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hailyhado

January 28, 2016 at 10:22 AM UTC


I know the poll is closed but I would like to make a suggestion but I just don’t have a name for him. He’s a super genius like Artemis Fowl from Eoin Colfer’s series, a complete devil of a tease like the Flash from DC Comics, and is a bad boy but his loyalty is unquestionable. He’s the kind of side kick that sets off the trap in the tomb with a comment like “Oops, my bad” and smiles before everyone has to run for their lives. Kind of like Ron Stoppable to Kim Possible. But he’s also the one that snatched the artifact everyone was going for before he set off the traps like Indiana Jones. It might be just me but I’m a sucker for fun playful and flirty banter and think the competitive relationship between the ‘good girl’ and the ‘bad boy’ is just the bees knees. And if you have a story line that will work with this many different characteristics in a man I think you could do my dream love interest perfectly.

Kitty

February 02, 2016 at 08:40 PM UTC


I LOVE Ron Stoppable–but yes your ideal sounds a little more competent than him. 😉 Even though the poll is closed, thank you for the feedback! As I said, I use this poll as a sort of thermometer to see what everyone is interested, so your comment is appreciated.

Kailey

January 17, 2016 at 06:40 AM UTC


I’m totally for an anti_hero like Farrin. I think it gives a story more room for character growth in both of the characters. I like a story where the characters really have to work at relationship rather than just being perfect for each other where they are.

saffron

January 17, 2016 at 05:18 AM UTC


I am really a fan of Seer Ringali from the Red Rope of Fate. Caustic sophisticate with dangerous edge and I suppose the heart of gold… hidden very deep under all that window display. I find his type immensely interesting and entertaining, and could read volumes about him or someone like him.

Rae

January 18, 2016 at 01:18 AM UTC


Yes! I’d love more characters like Seer Ringali.

Es Irene

January 15, 2016 at 05:47 AM UTC


This might fit into anti-hero, but what about the Unlikable Hero (I’m thinking kinda like Severus Snape. Unknown bravery and all that.)

Kitty

January 17, 2016 at 03:38 AM UTC


Ahhh you have a good point. Anti-hero is a pretty broad category, so I might have to break it up into a few categories–like Unlikable Hero. 😉

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Lauren P

January 16, 2016 at 03:01 AM UTC


Interesting. Serverus and Loki definitely have quite the followings!

Es Irene

January 17, 2016 at 05:15 AM UTC


Severus Snape…I loved to hate him, and I loved to love him! The first time I read it, he totally surprised me. I cry every time I read his death. Always.

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Kitty

January 17, 2016 at 03:37 AM UTC


Snape and Loki–yeeeessss!! I do have soft spots for both of them! Good call!

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Veronica

January 16, 2016 at 03:15 AM UTC


Oh I love Snape, he’s such a fascinating character! Unlikable at first, but he kind of stole the show at the end with his bravery and loyalty. “Always” *sigh*

nurcat

January 15, 2016 at 04:31 AM UTC


I’m very fond of the very overlooked boffin .Now this could possibly fall under nerdy or geeky, but I think that Boffin’s should have a category all of their own . I mean, a bloke with a brain the size of a planet, but the common sense of a gnat and the charm that a delightfully bemused brainbox exudes can be very appealing to a woman on a mission !

Kitty

January 17, 2016 at 03:36 AM UTC


It has been wonderfully refreshing to see how many people are cheering for the “smart but clumsy in one way or another” type, so a variation (or several) will for sure be going on the poll!

Jacinda

January 15, 2016 at 03:20 AM UTC


I love the childhood friend archetype! I quite like when the male protagonist is kinda cocky and arrogant, not in a rude way of course, but rather a charming way. I’m not sure if that makes sense but like a guy who has a lot bravado and is really cheeky. Having a male protagonist who’s cheeky makes for amazing banter between him and the female protagonist!

Kitty

January 15, 2016 at 04:06 AM UTC


I agree–slightly cocky is much easier to write than male protags who are quiet and stoic, though, so I’m more than a little biased. 😉

Hazel Surtees

January 14, 2016 at 11:43 PM UTC


How about the evil character yet on the good side. You know, like Phile, who has a dark, dark mind and who’s first solution is always murder, yet is somehow a good guy? All the characters trust them and all but why? They’re evil? (And precious, of course.)

Lauren P

January 16, 2016 at 03:00 AM UTC


Farrin in Heart of Ice seems pretty evil (yet somehow good) to me so far!

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Kitty

January 14, 2016 at 11:54 PM UTC


I think I know what you mean! I have seen such a character, but I don’t recall if I’ve ever seen one as the main male protagonist/hero…but I DO love unique-ness! 😉

Veronica

January 14, 2016 at 11:43 PM UTC


I confess I am a total sucker for the “childhood best friend” hero. I love to read about girls growing up and finally realizing that the perfect guy for them was always around but was previously overlooked for whatever reason.

I would also like to see an anti-hero as a romantic lead in the Timeless Fairy Tales world, so far none of the guys we’ve seen fit that description. Besides it would be awesome, I mean, who doesn’t love a “good” anti-hero? 🙂

Kitty

January 14, 2016 at 11:52 PM UTC


I also love the childhood best friend hero! It’s hard to pull off in a Timeless Fairy Tale because of the nature of the original stories, but I DO have a fairy tale in mind that I’m hoping to implement this into. 😉

Also, gotcha on the anti-hero. I think an anti-hero could be fun, but it does make me worry. My idea of breaking rules is to remove the stickers that say “do not remove,” so writing an anti-hero might be a bit of stretch, lol. Still, it’s always good to try new things!

Rae

January 14, 2016 at 10:03 PM UTC


I always had a thing for the male-damsel in distress, smart but needing saved for whatever reason.
Jock and Artist are the other two that come to mind, although you might have done jock before.

Kitty

January 14, 2016 at 11:46 PM UTC


Bingo, that’s an awesome idea! Yes, male-damsel-in-distress is going on the poll!

Kitty

January 17, 2016 at 03:35 AM UTC


Oooohhh, better, you say? Yep, going on my must read list pronto! (I am a sucker for cute stories!)

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Veronica

January 15, 2016 at 06:42 AM UTC


Kitty, yes, you definitely need to read “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” duology! 🙂 I liked the “Avery Shaw Experiment”, but I personally think Jenny Han’s books are a lot better, in my opinion she’s a much better writer. Either way, the stories are kind of similar in that they both have “jocks” and “introverts” as the main characters. 🙂 I love how Peter is always trying to show off in front of LaraJean, and she’s generally clueless about it, LOL.

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Kitty

January 15, 2016 at 04:08 AM UTC


I have not read those books before, but I’ll put them on my to-read list ASAP! In “The Avery Shaw Experiment” the male protag is a bit of a jock, and I loved that one! 😀

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Veronica

January 15, 2016 at 03:00 AM UTC


Oh, I love damsels in distress too. As long as they are smart and need rescuing for a good reason, I’m all in! 🙂

I also vote for “the Jock” archetype. Has anybody read “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and “PS I Still Love You” by Jenny Han? I think it has one of the best “jock” heroes out there. Peter is an extremely hot, extremely vain boy who loves to be the center of attention everywhere, but is still very loyal to the girl he loves (a total introvert). Loved them both. 🙂

Erin

January 14, 2016 at 09:17 PM UTC


How about Awkward Nerds (I will always ship Falk and Elise) or Mysterious Guys That You Hear About but Never Actually See (’cause to be honest, I kinda ship Angelique and Evariste)

Kitty

January 14, 2016 at 11:48 PM UTC


Hahah! I will be sure to make Awkward Nerd a choice! I do have to say I’m glad you guys spoke up. I’ve put Falk in mental category of mouthy/opinionated—like Aysel from the MBRC–but now that you mention it Awkward Nerd suits him far better. I will be sure to keep this in mind for the future!

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Veronica

January 14, 2016 at 11:32 PM UTC


Oh yes! I would LOVE to read more about Falk and Elise, he is definitely an Awkward Nerd, and there should be a lot more heroes like him. I guess that’s why I didn’t like The Wild Swans as much as the other books, I mean the book is amazing, but there shouldn’t have been two endings. Falk was the one (speaking for myself, of course)! 🙂

So yeah, I vote for Awkward Nerd too. 🙂

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Queen Aej

January 14, 2016 at 10:54 PM UTC


Definitely to both! And to this day wish for more of Elise and Falk! Rewrite? Lol just kidding?

Lauren P

January 14, 2016 at 08:40 PM UTC


I’m trying to think back through your stories, and I wonder if you’ve ever covered the “overlooked good guy”? I happened to marry one of those, and he’s absolutely the most incredible creature! My aunt also accurately described him as, “a little bit superhero, a little bit villain” due to his incredible genius that he usually uses for good and not mischief. I always feel bad for those extra helpful guys in stories (and irl, too, I suppose) who help carry the plot but then get ignored when the guy with charisma walks in.

Kitty

January 14, 2016 at 11:43 PM UTC


WOW, it’s like you are a mind-reader! Last night when I was thinking of the poll, I thought it would be fun to have a character who is, as your aunt says “a little bit superhero, a little bit villain” due to his incredible genius that he usually uses for good and not mischief” YES! This one is so going on the poll! (And I agree with you about the overlooked aspect. I have to use that part carefully, though, or people tend to think the real hero is someone else…)

Kitty

January 17, 2016 at 03:34 AM UTC


@ Lauren–Yes, it could get complex, but I would just have to make sure I don’t put any other “available” males in the story to accidentally mislead readers. And yes, Annie, I’ll be doing Red Riding Hood, Arabian Nights, and Alice in Wonderland retellings. 🙂 None of them, however, will fall in the current story arc.

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Lauren P

January 16, 2016 at 02:50 AM UTC


Yay! My favorite fictional movie character is Megamind, so I should’ve been more aware that I was marrying the real-life version. 😀 I’m glad to see “awkward nerd” is going on the list, too. Hopefully, you’ll have a very fulfilling decades-long career where you can try out all of these character variations! (And good point about the “overlooked” aspect. I see how that could make for some complicated writing, and reading, too. I think I’m envisioning someone who gets “friend zoned” a lot, or for one reason or another end up being dismissed from the pool of potential dates. Unlucky in love, maybe?)

hailyhado

January 28, 2016 at 10:39 AM UTC


Lauren, I love that you compared your husband to Megamind! That just puts so many different “How we met” stories in my head. And I love that you are totally bragging over the love of your life but not overly sharing. I do have to wonder what your husband does for fun though. ;D
P.S. you can tell me to stop being a random quote stalker. I just love hearing about real life matches. You don’t see them a lot in society these days.

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Kitty

January 15, 2016 at 04:08 AM UTC


Yeeeeeeeees, that is a perfect example! 😀 Thanks, Annie!

Annie

January 15, 2016 at 04:33 AM UTC


Will u ever do a red riding hood retelling or maleficent,Aladdin, Alice in wonderland, or some of the less known brothers Grimm tales.

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Annie

January 15, 2016 at 02:19 AM UTC


How bout a Sherlock genus. And Watson of course.:)

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Queen Aej

January 14, 2016 at 10:49 PM UTC


Oh yes yes yes!

Jan 14, 20162 min read

SOS!

It’s that time of the year! Beginning next week I’ll hold my annual “Hero Poll” in which I post archetypes of main male characters with examples pulled from my books and ask you to vote for your favorites! In example, last year one of the voting options was for the “Strong-Silent Type” and the examples were Severin from Beauty and the Beast and Arion from Red Rope of Fate.

It’s meant to be fun so we can see who is the most popular protagonist, but it’s also really useful for me because it helps me get an idea of what you guys like and what you want more of. I’m still going to hold that poll–with additions from all the new books I’ve written since then–but this year I’m going to have a second poll, and I need your help!

The second poll will be a list of hero archetypes I haven’t yet used, and you’ll get a chance to vote for the ones you want to see the most. This is where I need you to chime in! In order for me to make that second poll, I need a list of voting options. So far I’ve come up with: the childhood friend, the older-brother type, and the anti-hero. What archetypes am I missing? I posed this question to my Facebook Champions last night, and so far they’ve added the alpha male archetype, and the tortured romantic. (Tortured romantic meaning he doesn’t feel he’s worthy of love, but he is sweet and gentle.)

Give a shout in the comment section with the archetypes you want/like, and I’ll try to include it! Thanks in advance, Champions! I can’t wait to see who you vote for next week.

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