***
As a
reader, do you chose books written by humorous authors? Is it an aspect of a
story that you search for? When you have a choice of what to read, and it’s
obvious by the back blurb that a book has a lighter spirit rather than a gloomy
downer tendency, would that be a deciding factor?
reader, do you chose books written by humorous authors? Is it an aspect of a
story that you search for? When you have a choice of what to read, and it’s
obvious by the back blurb that a book has a lighter spirit rather than a gloomy
downer tendency, would that be a deciding factor?
Many of
these questions have been on my mind since I first started to write. I can’t
imagine my main characters having to experience all the conflicts of a
well-plotted story without a sense of humor. Obviously, not everything is funny
and shouldn’t be, but it’s important to me that I care about the main people in
my stories, what happens to them, and how they succeed. And producing a chuckle
or two by the time I reach the end, well that just makes it more satisfying.
these questions have been on my mind since I first started to write. I can’t
imagine my main characters having to experience all the conflicts of a
well-plotted story without a sense of humor. Obviously, not everything is funny
and shouldn’t be, but it’s important to me that I care about the main people in
my stories, what happens to them, and how they succeed. And producing a chuckle
or two by the time I reach the end, well that just makes it more satisfying.
As an avid
reader, I’ll admit that humor is the difference between whether I go looking
for other work by the same author or move on to someone new. Many times I’ve
struggled through heavy pathos and conflicts that break my heart for the hero
or heroine, and right till end there’s no relief. Many times the books were
brilliant and so well written they deserved 5 stars, but somehow they still
don’t give me the satisfaction as a story that can make me experience a few smiles
as well as the tears.
reader, I’ll admit that humor is the difference between whether I go looking
for other work by the same author or move on to someone new. Many times I’ve
struggled through heavy pathos and conflicts that break my heart for the hero
or heroine, and right till end there’s no relief. Many times the books were
brilliant and so well written they deserved 5 stars, but somehow they still
don’t give me the satisfaction as a story that can make me experience a few smiles
as well as the tears.
And
finally, let’s be realistic. Most
people I know like to laugh and enjoy life. Not everything is serious, and many
people who suffer tragedies bravely smile through their fears. Even when the
worst moments are happening, it’s human nature to try and lighten the load.
Therefore, shouldn’t our characters be based on reality?
So, back to my original question, is humor an
element you look for in the books you choose?
element you look for in the books you choose?
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Available at Amazon
Available at Barnes and Noble
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My Cheeky Angel is a humorous story about a mixed-up
female who’s so unhappy she needs the help of a cheeky angel to set her on the
right path. To give her the strength to make the changes she thinks are so
important. But are they?
She loves a man who only treats her
as a pal. By exchanging her sloppy jeans and t-shirts to classy suits and fancy
clothes, will he see her differently?
as a pal. By exchanging her sloppy jeans and t-shirts to classy suits and fancy
clothes, will he see her differently?
Once in the clutches of the power-hungry world of big
business, Annie fights to retain her true identity. But first, she needs to
decide who she wants to be and what’s really important.
business, Annie fights to retain her true identity. But first, she needs to
decide who she wants to be and what’s really important.
Excerpt:
Every time he
closed his eyes, a strange image of Annie in trouble took on such realistic
tendencies it seemed surreal. Sick of his own company, Tyler decided a walk
would do him a world of good, clear his head, and help to get his mind off his
tomboy gone rogue.
closed his eyes, a strange image of Annie in trouble took on such realistic
tendencies it seemed surreal. Sick of his own company, Tyler decided a walk
would do him a world of good, clear his head, and help to get his mind off his
tomboy gone rogue.
Once the idea
appeared, it became a fixation. No choice, no dragging his feet, he had to get
out of his apartment. Either he needed hallucination treatments or a curt,
gravelly female had taken up residence in his brain and urged him to hurry and
get his butt moving.
appeared, it became a fixation. No choice, no dragging his feet, he had to get
out of his apartment. Either he needed hallucination treatments or a curt,
gravelly female had taken up residence in his brain and urged him to hurry and
get his butt moving.
The elevator, not
ever on his floor, awaited him with the door open and no one else inside. He
shivered. Strange and stranger! The ride down lasted only seconds. When it
slowly opened, a nightmare unfolded. One look at his Annie clinging to her
evening’s escort and his
rage superseded common sense. Without thought, he ripped her from the scumbag’s groping fingers
and shoved the conceited-looking, puffed-up character against the wall. All
Tyler’s six feet two
inches of anger intimidated. He watched the coward evaluate, then shrink back.
ever on his floor, awaited him with the door open and no one else inside. He
shivered. Strange and stranger! The ride down lasted only seconds. When it
slowly opened, a nightmare unfolded. One look at his Annie clinging to her
evening’s escort and his
rage superseded common sense. Without thought, he ripped her from the scumbag’s groping fingers
and shoved the conceited-looking, puffed-up character against the wall. All
Tyler’s six feet two
inches of anger intimidated. He watched the coward evaluate, then shrink back.
Within seconds the
smooth prick spoke. “Anna had a bit too
much to drink. I was seeing her safely home.”
smooth prick spoke. “Anna had a bit too
much to drink. I was seeing her safely home.”
“Not a problem. I’ll take her up,” he growled. By
this time, Tyler had a supportive arm around the wobbly woman. He looked down
at her. “Say bye-bye to your
date…Anna.” His spitting out
her newly chosen name would have set worry bells ringing, if she’d been in her
normal state of mind. Blitzed out of her head, she just jiggled her fingers and
said, “Bye-bye, date.”
this time, Tyler had a supportive arm around the wobbly woman. He looked down
at her. “Say bye-bye to your
date…Anna.” His spitting out
her newly chosen name would have set worry bells ringing, if she’d been in her
normal state of mind. Blitzed out of her head, she just jiggled her fingers and
said, “Bye-bye, date.”
With everything
happening so fast, Tyler knew Annie hadn’t had a chance to
fully appreciate the change in her situation. One minute she was leaning
drunkenly against the slimy character whose hands were all over her body, while
her unfocused eyes gazed at him adoringly. The next minute, Tyler had taken
over.
happening so fast, Tyler knew Annie hadn’t had a chance to
fully appreciate the change in her situation. One minute she was leaning
drunkenly against the slimy character whose hands were all over her body, while
her unfocused eyes gazed at him adoringly. The next minute, Tyler had taken
over.
As the elevator
doors closed, leaving Sergio shrugging off his disappointment, a fuming Tyler
lifted Annie into his arms.
doors closed, leaving Sergio shrugging off his disappointment, a fuming Tyler
lifted Annie into his arms.
At ease, Annie
wrapped her arms around him, snuggled her face into his neck, and then sighed.
His familiar expensive cologne, one of her gifts that he regularly used, seemed
to soothe her. “I love how you
smell.”
wrapped her arms around him, snuggled her face into his neck, and then sighed.
His familiar expensive cologne, one of her gifts that he regularly used, seemed
to soothe her. “I love how you
smell.”
His anger fled the
moment he became aware that she sniffed at him like a small kitten. His legs
almost buckled when he felt the tip of her tongue lick him, and then press a
tiny kiss over the wet spot.
moment he became aware that she sniffed at him like a small kitten. His legs
almost buckled when he felt the tip of her tongue lick him, and then press a
tiny kiss over the wet spot.
The groan started
deep, frustration forcing it out, chasing away his righteous snit. At her door,
he lowered her to her unsteady feet, but she refused to unwind her arms from
around his neck. They clung, her body glued to his.
deep, frustration forcing it out, chasing away his righteous snit. At her door,
he lowered her to her unsteady feet, but she refused to unwind her arms from
around his neck. They clung, her body glued to his.
He reached up for
the hidden key she kept stashed above her door, while balancing her with one
arm. The lock took forever to get opened. Not that she noticed. Busy
familiarizing his ear with her lips kept her amused. Swinging her back up and
into his arms, he kicked the door closed behind them and carried her carefully
into her bedroom, a room which seemed to have undergone huge changes since the
day he’d helped her paint
the ivory walls.
the hidden key she kept stashed above her door, while balancing her with one
arm. The lock took forever to get opened. Not that she noticed. Busy
familiarizing his ear with her lips kept her amused. Swinging her back up and
into his arms, he kicked the door closed behind them and carried her carefully
into her bedroom, a room which seemed to have undergone huge changes since the
day he’d helped her paint
the ivory walls.
Pillows of all
shapes, in all shades of turquoise, some beaded, some embroidered, were strewn
helter-skelter over a new satiny brown duvet. He swiped at them one-handed,
clearing a space as he lowered her body to the side of the bed, letting her
flip backwards. Trouble was, she had his neck imprisoned by her strong,
clinging arms, and she wasn’t about to let go. He fell over her,
half covering her body.
shapes, in all shades of turquoise, some beaded, some embroidered, were strewn
helter-skelter over a new satiny brown duvet. He swiped at them one-handed,
clearing a space as he lowered her body to the side of the bed, letting her
flip backwards. Trouble was, she had his neck imprisoned by her strong,
clinging arms, and she wasn’t about to let go. He fell over her,
half covering her body.
“Please,” she whispered. “Kiss me. I have to
be kissed at least once tonight, I just—have to.” She pushed
upwards, thrusting her breasts against his chest.
be kissed at least once tonight, I just—have to.” She pushed
upwards, thrusting her breasts against his chest.
Her desire sparked
his, and her admission that she hadn’t yet been kissed assuaged most of the
gut-wrenching rage he’d felt at seeing
her in the arms of another man. Besides, he couldn’t resist her pushy
invitation. Drunk or not, his name on her lips would go a long way to restoring
his humor.
his, and her admission that she hadn’t yet been kissed assuaged most of the
gut-wrenching rage he’d felt at seeing
her in the arms of another man. Besides, he couldn’t resist her pushy
invitation. Drunk or not, his name on her lips would go a long way to restoring
his humor.
“Honey, do you know
who’s with you? I need
to hear you say my name.”
who’s with you? I need
to hear you say my name.”
“Of course I know,
silly.” She giggled
inanely. “It’s Dick.”
silly.” She giggled
inanely. “It’s Dick.”
He stiffened and
tried to pull away, but she held fast. Her grip couldn’t be broken without
hurting her, and that was out of the question.
tried to pull away, but she held fast. Her grip couldn’t be broken without
hurting her, and that was out of the question.
“Tyler, I’m kidding.” She stared up into
his eyes, dewy softness mixed with sultry invitation. Her needs were clear; she
wanted him. But his needs were just as clear. Not this way.
his eyes, dewy softness mixed with sultry invitation. Her needs were clear; she
wanted him. But his needs were just as clear. Not this way.
God knew how long
it had been since he’d had a woman, and
here she was offering him every man’s dream. But taking advantage of her
drunken state didn’t sit well with
him. It wouldn’t sit well with
her, either, in the morning. He knew it, even if right now she didn’t.
it had been since he’d had a woman, and
here she was offering him every man’s dream. But taking advantage of her
drunken state didn’t sit well with
him. It wouldn’t sit well with
her, either, in the morning. He knew it, even if right now she didn’t.
He slowly began to
rise, halted again by her gripping arms. Tired of waiting for him to take the
initiative, Annie shocked him by lifting herself, twining her arms tighter
around his back, and fusing her lips onto his.
rise, halted again by her gripping arms. Tired of waiting for him to take the
initiative, Annie shocked him by lifting herself, twining her arms tighter
around his back, and fusing her lips onto his.
She was sweet. So
sweet! Her inexperienced mouth caressed like a little girl. Small puckered
kisses zeroed in on his hunger. She struck at his nose, cheeks, lips, wherever
she could reach. And her wiggling body reached zones he’d forgotten were so
quickly aroused. He closed his eyes, savoring her attempts at seduction.
sweet! Her inexperienced mouth caressed like a little girl. Small puckered
kisses zeroed in on his hunger. She struck at his nose, cheeks, lips, wherever
she could reach. And her wiggling body reached zones he’d forgotten were so
quickly aroused. He closed his eyes, savoring her attempts at seduction.
Obviously
frustrated by his lack of co-operation, Annie became more inventive. He guessed
she’d sensed him
stalling, and so she doubled her efforts to get him involved in her love play.
frustrated by his lack of co-operation, Annie became more inventive. He guessed
she’d sensed him
stalling, and so she doubled her efforts to get him involved in her love play.
Arching her body
fully, she pressed herself into him, and sinuously rubbed her breasts against
his chest. Without breaking this rhythm, she secured her one leg over his and
thrust her heat up to rub his hardness.
fully, she pressed herself into him, and sinuously rubbed her breasts against
his chest. Without breaking this rhythm, she secured her one leg over his and
thrust her heat up to rub his hardness.
Like a Venus
flytrap, she’d engulfed him.
Good intentions flew out the window. His hoarse voice whispered her name over
and over as his restraint dwindled, then disappeared completely.
flytrap, she’d engulfed him.
Good intentions flew out the window. His hoarse voice whispered her name over
and over as his restraint dwindled, then disappeared completely.
When his lips
captured her wandering mouth, he drained her passion, then felt it refill and
overflow. She panted. She groaned. And she whimpered his name in tune to his
litany of hers.
captured her wandering mouth, he drained her passion, then felt it refill and
overflow. She panted. She groaned. And she whimpered his name in tune to his
litany of hers.
She grabbed his
hand, placed it over her breast, then with her guiding his fingers she forced
him to surround the swollen mound. His lips soon followed his hands, and he breathed
deeply through the flimsy material over the exact spot that stood hard at
attention. Her inexperience, overcome by the alcohol, disappeared. With both
hands, she held his head to her and whispered in his ear. “Oh, God! Tyler,
that feels so good. Touch me.”
hand, placed it over her breast, then with her guiding his fingers she forced
him to surround the swollen mound. His lips soon followed his hands, and he breathed
deeply through the flimsy material over the exact spot that stood hard at
attention. Her inexperience, overcome by the alcohol, disappeared. With both
hands, she held his head to her and whispered in his ear. “Oh, God! Tyler,
that feels so good. Touch me.”
Her throaty voice
ramped up his ardor, but he had to slow down or explode. He backed away and
looked down at her beautiful, perky nipples pushing against the silk of her
dress, and then he searched her face. Sensing his eyes on her, her eyelashes
swept upwards a fraction at a time, and he combusted from
the fervent expression her smoky blues reflected.
ramped up his ardor, but he had to slow down or explode. He backed away and
looked down at her beautiful, perky nipples pushing against the silk of her
dress, and then he searched her face. Sensing his eyes on her, her eyelashes
swept upwards a fraction at a time, and he combusted from
the fervent expression her smoky blues reflected.
“Tyler, pleeasse!
Don’t stop. Kiss me
again. I love your kisses.” Caught in the throes of passion, her
body undulated with each word. He watched as her mouth opened a fraction in
order to suck in her bottom lip so her teeth could bite down on the plump
pinkish mound. Small hands rubbed his upper body but were not quite adventurous
enough to slide lower. Still, instincts buried deep propelled her to again mash
her hips against his.
Don’t stop. Kiss me
again. I love your kisses.” Caught in the throes of passion, her
body undulated with each word. He watched as her mouth opened a fraction in
order to suck in her bottom lip so her teeth could bite down on the plump
pinkish mound. Small hands rubbed his upper body but were not quite adventurous
enough to slide lower. Still, instincts buried deep propelled her to again mash
her hips against his.
They’d fit together in
the same way a well-oiled gun fits into its holster. No doubt whatsoever. When
the moment came for him to slip inside her, into her wetness, it would be like
coming home at last.
the same way a well-oiled gun fits into its holster. No doubt whatsoever. When
the moment came for him to slip inside her, into her wetness, it would be like
coming home at last.
Fast losing control of the situation, and of his
convictions, he tried to think. Heaven and hell’s advocates sounded
in his head.
convictions, he tried to think. Heaven and hell’s advocates sounded
in his head.
“I need her.” From his bad side!
“I can’t.” Good side just had
to get his two cents in there.
to get his two cents in there.
“I bloody want her
more than my next breath.” Come on, bad side!
more than my next breath.” Come on, bad side!
“It’s not right.” Gravelly-voiced
idiot side? Where did she come from?
idiot side? Where did she come from?
Devil and angel
warred with each other while he awaited the outcome—totally in support
of his hell-bent buddy.
***
I tend to lean toward the more dramatic, action-adventure, even tragic novels. However, I find that most authors of these types of novels do find a way to insert enough humor to make the characters human and believable. I don't know that I would seek out a second read by someone who didn't do that.
I tend to blend humor into my stories to demonstrate normal human behavior. There is always someone who is trying to "cheer up" a situation. By demonstrating a character's humanity, it allows the reader to connect emotionally.
My epic fantasy trilogy, "The Chosen One of Allivar" deals with the war, death and love. Very tragic in many cases with a huge twist at the end. As I learned from my focus group, the humor was necessary to developing that emotional tie.
I write what I read – light mysteries and romantic suspense. I've learned the darker variety will haunt me for months, if not years, and because I've reached a certain age I no longer care what others think. I do what works for me!
I appreciate all your comments and it's nice to know there are other authors who see that to have even a little humor adds a human element to a character and many situations. Sometimes it can be a dark humor, that's realistic and sometimes just a giggle but it certainly breaks the monotomy from the really gruelling, depressing tales.