You can find the full story here: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20671252,00.html
Heroes are everywhere, in everyone; we just need to learn how to find them.
The other day I was heartened to find people weren't quite as shallow as I'd thought. I casually flung 'heroes' into Pinterest just to see what would come up, expecting to find movie heroes, or hunks, but I was wrong. What there was, was heart-warming. It was actually full of REAL heroes and the stories of their deeds. I thought today I would share some of these with you, to showcase the good in the world. You can find the full story here: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20671252,00.html This 99 year old man walks 25km to beg for money every day. He takes none of it for himself, but has donated thousands to orphanages over the years. And you can read the full article here: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/see-this-old-man-heres-why-one-the-best-people-the-world.html Buzzfeed comes up trumps with a tale of true generosity: http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/see-the-world-differently?sub=3320103_3116988 There were countless more, but this one did it for me. I couldn't find the source, but I'm sure I remember the incident. Heroes are everywhere, in everyone; we just need to learn how to find them.
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I know it's a day early, but I have an excuse: Today is my birthday. Now at my age that's not a great reason to celebrate, admittedly, but at least the old diet can take a hike for one day and that's got to be something. So as I arrived down to the breakfast table this morning, I thought I'd share with you the wonderful world of our life, and show you what happens in this house, on a birthday. As it's a weekend, naturally, my husband's still asleep. The kids and I have been up since sparrow fart, made our tea and eaten our biscuits. (Not on a diet - hurray!!!) Normally us adults just have a birthday breakfast, but as it's a Sunday, I'm waving this for a few hours until we're all awake. So here I am, at the table, surrounded by a make-do-and-mend style party. A few months ago I cleared out a cupboard. (Do NOT try this at home. It can prove extremely dangerous.) What I came across was YEARS of left over party. There were cups and paper plates, party favours and even some things that used to be edible, some of this even dating back to 1st birthday parties. (My eldest is almost 14!) So I told my hubby not to get any more; we had enough under there to last a lifetime. And today, this is me... nestling into a table of fake diamonds from my hubby's James Bond themed party breakfast, on a football table cloth, with pink plastic plates, Tom & Jerry serviettes and flowery cups. It's great. I love it. Sadly I only noticed I had my camera on Manual Focus for the last shot! But hey, you get the picture. So from me, patiently waiting for my cake and prezzies, it's goodbye for now, and I'm hoping you are going to carry on the rest of your day singing: 'Diamonds are for- GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!' followed closely by the final riff from Tom & Jerry. Th-th-that's all folks! :-) I heard a great quote on an old episode of Dr Who the other day and it said, ‘Sad is the happy for deep people.’ I don’t know about ‘deep’, but it’s certainly true for me. (Those of you who have read my stories can confirm.) I immediately connected with this and started to think about it. I, personally, love a story that makes me cry. My family not infrequently walk in to the room to find me blubbing over all sorts of things. It could be one line in a whole book. It could be MY books (pitiful and something I should never admit to), an advert, once a cartoon, but films are the big one. Too many to count, The Notebook (every time), Truly, Madly, Deeply, About Time, Up Close and Personal and Shadowlands, are a few I could mention; I could easily go on. They hear the words, ‘That was so lovely’, or, ‘Oh, it was beautiful’ ,and roll their eyes in dismay and walk out again. But for me that is what works. Why? Good question. Why do I like something that makes me cry? I think the answer is that it makes me cry, but in a good way. A bit like the pain of childbirth, as long as the final result is healthy, it's a good one. In my opinion, a good story is something that makes you feel; something that touches your heart and moves you with the pain of another, but there is always the understanding that it will have been worth it. It’s not the same as watching something devastatingly bad. In fact I think it is the opposite. I think it is allowing yourself to feel the pain with the knowledge that the writer will bring you some kind of relief in the end. Whether it's a happily ever after, justice, or just a sense of hope, you can never know, but the unwritten promise is there. And if it’s not, and you’re left feeling tortured for no reason, you feel let down, angry almost. How dare they put you through all that and offer no sense of happiness at the end? So am I deep? I wouldn’t have said so, but maybe I am; or maybe I’m just a soppy sod who loves a good cry. What do you think? Like to party? Hop along the Hump Day Blog Hop on Julie Valerie’s Book Blog. Click here to return to the Hump Day Blog Hop. My next guest on I need a hero! is Zara Stoneley, who is now cursing my name as she can't get this song out of her head. :-) Zara writes hot romance and bonkbusters. Her latest novel, ‘Stable Mates’, is a fun romp through the Cheshire countryside and combines some of her greatest loves – horses, dogs, hot men and strong women (and not forgetting champagne and fast cars)! Do you need a hero, Zara? Okay as soon as I read ‘I need a hero’ then I start singing (badly) the great Bonnie Tyler song… which just about sums it up. So here’s what it comes down to… Where have all the good men gone, And where are all the Gods? Where's the street-wise Hercules, To fight the rising odds? Yup, a lot of us girls do actually want this type of hero. Well, I for one do. Sorry, but despite being a strong, independent woman I want a ‘real’ hero (at least in my fantasies). I want a man who will fight for what he wants, who will fight for me, a good man and strong. Somebody to swoon over… Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed? Late at night I toss and I turn And I dream of what I need. I dream too! Does anybody else drool over that vision of Aragorn, in LOTR, on a horse….? Apart from the looks, he’s got that quiet, dignified determination about him. And he’s a protector. The proper old-fashioned type of hero who will fight against evil. I’d let him swing me into his saddle any day… Somewhere after midnight, In my wildest fantasy. Somewhere just beyond my reach. There's someone reaching back for me. Well, in my fantasies that perfect hero is actually within reach, It doesn’t have to be after midnight… I’m allowed to dream and write about heroes all day, and all night… it’s my job. Racing on the thunder. And rising with the heat It's gonna take a Superman, To sweep me off my feet. He doesn’t have to have super powers, although a super fit body is good… and a brain to match. I like a clever man, I mean the physical side gets you so far, but there are times when it’s good to talk… So, dear hero, looks and bravery aren’t everything, though they will get you a long way. Up where the mountains meet the heavens above, Out where the lightning splits the sea I could swear that there's someone somewhere watching me, Through the wind and the chill and the rain, And the storm and the flood, I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood. Okay it might not be what it means, but all that talk of wind and rain… Mr Darcy in that wet shirt anybody? Or a Heathcliff striding across the moors? It does it for me. I suppose my ideal hero will always make my blood race, sometimes it takes the strong silent type to shows you the type of passion which can last a lifetime… mmm… Sorry, where was I? I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero, 'Til the end of the night He's gotta be strong, And he's gotta be fast, And he's gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero, I'm holding out for a hero, 'Til the morning light He's gotta be sure, And it's gotta be soon, And he's gotta be larger than life Larger than life? Maybe, in my dreams. But in reality it’s a lot to live up to having a hero around. Yeah, in his heart I want him to be brave, determined, and a little bit reckless. But my real hero is the guy who can make me smile, make me laugh, who can put up with my moods, who loves me even when I’m busy writing about imaginary men, who will always do the best he can even without superpowers, and even on the bad days. A hero who doesn’t notice a bad hair day, or a too much chocolate day…. And my book hero? He’s the Bonnie Tyler type, strong, capable, good looking, fit, but with a sensitive side, and a sense of humour, oh and intelligence… er yeah, a lot for one man… which is why in Stable Mates I’ve got quite a few of them. I’ve cheated, it’s allowed. I’m an author…. Lyrics – Bonnie Tyler, I need a Hero - copyright with Lyrics © Sony/atv Music Publishing Llc Wouldn't that be good? To have a selection of men and pick the one you feel in the mood for that day. What is the male version of a harem? So can you tell us a little about your book, Zara? Introduce us to your harem of men. Of course. Stable Mates. - Lottie's battered heart seems in need of some flirting and fun, and where better to find them than back in tranquil Tippermere, home of sexy eventer Rory Steel, the smiling Irish eyes of hunky farrier Mick O'Neal, and mysterious newcomer, model Tom Strachan? But when landowner Marcus James drops dead unexpectedly, and the threat of his waggish wife Amanda selling the heart of the village out from under them looms large, things look like they're about to heat up in and out of the saddle. And I'm pretty sure there are more hot blooded males in there too. Thank you, Zara, for bringing your ideas on heroes with you today. For those in the mood for some red blooded men, Zara's book is out now. You can download it here... Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Foyles Waterstones Sainsbury’s Google Play iTunes Blackwells And find the woman herself at: Website Twitter Facebook Google+ Call me a novice, but I've just discovered a site that lets me follow my favourite blogs. It's called Bloglovin' and this also means you can follow me there too. :-) <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/12824609/?claim=3jbpvus6kbs">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a> Pop over and check it out and see what fascinating things some people get up to. Today I have with me Summerita Rhayne, an indie author from India, who is out and about trying to make us fall in love with her own particular hero. Could that happen? I think it just might. Welcome, Summerita, can you tell me what made you decide to publish independently? Indie publishing is booming so it seemed a good option to try out. Also it's way faster than traditional publishing which is a really attractive factor. And how did you find yourself becoming an author? I’ve thought about being a writer almost all my life. I used to enjoy doing writing assignments in school. Then came teenage years and I discovered romance novels. They were devoured at the rate of two/day during vacations. So I guess the thought of writing them couldn’t have been far behind. I crafted a few stories then I began to pen my first novel which was a boss-secretary romance in which the secretary was secretly in love with her boss but he was too preoccupied post-divorce to notice, then they got attracted and – well, thereabouts my story got stuck because life took over. I got busy in my career and then marriage and family took all thought of writing from my head. Years later as kids grew up, I found time to read romance novels again and then the old idea of penning a romance came back. I began to write regularly even got published but found that I wasn’t quite into writing my own thing yet. After honing and polishing my craft, I found myself writing the old PA-boss story. However I lost interest because I couldn’t chart out the characters properly. Cue in working with editors, learning more about writing craft and then a story finally began to take shape, a story I found hard to pull myself away from, characters that touched me so much I found myself engrossed in their troubles. A lot more rewriting and Against All Rules finally became ready to be launched (at least I think so). It’s now available as kindle edition. Check it out, get it, read it and let me know what you think about it! :) And here it is... Against All Rules Samara knows getting attracted to Tahir is like asking for trouble. Not only is he her boss but he's got divorced recently and has sworn off any commitment. Short term is not on her list but temptation has never been stronger... Tahir doesn't believe in enforcing a code of conduct he cannot follow. But Samara might just make him make an exception! An affair at the office might seem a solution to his troubles but how can he avoid treading uncharted territory...? The efficient PA out of her depth... The man who doesn't have faith in rainbows anymore... When fire is set, it's hard to avoid the blaze... Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MY2QVRS Amazon.inhttp://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B00MY2QVRS?*Version*=1&*entries*=0 Amazon.co.ukhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00MY2QVRS?*Version*=1&*entries*=0 Amazon.com.au https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00MY2QVRS Time for a little taster, I think... 'That kiss he’d shared with Samara had been a blindingly white ray of light piercing the darkness he’d been sunk in that day. Something had reached into him and pulled him out of the abyss. He’d been jolted to discover his cool PA was capable of such a passionate response. But there was more. Something he couldn’t name nor wanted to. He just wanted to put it behind a door and lock it. He didn’t want to gaze into the widened eyes as he had that evening and see the dawning awareness of desire, her body going hot at his touch. Damn. Shouldn’t he have forgotten these things? Maybe it had been his mind playing tricks on him. He’d been all set to put her straight. He didn’t want the calm of his workplace disrupted by anything and it wasn’t with pleasure that he’d looked forward to the talk the next day. She’d jumped in assuring him she was eager to put it behind her. Exactly what he should have been happy to hear. His work environment restored to order. Should have been. But wasn’t...' Fabulous! Thanks for coming on my blog today, Summerita. good luck with your writing. Email Summerita at [email protected] Or follow via Twitter @SummeritaRhayne |
AuthorWife, mother, lapsed doctor. Hopelessly in love with every hero I've ever written. Archives
June 2018
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