Sorry, folks, this isn’t a post about sizable genitalia *g* I was thinking about something the other day, and it started to bug me to the point where I felt I had to see if it bugged anyone else.
Where are the chubby romance heroes?
Seriously. I mean, there’s a whole category on some publisher pages for BBW (big, beautiful woman) romance books. (Although, the lack of any visible “big” on most of the covers makes me wonder about the content; does “big” mean the heroine actually shops at Lane Bryant like the average woman it claims to portray, or that she wears a size 10? Hmmm…) Anyway, so I’m wondering, since there are romances starring a Big Beautiful Heroine, how come you never see any starring a Big Beautiful Hero? It seems like a sort of double standard to me, and I’m wondering why it exists.
Is it because it’s mostly women reading romances — especially m/f ones — and women want their men non-chubby? Is that even true? Maybe there are women out there wishing they could read about a hero with a pot belly and love handles. What about you men out there, particularly reading gay romances? Would you like to see more men in your romance with, well, more to love, or do you like the “all men have a six-pack and walnut-cracking thighs” fantasy of romance novels?
FSM knows I’m guilty of making all my guys slim, trim & fit. I like ‘em that way myself. Just curious about whether there would be readers for a different sort of hero.
Written by Ally Blue
Ally is a rich and famous author of hot gay manlove. She travels the world in her private jet, being waited on hand and foot by her team of pretty young men who bring her umbrella drinks and make out for her pleasure . . . Okay, so that's her dream life. Her novels of Manlove & Angst are mostly written in her living room, in between working at the Evil Day Job and doing Mom Stuff. Oh, the glamorous life of an author!
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Tags: romance, things to ponder
kelgar01 wrote,
I was honestly just thinking about this myself the other day! I was reading a story by Vic Winter that had one character worried that his lover, who worked at a gym, would not like his less than perfect body. The only other BBM m/m romance that I know of is Willa Okati’s The Brotherhood: Single White Fang. I was wondering where a person could even go to ask about something like that. Maybe the GLBT Bookshelf forums? But they don’t seem to have much traffic there yet. (Not on the forums anyway.) I’m interested to see if anyone else will respond here with some titles.
Link | November 17th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Chris wrote,
Hey, if I’m going to read escapist fiction, I really want to escape reality. :)
Link | November 18th, 2009 at 6:41 am
James Buchanan wrote,
posting for a freind who’s connection isn’t liking FWF right now:
Tell Ally my granny always said – A man can’t drive a in a stake with a tack hammer -
We need guys with a little meat on them.
Link | November 18th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Sophie wrote,
Thank you for bringing this up Ally. I agree there are not many MM romance with BBM. I would love to see some of those romance. People who are big and beautiful sometimes have self-confidence issues(I should say often). These types of romance can show love exist everywhere and it is for everyone. I agree we read these romances to escape reality. But a little reality is not a bad thing. However, I thnk it would also be important to include health in the book. Showing the hero can be loved for who he is and what he is is great. Including a little health regiment would not be a bad idea either. A man can be big, beautiful and healthy!
Link | November 18th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Gay Romance: How About Them Bears | The Naughty Bits wrote,
[...] Ally Blue at Fiction With Friction: Big Beautiful Men Seriously. I mean, there’s a whole category on some publisher pages for BBW (big, beautiful woman) romance books. (Although, the lack of any visible “big” on most of the covers makes me wonder about the content; does “big” mean the heroine actually shops at Lane Bryant like the average woman it claims to portray, or that she wears a size 10? Hmmm…) Anyway, so I’m wondering, since there are romances starring a Big Beautiful Heroine, how come you never see any starring a Big Beautiful Hero? It seems like a sort of double standard to me, and I’m wondering why it exists. [...]
Link | November 19th, 2009 at 5:41 am
Ally Blue wrote,
Thanks for the feedback, y’all! I can always count on you guys to have opinions, I like that *g*
You know what, I’m always asking y’all “should I write about this” or “that” or this here other subject” but I haven’t done any of them yet. Maybe I ought to combine some of these interesting character points. Like, say, a Big Beautiful Cherokee hero with diabetes, having to face some of the issues that people with brittle diabetes often face. We see members of the Eastern Band at my hospital all the time; lots of the men are Big and Beautiful, and diabetes is rampant in the Cherokee population. One of the residents would probably fall totally in love with the big guy while treating him. Hmmmm…
Don’t mind me, I’m having a plot bunny attack. LOL. Sometimes something comes of it, sometimes it doesn’t :)
Link | November 19th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Chris wrote,
Oh! And the resident who falls in love with the big guy is HIV+ and…
Link | November 19th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Ally Blue wrote,
OMG, please to stop feeding zee plot bunnies!!!
**hides**
I should probably invest in a sign or something. Heh.
Link | November 19th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Chris Muldoon wrote,
Writer’s Block by ABG
Link | November 19th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Sophie wrote,
When I was first diagnosed with Diabetes, I went through a very difficult period. I was depressed, I kept thinking about my friend’s father who passed away from the desease. He died and he had no legs and only one arm left. That was very scary to me. I was thinking about my life and how I was letting it go to hell, and it went on and on. Then I met a wonderful pharmacist who helped me a great deal, educating me about the illness and how it was possible to live a healthy life with Diabetes. I lost 50 lbs, and I am off my meds. I eat well while allowing myself a treat once in a while. I am no longer scared about the illness as I am controling the desease and it is not controling me. I am still overweight but my health is a lot better and if I continue on this path, maybe one day I will have lost the extra weight. However, I am more focussed on my health than my weight at this time.
I think you have a very good idea having a BBM (cherokee) having to deal with diabetes. It has potencial to be a beautiful story and share knowledge on the subject as well.
And before you ask, no, I did not end up with the pharmacist! He was married with children! LOL
Link | November 20th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Ally Blue wrote,
Chris, wow, what a sweet story! I enjoyed that, thanks for the link :D
Sophie, good for you for taking charge of your diabetes and getting it under such excellent control! Am I right in thinking you have type 2 diabetes? SO many people never get to the point where they are able to control it with diet and lifestyle management alone, so you can really give yourself a huge pat on the back for that.
As for the story, OMG, I already have notes in Scrivener. I think I am probably doing this at some point. Meep O_O
Just add it to the list. LOL.
Link | November 21st, 2009 at 10:29 am
Idyrrlaon wrote,
The list grows ever longer, doesn’t it? I like the idea, though. And it is just shy of too many plot devices…believe me, I’ve read some published work in the past (not yours :D) where it is chocked full of plot devices and twists, to the point where it’s ridiculous. It’s a delicate line to dance, but you always do an amazing job…
I love to hear your story ideas…even if they never see the light of day! :D
Link | November 23rd, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Erin T wrote,
I have been reading this site for sometime, but never left a comment before. I love the point that you brought up. Because of my Graves Disease, I have always struggled with my weight. Reading romance for so called bigger women, was always a pleasure and boosted my self-esteem a little. For men, you don’t see that as much. I have read some short stories with this theme. (hooray!)
Willa wrote one in her Brotherhood series and there is a sweet short by someone else. It is called Sweet Treats by Stormy Glenn.
Let’s face it, who doesn’t like a man with something to hold on to?
Link | November 24th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Ally Blue wrote,
Idyrrlaon, LOL, I know, I’m gonna have to watch that! I think I can realistically manage a BBM with diabetes, since the two go hand in hand so often. But, yeah, I think I’ll save the HIV+ story for another time. I actually have an idea for that *g*
Erin T, thanks for commenting here :) I know what you mean. I’m glad to see that there are evidently more BBM books than I’d thought (and how could I have forgotten about Willa’s story? I HAVE that one! I’m glad y’all reminded me!). Maybe we just don’t see them because there isn’t a publisher’s label for them like there is for BBW?
Link | November 25th, 2009 at 6:55 am