By Morgan K Wyatt
This weekend I went to a
book signing. Some of the participants had read my books. A few thanked me for
featuring women over thirty. They were tired of women barely out of high school
as heroines. The obviously over thirty women thanked me and left with new books
tucked under their arms.
I never thought of my
heroines as old, but I did intentionally make them between thirty and forty
years old for a reason. As I age,
I realize I am still a vital person interested in life, romance, and sex. It makes sense that other women would
have the same interests.
According to the census,
there are more single women than married over thirty. With that in mind,
wouldn’t these same women want to read about vital women close to their age
finding love? That’s the main
reason I chose an older heroine, but there are other reasons.
Think back to how easy
things were in high school or college. Trust me, you didn’t think they were
easy then, but they were. As a grown adult with a job, sometimes kids, and a
troublesome ex life becomes more complicated. That the second reason for an
older heroine. It is hard to juggle all those elements, but real women do.
The final reason is an
older woman has both baggage and experience. She might be measuring every man by her previous relationship.
On the other hand, having lived, loved and lost, she knows when she has
something good. Similar to Cinda in Perfect Stranger who yearns for the man she
met while waiting for her flight. Here’s a tiny taste of the novel.
Cinda dropped her friend’s hand, well aware that her
chaperoning duties were probably finished for the night. She’d find a flute of
champagne and a seat in an out of way place. Only there seemed to be all these
men in her way. She tried to squeeze by one broad shouldered man dressed like a
pirate only to have him catch her hand and kiss it.
The pirate placed her hand on his heart, declaring, “The
Lady Emeraude has captured my heart.”
A Roman Centurion with a strong chin jostled the pirate,
making him release her hand. “I saw her first. You only managed to get here
quicker because of your rapier. I was forced to use manners.”
A vampire headed her way. Grinning and, showing his fangs.
Was this what it was like to be glamorous? She felt a bit like a greased pig
all the kids ran after at the end of the rodeo. On her other side was Romeo,
who waved at her with a lace handkerchief. Her eyes cast around the room
looking for some sort of rescue.
A man stood in profile near a tall floral arrangement in a
business suit, no mask, hands in pockets, and a somewhat bored expression. He
looked nice, a little familiar, then he turned and looked straight at her.
“Jack!” The word popped out of her mouth before she fully
recognized him. His head came up. The vampire reached her side, introducing
himself. “They call me Count Dracula, but you may call me Vlad.”
Sheesh. Costumed men don’t give up easy. She turned in the
direction of where Jack stood looking confused. He took a few steps in her
direction, but stopped, warned off by the look of death from the ghoul beside
her. “Gee, Drac, I need to say hello to my husband, Jack.” He stepped back at
the mention of a husband, melting back in the crowd.
Taking four determined steps, she reached Jack’s side. He
had a nametag on his lapel that read ‘Hello, I’m a conventioneer’. “Jack,” she
whispered, startling him. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she leaned into him
and kissed him on the cheek. “Sorry, I had to do that.”
He smiled. “I’m not sorry, but why did you have to do that.”
“Could you pretend to be my husband? I’ll explain.” She
tucked her arm through his to cruise the perimeter of the room where noise
level was a little less. “Well, ah, that vampire was practically drooling on
me. I had to get rid of him, saw you, and…” She coughed a little in her
embarrassment. What seemed like a good spur of the moment plan just seemed odd
now. “I said we were married,” she finished in a rush.
“Okay.” He patted her hand tucked in the angle of his bent
arm. “Are we happily married or should I pick a fight?”
“We are very happily married, even newlyweds,” she teased
back.
The band broke into a swing number as the singer crooned
about flying away. Jack led her onto the dance floor. “It is only fitting that
I dance with my wife, especially being newlyweds.” He winked as he took her
hand.
They twirled around the floor past Raven and Jeb, who only
had eyes for one another. Jack could dance, but he always could in her
fantasies.
Dangerous Curves-when romance takes an unexpected turn
Available Now!
Hi Blak,
ReplyDeleteI'm home. I am going to promote this tonight & tomorrow since I just got home. Thanks a ton.
No problem, Morgan! Thank you for the great post. :)
Delete