I’m not the first guy to write bodice rippers, I know that. But… there ain’t a whole lot of us out there, statistically speaking.
Why? This genre is dominated by women — for good reason. Women are the target audience. Women, typically, are more honest about what makes a good romance story good… feelings and depth… and sex. Don’t forget about sex. Women may be a little more classy about it, but make no mistake, guys… they’re just as dirty as we are… hell, in their own circles… they’re downright raunchy.
Imagine, my fellow dudes, hanging out at the poker table — beers, music, maybe some cigars. One of your homies leans over and says… “I had a date last night with Gina. Man, was she sweet, and she could really throw down in the bed.” Then give you a five-minute play-by-play with diagrams and sound effects.
Never gonna happen. But.. the ladies might just do some shit like that. That’s why they own this genre.
So, then, why the hell do I write them? Well… because I like them, that’s why. I dig rom-coms, have read and listened to hundreds of romance books. Everything from period romances to erotica. I’ve even read a few of the werewolf teen angsty ones. They’re not my bag, but I’m not hating.
The point is, I used to hide it. Didn’t talk about it with anybody, not even my wife. Joked with my friends about how “the wife made me watch 50 First Dates”. I’m nearly 50 years old, y’all, and I have finally realized that life is too short for that crap. So now I own it.
Well, mostly. I still slap a pen name on the cover because my kids can read and search the web like little net ninjas. Someday I’m going to have to explain why I write about slick centers and throbbing cocks… but I want to wait until they have some context.
I also want to write books where the dudes don’t suck. They can be flawed. They can be occasional dumbasses, sure… because who isn’t?
But what my guys will never be is condescending alpha jackasses… even as a foil. There may be throwaway characters that are there for contrast, but I don’t do the “love to hate ‘em” thing. I’m not bashing that as a trope because it works for a lot of authors. People love a “she changed him for the better” setup, and that’s cool. Nothing shows growth like a jackass realizing he’s a jackass and changing his ways for the love of a good woman.
My heroes, like Luke Weaver, are gonna be shown to respect women. To love them for who and what they are, first. Sure, they’re gonna be thirsty — clock the tits and ass like everybody does, but… they’re gonna be sold on the woman’s character, her wit, her heart. That doesn’t make me different in this genre, like I said, women dominate this space. But what may be a little different is my guys are gonna do it from the jump.
There are lots of other things that will make my writing different. I hope this is one that, later, when I’m winning some kind of great award… will be my calling card.
He writes dudes that don’t suck.
PSA: I know male romance authors come in every shape, style, and identity. But pudgy, suburban, straight white dudes. We're as rare as tits on a tarantula.
