Too Much Action Adventure?

Is there such a thing as too much action and adventure?

Definitely!

Let me preface that by saying I love action and adventure with my romance or with humor mixed in even without a romance (i.e. Harry Potter). My favorite movies are the Indiana Jones movies, The Mummy, Night of the Comet, Independence Day, Star Trek. If you've seen them you know they have lots of action and adventure.

Action and adventure keeps me on the edge of my seat. I want to ride by Indiana Jones side to fight the bad guys. I cheer and jump out of my seat when he thwarts them.Then I sigh when sparks fly between him and Marion.

What about you? Do you like stories with constant action? When they don't slow down enough to get much or any emotion, humor, or drama into them? Personally, I'd rather pay my money to go to a Monster Truck Rally if that's all it's going to be.



I like the Indiana Jones movies not only because of the action and adventure but also because of the romance and humor mixed in.

Honestly, I get bored with too much action and adventure. Frankly Transformers II bored me to tears. Although 2012 kept me on the edge of my seat last night I also didn't enjoy a lot of it. I enjoyed the parts that slowed down enough to let us get to know the characters. For instance the crazy blogger who had a refrigerator full of pickles.

I would have walked out of Transformers II except the rest of my family loved it. Especially the men. My husband, unlike me, loves shows that contain constant car crashes, killing, and action.

Maybe I expect too much. Maybe I'm different than a lot of people. I don't like stories that move too slow or too fast. My kids think I'm too tough a sell.

My favorite stories have a good blend of action, adventure, plot, and comedy. If there's a love story included, I'm in heaven.


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You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Villains we love to hate

Not all stories need villains, but some stories demand them. The better (dangerous, threatening, more 3-dimensional) the villain, the better for the story.

Imagine an Indiana Jones story without his slew of villains. Even though he’s a sexy, fascinating man, how fascinating would it be to watch him dig in the dirt or teach a class? He’s at his best when he’s thwarting the bad guys whether they be Nazis or Russians or aliens.

One of my favorite movies is “The Mummy” with Brendan Frazier. Without “The Mummy”, the story would also fall flat despite how dashing and handsome the hero is.

In comparing the villains in The Mummy vs. any of the Indiana Jones movies, the mummy’s character is by far the best villain.

Why?

The mummy’s motivation and backstory are shown. The audience is allowed to become invested in the man behind the mummy. We don’t necessarily want him to win and take over the world, but our hearts go out to him when we find out he fell into his evil ways because of his all-consuming love for his girlfriend, and the wonderful love story behind the scenes. Indeed, the mummy doesn’t see himself as the villain, but as the knight in shining armor, riding in on his white steed to rescue the love of his life. We sympathize with his plight. The guy’s willing to risk the world to save the love of his life. That’s pretty romantic.

In this case, it shows the flip side, the dark side of life which is nicely foiled by the romance between the good guys.

The perfect villain is one who could also be the perfect hero in another setting. If he could be redeemed, he could be quite something. Indeed, there are instances in which the villain later becomes the hero, or is shown I his more heroic days in a prequel (think “Scorpion King”).

In fact, one of my own stories, “Eternal Damnation” published by New Concepts Publishing features a very evil villain, perhaps the most evil one I’ve ever created – Nikolai, an extremely evil vampire who does something so dastardly even the other vampires think him evil.

Do you know what?

I received fan mail for Nikolai requesting that he be given his own story, that he become the hero.

Guess what?

Finally, I wrote Nikolai’s story. It’s on submission now so my fingers are crossed. It took awhile to percolate in my mind just how I could redeem someone so evil and make him into a hero, but I did it. And again, love was the key.

Stephen King also writes wonderful villains. He introduces us to their background and how they were normal people (usually) who were so tormented in some way, that they turned to the dark side. At least those are his best villains. When we aren’t treated to the behind the scenes view, the villain is one-dimensional and the entire story suffers.

Who are other wonderful villains, people we love to hate? People who would be pretty awesome if redeemed? Lex Luthor jumps to mind. He’s definitely not a one-dimensional, evil dude, but a complex, compelling man.

Another famous villain who got his prequel, whom people loved to hate and then learned to love, is Darth Vader. Once we met Anakin Skywalker, got sucked into his timeless love story, felt his acute anguish, he became 3-dimensional and we learned to forgive him his transgressions – or at least to understand and root for his redemption.

Who do you love to hate? Who would you like to see redeemed? Who is your favorite villain?

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Insert Sex Scene Here

I just read on Barbara Vey's blog about this incendiary article at Publisher's Weekly: http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnB1Ymxpc2hlcnN3ZWVrbHkuY29tL2Jsb2cvODgwMDAwMjg4L3Bvc3QvNDYwMDI4MjQ2Lmh0bWw= The essence of the poll is okay, but the way they say it is meant to insult. 1. Yes, yes, yes! Bodice-rippers are my ultimate escape. 2. No way. I don't touch those books. 3. Sometimes while on vacation at the beach.

I cast my vote "YES!". I read romance and I'm damned proud of it. Ditto to writing it.

Whatever your vote, Vote here...it's the American way!

I'm sure you get this. I imagine we're all feeling this way.

How high will gas prices go?

This is a question for my fellow erotic romance writers.

How often do you write a story where you go back and add the sex scenes? Do you make a note to yourself to “insert sex scene here” or do you muddle through the scenes even if you don’t feel inspired to write hot sex at that moment?

Or do you do something to get into the mood? Jump your hubby? Watch a hot flick? Read an erotic novel?

Does the inspiration for sex elude you very often?

I ask because in my wip I just did this. Does this make me a fraud? I’ve been accused on more than one occasion of writing a lot of story around my erotic romance. Not that it’s a bad thing. I like a meaty story. But if that particular story is marketed as an “erotic romance” and published by an “erotic romance publisher”, then it’s required to be really damned hot, right?

I doubt I’m the only one to go back and add scenes, sexy or otherwise. But it’s a good reality check to touch base with other writers.

I hope this doesn’t disenchant any of my readers. My goal is not only to write a meaty story, but a sexy, romantic one.

I just watched the fourth Indiana Jones movie for the THIRD time. Yep, you read that right. First time was with DH. The second time was with my dad in Cincinnati. Today, I took DD#2 to see it. And I loved it just as much as the first time. Damn, but it’s not only action-packed and fun, but it’s romantic. You know I’m a sucker for romance. It’s the best sequel of the bunch, maybe even better than the original. My goal is to make my books so romantic, so fun, and my heroes to be as sexy and wonderful as Indy.

Would I want to marry an Indiana Jones? An alpha that has trouble expressing his feelings and keeping the love of his life waiting so many years?

NO!!!

I think I married an alpha and in real life, but I’d rather have a cuddly beta that helps with the housework and dotes on me. Still, Indiana Jones is fun to dream about for a couple hours. Hopefully, the heroes I create and offer to my readers will be as dreamy. I keep trying. :)

The video below was voted as the best commercial in Europe. God, some days I feel like this dad.

Indiana Jones - the new movie; Aging parents

DH took me to see the new Indiana Jones movie this afternoon. It's a real winner. I loved it. It's true to Indy, it's a great romance, and it's a lot of fun. I wonder if some people might find it over the top, but again, that's Indiana Jones. I like it this way. I highly recommend this movie. I can't wait to see it again. It's on my must buy list for DVD. I doubt I wait that long to see it a second time. I'll probably take the kids to see it as soon as I can afford to when I get back from Cincinnati. I spoke to my dad yesterday. He's not doing so well. He's had some "heart problems" lately. He'd not wanted to worry me and so hadn't told me till yesterday. He still wants me to visit. So do I. Now I'm worried. Dad's 79 and until now, he's also been so very healthy and energetic. His mother died of heart attacks. She lived until she was 86. That's a pretty decent age. Still, I miss her a lot, and it scares me a lot that Dad's nearing that age and showing signs of what she had. I'm an only child and I'm at least 2 days drive away from Dad. I can't get to his house easily or often. I don't know what will happen if his health is getting bad enough he needs my help. I can't leave my family and quit my job to go to Cincinnati, must as I want to be there. I seriously doubt that Dad will agree to move down here with or near us, although I would ask if it comes to that. There's no extra space in my house so I don't know how I'd make it. I already have one son living in the garage. Of course I've not seen or talked to Dad yet. In person or in depth about how he wants to handle things should he get to the point he needs help, I mean. My only maybe workable thought is to send Monica, my single 24 year old daughter up to help Dad if he wishes it and will accept it. I've talked to her, and she's willing to help. At this point, it's total speculation that he needs this much help yet. I know he has wonderful neighbors that are great friends. I've known them all my life. But it's my responsibility, not theirs. I know DH won't move up there and short of getting a divorce, or at least jeopardizing my job and leaving a 13 year old son for awhile which isn't good either, I don't know what else to do. I don't know how people do it. My parents always lived in the same town as my grandparents. My aunts and uncles also did. My DH, however, insists on being states away. If it was up to me, I'd have moved back to Cincinnati in a flash, years ago, even though I really like my job.