DO WE EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM OUR HEROES?

The Olympics have provided a great deal of excitement this week. Who will be the hero/heroine of each event? Which team can we applaud and laud with the term "heroes?" If a gymnast or a sprinter or a diver wins the gold, do we expect that same outcome each time? What makes an  athlete different from the rest of us in that he/she can perform in an outstanding manner that we could never attain?

Procter and Gamble runs a commercial through the Olympics. In their commercials, the question seems to be--who is your hero? In this case, it's "Thanks, Mom." Why does an athlete praise a parent, whether the father or the mother?

Once labeled a hero, do we expect this same kind of behavior and outcome every time? Are our heroes fallible in some way? Not as strong as they usually have been?
Maybe we expect too much.

COVER FOR THE SOON
TO BE RE-RELEASED
WESTERN HISTORICAL
ROMANCE

This caused me to think about the heroes in our novels. Those of us who write romance, or just read romance, have a concrete idea concerning his qualifications. I do, at least, but when I actually write the story I learn that my hero is not a perfect guy.
At times, he fails to say the right thing, or he fails to behave in an expected manner, or he even might do something completely against his position.
Dalton King is such a hero as this. After a horrendous near-death experience and long recovery alone in the West Texas mountains, he comes to grips with what he wants. Before he accomplishes his goals, he must re-establish his relationship with the woman he loves--and convince her he is truly the man she once loved, and will not disappoint her again.  



In reading and searching for attributes that define a hero, I made a list of Common Qualities:

Loyal

Determined

Sacrificial

Brave

Selfless

Dedicated

Gallant

Decisive

COVER FOR
SOON TO BE RE-RELEASED
WESTERN HISTORICAL
ROMANCE

In general, a hero is often an average man who cares about his fellow man.
Sam Deleon in Texas True is a man who has hidden and supressed his emotions his entire life. His father disinherited him and banished him from the South Texas ranch when Sam was 16. When he meets True Cameron, he learns the meaning of love and loyalty, and makes every effort to live up to her expectations. His reward is greater than he ever imagined.  

He understands how fragile life is.
He makes the right decision, but if he makes a poor one he can accept the consequences.
He is unselfish, always willing to help someone who needs it.
He stands up for the weak and the less fortunate.
He does not give up.
He is brave even in the face of adversity.
He always tried to do the right thing.

My personal opinion is that our heroes don't always live up to our expectations. How can they? The requirements are quite steep.

Most, if not all, of the heroes I've created are certainly not perfect. They make huge errors in judgment sometimes, and they disappoint someone who looked up to him or admired him.
So how does this type of hero regain his status?
I like the characteristic "he does not give up." Not one of my heroes gave up--not one. Now that I realize this, I'm pleased with Sam, Buck, Diego, Max, Will, Ricardo, Dalton, Jude, Rick, Matt, Cody, Jesse, and Alex.
Wow! I created thirteen heroes, and I love every one of them. In the end, each and every one came through and showed their true spirit--that of a worthy hero.

If you're an author, do you still love your heroes after all this time?
If you're a reader, what kind of hero disappoints you or "turns" you off?

NOTE: The two books above--

Texas Promise: The Cameron Sisters-Book 1

and

Texas True: The Cameron Sisters-Book 2

will be re-released close together approximately in September. These two books are now with Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery and will be available this time in ebook and prints.

Thank you for reading--
Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

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