When I started writing "The Reluctant Bachelor", I wanted a hero that looked like a guy next door. A nice guy who viewers would fall in love because of his good looks and his charm. When I saw Nathan Fillion (above) on "Castle", I knew I had found my hero.
He had the good looks, the charm and a great sense of humor. He looked like I pictured my Rick Allyn.
So when I was creating my heroine, I wanted someone capable, strong and who was beautiful without realizing it. I've loved Evangeline Lilly since her days on "Lost", so I created my heroine using the petite brunette.
I enjoy taking a character and trying to picture what they look like. I often use celebrities because I can google their names and find them in different poses and emotions.
One of my current ideas that I'm working on right now "stars" Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams from "The Notebook". Wouldn't you like to read a book that featured them again?
What about you? Do you picture celebrities in your favorite stories? Who is your favorite starring hero/heroine?
Syndi, Love Nathan. I hope he's as nice as he seems. I go through magazines to find my characters. I pick up a lot of American Cowboy, and Western Horsemen magazines, because I like that look. They also have ads that feature a lot of women so I sometimes can find characters there. I like ads because most of the people in them aren't well known. In The Hope Dress I do say the hero looks a bit like Keith Urban. Hm...I'll have to think more about this subject. Great post. Happy Wednesday all.
ReplyDeleteRoz, I did meet Nathan Fillion in Burbank when I was going to school at UCLA and working at a movie theater. He came in to see a movie and offered to buy the entire staff lunch. An extremely nice guy!
DeleteSwoon. Keith Urban. I've got to move your book higher up in my pile of to be reads!
Syndi - I work a lot like Roz does. I flip through magazines and sometimes I use a face in an ad, sometimes it is a celebrity. Depends on what I'm picturing in my mind. It's amazing how you can study that face and see beyond the smile and whatever they're supposed to be promoting to the person within. Or maybe that's just the writer's imagination at work. Nathan Fillion does seem like the perfect hero for all the reasons you describe. And he's so darn cute!
ReplyDeleteMuriel, I used to use magazine pictures but had too much "stuff" around me when I was writing: pics, notes, books, 3X5 cards, etc. Now I do it all on the computer and use Pinterest to find pictures that inspire me for my characters and the setting.
DeleteLove love love him! I saw him at the Calgary Comicon this year and Roz-yes, he does seem as nice:)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I definitely pick out celeb photos and in fact, Evangeline Lily is also my Melody Myers for book three of my series:)
I have a peg board on my offoce wall where I story board my series and the pics are posted up there. Josh Holloway is who I picture for Luke Dawson in my upcoming release. And Luke Bryan is who I picture for my hero in Book two.
Oh, Josh Holloway. Another big swoon! I used him as a hero in a women's fiction novel that I hope to someday publish.
DeleteI wish Evangeline would act more. Her portrayal of Kate on "Lost" was tough yet vulnerable. Love her.
I do picture celebs when I'm coming up with characters...probably because I love movies so those faces come to mind. I also look at book covers I have on the shelf to see if any of those models fit the image in my head.
ReplyDeleteLove Nathan and Luke Bryan!