Sxx BLOG: Anatomy of a Romance Hero

What is a romance novel hero, anyhow?

The word "hero" has been around in English since 1387. Its core meaning is "protector" or "defender". Usually a hero is male, and the female version is called a "heroine". Ironically, most romances' main characters are women, therefore, most romances are written primarily from the heroine's point of view.

Erotic romances are different from traditional romances in many ways, not only because the sex acts are portrayed graphically and in more frank language than in their tamer sisters. In erotic romances, the heroes are often the main characters rather than mere love interests for the heroine. They frequently are the driving force behind the stories. Their wants, fears, core beliefs and prejudices can fuel the journey, and they swoop up the heroine and take her along for the ride.

In literature (including the erotic romances I write), the hero has common qualities despite vastly different cultures and beliefs. Whether set in a medieval castle, a modern high-rise, a battlefield or an imaginary world, all heroes are larger than life. Usually an ordinary person given extraordinary circumstances, a hero prevails in spite of all the odds being stacked against him--in life, in career, in battle and in love.

This isn't a new concept. Joseph Campbell wrote about it in THE HERO WITH A THOUSAND FACES more than sixty years ago. He described the hero's journey as beginning in an ordinary world, answering a call to an unusual world of strange powers and events. This hero must survive severe challenges, and if he does, he will get a great gift that may include the discovery of profound self-knowledge. After receiving this gift or wisdom, the hero may go back to the ordinary world, often facing yet another challenge on the return trip.

There are plenty of more recent books about heroes and their journeys from a writer's viewpoint. Two I've read and tried to apply are Christopher Vogler's THE WRITER'S JOURNEY and Robert McKee's STORY. Both of these books dissect the hero's journey as a basic structure for storytellers and screenwriters. I can't say I follow either author with slavish devotion, but I've tried to incorporate some of their advice as I create my heroes and their stories. I've also found much valuable information in DANGEROUS MEN AND ADVENTUROUS WOMEN, edited by Jayne Ann Krentz.

I've spent a great deal of time dissecting the eight hero archetypes in THE COMPLETE WRITER'S GUIDE TO HEROES & HEROINES, by Tami D. Cowden et al. My conclusion is that no memorable erotic romance hero is all "chief", all "warrior" or all "swashbuckler"--or all of any of the eight archetypes. He is basically one or the other, usually a chief or warrior in the books I sampled. He has other qualities, though, that may be primary characteristics of the "lost soul", the "best friend", the "swashbuckler", the "bad boy" or "the charmer".

What qualities do erotic romance readers like best in their heroes? Well, I've written a lot of them, many of which are hero-driven stories. My personal bestselling heroes are "chiefs", each with a healthy dose of "lost soul". Kurt (A MUTUAL FAVOR) also has a touch of "professor" and a smidgeon of "best friend", while Gray (BITTERSWEET HOMECOMING) almost tips the scale toward pure "lost soul". Jake (FIRESTORM) is "chief" with "bad boy" and a little bit of "lost soul", while Jared (ROPED) is the ultimate wounded Alpha "chief".

My more recent football guys all share “chief” and "warrior" qualities, with touches of other archetypes that make each hero unique. Bobby (NAKED BOOTLEG) has "best friend" qualities, while Keith (FORWARD PASS) is a bit of a "lost soul" and Dave (HOT IN THE CLUTCH) has a lot of "bad boy" in his personality. Colin (COACH ME) is a "warrior"/"chief". These stories segue into the Necessary Roughness series where each hero has embraced a particular sexual kink. Warriors at their core, Jimmy (SACKMASTER), Jack (END RUN), Sid (BEST RECEPTION) and Matt (PRIME DEFENDER) demonstrate qualities of "charmer", "professor" and "chief" when circumstances demand they do so for the sake of the women they love.

To me, the most important quality of a romance hero is that he grows during the course of the story, becoming not only larger than life but also more than he was at the beginning. He may be a "chief" who has learned to display his deep emotions, a "lost soul" who has realized he has retained or gained more than he lost--or a "warrior" who has learned the value of mercy. That growth is what makes a hero memorable.