Weekend Wind down :: with your Mobile Phone

Ally Blake winds down this weekend with...not with her feet up on the couch, not with a good book, not even with a block of chocolate. But with...her mobile phone.

Can you remember a time when you didn't have one? When you could safely leave the house sans phone in your purse? When you could organise to meet a friend for coffee, or let the kids go off on their own at a footy match, or not call your hubby when he was on his way home from work to remind him to get milk?

I've had a mobile phone since I was in my late teens. A big, clunky, grey thing with heavy buttons and a fat aerial. Boy oh boy was I proud of my purchase! the thing cost a fortune to use, so I only had it "in case of emergencies" (don't we all ;)), and I hardly ever remembered to turn it on because nobody ever called me on it anyway.

But now...now the mobile phone is like an extenstion of me. A slick, shiny, glossy, smooth extension. A comfort. A diary. A time filler. A friend...

Last week I was at mothers group when my six month old reached out and grabbed another little boy's hand. too cute! Out pops my mobile phone and my hubby doens't have to miss out on such a sweet moment.

The number of times I've been waiting - at the airport, at an appointment - and forgotten to take a book is innumerable. Panic set in. How will I fill my time? Staring at the horrible sailboat pictures on the walls? People watching until my eyes blur over? Nu uh! With my mobile phone I can play games! Lemmings anyone?

Whack a set of tiny headphones in my bag and Amy Winehouse, Frank Sinatra and George Michael can keep my company anywhere I go.

My plot of my current Modern Heat novel, THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL came to me over a conversation about mobile phones.

A restaurant in my parent's home town of Brisbane banned them. Patrons were literally not allowed to even take them through the door. Anyone with a phone had to check them like a coat. Like unwanted bulk at a nightclub.

My mum (like my hero Damien) hurrahed the idea. Being one of the masses who hates the constant buzz and whir and ring a ding ding of mobiles when eating. I (like my heroine Chelsea) on the other hand couldn't give a hoot. To me the sound is so much part of the beautiful white noise of modern day life.

I mean if we ban mobile phones in public places for being 'intrusive' what's next? Crying babies? People who chew too loudly? Hideous picutres of old sailbopats on walls of doctor's offices?

Okay, can you tell I'm beginning to lose my breath? This is meant to be a wind-down. A way to help you relax over the weekend.

Hang on a sec while I grab my mobile, hit 2 and get my mum on the phone no matter where in the world she might be. In the garden, at the shops, out for coffee. From my mobile to hers, even though she lives over a thousand kilometres away, I'm never more than ten seconds from hearing her voice.

How's that for a comforting notion?

Ally's latest novel THE MAGNATE'S INDECENT PROPOSAL is her third Modern Heat and is out in the UK as we speak!

Grab a copy now to find out what happens when a gorgeous, entirely too privileged for his own good, Luddite in a suit meets a lively dog groomer with persistent shampoo stains on her skirt and a past filled with disappointing men. Throw in matching mobile phones and match-making friends and you'll get yourself a Modern Heat!

Read an excerpt on her brand spanking new website, or better yet, go buy the thing! You can get it online now at Mills and Boon.

Friday Film Night - Shall We Dance?

This week, Fiona Harper continues to wax lyrical about her love of dance movies. There's something about all those unspoken emotions being expressed in movement that makes dance a magic ingerdient in romantic movies. Shall We Dance has a wonderful blend of humour, emotion and fabulous dancing - and an ending that doesn't go down the obvious route.

In this film, Richard Gere plays John, a man who seemingly has it all - the wife, the kids, the fabulous house - yet he wants more. Only, he doesn't know exactly what more is - a sentinment echoed by his wife Beverley (Susan Sarandon) when she's trying to think of something to get him for his birthday. John just doesn't know what he wants.

One evening on the way home from work, he spots a beautiful woman staring out the window of Miss Mitzi's ballroom dancing school. He's drawn to her because he can see the same longing written all over her face. A couple of days later he jumps of the train and finds himself signing up for a course of ballroom lessons for beginners.

The supporting characters in this film are fabulous, each with their own sense of wanting more, each with their own goals and journeys to go on. Miss Mitzi, who keeps liquor hidden in a cupboard in the studio to keep her going, has lost the joy of teaching. Paulina (Jennifer Lopez), the beautiful young teacher, has lost her joy of dancing. Link, John's colleague, is tired of pretending to be a macho sports nut and secretly wears fake tan, fake teeth and a wig to dance in. His dream is for the world to accept him as a man who loves dressing up in sequins and doing the rhumba.

At first, John thinks he wants Paulina. It would have been so easy for him to fall into the unoriginal trap of having an affair to deal with his mid-life crisis. Thankfully, Paulina has more than enough sense for both of them. She tells him not to bother coming to the classes if she is his goal. He should only come if he wants to dance. And John discovers he does want to dance. It gives him joy. Pretty soon he's rehearsing in secret with broom handles at home. And as John learns, his growing friendships with the motley assortment of characters at Miss Mitzi's start to bring him that indefinable 'something' he's been looking for. But he daren't admit to his family what his secret passion is.

Meanwhile, Beverley is starting to get suspicious. He's lying about where he is after work and comes home smelling of sweet perfume. Desperate, she hires a private detective to discover the truth. And, as John rehearses for a dance competition with the rest of the students, his secret life is uncovered.

Everything comes to a head on the night of the big dance competition. John's wife and daughter come to watch and when he discovers they are in the audience he fouls up - too embarrassed and ashamed to keep going. It's not all bad news, though. Linc finally throws off his wig and false teeth and dances, proud to be himself. The moment he did this and returned to the floor with his partner to dance a swaggering Paso Doble, I actually clapped and cheered out loud as I was sitting on my couch. It's a fabulous movie moment.

Now his wife and family know about his secret ballroom habit, John refuses to dance again. He tells Beverley that he was ashamed of wanting more when he already had so much and was afraid of hurting her feelings if he admitted to not being happy. Finally, she knows what present to get him. She buys him a beautful pair of dancing shoes and tells him to go to Paulina's farewell party before she leaves for England; she'll be working late at the department store, anyway.

John does get dressed up in his dinner suit and shoes, but he doesn't turn up at the party. He surprises Beverley at work and tells her that he can't dance without his partner - her. Cue much wailing and snuffling with tissues at this point - at least in my house. Finally, John has worked out how to combine his new passion with his old life and everything - including his marriage - is revitalised. Sigh.

I love all the little stories that run throughout this film. Each character has their own journey and their own happy ending. And there are some lovely themes and sentiments that run throughout the story. John, in his voice over a the beginning of the film, talks about his job as a will writer. He says he fills out all the legal stuff and his clients invariably say: "Is that it?" "That's it for the paperwork," he replies. "The rest is up to you." I loved watching John figure out for himself what "the rest" was for him throughout the course of the film.

And I especially liked Beverley’s words to the private detective. She says people get married because they need a witness to their lives, and by marrying someone you are promising to care about everything they do, you are saying, "Your life will not go unoticed, because I will notice it." And once John learns to let Beverley be the witness to his life - all of his life - he finds the elusive something he has been looking for.

Look out for Fiona's latest release, Saying Yes To The Millionaire - the Summer Bride in the Bride For All Seasons series. To learn more about all the blushing brides in the series, visit our Bride For All Seasons blog!

When cautious Fern Chambers is challenged by a friend to say yes to every question, she never expects to spend four days with dreamy Josh Adams in a charity treasure hunt!

Saying Yes To The Millionaire is available now at eHarlequin and Mills&Boon, and will be available in the shops in June!

Thursday Talk-Time - The Italian's Passionate Revenge

A big welcome to Lucy Gordon, who joins us to talk about a debut book for a new-to-her line, and a smashing excerpt! (If it doesn't make you want to buy the book this minute I don't know what will!)

May is a big, big month for me, because it sees the publication of my first Harlequin Presents, THE ITALIAN’S PASSIONATE REVENGE.

For the past ten years I’ve been writing for the Romance line, but always hoped to do Presents. Now my first one is just out, and I’ve contracted for two more.

It takes place in Italy, which is where I set a lot of my books, because I’m Italian by marriage, and now know that country very well. My husband comes from the glorious city on the water, Venice, which is where we met.

If you told our story in a book people would say it was unbelievable. We fell in love on the first day, and he proposed two days later. All our friends predicted disaster, but years later we’re still together, and always will be.

You’ll find the full story on my website, http://www.lucy-gordon.com/

So Venice has to be my favorite city, and the setting for a lot of my books, including THE ITALIAN’S CINDERELLA BRIDE, a Harlequin Romance, which comes out in June.

But the May Presents is set in my next favorite city, Rome, a place of glamour, fashion and money. The hero, Vicente, is a hard man, rich, powerful and set on revenge against Elise, the woman he blames for the death of his cousin.

He sets out to lure her to Rome, using all the seductive skill at his command, which is considerable. He’s a man used to getting his own way, whether in business or with women.

Elise is at first reluctant. She was in Rome once before, madly in love with a young man, but forced to leave him and marry another man that she hated. But before she left she tossed a coin into the Trevi fountain and made the traditional wish to return to Rome.

Now her husband is dead, and years of misery with him have left her tense and strained. At first she’s cautious with Vincente, but gradually she succumbs, as he’d always meant her to.

From the start, he’s one step ahead of her – or he thinks he is. But to his surprise he discovers that, as well as being beautiful and sexy, she’s also shrewd and brave. She takes him on, fighting him as an equal, in bed and out, no quarter asked or given.

Here’s a little ‘trailer’. Elise has discovered Vincente’s true motive for pursuing her, and confronts him.
………………….
“Oh, I’ve really got to hand it to you,” she said softly. “As a shrewd manipulator you’re the tops. But of course you have no conscience, which is a big help. You plotted for eight years without let-up. How could you do that? You told me not to judge you too easily, but you’ve judged me every moment. You never thought that there might be something to be said on my side.”

“No, I didn’t, and I’ve blamed myself for that ever since you told me what really happened.”

“But it came too late, didn’t it? I was already in the net by then. How you must have enjoyed closing it around me! Every word you said to me was a lie. Even when – ”

She checked herself as a wave of anguish washed over her. She fought it with every fibre of her being. She couldn’t afford it.

Vincente, watching, drew a tense breath, but stayed still before the rage in her eyes.

“Even when you seemed most sincere, it was a lie,” she said. “That takes some doing. I congratulate you. It was a good act, but it’s over. You served your purpose.”

“And what does that mean?”

“It means you’re not the only one concealing their real thoughts. I hadn’t slept with a man for years. I was ready for – shall we say? – a new experience. No ties. No conditions. You fitted the bill perfectly.”

That struck home, she was glad to notice. He paled, his mouth tightened and his face had a withered look.

“What are you saying?” he asked quietly.

“You know exactly what I’m saying,” she said, challenging him with her look. “I said you were shrewd and calculating, but you’re good in another way – just the way I needed. Do you want me to elaborate?”

“I don’t think you need to,” he said quietly.

“I didn’t know a man could be that skilled in bed,” she went on, disregarding him. “It’s something I won’t forget, because it gives me a touchstone to measure the others by.”

“Others?”

“In the future. And there are going to be others, make no mistake. You did fine job, now I’m going to discover just how fine. I remember everything, you see. Are your special little touches yours alone, or do other men know them? And if not, how quickly can they be taught? Never mind. I’ll have fun finding out.”

“Don’t talk like that,” he almost shouted.

“I’ll talk as I like. If you don’t like it, tough. Remember, I’m partly your creation. I’ve learned a lot from you, not just about sex but about cruelty and ruthlessness, deception with a straight face. I’m glad of it. Your lessons are going to come in very useful.”

His mouth twisted cynically.

“Well done, Elise. You turned out to be everything I thought you. I knew you’d show your true colours in the end.”

“Yes you did, didn’t you? And now I have. So have you. So we can toss each other on the scrap heap and go our ways without regret.”

“And admirable idea,” he snapped. “I’m glad you feel you learned something from me.”

“Ruthlessness, manipulation – ”

“I’m commonly held to be a master. You’ve been learning from the best.”

“Every word you ever said to me – ”

“Pretence, all of them. Every word, every caress, every moment of passion – all done for a purpose.”

“All those times we made love - ?”

“You don’t really think I could love you, do you?” he demanded coldly. “To me you’re little better than a murderess.”

* * *
From THE ITALIAN’S PASSIONATE REVENGE, Harlequin Presents, May 2008

I don’t always have Italians as my heroes. Sometimes they’re English. The English man has a reputation for being rather uptight prosaic, which is often an unfair judgement. When an Englishman sheds his inhibitions he can romance with the best of them, and it’s great fun depicting it.

However, I know, from letters that readers send me, that among all heroes, they find a special magic intensity about Italians. They are reputedly more passionate, more charming, more romantic than all other men.

It’s true, but not the whole truth. A man who was permanently passionate and charming would get a bit one-sided after a while. I lived in Italy a few years ago, and during that time the only man who kissed my hand was an Englishman who clearly thought he was conforming to the local custom. A real Italian would have slapped me on the back and asked if I’d heard the football results.

Ah football! That’s what I call a really interesting man!

I have another reason for celebrating at the moment. My Romance The Mediterranean Rebel’s Bride, made the finals in the Romance Prize given by the Romantic Novelist’s Association, in February. It didn’t win but I’ve just heard that it’s also in the finals of the National Readers Choice Award. The presentation will be made in July, at the Romance Writers of America conference in San Francisco. So I’m crossing my fingers.

Writer's Wednesday - Doing it YOUR way!

The Pink Heart Society welcomes back Love Inspired Historicals author Linda Ford, who treats us this Writer's Wednesday to her own form of rebellion: doing it HER way!

Frank Sinatra sang it. "I'll do it my way." Every time I heard that song I thought he was either very arrogant or very privileged (i.e. spoiled). You see, I never got to do it my way. As a kid, I did it my parents' way, my teacher's way, or sometimes my friends' way. I thought for sure as an adult I would get to do it my way then I discovered how demanding an infant is. Not to mention hubbie and the law officer who says I can't drive whatever speed I jolly well feel like. No, I can never do it my way.

Then I decided I would be a writer. Part of the reason was control (Or order). At the time I had several teenagers acting out in weird and wonderful ways. (We adopted a bunch of kids. For more detail see my website and read the bio). I figured writing was something I could do MY WAY.

Problem was, I didn't know I would have to discover my way. At first, I took everything I heard as gospel truth. My first instructor said I had to write a thirty-page synopsis. Yikes. I could not do it and spent several years spinning my wheels before figuring out I didn't have to.

I took every course, read every book and tried to learn how to do it. But I tried. I really did.

There was the storyboard method. I loved that one. Pretty little sticky notes on a big piece of paper. I embraced the idea with abandon. I had a color for every possible thread—hero, heroine, their external and internal journeys, the romance, the faith journey, the mother in law. The idea of control really appealed to me. However, it did not work for me. I found myself sticking to the chart instead of listening to my inner voice. I ended up with a story that I had colored by number. It didn't sell. It never will. At least not without major surgery. I learned this method doesn't work for me. I still have a container of pretty colored sticky notes. I might use them up making notes to myself but not for writing a story.

My adventure continued. I tried the hero's journey. Learned a lot from it. Discovered character arc. Which lead me to the story arc. Which led me to ... well, the journey continues. But now I no longer sell myself whole-heartedly to the process. I look at what will work for me and what won't.

There are two distinct styles of writing/plotting bandied about among writers—the plotter who loves working from a detailed synopsis or a multi colored chart. There is the other extreme—the pantzer—she grabs an idea and without any thought to how the story falls together, she writes. Neither of these methods works for me. I have therefore created a third name for my style of writing—THE PLANNER. I know what I need to know to write a successful story. Anything more and I end up coloring by number. Any less and I race around in circles. I've taken courses where my approach drives the instructor crazy. How can I explain I don't need any more information and if I insist on sticking it in I will somehow control the story where I don't want to control it. I need to be fluid.

I don't intend to tell you the things I need to know to write my stories because I know we have individualized needs. But what I am going to give you is a list of questions that will hopefully help you analyze methods and decide if they are a good fit.

Does this method spark my creativity?
Does it make me want to tackle my story idea?
Do I sense it is what I need to make my idea grow (even if it's difficult and sounds like a lot of work)?
Do I feel like I am being backed into a corner?
Do I feel defensive or protective (make sure it isn't lazy)?
Do I feel like it is a tool that fits me?
Do I feel like this will control my story? Be careful with this question because you aren't wanting to control the story but to uncover the story. It's a subtle but very important difference.


The best thing about my discoveries is that now I can really do it my way. And my way is the best way (for me).

Some of the methods I have tried over the years and from which I've stolen bits and pieces to create my own bastardized method can be found at these sites.

http://www.sff.net/people/alicia/
Alicia's site is chock full of wonderful information. I took two of her plotting courses and learned tons.

http://members.aol.com/lbaker10/art_magic.htm
A method called Discovering Story Magic. Great stuff.

http://booklaurie.com/
Laurie Campbell's synopsis workshop is one that can benefit any writing style. Loved it

http://www.karendocter.com/Workshop.htm
Karen's W plot structure is great for getting a handle on your story from start to finish. Her method adapts well to pantzers, plotters and planners. Highly recommended.

http://www.deborahhale.com/
Deb makes the Hero's Journey pretty understandable. Another method that helps reveal the emotional journey of the characters through the plot. Follow the link through writing tips to her workshop notes, which she generously shares.

http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php
This is a method of plotting called the snowflake method. Some people think it's wonderful. I tried it and broke out in hives but that's because it doesn't fit MY WAY. It might suit your way to a T.
There are more but I can't remember them all.

So what is your way? Where do you fit on the scale from pantzer to planner to plotter? Any good sites to recommend?

Linda's latest release, The Road To Love, was featured in the Harlequin newsletter INSIDE ROMANCE as the "find the difference" Picture Puzzle. Visit her website at http://www.lindaford.org/ to find out more about Linda and her upcoming books!

Temptation Tuesday - Chocolate

This Tuesday Pink Heart Society editor Natasha Oakley is on a deadline ....

And as any author worth her salt knows 'deadline' equals 'desperate need for chocolate'.

I admit it's a definite factor in the development of a 'writers' bottom' but one week from crashing into a deadline means you simply do NOT care. All that matters is said bottom - whatever size - is sat in the chair.

So, in sympathy with me I duly announce today as CHOCOLATE DAY. Let the word be spread.

Unusually for me, science is on my side.

Chocolate causes certain endocrine glands to secrete hormones that affect your feelings and behavior by making you happy. Therefore, it counteracts depression, in turn reducing the stress of depression. Your stress-free life helps you maintain a youthful disposition, both physically and mentally. So, eat lots of chocolate! Elaine Sherman, Book of Divine Indulgences

Isn't that delightful!

And if you are in the mood for science you probably ought to make yourself a large mug of hot chocolate (extra cream on top, of course), crack a bar of 'Green and Blacks' and settle down to this YouTube.



Now, here's the plan - I'm about to share my current, all time favourite chocolate recipe. (I've even tried to give a cross Atlantic translation! You really cook in a cake-pan??????) It's pure sin and just what a girl under stress needs ... But there will be a pay back.

CHOCOLATE CLOUD CAKE

Ingredients
250g dark chocolate, (9 ounces bittersweet chocolate), minimum 70% cocoa solids
125g (half a cup) unsalted butter, softened
6 Eggs, :2 whole, 4 separated
175g caster sugar (three-quarters cup superfine sugar)
2 tbsp Cointreau, (optional)
1 orange, grated zest only (optional)

For the cream topping
500ml double cream (2 cups heavy cream)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp Cointreau, (optional)
0.5 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder, for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4/350ºF. If you're an AGA owner it's in the baking oven, middle-ish. If you have a two oven AGA you are on your own and will have to fiddle about with a cold sheet!

Line the bottom of a 23cm Springform cake tin with baking parchment.

Melt the chocolate either in a double boiler or a microwave or on your hot plate, and then let the butter melt in the warm chocolate.

Beat the 2 whole eggs and 4 egg yolks with 75g (1/3 cup) of the sugar, then gently add the chocolate mixture, the Cointreau and orange zest.

In another bowl, whisk the 4 egg whites until foamy, then gradually add the remaining sugar and whisk until the whites are holding their shape but are not too stiff.

Lighten the chocolate mixture with a dollop of egg whites, and then fold in the rest of the whites. Pour into the prepared cake tin (pan) and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the cake is risen and cracked and the centre is no longer wobbly. Cool the cake in its pan on a wire rack; the middle will sink as it cools.

When you are ready to eat, place the still in it's tin (pan) on a cake stand or plate for serving and carefully remove the cake. Don't worry about cracks or rough edges. It WILL sink as it's got no flour in it. That's what you want. You are going for the crater look.

Whip the cream until it's soft and then add the vanilla and Cointreau and continue whisking until the cream is firm but not stiff. Fill the crater of the cake with the whipped cream, easing it out gently towards the edges of the cake, and dust the top lightly with cocoa powder pushed through a tea-strainer.

EAT

Serves 8-12

You'll find that recipe and others in 'Classic Home Desserts' by Richard Sax and 'Nigella Bites' by Nigella Lawson.

So, here's the deal. I've given you mine so I want to try yours. If you have a blog of your own, please post it and leave a link below. If you are not a blogger, email it to me and I'll post it on mine.

Fair's fair.

With love
Natasha

Natasha's latest Harlequin Romance Wanted: White Wedding is released in NA and the UK this month.

Romantic Times Magazine says: 'Natasha Oakley's Wanted: White Wedding (4.5) has its share of deeply touching moments, but what makes it stand out are the humor and the wonderful characters.'

You can find out more about it on her website and you can hear her moan about her sheikhs, dying people carrier, broken boiler, broken sofa and other assorted disasters by visiting her blog.

Her contribution to the Niroli series, 'The Tycoon's Princess Bride', is available here and won the Romantic Times Magazine Best Presents of 2007 and is nominated for a RITA®.

'Crowned: An Ordinary Girl' has finalled in the National Readers' Choice Awards.

EXCITING NEWS:

Here in the UK it is the Year of Reading. The hope is that the campaign will reach people who don't consider themselves 'readers'. The slogan is 'Reading – Any time, Anything, Anywhere'.

NYR was formally launched on 1st April. If you're in the UK you will be seeing a fair bit of this advert.


Spot the Harlequin Mills & Boon? To save you much peering I can tell you it's a 'Modern Heat' - 'Public Scandal, Private Mistress' by Susan Napier.

As part of the National Year of Reading, a scheme has been set up to link authors and libraries together. Each of the 149 participating library authorities now has a 'writer in residence' and Natasha has been chosen as Bedfordshire's. 9 of the 149 authors selected are published by Harlequin Mills & Boon. The other 8 being:
Michelle Styles - Northumberland
Louise Allen - Peterborough
Susan Stephens - Kirklees
Kate Hardy - Norfolk
Nicola Cornick - Wiltshire
Sharon Kendrick - Hampshire
Caroline Anderson - Suffolk
India Grey - Cheshire.

That’s category fiction being recognised alongside literary fiction. Kinda fun!

Male On Monday - Tom Welling

This week at The Pink Heart Society editor Trish Wylie talks to us about the inspiration behind her most memorable hero to date - the infamous Gabe - who looks remarkably like actor Tom Welling...

Yes I'm back. So you know this isn't gonna be brief. Get coffee then come back. Comfy now? Then I'll begin...

Not so long ago I confessed to my secret fascination with Superheroes and how the very lovely Justin Hartley inspired me to create Alex from my January Modern Heat His Mistress: His Terms... (the book and Male On Monday pics that may even have made a blonde haired hero convert of our very own Ally Blake! Which is quite the achievement - TRUST ME!)

Well at the time I mentioned I'd found more than one subject for hero inspiration from the show I found Justin on. And here he is - the man who inspired Gabe in my linked book Claimed By The Billionaire Bad Boy... welcome to the inspiration that is Tom Welling...

I'll just get this out of the way. I LOVE THIS GUY. BUT - he has nigh on RUINED ME when it comes to hero inspiration ever since Gabe (though the one I'm working on now is helping some with that). If Tom wasn't so GOSH-DARNED-GORGEOUS I'd have to hate him for that kind of muse-block. But if you're looking for tall, dark and handsome and of Modern Heat-ish age... my friends...LOOK NO FURTHER.

Now... about the man himself... Thomas John Patrick Welling was born on the 26th of April 1977 in Putnam Valley, New York to a GM executive father and homemaker mother. A 'middle' child he has two older sisters, Rebecca and Jamie, and a younger brother, Mark - who is also an actor. As his father's job required frequent relocation, the family moved from New York to Wisconsin to Delaware, until finally settling in Michigan early in Tom's junior year of high school.

He was active in several team sports at High School including baseball, basketball and soccer and on graduating worked in construction while continuing to live with his parents.

In the spring of 1997 whilst Tom and a few friends were taking a vacation on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, he was approached near a bar by an Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue shoot scout working under world-famous photographer, Bruce Weber. Following a brief discussion Tom was offered the opportunity to model for the catalogue, which at that time was still in its infancy. Returning home to weigh-up his options, Tom decided to head to New York where the shoot was scheduled. It was to be the start of a new career, and it was at this shoot that Tom first met his long-time friend and future co-star, Ashton Kutcher.

Tom then went on to take part in the runway show for Ralph Lauren's Fall 1999 collection at New York Fashion Week, and a few months later appeared in spreads for Adidas, Nike and Conde Nast. Working through a model agency in Germany he also took on assignments in Europe from their offices in Munich and Hamburg.

"I once jumped off cliffs on the coast of Italy, 50 feet into the water. I'm adventurous, I love pushing the limits and doing things like that."

In 2000, Tom moved to L.A. where he continued modeling and appeared in commercials and a music video while pursuing an acting career.

"You know one of the things about going from modeling to acting is it's so much more fulfilling. With modeling, you get your picture taken, which is great, good for you, you know? But in acting, you're able to reach in and show a little bit more of yourself."

His first major acting role was as karate teacher Rob Meltzer, a love interest of Amy Brenneman on the TV series Judging Amy. Although the role had originally called for an older actor it was decided to make Rob ten years younger than Amy and when the interaction between them proved popular with the audience it was extended from a three to a six week storyline. Tom then had a small role in Special Unit 2 and appeared in the debut episode of a sitcom called Undeclared.

But then came the role that would make him a household name, gain him a legion of fans... and bring him to the attention of a certain Irish writer you may know who was searching for hero inspiration ;)

Telling the previously untold story of a young Clark Kent pre-Superman years, the TV show Smallville was on a nationwide hunt for a fresh face. But Tom wasn't entirely convinced, turning the role down not once, but twice. Some claimed he had fears of type-casting, some claimed he had concerns about being a good enough actor for the role, some claimed it was because he thought it would be lame. But whatever the reason, after reading the script, talking it over with his father and some second thoughts, he read for the role and decided to take the job. And I for one am so glad he did. I've always been a Superman fan and with this series I have a show that not only can I bond with my youngest nephew over - I can also get an idea or two, or as it turned out a book or two, along the way - score! I wonder does that make the box sets a research expense...hmmm...

In fact I'm even one of the growing legion who would pay good money to see him on the big screen in the iconic suit! But then, as I said in the last of these blogs I was a Christopher Reeve Superman fan in my childhood and thanks to Smallville I remembered where I got my earliest inspiration when it came to handsome heroic men sweeping woman off their feet... (okay so none of my heroes fly and none of them do much of the actual sweeping but the seed was sown...okay?!)

Like Christopher Reeve Tom wasn't a big Superman fan prior to being cast as Clark Kent, and continues not to read the Superman comics. But he did say he felt some sort of connection to the character of Clark and was later quoted as saying:

"I've learned to love him a little, sure. He's a good guy. You know, as a kid you think that you can be that. You have all of these emotions and ambitions, and to play them out through this character is cathartic. It's also a lot of fun."

The Pilot of the show aired in October of 2001 and became the highest rated debut for The WB channel in the USA, with 8.4 million viewers tuning in. It's currently in it's seventh season in the USA and has been picked up for an eighth and not only has Tom been able to stretch his acting wings by playing the 'bad boy' a couple of times along the way he's also been doing some directing - the episodes he directs proving firm fan favorites. And with the part of a Superhero, whether wearing the iconic suit or not, comes the joys of things like... your very own action figure:

"I don't think one is ever prepared for something like that. But, it's fun. I hope it's durable."

For me, he has grown into the role beautifully over the years (I tell ya the man can convey emotions without words at this point) - that's the beauty of having a story told over eight years and watching the actors mature. And it really has made me a fan of the show - filler episodes aside - particularly over the last couple of years. And along with the character development the relationship of Tom's young Clark Kent with Erica Durance's young Lois Lane has got me hooked into the kind of romance I remember from those early movies (only with a few modern day twists). Sigh. Like I said - I'm a fan. (here's a little Youtube vid to demonstrate my fixation on their relationship so far - lovely song too! And one to show how far Tom's role as the iconic Superhero has come here - for those of you who are fellow fans like me!)

Anyhoo - Tom has been named one of People magazine’s Breakthrough Stars of 2001 and won the Teen Choice Award as Choice Breakout Star in 2002. And in 2003 he branched out into the movies with Cheaper By The Dozen, saying he had three reasons for taking the role; Steve Martin, Steve Martin and Steve Martin. He reprized the role in 2005 with Cheaper By The Dozen 2 as well as taking on the roll of Nick Castle in a remake of John Carpenter's 1980 film The Fog; where he demonstrated a more mature side - the same maturity he now seems freer to play in the role of Clark Kent as Clark steps closer towards his destiny.

And as all of us here at The Pink Heart Society like a little real life romance I should tell you Tom met his future wife Jamie while she was working in a coffee shop in Miami. Two years Tom's senior, she had also worked in the modeling industry and the couple had met briefly during their careers. However, Jamie had apparently forgotten about those prior encounters, which it's said led to her initially believing she was being fed a line when Tom commented, "I think I've met you before." Bless.

Becoming one of Tom's closest friends, they dated for several years and married in Martha's Vineyard in 2002. Tom has said the person he respects the most is his wife, because she has the greatest heart. On the subject of children? Well, he says:

"Do I want twelve kids? Sure - but I don't have to give birth! I'm only responsible for the fun part. When the time comes for the first one, we'll go from there."

Sensible man! So what else can I tell you before I wrap up? Hmmm.... lemme see...
Tom is reportedly 6ft 3 tall, has green/hazel eyes and dark chestnut hair... apparently he has size fourteen feet... he can do the voice of Gollum from the Lord Of The Rings movies and a fairly good version of Keanu Reeves... favourite celebs are Bob Saget, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, Robert De Niro, Steve Martin and Jerry Seinfeld...fav movie is Mutiny On The Bounty... he is part German, part Irish, and part Native American... He auditioned for the role of Tag on Friends... when he saw a woman being mugged in real life he ran over and fought off her attackers - the woman then looked at him and said "Wow, you really are Superman" and he laughed... Oh and both he and his wife are avid horse riders...

Anyone who knows me can see how many boxes this man ticks.

Last but not least he's an intensely private man, which I have to say you gotta respect anyone achieving in the industry he works in - I'd be the same in his shoes - plus it does kinda add to the fascination a little I guess ;) Spending up to ten months a year filming any free time he gets is spent with family, friends and of course his lovely wife. And when it comes to speculation and rumors regarding what he does and doesn't do he was once quoted as saying:

"There were so many rumors out there, and it's the kind of situation where if you speak about it you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. I'd rather be damned if I don't."

So there you have it - Tom Welling - the inspiration behind the infamous Gabe. Oh and the picture that created the kind of fictional hero it's apparently gonna take me a long, long time to get over. Thing is - and this is the beauty of hero *casting* - this pic? Well it IS Gabe to me now. I can't see it and see Tom Welling or Clark Kent for that matter. I see the stubborn, arrogant, protective alpha LUMP who caused me and my heroine so many problems during the writing process. Sigh.

Though that's not to say I can't give a shout out to my hero inspiration in the reader letter and in a particular line in the book where my heroine tells Gabe: "Can I just remind you that the cape-wearing you did in those days was voluntary?"

What can I say - we authors do sometimes leave little personal things in our books... Authors? Am I alone???

For more information and with thanks for some of the info and pics in this Monday's feature you can check out tomwelling.org and the truly, truly addictive Kryptonsite where fan-art is taken to almost cosmic dimensions of talent - you have no idea the lengths I've taken procrastination to on that site...TRUST ME.

And as a final note I have this to say; I thank the late, great Christopher Reeve for making me believe a man could fly when I was a kid. But I thank Tom Welling too, because he made me believe in the man who would one day fly. I think I'd forgotten the magic of that a little as I got older...

Feel free to chat all you want about Tom Welling, Smallville, Superheros and what makes a super hero these days in the comments and I'll be here to comment right back!

H's & K's Trish

Trish has two books out this month - the second of which is her first main Presents release in the USA & Canada Her Bedroom Surrender - a favorite of Trish's that was previously released as Breathless!

To find out about Gabe and his book Claimed By The Billionaire Bad Boy which is out in Modern Heat RIGHT NOW you can visit her Website or Her Blog - the latter of which Gabe himself will be taking over for a while until Trish digs herself out of the deadline cave and all it's assorted woes.

It'll be interesting to see if he gives it back...