Confidence vs. Arrogance
When I submitted the manuscript for my latest release, If You Can’t Stand The Heat to my editor at Total-E-Bound; I went through the normal anxiety that I suppose all authors go through after presenting their work for consideration.
The waiting is the hardest part.
But this time along with an acceptance and contract offer, the last thing I expected was a little constructive criticism, from my beloved editor, that went something like this:
In the beginning, I think you need to tone it down a little (and not for the sexual content) but your male protagonist comes off as a major douche bag.
Leave it to my editor to give it to me straight. Well, after I stopped laughing I responded:
Thank you, then I did my job. He’s supposed come off that way. That’s just what I wanted.
I wanted this character to be so confident in himself and his expertise that he appears to be arrogance personified.
My editor (who is sadly, ☹ no longer my editor) wrote back:
You’re one of those women who secretly likes men like Simon Cowell, aren’t you?
Well, I’m not sure if the Simon thing is really a secret but I also have a weird thang for Gordon Ramsey, as well.
She tells me, that this weird attraction might have more to do with my obsession with Englishmen and Scotsmen, ☺ which is also no secret.
But I guess that’s really how my douche bag hero, really began. (No offence intended to either Mr. Cowell or Chef Ramsey). But there is a show here in the Great White North and when I first started watching it, there was one guy on the panel that I absolutely detested on sight. He is good-looking, but not, in-your-face, women-fall-at-his-feet kind of handsome, but I’m sure he does all right. Nevertheless he’s just one of those people that seems to have an inflated opinion of himself. My first thought, just from the smug look on his face was, Oh, he’s a cocky f**k. Then I heard him talk and my attitude didn’t change any. He was rather full of himself, and at the time, I thought he talked down to the contestants. Now, this show doesn’t always have the same expert panel, but I found myself looking for this guy and was disappointed if he wasn’t on it. To the point that if he wasn’t a guest, I didn’t watch. But there was something about him that kept me coming back. ( and nowadays, I even think he’s better-looking :D ) Ahhh, snap judgements. Had I again, confused confidence for arrogance? Possibly, but whatever it is, I’m hooked, so much so that I can dedicate my douche bag lead to him and his cocky counterparts Simon, Gordon and one or two other conceited men that I’ve run into over the years.
Sesto Théodore is a real mixture of all these confident men. And sometimes isn’t that what attracts us to another person; self-assurance. Besides, let’s face it, if you can’t believe in yourself, no one else will either (and douche bags need love too). LOL!
Oh, and let me just say, I gave Sesto a match that gives as good as she gets. But that’s another story…
Thanks for having me Lily!
Blurb:
Somebody’s about to get burnt…
An unlikely couple is brought together as celebrity judges on a new cooking show—Sesto Théodore, an American-Italian New York chef, and Syn Fully, a world-weary author of erotica. It’s instantly clear that they are complete opposites and their personalities clash, but physically, sparks fly and passion ignites.
However, after a video with some rather personal content surfaces on the Internet, Sesto immediately jumps to conclusions and accuses Syn of the breach.
Can the arrogant chef forgive and forget, or will his pride leave him out in the cold?
Reader Advisory: This book includes an occurrence of mild bondage and a scene of slightly dubious consent, as well as covert sexual contact in close proximity to bystanders. There is also reference to stalking and non-consensual taking of videos and photography and the dubious consensual use of restraints.
Excerpt:
Standing, he demanded, “May I speak to you out in the hall, please!”
“Of course,” Syn responded, haughtily, as though she hadn’t just been giving him the initial stages of a hand job under the judges table. He allowed her to take the lead although he was unexpectedly mesmerized by her long shapely legs, as she stalked across the space, confident and oh-so-fuckin’ sexy in the red stilettos. Sesto pulled level with her and couldn’t resist the urge to place his hand to the small of her back, left bare by the severe cut of her dress. If he wasn’t mistaken, she’d trembled at the contact. Or more likely it was his own hand that shook.
In the hall, she turned to face him and at the same moment he blurted, “What the fuck do you think…” The words died on his tongue, as she once more found his firm cock with her hand, her gaze settled on his mouth, as she breathed shallowly.
“Where’s your dressing room?” she asked, backing him up.
Grabbing her wrist, he dragged her into the room, before slamming the door behind them. He pulled her hand, which he still had possession of, above her head and forced it against the door. Expecting her to fight, he was not prepared for her brazen little smile as she raised her arm to join the other, as if she wanted him to pin her there and take control. With both hands stretched above her head, and Sesto still in an uncertain defensive type crouch, Syn arched towards him, bringing her beautiful tits, right in his face.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he asked again. “We don’t even know each other.”
“I know. Isn’t it wicked, how our bodies want to though. Don’t even bother to deny it, I can see that you do.”
Sesto groaned, shifting uncomfortably foot to foot.
“Go ‘head, Théo, set them free,” she invited.
If You Can’t Stand The Heat is now available for pre-order at Total-E-Bound
Pre-release: 4th October 2013
General Release: 1st November 2013
H K Carlton is a multi-published author of erotic, historical and contemporary romance.
