🧡 What a Struggling Flower Taught Me About Writing Flawed Heroes

This post is about finding beauty in imperfection — and it's for romance readers who identify with and love a gruff, flawed hero.

I couldn't resist… That sounds like the line a heroine would say in a romance book, right? In this case, it's simply me snapping yet another photo of one of my flowers because it's just so pretty. But this time, that photo turned into something more: a look at why I keep writing the kind of heroes I do — flawed, gruff, unconventional heroes, whether they're human, shifter, alien, orc, monster, or something else entirely — and why romance readers keep coming back for a hero who isn't perfect.

I'm a sucker for pretty flowers, especially ones I get to watch grow. Here's my gerber daisy — one that struggled to survive from the day I bought and transplanted it into a pot. Unlike the other two, which stayed as beautiful as they were in the store, this one floundered. It didn't look like it would survive. (I've had book launches like that too, so I've learned to "hang in there" and be patient.)

For weeks, I watered, fed, and hung in there, hoping it would survive. Then, practically overnight, about four weeks post-purchase, it surprised me with not one but two gorgeous blooms. And when it rained… those water droplets were like little jewels that made the petals glisten and shine beyond their natural beauty.

I couldn’t resist taking this photo. I mean, how can someone not see utter perfection in the brilliant colors, the water droplets, even the dark green foliage? And then I thought, I have to share this photo. So, here it is. And if it doesn’t put a smile on your face, I don’t know what will. :)

“Perfection” Photo by Julie K. Cohen

After I decided to share the photo, I kept thinking, ‘my readers are probably getting tired of seeing my flowers.’ I felt like I needed some deep insight or wisdom to make this post worth reading. I came up dry.

But every time I looked at this photo, I kept seeing my Orc books. Why? Look at the colors! And my Orc books were published and added to Kindle Unlimited long before I bought this gerber daisy.

But since my brain is constantly looking for themes, plots, associations, I started hunting for a thread to tie my Orcs to this flower, beyond sharing the same color palette. Where the flower is what I consider perfection, my orcs are anything but the picture of perfection. They are flawed. Often gruff, selfish, insensitive, and bull-headed. And they are certainly not ‘handsome’ by human standards, but they are true heroes, or often heroes in the making who need that special woman to bring their best qualities to the forefront.

Ultimately, they are ruled by inner strength, strong morals, fierce protectiveness, and a deep love of their women and people.

So, there you have it. Beauty has multiple definitions (but clearly shares the same color palette).

If you don’t agree, well, you still have a pretty flower to make you smile. :)

No special promos this week, but if you’re in the mood for some strong, possessive heroes who fight for love, I have three ‘ugly’ orcs waiting for you...

One rule: don't touch the orcs. He's not making that easy.

💚 SOLD. CLAIMED. POSSESSED.

An impossible choice between the alien warrior I'm falling for and the son I'd die to protect.