Hannah Foster's Blog
August 26, 2013
The Free Fall - Cover reveal
As you know the next book, The Free Fall, is the sequel to Long Time Running. It centres on Andrew and Sarah and whether or not they can get out of their own way and let love run its course.
It is scheduled for a late September release. And today I just received the cover.
Want to see?
http://www.hannahfosterromance.com/20...
It is scheduled for a late September release. And today I just received the cover.
Want to see?
http://www.hannahfosterromance.com/20...
August 25, 2013
Confusing Alpha with Abuse
I just finished reading two books from a trilogy that left me so infuriated I was ready to throw my iPad across the room. The only thing stopping me was the cost of replacing the iPad, which I think is further proof that actual, physical books are superior to eReaders.
Why was I so infuriated? Because somehow in books aimed at women, authors are confusing abusive men with alpha men. For reasons that defy all understanding authors - most of them female - try to romanticize abuse, dressing it up with ‘strong, decisive men.’
My first encounter with this was when I read 50 Shades of Grey. On top of being just a poorly written book, the main character is an abusive asshole. He’s moody, difficult, prone to ridiculous jealousy and, frankly abusive. And yet there are scores upon scores of women celebrating Christian Grey like he is some kind of ideal man.
I actually saw one woman tweet that 50 Shades of Grey was an important book for women to read. And I agree. Though I disagree with her on why. She felt it was important because it was a sexual awakening and such a great novel showing a ‘strong’ man. I think it’s important to read so that we can all see what abuse looks like.
These last two books I read were exactly the same with only marginally better writing. I had chosen the books, looking for an easy weekend read, based on reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. The series had a bucketload of four and five star reviews. By the end of the second book, along with worrying about the common sense of many of the readers, I was ready to punch something.
Alpha men feature heavily in romance writing for a lot of reasons. The more women try to balance all the demands on them both professionally and personally the more appealing having someone else make some of the decisions is. It is absolutely attractive to have a man (in fiction or real life) who wants to protect the women in his life. A man for whom decisions don’t require consultations with a magic eight-ball, who opens doors, pulls out chairs etc.
But what is generally missing when we talk about alpha men is that good men do all of the above and do it all while respecting their partner - her beliefs, her values and her boundaries. A man who imposes his will, who disregards what is important to his partner , who, over her objections, proceeds in a way that makes her uncomfortable or is contrary to the shared values they hold is not an alpha male. He is a bully.
Having a man buy you a closet full of clothes is a lovely fantasy. Having a man do that after you’ve asked him not to (as in one of the books) is not lovely. It’s a warning sign.
A little bit of jealousy can be a thrill for anyone in a relationship. Jealousy that drives the man to employ round the clock security giving full reports on anyone the woman has spoken to is not thrilling. It’s obsessive behavior and it’s dangerous.
Abusive men and men with alpha characteristics are not the same thing. And I am so tired of reading about the former dressed up as the latter. I also worry about the impression it leaves with women.
Look, romance novels are about fantasy and pushing the edges. It doesn’t all have to be anchored hard in reality. But having abusive romantic leads is not an edge that needs to be pushed. Ever.
Why was I so infuriated? Because somehow in books aimed at women, authors are confusing abusive men with alpha men. For reasons that defy all understanding authors - most of them female - try to romanticize abuse, dressing it up with ‘strong, decisive men.’
My first encounter with this was when I read 50 Shades of Grey. On top of being just a poorly written book, the main character is an abusive asshole. He’s moody, difficult, prone to ridiculous jealousy and, frankly abusive. And yet there are scores upon scores of women celebrating Christian Grey like he is some kind of ideal man.
I actually saw one woman tweet that 50 Shades of Grey was an important book for women to read. And I agree. Though I disagree with her on why. She felt it was important because it was a sexual awakening and such a great novel showing a ‘strong’ man. I think it’s important to read so that we can all see what abuse looks like.
These last two books I read were exactly the same with only marginally better writing. I had chosen the books, looking for an easy weekend read, based on reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. The series had a bucketload of four and five star reviews. By the end of the second book, along with worrying about the common sense of many of the readers, I was ready to punch something.
Alpha men feature heavily in romance writing for a lot of reasons. The more women try to balance all the demands on them both professionally and personally the more appealing having someone else make some of the decisions is. It is absolutely attractive to have a man (in fiction or real life) who wants to protect the women in his life. A man for whom decisions don’t require consultations with a magic eight-ball, who opens doors, pulls out chairs etc.
But what is generally missing when we talk about alpha men is that good men do all of the above and do it all while respecting their partner - her beliefs, her values and her boundaries. A man who imposes his will, who disregards what is important to his partner , who, over her objections, proceeds in a way that makes her uncomfortable or is contrary to the shared values they hold is not an alpha male. He is a bully.
Having a man buy you a closet full of clothes is a lovely fantasy. Having a man do that after you’ve asked him not to (as in one of the books) is not lovely. It’s a warning sign.
A little bit of jealousy can be a thrill for anyone in a relationship. Jealousy that drives the man to employ round the clock security giving full reports on anyone the woman has spoken to is not thrilling. It’s obsessive behavior and it’s dangerous.
Abusive men and men with alpha characteristics are not the same thing. And I am so tired of reading about the former dressed up as the latter. I also worry about the impression it leaves with women.
Look, romance novels are about fantasy and pushing the edges. It doesn’t all have to be anchored hard in reality. But having abusive romantic leads is not an edge that needs to be pushed. Ever.
August 24, 2013
New book title!
You would think that being a writer would make something like choosing a title easy.
Except it's not.
It is always the hardest part of the process for me. In fact, almost without fail my creativity goes on vacation when it comes time to find the title.
After much back and forth, I finally have a title for Andrew and Sarah's story:
(insert drum roll)
The Free Fall
Publication date and cover preview to come!
Except it's not.
It is always the hardest part of the process for me. In fact, almost without fail my creativity goes on vacation when it comes time to find the title.
After much back and forth, I finally have a title for Andrew and Sarah's story:
(insert drum roll)
The Free Fall
Publication date and cover preview to come!
August 1, 2013
A preview
Are you interested in Andrew and Sarah's story? Would you like a small teaser?
Come on over to the blog for a preview!
www.hannahfosterromance.com
Come on over to the blog for a preview!
www.hannahfosterromance.com
July 31, 2013
What's next?
I'm working on Andrew and Sarah's story. Which was completed a while ago but needs to be fixed in parts. At this rate it feels a little like having to undo knitting stitches in the middle of the sweater.
I'm hoping to have it re-stitched, erm, re-written, by the end of August with it being published in early September.
I'm hoping to have it re-stitched, erm, re-written, by the end of August with it being published in early September.
June 3, 2013
Is this thing on?
I'm slowly figuring my way around goodreads from an author's point of view rather than a reader's point of view. One is infinitely more intuitive than the other, but I'm getting the hang of it.
Many thanks to all who have added Long Time Running or marked it as to read. It's available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and the Apple Bookstore.
I'm also hard at work at finishing another story and then I will be (re) tackling Andrew and Sarah.
HF
Many thanks to all who have added Long Time Running or marked it as to read. It's available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and the Apple Bookstore.
I'm also hard at work at finishing another story and then I will be (re) tackling Andrew and Sarah.
HF
