The Amazingness of Characters who Finally Speak to their Authors

Feedback from last week:Thank you so much to everyone who weighed in on last week’s episode about discrete book covers. I got a lot of great feedback and had some really wonderful conversations with some authors about how they choose their covers and why. What I found really interesting was the number of authors commenting about mean and hurtful messages they’ve gotten from readers, some of whom practically demanded that authors offer discrete covers for all of their books so the readers could feel comfortable reading their books around their families, especially kids and older relatives. And while I get the concern, there is definitely a way to express it, and insulting an author or making demands is definitely not it. A few suggestions for readers who love authors with “explicit” (bare chest, suggestive poses, etc) covers but don’t feel comfortable reading those paperbacks around others.  1, get an ereader. 2, buy a book cover on amazon or another retailer and cover the cover. 3, make a book cover- remember the ones we used to make to cover our textbooks so they didn’t get all messed up? Make one for the book you’re embarrassed to read in public. But what ever you choose to do- be kind in your opinion about it. Yelling at an author on their page or in their DMs is not going to get you a different cover. It may get you banned from the author’s page, though. So remember- think before you speak/ type, And be kind.

Now, on to this week’s topic. Which interestingly, may also include some book cover talk.

Nearly a week ago, Pjppa Grant nearly broke the internet with the news that Cooper Rock's book is coming to readers this September. Of course she broke that news while I was in the shower, and I opened FB to find multiple messages from several reader friends all asking if I'd heard Pippa's announcement. Of course I had no idea what they were all so excited about but then in one of the message previews I saw the word Cooper and I think I squealed loud enough to disturb everyone within a 5 mile radius of my house. 

For those of you who aren't familiar with Pippa Grant, this is a really big freaking deal. Readers have been waiting for Cooper's story for ever. And he was being a stubborn little shit and wouldn't talk to Pippa. So when this announcement hit, yeah, we all went a little bonkers. And here's the coolest thing about that: Readers went nuts for a character who doesn't even have a book yet!

Brain squirrel tangent:

I love an author who listens to their characters. Because let’s be honest, trying to force a character to tell you their story is like forcing a toddler to put socks on before you leave the house. There will be tears, and yelling, and you’re still going to leave the house but without socks and everyone’s angry.  It just doesn’t end well.

So applause to Pippa for giving the toddler space, ignoring him while he sat there waiting for attention, and then embracing him when he decided it was time to put his socks on and leave the house. 

Anyway, back to the announcement and the buzz around it.

I love it! I love the excitement and energy the announcement created. And I love the way Readers in the pippaverse responded. What an awesome testament to the power books, writers and characters have to bring people together.

And this isn't the first time I've seen this. This book boyfriend phenomenon is actually pretty common. And it's not just for upcoming books, it involves books already out in the bookiverse when someone finds and reads a book about a character with a huge following. 

Now talk a walk with me and the brain squirrels for a minute or 20. Because this is bringing up all kinds of thoughts about characters we connect with and how they connect us to other readers.  

Every reader has their favorite characters, whether you read romance or not. But within romantica / Romancelandia there is that book boyfriend effect where certain characters reach legend status both within and across author realms and genres. Those characters who, when mentioned, get thousands of fingers typing about how much they're loved. Every reader has a favorite, or at least a rolling top 5.  

It reminds me of "the list " everyone has with their sig other that allows them to cheat with certain celebs if they were ever given the opportunity. You know the list. It has to be written down, but not laminated.  Bahahahahahaha!  The Friends episode is famous for it. With Isabella Rossellini. 

Anyway,  romance readers have that list, but with fictional characters. Trust me, it's a thing.  And yeah, it sounds ridiculous to anyone outside looking in, but is it really?  I mean think about it. How phucking awesome is it that a human (the author)  created a character so vividly intense and real that other humans (the readers) connected with them on such a deep level. Now we know they're not real. But they are! They're so real we talk about them with other readers as if they truly exist outside the pages and imaginations.  

It's no different than crushing on a character in a movie. Or an actor who plays a character in a movie or tv show.  It's just that the actor doesn't exist outside of that character. Does that make sense? Eh, who knows.

Anyway, corralling the squirrels. We all know those characters who jump off the page and become so vivid in their own right that we start to make connections with other readers over them.  And when things happen with them, like getting their own book, or showing up in another character's book, we fangirl hard for them! 

They spawn discussions about realism and types and expectations and … yes I said expectations.  Lol.

Because here's the thing, nobody really wants to find themselves caught up in an organized crime syndicate war, but that swoony seggsy Irish billionaire businessman assassin who runs part of the counter-organization might just have some qualities you really do look for in a real life partner. I'm not talking about the billionaire part (I mean that would be cool, but- anyway) I'm talking about the growly protector part. Or the dirty talker part. Or the looks. Because come on, on some level that's important too. 

And some of us definitely have a type when it comes to getting those swoony feelings going. I mean, I definitely have a type. In fact several people I know regularly tease me about my type. And I'm definitely comfortable enough at this point to admit I have a type. And there are so many other readers (and authors) I've connect with because of that type, too. How freaking cool is that???

And then there are the type breakers. The characters who defy the type we've been drawn to because there's just something so freaking special about them that they transcend type, trope, and even genres with romance. And we jump into conversations (online and in person)  about them and talk about them with so much clarity it's like they're real people and we actually know them.  

Ok, gonna slide quote another famous character here… just because they're in our heads (or on a page) doesn't mean they aren't real.

Brain Squirrel:  one of the arguments I read and hear a lot is that romance novels create unrealistic expectations for partners. And here's my take on that: if readers are creating expectations for their partners based on fictional characters, that doesn't mean real men (or women) shouldn't or can't step up to make them realistic. Again, not talking about the billionaire thing. Also not even talking about the looks/ appearance/ endowment thing. Because, yeah I get it that physical aspect is part of what draws you to a character. But I'm not even talking about that. 

I'm talking about the way the book boyfriends or girlfriends treat their partners. And the people who aren't their partners. I'm talking about the emotional expectations first. Ok, let me gather my thoughts for a second here and grab some concrete examples. Ok got one…

Cooper Miles.  And yes, this is a different Cooper from the one Pippa announced last week. And shit, what happens when 2 of your favorite book boyfriends have the same name? Ok anyway, that may be a completely different episode. 

Back to my example of Cooper Miles.  Cooper, if you're not familiar with him (ok, first, you need to become familiar with Cooper Miles, you just do) Cooper Miles is from Claire Kingsley's Miles Family series. And his story and most people's love for him starts 2 books before he gets his own. And yeah, readers fall for him because he's seggsy and hot and protectory and fun and a bit of a goofball, but man, he's so much more. He's one of the most amazingly layered characters I've ever read. And he sets a seriously high standard for dealing with the people in his life. And for me, most of it's that emotional expectation.  It's (shit, spoiler alert)  break up boxes, and blanket forts, and so many things!….. and those things weren't even for his love interest!  

And screw it, even the physical & intimate expectations are relevant.  Why is it unrealistic for someone to want a partner who cares about their physical needs as much as if not more than their own? Why is that selfish? Why is it unrealistic and selfish to want even a little taste of how those characters treat and satisfy their partners?  Hint: It’s not.

I’m going to leave you today with part of a conversation I just had with an author I edit for. I had just finished first edits in her newest novel, and sent her an, “ok. You’re good to do” message. We chatted for a few minutes about my thoughts on the book (I absolutely love it) and she said “it’s ironic how the one guy who was never supposed to get a book seems to have become a favorite.”  And while ironic, I think it’s also beautifully perfect. The author had a plan. And the characters said, nope- this is your plan now. And she listened. And before the end of this month, Cassian’s story will be told. And I can’t wait for my reader friends to message me when they have that “slam the kindle shut” moment I had. Or when they reach for the first tissue. Or when they complain about the manicure they just ruined biting their nails off. Because those characters make it all so freaking worth it.

Yes, I’m still waiting on older spawn’s help with a nifty intro with all my info on it. But for now, just know you can find the blog at brayzensblog.com and now you can also access my rambling notes on each podcast there as well. You’ll find me on Facebook at Brayzen Bookwyrm’s Unrighteous Reading Rebellion, on Instagram and Tiktok as Brayzen Bookwyrm, and now on Discord as well. And remember it’s B-R-A-Y-Z-E-N B-O-O-K-W-Y-R-M   Yeah, I like the Y’s. I’m wyrd.

Drop into the comments on any podcast post on FB, IG, or Discord and let me know what you’d like to hear me ramble about. You can also message me on FB or IG or email me at brayzenbookwyrm@gmailcom .

So that’s it for today. I’m so glad you’ve decided to pop in and join me on my latest adventure in podcasting.  Can’t wait to connect with y’all again!