Manspiration - of the dark eyed variety

Let it be known that despite my gorgeous husband being blue eyed and slightly ginger (think Jamie Fraser of Outlander but only better looking...), I can certainly appreciate the dark eyed and handsome variety of manspiration, and frequently do.

Here are few of my current favourites: 

Santiago Cabrera - Musketeers

Timothy Olyphant - Justified

Luke Pasqualino - Musketeers

Elliot Knight - Sinbad

You may guess from the line-up above,  am a loving the BBC production of Musketeers. The stories are great, the acting is great, the scenery (mostly set in the Czech Republic) is magic, and the men... well, are simply delectable. It makes for great watching and I am looking forward to season three!

Manspiration VI - Black sails

Me and Manu Bennett @ SupaNova Perth 2014

It's been a while since I've enlightened readers to my current manspirations.

There are of course, my usual manspirations, my husband, Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones, Star Gate Atlantis, Road to Paloma), Manu Bennett (Spartacus, Arrow, Hobbit) etc, but recently I've been utterly enthralled by Starz latest show Black Sails. If you haven't watched it yet, go buy the dvds and settle down for a rollercoaster ride of action and excitement.
 
A year or two ago, I listened to an audio book detailing the history of pirates in the America's most notably, Edward Teach (Black Beard), Charles Vane, Calico Jack etc... which sent me into a pirate researching spasm. So when I saw that there was a show about them, I was VERY excited.

Perth Actor Toby Schmitz as Calico Jack

The show follows the tale of the fictitious 'Captain Flint', but intermixed in the fictional narrative are plenty of non-fiction real life historical figures, such as Charles Vane, Anne Bonny, Jack Rackham etc. I was also blown away to realise that the actor Toby Schmitz, who acts as Jack 'Calico Jack' Rackham, is from my home town, and I met him on several occasions in high school and university. Perth is a really small place... He does a great job portraying Calico Jack and I really hope his career takes off from this.

Zach McGowan as Charles Vane

Then there is Zach McGowan who acts as Charles Vane. Charles Vane was a very brutal pirate in the day, and McGowan's portrayal is fantastic... not to mention the rather spectactular abs... Though for realism, I think I'd like a little more chest hair... not that I'm complaining... no...

Then there is Toby Stephens - a tasty older morsel - who portrays the character of Captain James Flint. I'm always partial to a good older-gentleman hero (he's not really old, only 45 in fact).  Stephens portrays Flint as a cold, shrewd and brutal pirate, and as I've not finished the series, I'm yet to discover what he's completely about. I'm intrigued.

In short, what I like; the actors and actresses do a really great job in this series and the costumes are wonderful. The story line is interesting, and the action engaging and not *too* gory.
What I don't like so much is the shiny teeth on everyone. I'd like a few more bad teeth, and some body hair on the guys (you do get a glimpse at some pubic hair on women though.) Additionally, the sexual violence towards the prostitute Max was a bit much, and perhaps could have been toned down.

Toby Stephens as Captain Flint

All up, Black Sails is a thoroughly enjoyable sojourn into later part of The Golden Age of Piracy 1715 - 1730 (also known as the Post Spanish Succession period) and if you're in the market for little piratey manspiration then you need look no further.

Enjoy the rest of your day :)

Manspiration V - Anson Mount and Hell on Wheels

manspiration; /mæn-spəreʃən/ noun (abstract);

The process of being mentally stimulated by a man (either visually or otherwise) to write something creative: eg:  "flashes of manspiration".

I'm frequently manspired, all too frequently in fact, but I don't like to complain ;P

I've just watched the first series of Hell On Wheels, and have found freshly myself manspired by the rather grittily handsome Anson Mount.

Here's a little clip from youtube to show you what I mean...

Yes, on the outset his does appear to be a drunk, murdering, self-pitying, reprobate... but there is one other resounding feature. He is gorgeous, he is ripped, and aside from the (sometimes) corny one liners he has a certain je nais se quoi that flatly floats my little writers boat.

When watching a show I spend a great deal of time watching the actors carefully in their interactions with their female colleagues. A quick glance away, a gesture repressed, the tightening of a jaw - Anson Mount does those beautifully in this series. Plus he has a rather attractive beard.



[I would have liked a bit of chest hair for realism though!]

Now as I'm totally on a roll about Hell on Wheels, I feel I should mention that there are a few other delectable men on the show... Namely Common and Eddie Spears.... a veritable banquet one could say...

Eddie Spears

Common  

I have long been fascinated with this era in American history, I used to read romances set in this era rapaciously as a late-teen. So it's little wonder that I'm loving the discovery shows such as Hell on Wheels, Deadwood and the like.

I don't think I'll be setting a book in America anytime soon, but it's all food for muse and you never know... one day...

And now, I bid you all good day :)

Man-spiration

It happens to me often and I like to call it 'man-spiration'.

Manspiration is: when I am inspired to write heroes by seeing or watching some gorgeous guy on telly or searching on the net for models... all in the name of research people!

 I love this job!



*Disclaimer: my husband is my biggest bit of manspiration. LOL.

I am always interested in seeing who inspired (if anyone) my favourite author's heroes... So today I'm telling you about my latest manspiration.

Welcome Ben Mansfield acting as Captain Becker in Primeval (which I am totally enamored with at the moment).

Rather dishy isn't he?
[Image courtesy: Fanpop]

[click image for youtube clip]

[Image courtesy: fanpop]

 Due to my latest bit of manspiration and his love of guns, I've found my self pondering how I could work guns into one of my WIPs - LOL and I think I've found it. Oh, and if you're wondering which hero Ben Mansfield would be, I think he'd make an ideal Cain, in my WIP "Able as Cain".

 Of course, when I write, I don't base my character solely on my manspiration. I use the bits and pieces I find attractive, discard things I find less attractive and make up the rest... I do take the time to study male faces for expression in movies and photos. This helps me to see where creases occur, so I can realistically relate expressions back to my written characters. You'd be surprised how differently some men grimace, how tension is expressed in either a clench of the jaw or a thunderous swoop of the eyebrows... research in the name of manspiration is very useful for this, I recommend it. :D

Gallery of of my other 'manspired' heroes.

Omeed Isari as Omar, Magical Creations

Gabriel Aubry as Bo, Mimosa Black

Jay Byers as Lucian, Magical Redemption

Burak Ozcivit as Imran, Magical Gains

Enjoy your week.