Q&A Friday
Yesterday, guest blogger Kendra Leigh Castle explored why so many romance readers love those epilogues that show the hero as a happy family man. Some of the heroes we writers create start out as dads already.
What are some books or movies where the story begins with a father hero? What are the challenges inherent in writing a hero who is also a dad?
Labels: dads as heroes
posted by Mo H @ 9:47 AM
8 Comments:
Mr. Mom and Mrs. Doubtfire are both obvious dad movies, though there was no HEA with the latter. A few of my favorite books are books where the hero is a father and doesn't know it. Regardless of how it comes about, a child changes the dynamics. There's a world of difference between a man who only looks out for himself and one who has a child to raise and protect, and the same for women.
That being said, why does seem to be different for men than women? As if the man simply needs someone to fit into the mother slot whereas a women is looking for more. It seems as if the general belief is that it is easier for a man to find a woman who will love his children than for a woman to find a man who will love her children. Is this a man-woman role thing, cultural, or something else entirely that I'm missing?
The men didn't actually start out as dad's in the first movie, but they are raising the little girl in the second. I enjoyed Three Men and a Baby, the Three Men and a Little Lady.
Judy,
Interesting question. I think it's a cultural thing. We assume most women want to parent. We, as a society, have in the past, and perhaps currently still do put a lot more of the parenting burden on one parent, which tends to be the woman. Of course, there are exceptions.
Merrilee,
Great movies! And here was a case of three men, none of whom knew whether he was the father, taking fatherhood on. A lot of funny scenes with these bachelors trying to care for a baby. You know, that would be a good rental!
I've always loved the relationship between the Tom Hanks character and the son in Sleepless in Seattle. And of course, my hero, Matt, in Daddy in Waiting, was one of that rare breed who demanded his rights to parent his baby-to-be.
I'm trying to break into Special Edition and many of those books have dads unaware. How they step up to the plate to share the parenting duties always makes me fall in love a little bit more with every page.
Karen,
Yes, I love that hero in Sleepless in Seattle, too. Doesn't the little boy play matchmaker for his dad? I love secret baby stories, as well. Here's hoping you sell to Special Edition!!!
When my daughter was little, she loved to watch Full House. I think she mostly related to the three girls, but I'm sure the fact that they were being parented by three men was part of the charm.
The hero in my next Harlequin American is a single dad. This is a first for me, and I've really enjoyed exploring his tender, protective side.
Karen, my fingers are so crossed for you! Good luck with SE. I think it'll be a perfect fit for your voice.
I'd rather see the dad as dad on the page rather than as a 'tacked on' epilogue. I love seeing how the men relate to children -- that was a major conflict point for Ryan, my hero in When Danger Calls.
I recall years and years (and more years) ago, when I had little ones and was making a few extra dollars (and getting out of the house) selling (gasp) Tupperware. The franchise owner would say -- "Your husbands are NOT baby-sitting. They're taking care of THEIR children."
When child #2 turned out to be children # 2 and 3, there was no question that Daddy was expected to be in the trenches for ALL baby duties. (OK, I let him off the hook for nursing)
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