She posed the question to her tweetees..
What do you think about a hero who cries? Not like a weepy girly man but, a guy who has one emotional moment?
Interesting question don't you think?
I responded with depends on the moment.. tears when someone lives.. someone dies.. a birth of a child.. works for me. tears just cuz. Nope now it got a little silly from there.. talking about some of the just cuz moments.. ok.. you twisted my arm I will post that too..
LOL. Tears just cuz. I kinda like that. "Damn, I dropped my ice cream cone!" Water works. That doesn't scream sexy for ya?
well when you put it that way.. yeah.. totally turns me on. I mean dang that ice cream cone was chocolate!
Seriously? I'd cry if I dropped a chocolate ice cream
Ok back on topic.. what do you think of a hero who cries? Do you find that sexy? Or can it work to clearly define the actual strength of a man? Think about Darling and Ash and a few others who were so very tortured how could they not cry? Even if they didn't cry in the book, can't you just see them in the background, the part of the story that isn't written.. sitting there with tears slowly falling down their cheeks.. Does that make them less of a man or more?
I think finding a man who sobs at the death of a loved one, one of the most powerful men there is.. To see a man grieve to that extent afraid to let go, not wanting to accept that his love is gone.. yeah that to me is incredibly powerful.
A Hero who cries if written well can be the most powerful tool in an author's arsenal.. now a weepy wuss.. nah not so much..
So tell me what you think...
*Grins* oh yeah she didn't tell me exactly who the hero was but I am guessing Gryph from her Eternal Guardians because well.. she said it was from her Eternal Guardians and it was a tortured hero... and does that make a difference to your opinion.. tortured hero as opposed to hero who suffers great emotional loss?
Ahem! You forgot to use her new nickname! Laughs!
ReplyDeleteEven strong alpha men have to show some kind of emotion. It would be a real turn off if he was emotionless all the time. Depends really on the situation: death of a friend or loved one.
Yes! Oh man my heart would be breaking and I'd be all for consoling. LOL
can't believe I forgot to mention Her Royal Naughtiness.. *grins*
DeleteLOL...I have a feeling that nickname is going to dog me for years...
ReplyDeleteLove inspiring blog posts! I will admit that I'm not usually a big fan of any characters crying in my romances - heroines or heroes. It seems more acceptable for heroines to cry though. I read it in a LOT Of books. Since I don't cry much, it's something that tends to bug me in books. And since I write pretty tough alpha males, I don't think I've written one before who cries. But I posed the question on Twitter because in my next book the hero does get a bit teary. It's a very emotional scene - one I tried not to write because it left me with a lump in my throat - and the tears (on his part) weren't planned, they just happened. I love the way the scene turned out, my editor loved it, and I think it added something to the scene that wouldn't be there had he sucked it up and not let that tear slide down his cheek. But...as a writer (and a non-cryer), of course I'm curious what readers think of the topic.
First off thanks for stopping by.. your royal naughtiness.. and thanks for the great inspiration for the blog..
DeleteSecond.. I am a cryer.. I cry.. drop of a hat.. now I have gotten much better over the years and most people don't know that I cry.. but I do.. That being said.. those heroines who cry.. yeah I want to smack them.. They cry for the wrong reasons.. they feel no shame in crying.. they use tears.. they.. you get it.. I think it can be a weak plot device..
But a MAN yeah when a strong man cries.. IF WRITTEN RIGHT.. can be a truly powerful thing. Yes it's scary because you have to do it right. There have to be circumstances.. otherwise wuss central..
So make sure when that chocolate ice cream cone is dropped.. you write it right!
Shauni
I am the type who has to be away from public eye to cry. I refuse to do so in another's company. If I feel the burn of tears or that my eyes are getting misty I retreat, find a place to be alone.
DeleteAs long as the heroines do not use their tears to get their way. I hate that. Seems so manipluative and wrong.
And Your Naughtiness! Gryphon would have reasons to be emotional. From all that we read in the previous books there is a reason. Good reason.
Didn't Ash cry? I thought he did. I can totally see Darling crying, too. Actually, I could see any of The League guys shedding a tear, except for maybe Nyk. Though, I could see him shedding one in regards to his children. In this instance, I see tears as surplus of emotion leaking from our bodies.
ReplyDeleteHey Christina to answer your question, yes Ash did cry. When he thought he killed Tory while the Heifer had him held prisoner in that box, cubicle whatever you want to call it. She basically fed Tory to Ash and did it on purpose. I still hate her for that move, but yes Ash cried over what he had done to her. That was such an emotionally charged scene that Ash had me crying right along with him. Hell any hero who cries gets my waterworks going everytime
DeleteThanks Marcie.. Christina I didn't completely explain myself and yes Ash cried.. upon what he thought was Tory's death.. but I meant to release a tear upon their being tortured.. to let pain overcome them.. at least that was how I was using those two characters as examples..
DeleteI so can't wait to read Elisabeth's next book it is sure to be amazing
I have read any of your books but will have to change that. I think it would have to be a highly emotional reason for any man that is macho to cry , but if they do it must be a really powerful scene and the reason a good one. I am all for it.
ReplyDeleteI meant I haven't read any of Elizabeths books. LOL
ReplyDeleteFran be sure and check her out.. She writes a stellar PNR with her Eternal Guardians as well as amazing Romantic Suspense.. I just wrote a review on her Wait for You book.. seriously that book made me cry it was so well written..
DeleteI have no problem with a hero who cries. I think it shows a certain vulnerability and ability to care so deeply about another being. When the hero is brought to tears over something devastating it gets me sobbing right along with him and has me wanting to reach out and help him anyway I can. Which for me is usually bloodshed. I want to hurt the person who's hurt him so badly.
ReplyDeleteI have to shake your hand Shauni cause I'm the same, I cry at the drop of hat. If I see someone crying, watch out cause my waterworks will start up. I can cry in a children's book for heavens sake. Heck I still get tears in my eyes when watching The Little Drummer Boy at Christmas when his lamb is run over by the chariots. So having a hero cry is normal for me.
A man like Jack Norton who sheds a tear for finally being able to drop his tough demeanor at ALL times....thankful for Briony's very existence? Oh, yeah...I swoon for a man like that!
ReplyDeleteExactly.. that is a powerful moment in a story that can truly bring me to my knees
DeleteWow! What a great post Shauni! I have never even thought about this before, but yeah I actually like it when the Hero fianlly lets it all out and lets that tear fall. It shows that they are not the monsters they always believe themselves to be.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Ash cry when he "met" Kat for the first time. When she asked if she could hug him? I know I ugly girl cry every time I read that book so it could just be me projecting my feelings there. I am sure that he cried for Charise too. Even though we didnt see it.
I just read this AMAZING book called Easy ( I am going to do a review on it) But the main characters mom is dead and he NEVER ever dealt with it until this amazing girl game into his life and made him deal with it. Now he finally let it out and balled or "ugly girl cired" but it was sooooo beautiful and not wussy at all.
So I am with all of you, it just depends on the situation.