I’m going to start with a sad confession. I’ve never been to a bachelor auction. How pitiful is that? But I’m a writer, which means that I can create anything I want to (for example, I created a firefighter calendar competition for Hot in Here).
OK, why did I need a bachelor auction? Because Jade Rousseau, the heroine of “Too Hot to Handle” (my novella in the November Aphrodisia anthology Men on Fire) needed a man. (A problem most of us have faced at one time – okay, more than one time – or another.)
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Jade needs not just any old man, but a faux fiancé. She works for a family values foundation where she’s up for a promotion, and her main competition is married to a gorgeous guy and has two perfect kids. Whereas Jade, much to her chagrin, is single, single, single. She wants to get married, even has the perfect dating strategy for finding the right man, but until he comes along she needs a place-filler guy.
Enter her two girlfriends, who persuade her to go to a bachelor auction and buy herself a man. And enter me, the author, who then had to create that bachelor auction.
From that wondrous, mysterious place from whence comes writerly inspiration, the phrase “It’s Raining Men” made its way into my head. So I had a name for the auction, a great piece of music, and was well on my way. I even created a theme drink, which I had wonderful time taste-testing this past summer. If you love strawberries, you have to check it out on my website (on the Recipes page for Men on Fire). (Oh, and if you love chocolate – and who doesn’t? – check out Jade’s recipe for Nanaimo bars. They’re delish!)
Anyhow, back to the auction. (Note how chocolate and booze can distract me even from a bachelor auction…) I knew what Jade’s brain wanted in a guy (a nice white-collar man), so of course I sent temptation in the form of very hot firefighter, Quinn O’Malley, who she thinks is all wrong for her. Now would you, as her girlfriend, let her make the safe choice – when she’s gaping at Quinn as if she’d like to eat him up, very very slowly, from head to toe?
Well, you can guess the answer to that one! And of course I hope you’ll read Men on Fire and find out how Jade’s sensible dating strategy works out, when confronted with the reality of a very hot, totally unsuitable faux fiancé.
What I’d like to hear from you is whether you’ve ever attended a bachelor auction. If so, what was it like? Did you buy a guy – and what did you get him to do? Inquiring minds need to know. If you’re like me and have never been to a bachelor auction, what can your imagination dream up? If your perfect guy strutted onto that stage, who would he be?
It’s a chilly autumn day, so lets pretend it’s not raining rain, but raining men, and let our fantasies run wild!
*Leave a comment and one lucky winner will be drawn to win a copy of Men on Fire!
http://www.susanlyons.ca
For sexy romance that’s passionate, heartwarming and fun!
Linda Henderson
November 13th, 2009 at
1:11 am
I love the cover of this book. Seriously HOT. I’ve never been to a bachelor auction but if I had the opportunity I would hope to find someone like Gerard Butler. That man is fine. Needless to say, we would have a good time.
Shawntelle
November 13th, 2009 at
1:13 am
Now that is a cover! And you have a clever premise for your story!
Shawntelle
Shelli
November 13th, 2009 at
1:16 am
Hi, Susan, thanks for guest blogging today! LOVE that cover! I’ve never been to a male auction. Hee hee. My book Love for Sale is a female auction book though (kind of erotic chick lit! LOL). There really is something so hot about firemen though!
sara hurt
November 13th, 2009 at
8:39 am
That cover is smokin hot. i havent been to a bachelor auction either but if I was I would hope to buy Ryan Reynolds. He is sexy and funny.
Amy M
November 13th, 2009 at
9:03 am
I love that cover! I have not ever been to a bachelor auction. I would probably die of embarrassment, I am so shy!
If my dream guy were up on stage, he would be tall, muscled, dark hair, some scruff on his face. Total bad boy image, but a good heart. YUMMY!!
Booklover1335
November 13th, 2009 at
9:39 am
I’ve never been to a Bachelor auction
But it does sound delicious. If I were to dream up a bachelor for auction he would be a lot like Gerard Butler. Love just about everything about him. He can be charming (Dear Frankie), he can be all Alpha (300), he can sing (though not particularly well in Phantom of the Opera). To sum it up he can be Naughty and Nice all wrapped up in a perfect package. Yep, he’s what I would want to bid on as a Christmas gift to myself 
p.s. dressed as a firefighter would be the cherry on top!
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
11:43 am
Good morning, ladies! I’m glad you like the cover – not that I can take any credit for it. Thank the art department at Kensington. Can you just imagine having a job where you go through photos of sexy guys???
OK, we have two votes for Gerard Butler (thanks, Linda and Booklover) and one for Ryan Reynolds (thanks, Sara). Booklover, I really like what you said: yes, looks are important, but so is the other stuff. Eye candy is lovely but we want a man with a good personality as well.
Shawntelle, I’m glad you like the story premise. I felt pretty happy when I came up with it. Sometimes things just strike you as “right”!
Shelli, I have to say, it’s so much easier to fantasize about a male auction than a female one. LOL.
Amy, I’m shy like you. I’m not sure I’d have the guts to bid at a furniture auction, much less a bachelor one. But isn’t that the wonderful thing about books? We get to experience all the things we’d never have the courage to do in real life!
As for the “bad boy with a heart of gold” — well, that just happens to be a perfect description for the hero I’m writing at this very minute. This is one of the novellas for my 3-novella antho SEX ON THE SLOPES, scheduled for December 2010. The story is called “In Hot Pursuit of a Bad Boy.” The heroine is the only one who sees past his bad-boy image, and she has to persuade him that he’s capable of giving love, and that he deserves to receive it. I love those kinds of stories!
Roberta Harwell
November 13th, 2009 at
12:33 pm
Hello Susan,
I’ve never been to a bachelor auction. When I was single I would have went. Now that I’m settled, all I see on stage is my best friend and lover, Jr. I can’t picture anyone else. However, since I’m dreaming this man up. He would have to have Sam Elliott’s voice with Van Diesel’s body and face. I just love bald men. Have a great day.
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
1:22 pm
Hi Roberta. Aw, that’s so sweet about your guy. As for bald guys – mostly I like long hair, but really, it’s what suits the man’s face, isn’t it? If a guy has a striking or interesting face and a nicely shaped head, then bald can be great! As for voices – oh, yeah, there’s nothing like an awesome voice. I also love eyes. For example, give me Morgan Freeman’s voice and eyes, and I don’t care how old that man is but he’s damned sexy!
Laurie
November 13th, 2009 at
1:30 pm
I actually have been to a bachelor auction but it was a long time ago. I seem to be in the minority here.
It was about what you would expect in all honesty. A bunch of women on the prowl. Some of the women actually got pretty fiesty. You would have thought you were at a strip club with the hooting and hollering.
I was not bidding, just along for moral support for one of the bachelor’s. He was slightly shocked by the women.
All in all it was a lot of fun.
Natasha A.
November 13th, 2009 at
1:33 pm
I have not ever been to one. I don’t know if I would want to. Maybe before I was married? Maybe….Hmm
Anyways, the books sounds great! *drool* firefighters! One of the benefits of where I work (in a College), there is a firefighter program, so they are always roaming the halls!
Elaine G
November 13th, 2009 at
1:55 pm
First,love that cover
No I have never been to a bachelor auction, but would love to
If one
of my pefect guys walked on that stage it would be Victor Webster
here’s a visual
http://cdn.media.soapnet.com/sites/default/files/images/080509_VWebster_Days_400×398.jpg
He’s so yummy!!!!
Anna
November 13th, 2009 at
2:45 pm
Hello all,
I have never been to an auction, but if I were to go, I would never have the guts to actually bid on a man. With my luck my mother would appear beside me, standing and shouting, “You’re so precious! Let me buy you for my daughter. That one, right there, pretending that she’s not related to me.” Of course he would look like Orlando Bloom (Pirates) with the intensity and smart-aleckness of Hugh Jackman (Wolverine).
I did hear on the radio the other day that one of the worst professions for women to date was a fire fighter, followed by bartender and drummer. Please, please, please let it be one of those rumors started by some jealous, insecure, wouldn’t know his ass from a whole in the wall, man and has no basis actual fact.
I can’t wait to read the new book Susan!
Alexis Morgan
November 13th, 2009 at
2:48 pm
Susan–
Congrats on such a wonderful cover! Nope, never been to an auction, either. But, wow, just imagine the fun if we could all get together and have the auction of our dreams . . . drat, I just drooled on my keyboard.
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
3:02 pm
Laurie, I’m really curious. What did the woman who won him make your friend do?
Natasha, you know we’re all envious of you, right?
Elaine, thanks for the visual. Yummy indeed!!
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
3:07 pm
LOL re your mom, Anna. I bet her choice of guy for you would be a little different than your own! As for firefighters… Well, there are bonuses like not only are they heroic and in great shape but they also know how to cook and clean. But I’m sure (as with cops and guys in the military), that it’s a very stressful occupation. In HOT IN HERE, my hero has a bad day when they can’t save a kid’s life, and that’s the first time his girlfriend gets really emotionally close to him. And of course it’s stressful for the family at home who worry each time the person goes off to work. I think you need a strong guy and a strong woman, for sure, to be able to handle all of this.
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
3:08 pm
Hi Alexis! Too funny, about drooling on your keyboard.
BTW, I do think it would be wonderful to have an anthology set around a bachelor auction – or a firefighter auction! – with each story focusing on one of the matches.
Jane
November 13th, 2009 at
3:40 pm
Hi Susan,
I’ve never been to a bachelor auction before. If I ever find myself at one, I would bid on the guy who resembles Eric Bana.
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
3:53 pm
Nice choice, Jane! I just had to go photo hunting and found this one, which definitely tickles my fancy! (Hope the link works.)
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2007/specials/beauties07/beauties/eric_bana.jpg
mary
November 13th, 2009 at
4:46 pm
I’ve never been to one, but if I did go to one I would bid on someone who looked like Eddie Cibrian.
Jody F.
November 13th, 2009 at
4:59 pm
That is a super hot cover! If I could find a guy like that I’d go bankrupt purchasing him.
And no, I’ve never been to a man auction. I have recently gone to a Chippendales show so I guess you could say I rented a hottie for a few minutes anyway (that sounds kinda naughty, doesn’t it).
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
5:09 pm
Mary, another good choice.
http://daytimeconfidential.com/system/files/images/Eddie_Cibrian.jpg
Jody, I’m envious about the Chippendales. I bet that show was lots of fun!
Jane
November 13th, 2009 at
5:50 pm
Ooh, that’s a great pic of Eric. Thanks, Susan.
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
6:10 pm
You’re very welcome, Jane.
Amie Stuart
November 13th, 2009 at
6:45 pm
SUSAN!! Also loving the cover and your “Behind the story” story! I also have a heroine named Jade so I’m very partial to that name (Her sister’s name is Emerald
)
limecello
November 13th, 2009 at
7:03 pm
Hi Susan! I am so so so excited for your new novella- and upcoming book(s)! As for a bachelor auction… no never been to one.
I have, however, been to a “Slave Auction.” A JCL event/fundraiser – lots of fun, but very PC/tame – high school event. Slaves were generally pizza runners and clean up crew
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
7:46 pm
Hi Amie. Yes, Jade’s a great name, isn’t it? I didn’t even know why my heroine’s name was Jade – except that it felt right – until I was almost finished the story. She has a conversation with her dad and he comments about the significance of her name: that jade is beautiful, precious, and strong. And suddenly it all made sense. Amazing how writerly intuition works even when it’s not a conscious thought process.
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
7:48 pm
Hey there, limecello. Nice to “see” you again. The concept of a slave auction is a great one – but it definitely should be put into the hands of an erotic romance writer and be anything but tame! Right, Shelli?
Blanche
November 13th, 2009 at
8:25 pm
Hi Susan!
I’ve never been to a bachelor auction! Love the cover on the book, so much so that I picked it up yesterday (so don’t enter me….just wanted to stop by and say hi!).
Susan Lyons
November 13th, 2009 at
9:44 pm
Hi Blanche! Hey, it’s you. I visited your blog earlier today. Thanks so much for picking up the book – and I know it was totally based on the cover. LOL. Happy reading – and viewing.
Shelli
November 14th, 2009 at
12:01 pm
The randomly drawn winner is Jody F. Jody email Susan at susan at susanlyons.ca with your address and she’ll get you a copy!
patsy hagen
November 14th, 2009 at
6:37 pm
Like most, I have never been to a Bachelor Auction. Wow, buy a bachelor. That does sound interesting. There would be a bidding war for the firefighter on your bookcover!
Susan Lyons
November 14th, 2009 at
10:13 pm
Jody, congratulations on your win.
Patsy, I admit I’m very curious how much women will pay for a man!
Lyoness2009
November 15th, 2009 at
3:21 am
I’ve never been to a bachelor auction before but boy would it be fun!
When I was in Highschool I was in an auction….to do chores for the teachers! Ugh! Not fun at all!
Susan Lyons
November 15th, 2009 at
2:01 pm
Lyoness, that doesn’t sound like fun at all! I hope you were fundraising for something worthwhile.