Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Gratitude or Assitude?



This is a time of gratitude, of being thankful for those individuals and things that make our lives worthwhile.
However, to go with my thought, gratitude or assitude? ~ how can I forget all those romance novel heroines of yesteryear, who were breadcrumb-grateful for anything the hero tossed their way? The story usually came down to this ~
Oh, he loves me. Everything is okay, now, and this is my happily ever after. The End.
Yet, those were the times I grew up in. Everything was made to appear as if it revolved around the man, the husband, the father. He was the breadwinner, the head of the household.
Oh, the little woman had her valued place, see reruns of Leave it to Beaver, for an idealistic example of how the fifties worked in our culture.
Jump forward to the late sixties ~ yep, given women came to resent being treated like second class citizens and were often not cherished by their mates... hey, what fertile ground for women’s liberation!
Now, leap ahead to the new generation of kick-assitude heroines. They abound in our romance novels, as they should. I adore writing my own version of these tough, rough, take-care-business gals. But then, I was a notorious tomboy and, at one time, hated the thought of becoming a woman because it meant I could no longer do those things the boys did, like sports. I loved playing backyard tackle football.
However, I possess a split personality, as I suspect most of us do. I have a deeply feminine side. I want to be cherished, to dance like a fairy ballerina and have a pink-on-pink girly room. Yes, even at my age.
Yep, we’ve come a long way baby... from the helpless romance heroine who had to be grateful that some man had deigned to love her, or had fallen hopelessly in love with her, ala the first Regency romances... to the fierce-assitude heroine who gives life a swift kick in the rear if it doesn’t cooperate with her, who saves the world, the galaxy... who often calls the sexual shots and may or may not give into love.


On a personal note, I find it fascinating all the different directions writers have taken with their romance heroines, all the ways they are exploring their individual heroine’s personality. To simplify, from sweet-natured and submissive to a super-strong woman with alpha-assitude, and every type of heroine in between.

How does this relate to shapeshifters? The shifter heroine not only has her woman self, but she has her animal nature, or her other various paranormal beings *such as vampire* ~ as well. How she integrates every facet of herself, or doesn’t, makes for a complex heroine, whose motivations and feelings are not only human. No, not anymore. The romance novel has become an all-inclusive universe for our heroines.


So, how do you ‘grow’ your shapeshifter heroine? From gratitude to assitude?
As a reader what are your fave shapeshifter heroines?

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For now, Darius, my bull shifter, has decided to voice his thoughts.

Yowza butting-powza, the Bull is back... a hero with a real set of horns and the bold balls to match.
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For the beginning of this bullie woolie tail see my prior blogs ~
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X-Serial Flash

New Bull in Town ~ Darius Speaks

THIRTY-ONE
“Shelley,” I bellow, then listen to the sound bounce off trees and wave through the air. Yeah, I like hearing my own bovine voice. Though, now, it’s an instant of pitiful relief. Snorting my fury, I trot toward the treeline, close to where I’ve parked my pickup.
I halt on the rise of ground and look over the area before concentrating on my shift. It doesn’t do to be in this raging state. I could end up with my human head and butt on my bull body. Or, vice versa, I could end up with a bull head and tail on my human body.

THIRTY-TWO
Yep, where do you think the inspiration for all those Minotaur statues came from? Another little secret. Some of the ladies liked it that way, especially at the wine festivals. *Insert your own imagination here*
The worst I’ve experienced is the weight of my bull self on my human hands and feet. Try that one out, those of you who yen to be animal shifters. It’s not all glamor and running-wild adventure being a shapeshifting bull. Still, you won’t hear any complaints from me.
Calming my mind *meditation does work*, I monitor my rutting hormones until I can shift. It happens quickly, smoothly and soon I’m pulling on my boots.
Here I come, Shelley.
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Shapeshifter lovers, check out CAT NIP. It’s a free read by erotic romance author, Gem Sivad ~ http://gemsivad.wordpress.com ~ also, for the ongoing story, subscribe at ~ http://textnovel.com ~
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Plus, take a peek at COYOTE MOON by Pat Cunningham at ~ http://bookstrand.com/product-coyotemoon-14959-330.html ~ Pat’s book has received several top reviews.
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HAPPY SHAPESHIFTING THANKSGIVING

~ MAY ALL YOUR READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~


Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Author of ~

All Shades of Blue Paradise
Red Lioness Tamed
When a Good Angel Falls
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes
Stallion of Ash and Flame ~
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5 comments:

Crystal Kauffman said...

I love the way the romance has grown with so many subgenre. There is literally something for everyone. I still believe the historical romance heroine should have appropriate behavior to reflect her time and a woman's position in that time, but I adore the assertive, modern woman of today. Most of all I love the smart heroine, who uses her intelligence and courage to outwit her adversary.

Serena Shay said...

Great blog, Savanna! I love heroines who can find the even balance between Gratitude and Assitude. A heroine who knows herself or finds herself in the process of the story and can accept herself...warts and all. ;)

Paris said...

This is one of the reason I like shifter heroines so much;-) Their animal nature and the attitude they have about it makes for some interesting and complex characters. Great blog!

Savanna Kougar said...

Crystal, the smart heroine is a must in my book, no matter how much assitude she has.

Serena, thanks! I think that balance between Gratitude and Assitude is vital to the heroine's growth in the story and to who she is. I also like it when a hero accepts and loves her, warts and all.

Savanna Kougar said...

Paris, you and I must have been commenting at the same time.
I find it mentally exciting and fun, if challenging, to write the animal natures of my shifters.
Yep, complex!