It’s not easy to write a story around a hero with a life threatening disease. The usual template for a hero is that he must be handsome, rich and strong. Of course, that would make a wonderful hero but, beneath those assets there has to be something even greater, assets that set him apart from good looks and money and that would be a foundation built on courage, heart and determination.
When I was approached to take part in a breast cancer survivor anthology, my first idea was to have a heroine with breast cancer. However, I realized quickly that it was not a unique idea. I decided to research breast cancer and found, quite to my astonishment, that men not only get breast cancer, but fifty percent of them die from it. Right then I decided how I wanted to create my story and make it unique but also meaningful. It was tricky business for me to come up with a man suffering from breast cancer and still make him a genuine hero. I hope that Heart Song captures the heart of an indisputable hero.
Heart Song
Released June 29, 2012
ISBN: 9781476235066
Short Story 53 pages
Publishing by Rebecca Vickery Publishing
Facing death might change Gideon’s life.
Blurb
Gideon thought he had the perfect life as a musician with a beautiful model as his girlfriend, until he was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Ashamed and afraid he may die, Gideon hits bottom when his girlfriend dumps him for a real man.
Hope comes in the form of his father’s ghost and a person he has just met. Can he beat the odds and survive? And if he does, can he ever find happiness again?
Excerpt:
He had only himself to blame. Choosing a woman like Sylvia, beautiful, sexy, and narcissistic had proved ego boosting but emotionally exhausting. Every day her drama filled the house with tears or anger. A broken nail led to wailing that life wasn’t fair. A missed opportunity for a botox treatment led to tears and hysteria. She was, however, the perfect trophy girlfriend. Her perfect figure and her Elisabeth Taylor beauty perked up every social event. Envious males gathered around her at parties and wished they were Gideon with this exciting woman on his arm. If they only knew. A woman like that may be a great lover, a stimulating sexual partner in bed, but she wasn’t much of a friend and certainly no companion or partner. First sign of trouble and she skedaddled into the arms of another man. He had chosen Sylvia for all the wrong reasons. Maybe he really wasn’t good enough. He sure wasn’t a good judge of character. He felt about as empty as his house.
Places where you can find me:
My website: http://sarahmcneal.com
Places where I blog regularly:
Sarah’s Provocative Ponderings: http://pasttheprint.blogspot.com/
Moonlight Romance Writers: http://moonlightromanceauthors.blogspot.com/?zx=f44efc849e7c64fc
Fantasy And Dreams (my blog): http://sarahmcneal.blogspot.com/
I am also on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?&new_box_added_id=7100654162#
And Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Starcriter
My Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/sarahmcneal
PbRBWT Author Page: http://pbrjvwtb2.blogspot.com/p/sarah-j-mcneal.html
Buy Links for HEART SONG:
Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Song-ebook/dp/B008G1GKJ0/
Smashwords
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/177196
Monkeybars
https://www.monkeybars.net/PbRJV
https://www.monkeybars.net/monkey/thing/5585f4cdefcaaa1f6d7fabaf22ced78e
What a great concept! I write Inspy romance, which allows heroes to be more flawed--in endearing ways. ;) It can be a challenge, but I find a hero with struggles and flaws to be more loveable somehow. Good for you for taking this on!
ReplyDeleteNone of us are perfect and a 'perfect' MC would quickly become wither boringly predictable,or totally unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteMost (if not ALL) of my characters have faults because they tend to be based upon 'real' people I've met.
"Fixing" these faults can be an integral part of the plot. The character has room to grow and develop. The 'downside' is, (s)he will quite often come to life,hijack the plotline, and ride off into the sunset in a direction I hadn't anticipated!
Ohhh, Patty, how exciting to write spy romance. I keep thinking about 007 and the different actors that protrayed him. One of the imperfect qualities he had was that he didn't share deep emotions. One of the actors who portrayed him tried to instill some emotional data to the otherwise empty emotional database of 007 and, unfortunately, he didn't get to play him again because the extra emotions were not what was wanted. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for coming by and leaving a comment today.
I loved your comment about the flawed character riding off into the sunset with the plot. You are a hoot-a-rama, Paul.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it.
Hi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteI think it's an intriguing concept that you chose a man with breast cancer. Sounds like the research might have been harder too. I already hate his old girlfriend and can't wait to find out who you chose for him.
Kathy, you are such a darlin' to come by and comment. I wish I had known then all that I know now about cancer and the treatment for it. It's more excruciating than I ever imagined. I did have to research men with cancer and the information floored me. Their survival rate is only 50%.
ReplyDeleteI did choose the perfect person for Gideon. I hope you like her, too.
Thank you so much for showing me such kindness and support, Kathy.
Sarah, I think your basic scenario of a man with breast cancer is amazing! And I LOVED your excerpt which told us so much about Sylvia, and about Gideon too.
ReplyDeletePaula, I'm so glad you liked the excerpt and the story concept. It's so nice to hear such encouraging words. I worried that readers would think this story depressing but it's not. It has a marvelous ending and some insights into the hero's struggle just enough to know he had to fight his way back.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for commenting.
I'm working on one now. Thanks for the post.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I love how you came up with the inspiration for "Heart Song!" The excerpt has some lovely character introspection. Thanks so much for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteSmiles
Steph
Hey Julie. Thank you so much for commenting. So, whatcha workin' on? You didn't really say. I sure would like to know.
ReplyDeleteThank you for coming by, Steph. I appreciate your very kind words. I like your work so it means all the more to me.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great story, Sarah J! I look forward to reading it : )
ReplyDeleteVirginia, what a pleasure to have you come by and say something sweet. I am so happy to see you here. Thank you for your lovely words.
ReplyDeleteSarah, sorry I'm a couple of days late, but still wanted to pop in and say I read this and love this idea about your hero--how very different! I can't wait to read this.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Cheryl
Ohmagosh, Cheryl, I know how busy you are. I'm glad you did come by being your supportive self, as always.
ReplyDeleteI know I am missing visiting blogs myself and I just can't seem to keep up.
We're all doing our best. Thanks for all your support and kindness.