Into the Fire

Breath of Life was my first effort at first person POV from a male's voice as the primary narrator. Most males don't read romance, but I solicited a few men who are writer friends to read it and give me their opinions as to the authenticity of the voice. They gave me a collective "thumbs up", and that's the kind of affirmation any author needs – especially a female author creating a male voice for the story's hero.  

Most of my novels' heroes have distinct voices and personalities. They are men. They may have personal reservations about how they've lived their lives – their conduct, their choices, their lifestyles – but there's no contest as to their all-male tendencies. 

I grew up in tumultuous times post-high school of hippies, dope, rock 'n' roll, and the ridiculous expression of "free love" which in today's vernacular would be translated to "whoring around". For a season of my life, in spite of it all, I retained a certain naïveté. I've always enjoyed the male species, but I had a lot to learn about how they perceived things, how they reasoned and thought about things, how they communicated, and how they needed respect. I worked at learning what made them tick and what made them different from women, how God had truly created them to be, and I found it fascinating and at times frustrating when I couldn't figure out how to effectively communicate. Still, it has been worth every moment of investment.

Men play less games than women in social settings – although some men play them quite well.

In my experience having worked in different environments for both men and women, men make better bosses. However, I have had bad employers of both sexes.

Men tend to want things kept simple and women sometimes have a hard time keeping things from becoming complex. 

Most men don't want to be mothered – unless they're sick enough to need to stay in bed. Then, even the most manly of men suddenly become helpless little boys. At least some do. 

If any of you men – or women – would care to add anything here, please feel free to add to my Thursday Thoughts. 

Father, thank you for male and female and the wonderful love you gave to us for each other at your direction. Each of us is desperate for you whether we know it or not. And what you have for us is better than anything we can come up with on our own. I know that personally. Thank you for rescuing me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.