QUEEN Release Countdown - Day 15
"You should let me check him for Mage Marks before we leave."
It's October 15th, Day 15 of our QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS release countdown!
Days until the release of QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS: 12
-723523.jpg)
We are counting down the days until the release of QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS, book #4 of the Tairen Soul quintet. Each week, I'll be choosing winners to receive an autographed copy of QUEEN, so don't miss out!
There are two ways you can win!
(1) Join the CL Wilson Announcement List. A winner will be drawn from the announcement list each week.
(2) Read the daily countdown blog here on Blogging the Fading Lands, and post a response to the "Question of the Day". Each Tuesday, I will choose a winner from the posters for that week. For each daily blog that you respond to, you earn one chance to win. (Multiple comments to the same blog still only count as one "chance to win".)
Once you post a comment, email feyreisa@live.com with your
(1) name,
(2) mailing address,
(3) email address, and
(4) the name you posted under (please sign your post if you post as "anonymous")
If I do not receive your information, your response to today's blog will *not* be entered in the weekly drawing.
Only one entry per person per day will be counted. Personal information will remain private, will only be used to contact the weekly winner(s), and will be discarded thereafter.
What's sauce for the gander! Since I asked what makes the perfect hero yesterday, today let's look at the heroine. Broncos - as the lone man commenting thus far, it's your chance to turn the tables on us gals *gg* By all means, round up some buddies and have them post too :p)
What qualities do you find most appealing in a heroine? What do you find least appealing / most off-putting?(
It's October 15th, Day 15 of our QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS release countdown!
Days until the release of QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS: 12
-723542.jpg)
We are counting down the days until the release of QUEEN OF SONG AND SOULS, book #4 of the Tairen Soul quintet. Each week, I'll be choosing winners to receive an autographed copy of QUEEN, so don't miss out!
How to Enter!
There are two ways you can win!
(1) Join the CL Wilson Announcement List. A winner will be drawn from the announcement list each week.
(2) Read the daily countdown blog here on Blogging the Fading Lands, and post a response to the "Question of the Day". Each Tuesday, I will choose a winner from the posters for that week. For each daily blog that you respond to, you earn one chance to win. (Multiple comments to the same blog still only count as one "chance to win".)
Once you post a comment, email feyreisa@live.com with your
(1) name,
(2) mailing address,
(3) email address, and
(4) the name you posted under (please sign your post if you post as "anonymous")
If I do not receive your information, your response to today's blog will *not* be entered in the weekly drawing.
Only one entry per person per day will be counted. Personal information will remain private, will only be used to contact the weekly winner(s), and will be discarded thereafter.
Question of the Day:
What's sauce for the gander! Since I asked what makes the perfect hero yesterday, today let's look at the heroine. Broncos - as the lone man commenting thus far, it's your chance to turn the tables on us gals *gg* By all means, round up some buddies and have them post too :p)
What qualities do you find most appealing in a heroine? What do you find least appealing / most off-putting?(
posted by C.L. Wilson at
6:39 AM
47 Comments:
For me, a good heroine is strong and independent. She can most certainly rely on or work together with the hero (or another character)but has the ability to stand on her own and get things done.
Most appealing: Intelligence, Independence, Honesty, Kindness
Least appealing: playing head games, allowing herself to be controlled, holding a grudge
-Jilly
I absolutely can't stand stupid heroines. Intelligence is huge for me. If I'm reading a book and keep saying to myself this heroine is an idiot, the book usually gets tossed in the trash before I finish reading it. I like stong, independent, animal loving heroines.
I find intelligence, kindness, honesty, independence, and an understanding of herself important in a heroine. Ladies who can do what they need to, but are still ladies are the most appealling to me.
Least appealling would be clingy, spoiled, weak emotionally, plays head games and other negative traits. If the heroine can't make a decison for herself or is cruel to other characters in the book. I won't finish the book.
Pros:
Intelligent
Independent
Capable
Passionate
Cons:
Silly/Foolish
Weak Minded
Cruel/Sadistic
Honesty doesn't necessarily fall under my pro or con list.... I like a rogue or thief too. I mean take "Smoke Thief" for example... love that book and series ^_^
I stand by my post yesterday about heroic virtues also applying to heroines: humor/wit, intelligence, open-mindedness, confidence, shrewdness, sensitivity, good loser, good winner, generosity, self discipline. Any of these can be latent and reveal themselves over the course of the story. I don't mind a little arrogance in anyone as long as it's earned, and heroines can be taken down a few notches for too much arrogance just like heroes.
But heroines fail a little differently than heroes, so I'll adjust that list.
Least appealing: bad tempered, weak/dependent, immature, reckless, stupid, stubborn, manipulative, clingy/possessive. Scarlett O'Hara's shadow still hangs over a lot of romance fiction.
A good heroine is kind, smart and attractive to the hero of the story.
Josie
A good heroine is kind, smart and attractive to the hero of the story.
Josie
amanda- guess what?! i got my husband to tell us what he thinks should be in the "ideal woman" so here it is....
Travis- I would look for a woman who at her very soul was robed in humility; gentle by her very nature. Maybe even awkwardly shy. I would like for her appearance to be beautiful, but not prom queen or captain of the cheer leader team beautiful. I would rather her have one very shining uniqueness. Some sort of element to her looks that was different, and her smile must have the ability to shut down all my supposed manliness and be completely tamed by that one and only smile. I would least prefer a very over bearing, domineering woman, who was obsessed with shallow superficial crap. I do not want the typical worldy woman that fills her days with shallow selfish conversations. My ideal character would have to be good and selfless.
amanda- isn't he a masterful writer?!? i love reading his work! *sigh* he's the greatest!
I like and dislike the same in our heroines as I do in our heroes. Strength of character; in such a way as she sees what’s beneath the skin to what’s really important in a person.
I will put a book down faster than a tarantula when the lady is stupid, insipid and god forbid “helpless”.
I consider the most appealing heroines ones who are confident and smart. Usually, this is symbolized by her wearing glasses or being fashionably inept. I also find heroines who are emotionally guarded appealing. The journey of them opening up to feelings is interesting.
Least appealing heroines seem to lack personality. In contemporary romances, this comes across sometimes as too-career-focused (which isn't really a bad thing), but the character becomes defined as her career. Heroines who don't have unusual interests or hobbies are definitely dull. I'm not a big fan of heroines who are afraid of their sexuality either. There's one novel with a Catholic heroine that I'm thinking of in particular that really rubbed me the wrong way.
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I think a good heroine is smart and independent; she can solve problems on her own, but isn't threatened by accepting help from the hero when needed. I don't like clingy, shallow heroines, and can't stand when they continually do stupid things trying to prove they are strong.
Heather B
I think a good heroine should be strong, she should be able to hold her own and not constantly in need of rescue, she should be oppinionated and independent, honest and kind She should stand beside her man not behind him. I dont like silly, rude,or mean spiritited.
I do not like a heroine who rushes into a situation she does not know how to handle just because the hero tells her stay out. Like a unqualified female running into sometype of battle with plan but to save her man..... and ends up getting caught/injured/or otherwise put into a spot to then be gotten out of trouble by someone else and adding to the stress of the hero.... or heroines who are tstl... too stupid too live, they take everything all wrong and push the hero away for no apparient reason whatsoever and continue to trip over their feet every step of the way and still end up with the hero. I think a heroine should be strong enough go know what her strengths are and her weekness and definatley play to her strengths so that the hero can play to his.
But she also knows when to bend for her hero so he feels like her knight. :)
There's really only one thing I can't stand in a heroine and that's when she can't stand up for herself, and is generally a little weakling who needs a man to get by. I mean honestly? let's all support the helpless female stereotype that has been on us since the dawn of time.
Least Appealing - TSTL - to stupid to live. Whining. Ya know, the girl that runs UP to the roof to get away from the bad guy instead of to her car.
Appealing - Strong. Has strength of Character, strong emotional ties. Strong mind, strong heart. I like witty, Sarcastic too. Think Shelly Larenston lol
I LOVE books where both the herorine and hero learn to be with each other.
A heroine must be a woman with voice of her own and free spirit. A strong capable woman who can fight her battles without flinching or getting worry to get dirty her dress, also a woman who does not need a man to survive because that time passed long ago! But a woman who is beautiful in the inside (outside too) who can be applause by her intelligence, glory and loving what toward others.
We Girl’s Rock! ^_^
Truthfully, I look for a heroine that is either like me (because I'm just narcissistic like that) or is someone I could imagine being friends with.
I like girls of strong intelligence. Especially those who are using that intelligence to do some kind of good in the world. But it doesn't have to be book smarts (although I prefer geeky guys AND girls). Common sense is always appreciated.
I prefer my heroines to have some backbone (although sometimes it takes them a while to find it). I am very independent, but I find that asking for independence in a heroine is often TOO much. She tends to run around doing her own thing, and she Puts Her Foot Down (which to me shows a lack of ability to work out a compromise). It irritates me to have stubborn heroines. Too much independence leads to the issuing of ultimatums, and that always seems childish and unnecessary to me.
But I do like her to be her own person. I think that lasting relationships develop best between two full persons. Both the hero and the heroine must have opinions, feelings, and their own history. (Too often heroines are portrayed as these weak innocents who are almost like blank slates until the hero arrives on the scene.)
I don't like a disrespectful heroine. I'm all good with a little sass. But I don't think a woman has to show her independence by purposefully embarrassing or cutting down the hero. A prank is okay. Publically refusing a proposal with insults in the middle of a crowded ballroom...not okay. If we expect the hero to respect the heroine, we should expect the same from the other direction.
And lastly, I like a heroine who is going to go through some emotional growth throughout the book. Neither the hero nor the heroine should be perfect as they are, because falling in love and building a lasting love requires change.
I actually hold my heroines to a higher standard than my heroes, come to think of it.
P.S. I also like my heroines to be curly-haired brunettes with glasses.
Determination and honesty is a must for a heroine for me. Keeping secrets is fine, if she is protecting a loved one. If she has common sense and uses it, she doesn't need to be extremely inteligent. Leaning on the hero when needed and being weak sometimes is OK. Depends on the story line. She also doesn't need to be beautiful in appearance. One of the best books I've read had a heroine who's face had been scarred in an accident and she refused to have plastic surgery because even with surgery, she would always feel scarred inside. The Hero supported her decision, which made the emotional link so much stronger.
I prefer the hero be a little older than the heroine. Even 10 years older is fine. But if there is a major age difference between the two, it just doesn't work for me. Does anyone else have a problem with this?
One of my pet peeves is a Heroine who stands around screaming for 10 minutes after being told by the Hero to remove herself from the danger zone. There are those that should put themselves in the danger zone such as a policewomen, a paranormal with specialized skills, someone possessing a fantasy gift for protection. But overall unless they are protecting a child or a loved one, intentionally putting oneself in extreme danger is just stupid, doesn't matter if in a book or movie. And in my opinion "you can't fix stupid."
A good heroine, to me is strong, independent, outspoken and honest; with gentleness and kindess mixed in. Unappealing in a heroine is a complete submissive (I don't mean in the bed room), but one who lets everyone push her around and doesn't stand up for herself. I also don't like heroines who are stupid, spoilied, cruel and ones who likes to toy with peoples emotions or heads.
For me to like a heroine, I either have to see something of myself in her or see in her what I want to be. She should intelligent, open, compassionate, questioning, strong-willed, and most of all, she should be true to herself throughout the novel - not letting people/society make her into something she isn't or doesn't want to be.
-Katie
For me a good heroine is has a strong core of steel, is kind, passionate, willing to fight for her beliefs and loyal... A quirky sense of humour helps to.
Just as I dislike picture-perfect heros, I hate picture-perfect heroines too. I also hate whiny heroines and those heroines who don't seem to be able to walk without someone holding their hands.
I like the strong willed, independent heroine. The kind who knows what she wants and can sometimes be a bit sneaky getting it.
I don't care to much for the weak willed, totally dependent ones though.
The best heroine is one that has a sense of humor. She has to be smart and savy, but with the sense of humor she is able to balence her own mistakes and others.
I like strong, independent, fiesty heroines. I dislike virgins who know absolutely nothing about sex. And I don't like them meek or mellow.
Mel K.
Meljprincess AT aol DOT com
I think I alluded to this in yesterday's comments, but for me, many of the virtues I look for in a hero, also apply to the heroine.
So, she also needs to be: witty, strong, clever, possesive of her mate/the hero, compassionate, gentle, solicitous - and I'll add kindness and independence to this list as well. And of course, faithful is a given!
Least appealing are those that are clingy, wimpy, controlling, shallow, and mean-spiritee. But again, by definition, that would not make them "heroines", in my opinion if they had these offputting qualities.
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Hmm... She has to be quick on her feet and willing to absorb the world like a sponge - and what I mean is that she is aware of her surroundings and is able to adapt to any situation. Again, like with the hero, manners are a must. This is also part of the adapting thing - respect for your surroundings and the people around you. I really dislike people who just walk roughshod over others... come on! They're people too :) and they have feelings.
I really dislike it when I see a woman who turns her nose up in the air (no snootyness/snottyness! I understand occasional PMS, hey even I have bad days) and also one who doesn't see an elderly woman needing some help with her groceries or with reaching something - or when she refuses to get dirty to help an animal in need. Hah! I've crawled under a parked car to pull out a terrified dog and I didn't care a whit about what I was wearing or if the dog tried to bite... I think being able to put your needs aside and give 110% is what makes a heroine special :D
I want a heroine to be intelligent, honest,loyal and honorable.
I hate for heroines to be stupid, wishy washy or arrogant.
I resonate with a heroine who triumphs regardless. I can go through all kinds of stuff with her as long as I feel she is determined to push on through and make her life what she really wants it to be. I can even deal with the whiney, insecure types if they grow during the novel (maybe with a little help from the hero!)and come to see their strenghts as easily as they see their so-called weaknesses.
What I find least appealing about a heroine is a one-dimensional character who make no changes as her story unfolds. Each individual has many layers (whether fictional or real) and I just really identify with the heroine who works (talks, fights, loves, creates, listens, plans, develops)to the best of her ability, whether that is paranormal powers or just plain human guts, for her herself and her loved ones.
The heroine has to be smart, a good person, independent and have spirit. She can certainly come to count on the hero's support but she also has to be able to get things done on her own.
I hate heroines who lack teh above traits, who are stupid or allow themselves to be controlled by the hero or another character (like their father/uncle/guardian in an historical novel). Or is just a shadow of a real person, always demure and self-effacing. As for being a good person, they don't have to be eligible for Saint-hood, but they should be of strong moral character.
April C
April
I agree with some of the other posters. I like to see something of myself in a heroine and she needs to be someone that I would like to have in my circle.
I can't abide stupid and manipulative. As I said with the hero question, bad qualities rarely a heroine make.
I chat with the chatelaines.
My heroine has to be likable, she can't be a snob, or play headgames. I her to be independent but to need the hero. I also want to see some little semblance of myself in her. One of my favorite examples is Bella Swan. She is NOT a perfect heroine in many ways but women that read the story can see themselves as her.
I like a bold, intelligent heroine. I also like ladies who are "surprisingly" small; or mysterious in some way; who have self-respect and a desire for independence.
I generally dislike books with women that are meek/weepy. I also tend to dislike books where the women are way too happy to jump into bed within like the first few chapters.
Smart, strong and not willing to be pushed around. I hate ones who are whiny and stupid.
This is tough question to answer because I always try to find the heroine to be myself.
But I guess she has to be smart and not be to silly when falling in love. She need to be kind and caring.
I would not like her to be spiteful, and prefect she needs flawes.
Most appealing: Intelligent, Independent, and Compassionate
Least Appealing: Spoiled, Stupid, and Annoying
Patterson1219
I like intelligence in a heroine, backbone whether shown through a stubborn streak or through some inner strength, a real personality. I like a heroine who can take me through a book instead of being dragged along with her by the hero.
As I liked for the hero, I like someone with little flaws or unique habits.
I hate stupidity, complete helplessness, low self esteem and egocentricity.
~Rach
I like a heroine I can relate to, someone I could like in real life. Common interests and morals, like my real life friends. Having said that, I like a heroine who is reasonably intelligent, strong in mind and heart, kind, and strong. I do not like someone so free spirited as to have no basis in reality, nor do I like the one who thinks she is smarter than the hero and does those stupid things just to move a scene along. Naive is one thing, but just TSTL is another. I also like a heroine who is okay with being alone, but can figure out how to make a relationship work. Independence is good, but not so much that she is unwilling or unable to lean on someone else or ask for help. I suppose, basically, I appreciate a well rounded, balanced individual. Oh, yeah, and I also don't particularly like the ones who are unbelievably beautiful and built. Beautiful, built, and brainy just isn't fair to the rest of us! :)
sexy,intelligent, witty, bit slutty and honest would be my good points
bad would be winey and domineering.
I chat with the Chatelaines.
Most appealing: caring, understanding, intelligence, courage, spunk, a certain amount of independence, and an ability to see the good in others.
Least appealing: Stubborn, nasty attitude, likes to tear down others, can't be trusted, doesn't work well with others, must be the center of attention.
Appealing- inner strength self reliance
Not Appealing- complete dependency on the hero to save her
Most appealing: intelligence, kindness, courage
Least appealing: whiny, clinging, wimpy, cruel
-PW
I like my heroines gusty, opinionated, and strong-minded; if they're pushovers in the beginning, there has to be some sort of spine growing happening in the duration of the novel. But they also have to smart, too; running headfirst into danger and having to be rescued repeatedly is foolhardy and annoying. Along those lines, she has to know herself well enough to know when to give in to love. Having to read a book wherein the heroine is in vehement denial for 95% of the story is tiresome.
Smart, strong-willed and independent, passionate.
Must run out this morning, so posted Day 16 about 30 mins early. I will still take "enter to win" comments on this post until 9am Eastern time.
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