The Difficult Hero by Marilyn Brant

Darcy - 1In the eyes of their respective heroines, Mr. Darcy was a difficult hero. So was Capt. Wentworth. They were men of high principles, to be sure, and, as readers, we knew they were good guys deep down… But we also knew they weren’t easy men to please. Unlike Mr. Knightley or Mr. Tilney, for instance, they weren’t trying to “gently guide” the women of their desire. Oh, no. Darcy and Wentworth were both actively trying NOT to like Elizabeth and Anne. Trying not to fall (or fall again) for these strong heroines.

I’m intrigued by heroes like that, both as a reader and as a writer. I’m fascinated when a man needs to confront his own nature for the sake of love. When he has to face the realization that he can either hold onto his pride or his grudge or whatever his issue may be with the heroine…or he can let go of it and, perhaps, have a shot a shot at true love and happiness.

wentworth - 1I’m writing a hero like that right now. His name is Blake Michaelsen and — to the world at large — he’s a bad boy with an attitude problem. His family loves him, of course. They understand him a bit better than most. And, in his own skewed way, he has very definite principles and an unerring sense of honor. You just have to dig a little to get at them.

Blake is the local DJ in my new Mirabelle Harbor series, so he’s made appearances in both TAKE A CHANCE ON ME and THE ONE THAT I WANT already. But YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME (coming later this year) is his story, and it’s been a really interesting process for me to delve into his point of view. His external veneer is well developed and one that has been crafted over three and a half decades. He sounds smooth to the ear (especially with his sexy radio-ready voice) and appears reckless in his behavior (what with his tendency to drink too much and get into bar brawls and all), but the “difficult hero” is always a man with a few secrets and with an inner life that not many people have genuine access to… He’s not someone who’s quick to let down his guard.

Darcy - 2This scene snippet below is from THE ONE THAT I WANT, and it takes place at the radio station in Mirabelle Harbor — 102.5 “Love” FM — right after an interview Blake conducted with the famous actor that Julia (the heroine of that story) once had a crush on. The scene is from Julia’s viewpoint, and her best friend Shar is Blake’s sister. Their mutual friend Vicky will be Blake’s eventual love interest, though neither of them knows that yet…and it’s a good thing, too, because their relationship will get *a lot* worse before it gets better.

Excerpt:

Shar came over with a plate piled with desserts. “Help me eat these,” she demanded. “It’s in celebration, so they have no calories.” She glanced approvingly at the management heads who couldn’t have looked happier.

As I gave in to my temptation for Greek pastries, Blake himself approached us. His shift had just ended and he’d turned over the reins, with the help of REO Speedwagon’s “Keep on Lovin’ You,” to Amelia, the next DJ on the station’s schedule.

“Thank you, ladies,” he said warmly to both his sister and me. He kissed Shar on the cheek. “I know what you did. I owe ya.”

“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll collect on that later.” She grinned at him, but Blake and I both knew she wasn’t entirely joking. Shar was a loving sister, but she didn’t let her brothers off the hook when it came to an unpaid debt.

“No doubt,” he countered.

We talked for a few minutes before he nudged Shar and motioned subtly toward Vicky, who was across the room chatting with one of the bosses.

“Who’s the babe talking to Leonard?”

“She’s a friend of ours, and her name is Vicky. Do not call her ‘the babe,’ that’s insulting,” Shar retorted. “She’s a high school French teacher. Lives in town.”

“Really…” Blake raised his eyebrows. “When did foreign language teachers become so hot? Is she single?”

“Behave yourself, Bro. She’s currently unattached, but she’s looking for a nice guy.”

“What? I’m nice. Mostly.” Blake paused. “Well, okay, not that nice but—”

Shar slugged him not very gently in the bicep, but she couldn’t hide her laughter.

I excused myself, congratulating Blake on a very successful event and edging even closer to the exit. I figured I could probably slip away now without anyone else caring.

I got as far as the hallway when a voice behind me said, “Excuse me, Julia Crane?”

I swiveled around and Dane Tyler himself had materialized by the door, as if he’d been teleported there, just like his character in that one sci-fi thriller, Time Jumpers.

Oh, no.

wentworth - 2~*~*~

So, Julia is left to deal with a very different but still rather difficult hero. And the next time that Vicky and Blake are in the same place at the same time, well…let’s just say their first conversation doesn’t exactly lead to a date, LOL.

Do you have a favorite difficult hero from fiction or film?! If so, please share! I always love hearing your thoughts 🙂 .

books 1 and 2The first 2 books in the Mirabelle Harbor series are out everywhere in paperback and ebook. It’s too early to announce when YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME (Book 3) will be released, but I’ll let you know as soon as I know for sure. And I can’t wait to share more of Blake & Vicky’s romance with you all. Have a wonderful weekend!!

 

12 comments

Skip to comment form

  1. Great analysis, Marilyn. I didn’t think of Mr. Darcy that way but I agree that he needs to let go before he can accept that life (to use a very unregency expression) throws you curveballs and you have to change or be knocked out. I think that’s what’s endlessly fascinating about JA variations — defining the curveball and seeing how Darcy responds to it.

    I’m writing a “difficult hero” right now for my Christmas Regency so I can really relate to the stages you describe.

    1. Monica,
      Thank you 😉 .
      And I love what you said about defining the curveballs! JA created some very distinctive personalities in her fiction. In writing any sort of variation or new work that’s been inspired by her, we have the opportunity to either replicate a situation or reframe it. I love getting to examine what’s similar beneath the surface of seemingly different heroes — I think there’s a lot that can connect them.
      Looking forward to your Christmas Regency!!

    • Jennifer Redlarczyk on August 21, 2015 at 8:43 am
    • Reply

    Marilyn this was a great excerpt! Your moderns are so fun! My difficult hero…. Drat, I’m still writing D&L so of course it has to be Darcy. Though I will give Poldark a shout since I just finished watching the series on PBS and definitely enjoyed the frustration her presented. Jen Red

    1. Jen, thanks so much! I’m thrilled you liked the excerpt 🙂 .
      Totally agree with you on Poldark! I just finished watching the first series too (can’t wait for more) and one of the elements I loved best about the story was the richness and struggle of Ross’ s inner life. How often he must confront dichotomies within his own desires — fighting his feelings toward Elizabeth and also forward Demelza, his mixed feelings in regards to his cousin Francis, his work efforts, and esp where he fits in within his changing society. He keeps having to rethink himself and his inner circle, which makes him such a fascinating character!

    • Deborah on August 21, 2015 at 12:35 pm
    • Reply

    Yes. I love the comparison and my favorite heros have always been difficult heroes. They are worth the effort to win. I love the excerpt and am looking forward to reading Volume 3.

    1. Thanks so much, Deborah! I’m busy writing it… 😉
      And yes — just as you said — difficult heroes are worth the effort. xo

  2. I like the title of your newest book. Could you have grown up in the 80’s?
    Darcy, Wentworth, and Poldark are my favorite tough and complex love interests.

    1. LOL, Patty! Oh, yes — I’m most definitely an ’80s girl 😉 . So glad you like the title!
      We share a similar appreciation for those complex heroes, too… They’re endlessly fascinating, aren’t they?!

    • Sheila L. M. on August 21, 2015 at 5:53 pm
    • Reply

    At the risk of being accused of jumping ship, I do believe that the Brontë sisters wrote several very difficult heroes: Rochester and Heathcliff!

    And then there is Ruark from one of my ever favorites, Shanna, by Kathleen Woodiwiss.

    For me Poldark is not difficult as he seems to have high moral values and cares for the working men. But I have only seen the series, not read the books.

    1. Sheila, oh, you are so right about the Bronte sisters! Those heroes were seriously difficult. I’d go so far as to call them tortured. Heathcliff and/or Rochester had more internal conflict than almost any other “romantic lead” than I can think of… I’m so glad you recommended Shanna. I’ve read others by Woodwiss but not that one. Will add it to my list! 🙂

  3. Definitely agree about Darcy and Wentworth; both have to learn to set aside their pride in order to love truly.

    I agree about Rochester–he’s my favorite “difficult hero” because it takes soooooo much to get through his thick head that he can’t just go do whatever he wants–such as marry Jane when he’s already married. It takes losing his beloved as well as being blinded and crippled for him to learn to love selflessly.

    Edmund in Mansfield Park is also difficult in that he’s trusting almost blindly (as Bingley does with his sisters), to the point of almost falling for a woman’s outer shell rather than her inner soul in Mary Crawford and not seeing the truly good woman right beneath his nose, a woman who, although quiet and selfless, recognizes the evil in the hearts of others that Edmund doesn’t learn until it’s too late. He’s difficult in a frustrating manner; I just want to “bop” him upside the head for allowing himself to be swayed away from his moral stance by others in the case of the play by both Henry and Mary Crawford as well as his siblings which ultimately does much harm.

    And Hamlet is the ultimate difficult hero…and in a tragedy rather than a romance although there was potential for romance….

    And let’s not venture into Hardy…. 😉

    Great thoughts here–and thanks for the lovely excerpt, Marilyn! 🙂

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

    1. Susanne,
      I always enjoy reading your thoughtful comments — thank you! And I’m delighted you enjoyed the excerpt. Many thanks for that, too 😉 .
      Really appreciated your analysis of Edmund and agree that he is incredibly frustrating. I spend a lot of my time when rereading MP wanting to shake him, LOL, so I can totally relate to your desire to bop him on the head! That Fanny holds her ground (even while the man she admires most temporarily takes leave of his senses) does really show the strength of her character and convictions. I always hope Edmund will become a better man as a result of being with her.
      As for Hamlet…yes, oh yes…
      Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.