By Cassandra
Dean
It’s come to my attention I have a type
in regards to my heroes and heroines, a type I always write about, read about,
watch on TV, salivate over and generally devour in great quantities. I LOVE the
stoic, wounded, emotionally unavailable bad boy and the woman who fells him. I
know, not much of a surprise, right? A lot of women love this trope, but I find
in my case there is a reason behind this.
Years ago, and I can’t remember where
(apologies to whoever I stole this from), I was told we each have a type which
can be defined by our favourite fairy tale and this informs our reading habits
and the stories that we return to over and again. When I was told this, I did
not even take a second before realising my favourite fairy tale is Beauty
and the Beast.
Ever since I was little, this fairy
tale has fascinated me. I remember reading the book of fairy tales someone had
given me and returning over and again to the same tale, to Beauty and the
Beast. I was never sure why, just something about that particular story
drew me. However, once the question of fairy tales and types was raised by that
person (unfortunately forever lost to posterity), I examined exactly why I was
drawn to this story and I realised it's the idea of the wounded male and the
woman who soothes him, the gruff exterior that hides a prince of a man. More
than just Beast, I realised it was also Beauty who drew me, with her own
awesomeness. She was the only person strong enough, brave enough, to
confront the beast and discover the person within, to ignore what everyone said
and discover for herself the truth of this misunderstood man.
So how can you discover your 'type'?
Well, what's your favourite fairy tale? Stop and really think about it. Why
does that particular tale draw you? What about it makes you return? Do you love
Cinderella, with the balls and the gowns and the hero who immediately
thinks you're awesome? Do you love Sleeping Beauty? Snow White? The
Princess and the Pea? What is it about these tales that makes you love
them?
So give it a go! Who knew the stories
you grew up with as a child could influence your tales as an adult?
Eight years ago…Thomas Cartwright and Lady Nicola Fitzgibbons were friends. Over the wall separating their homes, Thomas and Nicola talked of all things – his studies to become a barrister, her frustrations with a lady’s limitations.
All things end.
When her diplomat father gains a post in Hong Kong, Nicola must follow. Bored and alone, she falls into scandal. Mired in his studies of the law and aware of the need for circumspection, Thomas feels forced to sever their ties.
When her diplomat father gains a post in Hong Kong, Nicola must follow. Bored and alone, she falls into scandal. Mired in his studies of the law and aware of the need for circumspection, Thomas feels forced to sever their ties.
But
now Lady Nicola is back…and she won’t let him ignore her.
Cassandra grew up daydreaming, inventing
fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures. Once she learned to read (First
phrase – To the Beach. True story), she was never without a book, reading of
other people’s fantastical worlds and marvelous adventures.
Fairy
tales, Famous Fives, fantasies and fancies; horror stories, gumshoe detectives,
science fiction; Cassandra read it all. Then she discovered Romance and a true
passion was born.
So,
once upon a time, after making a slight detour into the world of finance,
Cassandra tried her hand at writing. After a brief foray into horror, she
couldn’t discount her true passion. She started to write Romance and fell head
over heels.
The
love affair exists to this very day.
Cassandra
lives in Adelaide, South Australia.
You can find
Cassandra at:
CassandraDean.com ~ Cassandra and Lucy ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Goodreads
~ Tumblr ~ Pintrest ~ Amazon.com
4 comments:
My immediate response was The Little Mermaid. And not the tripe Disney version; the tragedy. Always loved me some tragedy, and I've loved this story since I was six. Doesn't say much for my self esteem is all I can gather from this. Give up everything for an unattainable man who will never truly see me for who I am? And die in the end anyway... How depressing.
However, as a story it provides that wonderful gut wrenching, soul shattering, snot inducing cry fest that I absolutely love. Go figure. And yes, this is the TYPE of story that I'm continually drawn to.
Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale of all times. My mom raised me on the Grimm brothers and Hans Christian Anderson versions. :)
What an interesting post, Cassandra. I'd not thought about that. I suspect I'm the Little Mermaid one too! Heroic death was always in my mind as a teenager. Oh I was weird.
Anonymous - I do love a bit of gut-wrenching story fun myself. I've also not really thought about The Little Mermaid in the way you describe, but it IS massively tragic, isn't it?
Sheri - I love the Grimm brothers and Hans Christian Anderson as well! Devoured those stories as a kind (and sometimes as an adult...)
Barbara - Another for The Little Mermaid! How cool :)
Hehe, funny how we get obsessed with things dark and depressing as a teen. I HEART the remote, disconnected man in my romance reading so much...there's something vaguely wrong there!
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