I believe a romance writer should flesh out the hero early in the book. No matter what your hero’s work is, show him as competent, a little ruthless, but always fair. Also give them a vulnerability the reader sees right away, but that doesn’t reveal itself to the heroine until much later in the story, i.e. he’s soft on kids, animals or a cause that will tie him to the heroine down the line.

I personally like a hero with an underlying sense of humor, and even though he may have rough edges, he has an innate sense of chivalry such as ex-cop, Mitch Valetti in a book I wrote called "Lost But Not Forgotten," or a broken down ex-soldier, one-time horse breeder, Coltrane Quinn in "Wide Open Spaces". These heroes both endured life experiences which toughened their bodies and molded their philosophical characters.

I always work from comprehensive character development sheets that I make up before I ever begin writing. For all major characters, the sheets include hobbies, talents, personality traits, likes, dislikes, favorite foods, regrets, secrets, family both living and dead, and short and long term goals. Also it’s important to have in mind who in the past most influenced your hero turning out as he has. That can be a positive or negative influence. Also it makes a difference at what point in his life this influence evoked his epiphany to change the course of his life.

In my spare time I read action hero books written by men about men. I like to read books where men and women play equal roles, which is probably why I tend to write a story that’s fifty percent in the male POV. If you as a reader know what someone is thinking, you automatically know more about them. And when you know more about them, if you like what you know, then you’re pulling for them to succeed.

For my back list, if you care to meet some of my heroes which include among other careers, cops, doctors, military men, and cowboy-ranchers, visit my web site: www.korynna.com/RozFox.

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