Randi Cooley Wilson: What can make gargoyles super hot?
Randi Cooley Wilson, author of Redemption (out today!), book three in the Revelation Series, shares what makes gargoyles so yummy.
Randi: Those of us obsessed with urban fantasy and paranormal romance stories understand the pull and fascination readers have with sexy, brooding, supernatural beings. After all, angels, demons, vampires and werewolves aren't the only supernatural creatures we're obsessed with these days.
The newest, and sexiest, fantasy boyfriend comes in the form of Asher St. Michael. A protector in The Revelation Series, which includes: Revelation, Restraint and Redemption. Asher is the leader of the London Clan of Gargoyles. He's a brooding bad boy, who is loyal, sexy, wealthy and struggling with falling in love with his charge, Eve Collins.
"Gargoyles?" you question with disbelief lining your voice. Gargoyles, I assure. You mean the ugly stone statues that sit on top of buildings? Yep, those are the ones! Over the years, Gothic folklore tells tales of gargoyles as living, breathing creatures who watch over a charge. In mythology, they are perceived to be noble beings, protectors of mankind, and over the centuries they have bound themselves to ensure human safety. What could be more sexy than that?
As an author, I am fascinated with mythology and the history behind the why's of certain tales. In my opinion, when you delve into the history of gargoyles, it seems only natural that these creatures, which were created to protect, make their way into our paranormal romance stories, which to my editor Kris Kendall's dismay, is why I wrote an entire series based around these supernatural beings.
One of the key story elements that entices me to the urban fantasy/paranormal romance genre is the ideology of the perfect love. As human beings, we crave the elements of forbidden love, and the uncontrollable desire to be united with that one true being that makes us whole. As readers, it's these tales that allow us to feel vulnerable, no matter what stage we are in life, and let our guard down, while opening our minds to worlds and characters that we might not ordinarily be drawn to.
The instant and addictive force of dark love that we normally find within this genre usually heightens our intense love of the forbidden. After all, we're reading these stories to escape to a world with the underlying hope that despite being from different worlds, with everything stacked against them, the main couple will beat all odds and defy destiny. It's referred to as the Romeo and Juliet Effect, where opposition to the relationship is so prevalent within the storyline, that the heroine and protagonist's romantic feelings become intense to the point of unwavering love. Of course, a happily ever after doesn't hurt either.
So how do you make stone statues sexy and appealing to readers? Authors who create characters and worlds based around mythological creatures normally tend to humanize their traits in order to gain readers' empathy and trust, just as we would the main heroine. When writing about these otherworld characters, I found myself drawn to a few key ingredients that make up a hot, sexy, brooding, bad-boy leading man and applied them to the main characters in this series.
When I developed the character backgrounds for The Revelation Series' gargoyles, I first started with the mythology behind the beings. I began with how they were created to protect, and then developed key character traits I felt were important in that line of work. For instance, which side, Heaven or Hell, would they be protecting? Would they love once, mate for life, or multiple times? Since gargoyles are bound to a charge, would that be a blood bond and what would happen if that bond were with a female, who is not their mate? It was also important that each clan member had a connection to garish and old-school Gaelic with names and historically correct regional and physical traits.
In my research, I discovered that most gargoyles found family, or clan, of high importance. In addition, they were considered fiercely loyal and had keen protective instincts. Add those elements to more human personality aspects such as: confidence, sense of humor, how deeply they can love and family bonds — and you've got yourself ingredients for some pretty sexy gargoyles. Of course, some tattoos and piercings never hurt a leading male either.
Aside from looks, wealth, strength and the physical beauty of The Revelation Series' Gargoyles is that above all else, they are willing to sacrifice everything in order to be with the person they love and that, in any species, human or supernatural, is really the core of what each one of us is looking for. To be loved completely, and accepted for who we are.
Find out more about Randi and her books at randicooleywilson.com.