. It can be tough out there at times.
Love the sound of your stories!
September 4th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
My dream man would be someone with a nice body, smart, sexy, fun, and funny who knows how to treat a lady.
I certainly can use the prize with my dream man. LOL.
September 5th, 2007 at 7:58 am
Oooh, yes, you can, Amelia.
These are some great entries. Be sure to stop by my blog and enter the other contest we have running. It’s a prize-packed week around here.
September 6th, 2007 at 1:46 am
My husband is my dream boy toy, in my dreams he turns into a dragon and takes me around the world.*g*
September 6th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Wow, a book and lovely bath stuff… what more could a girl want! As for my dream man, well I’d like a man with a warm smile, dark eyes, capable hands, who has a calm, controlled exterior but lots of hidden depths. Hmmm… perhaps my dreams need a little more spice….I’m sure your book would help with that!
September 6th, 2007 at 9:24 am
My dream man is tall, dark, and handsome. He will have ocean blue eyes. A smile that lights his whole face up. Long hair and he has a motorcycle. A sense of humor and smart. Will do anything to protect me and him. He is an alpha. He doesn’t have to be rich. As long as he works is okay. lol. He will like animals and kids.
September 6th, 2007 at 11:41 am
[...] Annie, Bonnie, and I are throwing this contest on the LSB blog. Just comment and talk about your dream man. The prize is this really, really pretty bath set and a [...]
September 6th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
My dream man would look like Viggo Mortensen or Christian Bale, be stinkin’ rich and have a willy the size of a ripe, Jamaican Banana.
He’d be easy going and let me have my own way 99% of the time. He’d have the stamina of a bunny and like to spend cash on me and me alone.
He’d keep his mouth shut most of the time too. I can’t stand yappy manflesh.
Or you could just send me some morphed hybrid of Aragorn, Dean Winchester and Batman? With leather wrappings and free sword?
I have yet to find such a beast in fiction. Am I fussy? ;P
September 6th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I don’t like pretty boys particularly. Sexy, with a bit of tuff thrown in, that’s for me! I like men like Viggo Mortensen, Gerard Butler and Jeffrey Donovan. Mmmmmmmm!
September 6th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
My dream man is probably a cross between Cal from Jennifer Crusie’s Bet Me and Joe Morelli from the Stephanie Plum series. Yum.
My dream woman is a cross between Liza from Bet Me and Julia Quinn’s Daphne.
Hey, some of us go both ways, you know
September 6th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
my dream man would be smart, funny, sexy, and very loving. And he would be intelligent too. will a nice ass.
September 6th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Jen C., I completely agree.
Can y’all feel the excitement? The clock is winding down. You have until midnight tonight to speak your minds about your dream men. Tomorrow morning, I’ll pick a winner, and find out who won Boundless + the bath set.