Saturday, September 26, 2009

Your Hero Does WHAT?! by Kerri Nelson


Welcome to my Blog Day! Today, I’m promoting my newest release from Whispers Publishing entitled Soul Searcher. This book features a heroine who can see your soul and a hero who is a shape shifting mountain lion. With the Devil hot on their trail… will their special powers be enough to protect them? Sometimes you need more than a little faith to save your soul…

I was recently thinking about all the jobs that a hero character can have in a book. Interestingly, most of my heroes have a job which requires a uniform of some sort. Whether it be a cop, professional athlete, doctor, or even a forest ranger (as in my new book Soul Searcher).

I guess the uniform thing says something about my fantasies. However, this doesn’t mean that I’ve not had heroes that are restaurant owners, ancient warriors, school teachers, and most recently a dog trailer (yes, really)! So, as you can see my stories run the gambit of professions.
In real life, I’m married to a mechanical engineer. So, no uniform there…but I happen to find my own personal hero the sexiest blonde man alive!
When you think about romance novels, what are the sexiest jobs the hero can have? What are the oddest or quirkiest jobs a hero can have? Does the job really matter?

Today, let’s discuss hero professions in romance novels. Do you have an odd when that you are just dying to see in print? Share it with me and I just might choose your idea for a future book!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic and I’ll be drawing a prize winner from all the participants on today’s blog. The prize winner will receive a free DVD movie of your choice, featuring your fave sexy hero!
Thanks for joining me today at Jeanne’s Blog! Be sure to check out my blog and website for more contests and fun!

Author Bio for Kerri Nelson:

Kerri Nelson has always been passionate about reading books but when she wrote her first poem in the second grade, she discovered her love of writing. At the age of sixteen, she became a columnist for her local newspaper as the high school correspondent for the weekly "Panther Tales" column. She won the Outstanding Young Journalist of the Year Award for her efforts.

After an education and career in the legal field, Kerri began to pen romantic suspense novels with a legal or law enforcement theme. She is a true southern belle and comes complete with her dashing southern gentleman husband and two little belles-in-training. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her baking homemade goodies for her family, feeding her addiction to blogging online or designing custom made book trailers. Kerri is an active member of Romance Writers of America as well as numerous Chapters including Southern Magic, Futuristic Fantasy & Paranormal, Hearts Through History, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers.

Visit Kerri’s website at: http://www.kerrinelson.com/



Blurb for Soul Searcher (now available from Whispers Publishing):

Faith Harper knew her night was bad when she agreed to have drinks with the Devil. She wasn’t all that surprised at her late night visitor because when you have the ability to look at a person and see their soul, strange things have a tendency of happening to you.

The very next day, she stumbles upon a mutilated corpse in the woods, things rapidly go from bad to worse. Soon, she’s being followed by a sexy forest ranger who has a soul unlike anything she’s ever seen before.

Chase Commanche Phillips has lived most of his life in the forest. He works as the county’s Chief Forest Ranger and is more comfortable interacting with animals than with people but when the beautiful Faith Harper comes running out of the woods and into his arms, he has no choice but to get involved.

After Chase discovers Faith’s special gift, he knows that he must protect her at any cost. With the Devil’s minions watching their every move, Faith must uncover what they're really after before it’s too late.

Sometimes in order to save your soul, you need more than just a little faith.

Excerpt from Soul Searcher:

Faith ran faster and further than she could ever remember running. She closed her mind off to all the thoughts that were nibbling at her brain. She expertly maneuvered her way through the thick brush of the forest. She didn’t know where she was running… she just knew she had to keep moving.

She dodged branches that hung low. She hurdled rocks and fallen limbs with a grace she didn’t know she possessed. She felt motivated to get the hell out of this area.

Suddenly, she thought she saw the glint of the sun reflecting off something shiny in the distance. She thought it might be a window. She headed towards the reflection and hoped that whatever she was seeing held a person with a weapon. She wouldn’t feel safe until she was armed.

Just then, she heard something rustle in the nearby fallen leaves. She turned her head to look, but kept up her quick sprint. She didn’t see anything around her but her loss of focus caused her to miss a ditch that was covered by overgrown vegetation.

Her shoe caught in the thick weeds and she lost her balance. For the second time today, she was falling. This time thick, strong hands grasped her shoulders and caught her with ease. She looked up at the face of her rescuer and a ruggedly handsome face stared down at her.

His dark eyes bore into her and her ragged breath caught in her throat. He had the exact same eyes as the lion.

Links for Kerri Nelson sites and Soul Searcher:
Website: http://www.kerrinelson.com/
Blog: http://www.kerribookwriter.blogspot.com/
Book Trailer for Soul Searcher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMxp1omUdzo

Buy Link for Soul Searcher:
http://whispershome.com/whispersstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=101

33 comments:

Cari Quinn said...

Great to see you here, Kerri! Fun blog...good luck with your latest release! :)

Christa Paige said...

Hey there, great topic. I am married to a man in uniform, but my first published story coming out next month features a vampire business man. (He's dangerous and still sexy though.)Talk about extremes huh? I am attempting to write a straight contemp. featuring a sheriff's homicide detective. A sexy man with a shiny badge! There are so many interesting jobs out there that I could suggest. Like high school principal, (Can that be sexy?)Oh, what about one of those venom collectors? Dangerous job, for sure. My kids love the Animal Cops show on Animal Planet, that involves a uniform too. A hero who rescues animals, that has the total awwww factor!

Thanks for the momentary distraction. Back to the WIP I go.
Christa Paige
christapaige.com

s7anna said...

Hi Kerri,
Great interview... :) I I am a huge fan of romances...I have been for as long as I can remember...I remember sneaking my mum's Barbara Cartland book's to my bedroom & losing myself in her stories...her heroes were always so stoic & powerful...as an 8 year old..I used to swoon :P at reading about these strong, alpha heroes. As an adult, I still prefer my heroes to be strong, loyal, slightly or very naughty but with a good soul...I would love to read about a hero who works as a Librarian but is completed confident in his masculinity...bringing sexy to the library :P The oddest job for a hero would probably be if he was like a Food Safety Inspector...I don't know how hot that would be...but hey maybe you could turn into a really sexy Food Safety Instructor hero...
I'm being totally serious here even though I know it's kind of an idea out of the left field...
Well, it was lovely to read your comments...I look forward to your future book releases...

Sincerely,
Anna Shah Hoque
s7anna@yahoo.ca

kerribookwriter said...

Gooooood Morning! Geez, I thought I was up early on a Saturday morning! Of course, maybe I'm backwards and you guys stayed up late, eh?

So great to wake up and see messages first thing on a Saturday. Hey, don't forget to vote for me in the Classic Romance Revival contest either today or tomorrow. I'm giving away prizes just for voting! Woot! It is totally painless too. No registering or anything like that.

Back in a moment with responses!

kerribookwriter said...

Well dang! I just went to vote for myself and the polls aren't open for some strange reason. Oh well, I'll check back later and let you guys know. I hate to send folks over there with the polls closed. :-(

Cari~~Howdy! I haven't seen you in a while and it is so nice to see you. I think I owe you a prize and I didn't forget about you, hon. I'm just that far behind in my mail outs.

Christa~~You gave me some great suggestions! Actually, I have a story proposal written that features and animal rescue type situation. I haven't written anything on it yet but I think it shows potential. Loved hearing from you!

Anna~~You have cracked me up this morning! I love Food Safety Inspector. LOL I often consider myself one as I'm paranoid about eating anything that will give me food poisoning! Thanks for hanging out with me this morning!

Julie Robinson said...

Hey Kerri. For reason I came here early yesterday and, of course, did not see you here. Glad I checked your blogspot to vote.

Yeah, the uniform thing says something about my fantasies too, but I'd rather see the fantasy without the uniform--- or taking it off. hehe

My son is majoring in mechanical engineering. And my DH works with computers. So even though I love a man in a military or law enforcement uniform, I realize that my hubby puts on a uniform every day to go to work. After all, business men do have their 'uniforms' to wear---suit, tie, etc. Or to quote from one of his favorite songs, "There's something women like about a sharp dressed man."

:-)
Julie

Sunnyvale said...

Nice, we get to choose.

kerribookwriter said...

Julie~~ You are so right...isn't ZZ Top just stuck in your mind now? Thanks for checking up on me and keeping up with my manic life right now. You know I adore you, my friend. Biggest hugs & go engineers!

Sunnyvale~~Thanks for stopping by!

Anonymous said...

Good afternoon. I am what you would call a romance-a-holic. I am an avid reader of Harlequin Books. This book sounds like a good read.

Pamela S said...

My husband is the dress shirt and tie sort of guy, but I admit to also lusting after guys in uniforms. My favorite is probably firemen. I think there's just something about a guy in those big brown pants with the suspenders that get me every time. I think another idea for a hero would be a Navy Seal, but that might be hard to work into a book.

Thanks for the great contest!!
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net

Julie Robinson said...

Think I'll have to go listen to it now. You might use it as a theme song for one of your stories!

paryjeja said...

I would like to see a romance novel with a plain ordinary hero...that is what a have - one that works nine to five, but comes home and cooks and cleans along side of me and does his best to make me happy. That is a real hero.
paryjeja at sbcglobal dot net

Julie Robinson said...

I know what you mean, paryjeja!

Anonymous said...

I would very much like to read a story with an auto mechanic hero. He smells like oil and can be grimy when he gets back from work, but strip off the coveralls and his washboard abs are glistening with sweat... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

kanderspina~at~yahoo~dot~com

kerribookwriter said...

Anon~~I know what you mean about being a book-a-holic. I need a friggin bull dozer to move my TBR pile around. Thanks for your comments.

Pam~~I know...those firemen are hottie hot hot! They are definitely the subject of many fantasies, I'm sure! Great to see you here!

Julie~~Now you've gone and done it...I'm gonna have to break out my vinyls now! LOL

parajeja~~That is my husband you just described. He does all the cooking & grocery shopping. Of course, I do the baking of sweet treats! I'm very very lucky!

kanderspina~~You go girl! Sounds like you could write a book with that fantasy driven mind. Thanks for heating things up a notch!

Julie Robinson said...

You mean I'm not the only one who still has vinyls!!

slb3334 said...

Cool. I have never thought about it, but it is an interesting combination.

Anonymous said...

Let's see. Not uniform but jobs.

Computer programmer
Game designer
Interior Decorator
Architect
CEO/Owner of a company
Oil Driller
Ranch Owner
Mechanic
School Teacher

Kinda fun.

Now, I have two heroines in my one short story. One is an owner of a Real Estate Firm. The other one is/was a personal secretary to a man who embezzled from his own company. As my story goes to part two and then three, she'll be making some career changes. No idea what yet, she's undecided!

Thanks for this. Now I am thinking of things. Like how to write a hero and what he should be.

Anonymous said...

Pointdexter brainy glasses!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

mverno said...

it sure is nice mverno@roadrunner.com

susansmoaks said...

my husband works in landscaping, i love how he looks when he gets off work, hot, sweaty, slightly dirty

Dawn Reid said...

A story with an aviator as the hero

lindseye said...

There do seem to be certain jobs that pop up all the time, journalist, detective, restaurant owner. I suppose they do not always need an excuse to go poking around and can have time in their day to wander around town. Architect might be fun or ocean researcher.

Unknown said...

You can't beat a rodeo cowboy. garrettsambo@aol.com

packerfantimmy said...

This might not fit the bill of sexy heroes in uniforms that you are looking for but my husband was a race car driver and I thought he looked sexy as hell but when I saw him spending time with all the little kids and making their day at the race track a great memory, I thought that was very sexy and he instantly became a hero to me. I am signing up under his google account so won't he be surprised if this shows up in his/our email account. Thanks for the great giveaway. titletowntreasures(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

cman said...

Love your blog background!
Please enter me :)

Becca Simone said...

This book sounds very intriguing. Good luck with it!

I love sports heroes, but the publishing world only seems to like hockey players or NASCAR drivers. I might be biased because my DH was a pro athlete.

I think any job can be heroic. Well, almost any.

kerribookwriter said...

Thanks to everyone who came out to comment yesterday. Here are a few more replies from me:

Julie~~Nope, we still have vinyls here at our house and I actually bought hubby a turntable for his birthday a couple years ago. Does that mean we are old? LOL

slb3334~~Thanks for stopping by! Hope you'll check out Soul Searcher!

sadangel~~Glad I could help! Best of luck with your story. Thanks for all the great job ideas. I will definitely start a list!

theyyyguy~~Have you read the Nerd series by Vicki Lewis Thompson by chance? Nice to see you here!

mverno~~Thanks for your comment! Hope to see you around again!

FDP4Life~~Sounds like a wonderful thing that you fantasize about hubby! I actually just wrote a book that features a landscaper but it is the woman in the story!

naynay1~~Most definitely see the hotness in a pilot! No doubt about that. Thanks for stopping by!

lindseye~~Hey hon! Thanks for your continued support! Ocean researcher is a great idea. I may have to use that!

kerribookwriter said...

purango~~Believe it or not, one of the first books I ever wrote is named Cowboy Up and it stars a bull rider from the rodeo! Yeehah! Of course, it hasn't been published YET but I'll keep you posted!

packerfan~~Awe! That is so awesome about your hubby! I totally LOVE race car drivers! There is a series of books on race car drivers and I think it is a Harlequin series. Also, my friend bestselling author Roxanne St. Claire wrote a great race car driver book too. Fantastic idea!

Gianna~~I think you're talking about Jeanne St. James' blog background. I assume this because she has the delicious man candy on there! Thanks for stopping by!

Becca~~Well, I think Susan Elizabeth Phillips has a fictional pro football team featured in a series. Have you tried those? I love those athletes too. It is the American way, I think!

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to comment. I'll be back shortly with the winner!

Kelley Heckart said...

Hi Kerri, This is a fun blog post. Men in uniform are sexy, but I also like construction workers. They are usually tan and muscular from physical labor. I like a man who works with his hands and builds things. LOL

Kelley
kelleyheckart.com

SiNn said...

Kerri I love this post and the more i hear about your new book the more i want it yano me and my better half ha dthis discussion on heros and to me he will always be my hero and he asked me why so i answered hed move heaven and earth to keep those he cares about safe he goes that doent explainw hy im your hero so i answered i said your everything rolled in to one protector friend confidont the manw ho would defy everything if it ment keepinga promise so i think sometimes a hero can be someoen who does a nessary evil so i think a good one would be a government hired assassin who turns out to not be bad just does whats nessary

kerribookwriter said...

Thanks again to JSJ for hosting such a kick bootie party!

I enjoyed seeing all of you here and reading your great comments and suggestions!

With the help of my trusty assistants (ie: my kids) we've drawn a winner at random from all of this weekend's participants.

Please contact me at via my website with your snail mail information.

And the WINNER is....kanderspina! Congrats!

Jeanne St. James said...

Congratulations to the winner. Thanks to everyone for stopping by my blog and thanks to Kerri for being my guest author and for the giveaway.