I learned early on in my writing career that placing actors in the roles of my characters was incredibly helpful. I knew the actors’ voices, so it was easy to hear them speak my dialogue and it made the words flow. Placing an actor I was attracted to into the role of hero served an additional purpose–aside from the fact that this made visualizing my hero a piece of cake, as romance authors, we must fall for our hero. It is essential that we do this because unless we first fall for the hero ourselves, how can we expect our readers to fall in love with him? This was the fun part for me and as a young 20 something, often disappointed by the men I met in the real world, I envisioned the Westwood brothers in my debut series, The Pinnacles of Power as Tom Welling (who I cast in the role of Colin) and Dylan Fergus as his younger brother, Alec. I liked both actors a lot and would often picture them as the hero when I was reading another author’s work as well. Though Dylan Fergus appeared to have left the acting world shortly after the NBC soap opera Passions was cancelled, I enjoyed watching Tom Welling play Clark Kent in the CW drama Smallville for years. Both Welling and the show served as an excellent source of inspiration for me as I was learning to write and I had no qualms about using an actor who played such a mild-mannered hero for a muse. It worked well for me…until I started having dreams about the villain, Lex Luthor.
The first time I had a dream of this nature, I attempted to pass the dream off as a fluke. We all have strange dreams every now and then and Smallville did make a noble attempt at painting this particular character (portrayed by actor Michael Rosenbaum) appear suave and charming, before allowing him to give completely into his darker instincts. Dreams don’t always have to mean anything, except I kept having them again and again and again. I was crushing on this bad-boy villain big time and as I read the works of authors I found myself crushing on their villains as well. They weren’t alpha heroes, mind you. They were villains with bad intentions who’d done really bad things. And then, as I was writing what was to be my debut novel, Dangerous Proposal, I found myself falling for my own villain, Lucas Ramone.
As writers, we tend to spend a fair amount of time daydreaming about our stories even when we aren’t actually writing. I’d basically come to grips with my bad-boy fetish when a crazy idea came to mind. Why not write a sequel to my story, and put the villain I’d come to appreciate so much in the role of hero? It wasn’t at all difficult to envision this slickster acting charming for the sake of achieving his own agenda, and how sexy would it be, to watch him fall for the one woman he believes he can never have? There was a catch, of course. For my readers to accept a villain in the role of hero, I’d have to reform him. And so, so eager to delve into Lucas’s story, Dangerous Ally [The Pinnacles of Power # 4] was actually released before the previous titles in my series!
A member of New Jersey Romance Writers, my fellow chapter mates and I enjoy sharing knowledge with one another about writing, marketing and the publishing industry. As I worked to create a formula for reforming the former villain, I was excited to present a workshop to my chapter, showing my fellow writers a unique way of remaining true to the romance genre and creating a hero no one ever saw coming!
As I went on to write the remaining titles in The Pinnacles of Power Series, I found myself using this formula several more time to reform 3 troubled heroes (I worked my way from Ryan Newberry, hero in Dangerous Secret, the least in need of reform by process of elimination, to Colin Westwood, hero in Dangerous Proposition, a man with so many demons he could practically be a villain himself) and one additional villain, Lucas’s brother, Jack. I didn’t think about it consciously at first, but as I began my second series, The Rabourn Theater Series, I found myself using the same formula, which I’d come to appreciate doing and greatly enjoyed. I mixed things up a bit to make it interesting, but having a bit of a battle plan this time around I started the getting-to-know our villains thing in book 1, and made it a bit easier for the reader to guess which villain or troubled hero I intended to reform next. I’m currently writing the final title in this series, An Enchanting Song [The Rabourn Theater Series # 5] and I can’t wait to reform Sebastian Nathanson, who readers tell me is “really, really bad!”
As authors learning to market our stories, (which we all must do, to a certain degree, if we are to have a successful writing career in this day and age) we are told to ask ourselves, what unique aspect do we bring to this genre? It took me some years to realize it, but reforming former villains is definitely “my thing.” Because everyone deserves a second chance? Of course! But more so, I wanted so badly to see these bad boys take center stage, to satisfy the dream of kissing them and even meeting them between the sheets! I’ve learned to indulge my wild fantasies and, as I release the 2nd edition of the book that started it all, I hope I can encourage you do the same, at least, when you’re reading, that is!
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DANGEROUS ALLY is NOW AVAILABLE!
The man Lilah’s sister warned her to stay away from might become her greatest ally…
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For five lonely years, diamond smuggling kingpin Lucas Ramone has hidden himself from the world. With a father who has baited him all his life, made a game of trying to trip him up at every turn, Lucas will do whatever is necessary to protect what is rightfully his. What he isn’t prepared for is Lilah Benson…
Upon accepting a job in the home of her sister’s maniacal ex-fiancé, reporter Lilah Benson believes she has finally found the perfect way to make her mark on the world. Exposing the criminal endeavors of Lucas Ramone won’t soon be forgotten. But as she comes to know the man who was supposed to be her adversary, Lilah is tempted by a passion far stronger than the desire to see her name in print…
Power and control are tools of survival, critical in a world of thievery and deception. Lilah, an innocent in a world of criminals, may be the one person capable of bringing Lucas to his knees. But Lucas will stop at nothing to keep his empire secure.
He will have it all: His Fortune, His Legacy, and Lilah Benson in his bed…
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ENJOY AN EXCERPT FROM DANGEROUS ALLY!
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Feeling the warmth of tears in her eyes, Lilah rose from the table. She never became so emotional over nothing. What in God’s name was wrong with her?
Lucas’s strong hand came against her shoulder. She didn’t pull away. In fact, she had the strangest urge to just lean into him, like somehow, he would take away all her doubts.
“Lena’s happy in her life with her children, and with Alec Westwood. I’d never begrudge her that. All I ever wanted was her happiness.”
The way he said the words, she almost believed them. He seemed to care, or at least, maybe was trying to be a better person.
“You’re trembling.” He reached in before she could stop him. His finger brushed her quivering lip.
Her instinct was to smack his hand. But the tingling sensation racing from mouth to spine kept her in place. Lucas’s touch was so soft. It made her crazy. She was consumed by the strongest desire for his lips to be where his finger was now.
He took her wine glass and held it out to her. “Here,” he said. “This’ll calm your nerves.”
Senses returning with a bang, Lilah held up two hands in protest. “Are you trying to get me drunk?” she snapped, not entirely sure whether it was him she was angrier at or herself.
“Am I that obvious?” Lucas laughed as if the whole thing was funny and set the glass back down.
She enjoyed being in the company of a monster—there was nothing lighthearted about it!
“I’m guessing you’ve probably been down this road too many times, hmm?” Lucas replaced his hand on her shoulder.
“What road would that be, exactly?”
His eyes looked into hers. “I’m sure I’m not the first man who’s tried to get you into a relaxed state, Lilah.”
“Actually—” Lilah hesitated, not wanting to get so personal yet feeling she could probably tell him anything and he’d somehow understand. “It’s been a long time, longer than you’d imagine. After I finished college, I had every intention of becoming a journalist, meaning I’d be out most of the time chasing a story despite whatever danger came with it. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, for as long as I can remember.”
Lucas nodded, coming closer. “You must have been very persistent. It takes a good deal of perseverance and sacrifice to become a success at such a young age.”
Lilah sure knew that. While her friends had been enjoying their last semester of college, she’d been frantically gathering writing samples, sending them out to every newspaper who would give her the time of day. But had her father noticed? Even when she became one of the youngest reporters at the New York Times, he’d barely raised a brow.
Deep down, she knew this was why she’d accepted Raphael’s offer, even in spite of the danger that came with it. A story about Raphael Ramone’s family laundry wasn’t going to impress Blake Benson. But exposing Lucas’s diamond smuggling operation would be a print-worthy unearthing that would win her father’s admiration as well as her first Pulitzer.
She lowered her gaze. “I haven’t given up anything so wonderful.”
Lucas lifted her chin. “But if it came to that, do you think you’d be willing to make that sacrifice, give up something you want—maybe something you want more than anything—to attain some ultimate level of self-victory?”
A chill came over her at his words. Lilah stepped back, unsure of what had just happened but wanting desperately to pretend it hadn’t.
Lucas cleared his throat. “Let’s get some air, shall we?”
Something she needed desperately. She followed him to the balcony, welcoming the cool night breeze as it caressed her hot skin.
“It’s beautiful here,” she said, hoping very much to steer the conversation in a new direction.
“It is.” Lucas came beside her, bracing the rail with one hand. He slipped an arm around her back.
His body was warm, like a furnace, and he felt strong, as if he spent his days loading lumber instead of dabbling away at a computer.
Lilah shivered, goose bumps forming along her arms. It felt so nice being close to Lucas, too nice. Maybe she’d just stay there with him a few minutes longer. They weren’t exactly hurting anyone by being in each other’s company.
Lucas leaned into her, speaking in a tone she could only describe as husky. “Those men you never met,” he said, “that was their loss.”
Lilah blinked, keeping her eyes on the night sky. “Please. A man’s the last thing I need in my life.”
“Are you sure about that?” Lucas asked, his warm breath coming against her ear. “Or is it possible you’ve been hiding behind your work for so long, you don’t even know how things could be?” His palm brushed her bare shoulder as he turned her to face him. “No one knows what it’s like to be hidden from the world more than I do, Lilah. You can trust me on this. I think we’re more alike than you realize. And it’s possible we’re both missing out on something incredible.”
She didn’t push his hand away as it cupped her cheek, or his arm as it encompassed her waist. No, she let him do what he wanted. She wanted him to touch her.
It’s my favorite thing to do, Anna. I know my faith plays a role as well. Thanks for stopping by – I’m looking much forward to releasing the final 2 titles in the Rabourn Theater Series!
I love redemption stories, obviously since I’m a minister – : ), so redeeming villians from their demons holds a special place in my heart. They’re the ultimate second chance romance. Good luck with the series.