Part of the fun of writing erotic romance has to be the sex scenes. And wouldn’t it be fun to write a sex scene involving a man you wouldn’t mind having sex with? That is exactly how I decide who my male characters will be. Since I tend to lust over actors and rock stars, these are the men that end up being the inspiration for my heroes.

My favorite three actors are Christian Bale, Gerard Butler and Viggo Mortensen as noted in a previous post. (See blog from October 2009 for some pictures and thoughts about these three delectable men!) These men really do it for me. They all figured prominently in THE BANGER SISTERS DO LONDON as inspiration. Holly and Kim Banger really fell for these three and I can’t say I blame them. Gerry even required three roles because he was so damn special during the writing of this novella. Oh, Gerry, you are so bad.

A big part of my life has always been music. There are two rock stars who I have used as inspiration for male leads. One is Joe Elliott from Def Leppard. (Secondary roles in my Joe books also go to another favorite Def Leppard male—Phil Collen. Although Phil has enough sexy to go around for everyone, Joe is my fav. I tend to gravitate toward the lead singer.) The other sexy male singer I’m inspired by is Chris Cornell from Soundgarden and Audioslave. (Chris is currently out on his own and always does a great job of it, too.)

Within the last year, I have picked two new men that I would love to know better. They will be inspiration for male heroes in upcoming books. Drum roll, please.

Alex O’Loughlin who plays Steve McGarrett on the show Hawaii Five-O has turned into a real happy/happy/joy/joy time for me. I love that show. Ah, Alex. A handsome Aussie playing an ex-Navy Seal in gorgeous Hawaii. And let me tell you, Hawaii is definitely not the only thing breathtaking on that show. Alex oozes sex even when he doesn’t try. I know he will inspire me to write a hard-bodied fireman in the second book of THE FIREMEN OF LADDER 69 series called SMOKING HOT. I’m still working on the plot for that story, so look for it later this year.

Swedish Alexander Skarsgard, who plays sexy vamp Eric Northman on the HBO show True Blood, has made me want to get back to my vampire roots–I have always had a thing for them. I’m happy to say that Alexander threw some inspiration my way in Edinburgh Magic coming soon from eXtasy Books. I’m having so much fun working on that book it is close to being completed. Although Alexander’s inspiration was only in one scene, I hope it will be received warmly. I certainly became quite warm writing it.

Reality can’t get in the way of fantasy when you write. That is what writing erotic romance is all about—an escape to another world where the men are always worthy of the heroine’s love or I wouldn’t give them to her. But the difference in erotic romance is they will get x-rated ecstasy.

Yes, the fantasy is all it takes. The inspiration. A muse. Time at my computer. I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I do writing them. Thank you.

xxoo

Melody