My Teen Crushes

January 19, 2014

My Teen Crushes

by Colleen Houck

Today’s teens have a lot of crush options both in Hollywood and in literature. I definitely carry a torch for Damon Salvatore and Edward Cullen. I’ve been known to swoon over certain X-Men, I’ve written gushing fan mail to boy bands, and I used to have posters of hunky heroes hung in my bedroom. Those carefully arranged pictures covered every square inch of space like sheets of sigh-inducing wallpaper.

My big Hollywood crush as a teenager was Superman. Between his blue eyes, dark hair, and his taking Lois Lane on a romantic flight around Metropolis, I fell in love. He never lied, didn’t drink or smoke, he took care of his widowed mom, and he always did the right thing—even if the right thing was super-kissing Lois to make her forget him. His dedication to the woman he loved was a foundation for building my own story.

There are all different types of guys to crush on and whether you prefer dark and brooding, a guy next door, a brawny lothario, or a combination of all of them, you’ll probably be able to find a literary hero to suit you. When I was a teenager, romance books were something my mother read and, since I wasn’t supposed to know about, let alone touch, her secret stash, my perception of what was romantic came more from Fairy Tales.

I loved the idea of a Prince Charming and I often day dreamed of some special guy who would come along, realize that I was his Cinderella, and whisk me away to his castle. If there was a horse involved, a feast, a carriage ride, and fancy clothes—all the better. This idea stuck with me for a long time and still influences my writing today. I knew when I created Ren and Kishan that I wanted them to be handsome princes and heirs to the throne.

In Ren I created my dream prince—the perfect man whose only real flaw was a jealous nature. I’ve always been attracted to nice men, unlike Princess Leia who says she likes nice men but really likes scoundrels. I was a Luke Skywalker fan and argued hotly in middle school about why Princes Leia should choose him over Han Solo. Nowadays I have a healthy affection for them both. I also enjoyed stories about a white knight charging in to save the day. To me, a white knight is the embodiment of bravery, chivalry, power, and he does it all in the name of the woman whose favor he wears. Wrapping her scarf around his arm when he jousts, symbolizes to the world that he is only successful because she is his. I find the notion very romantic.

In creating my handsome prince, I gave him all of the characteristics that would be found in my interpretation of a perfect man. My dream prince is attentive, sweet, loves to snuggle, gives massages, and is a good dancer. He sacrifices himself for others, is a fabulous gift giver, and writes poetry. My readers might have noticed that he also looks a bit like Superman. What could be better?

In high school I fell for similar types of guys—boys next door who were sweet, handsome, and a bit on the shy side. My husband is this type and he has many of the same characteristics that Ren has.

But then there’s Kishan.

I originally wrote him to be the scoundrel of the story.

He’s a handsome prince like his brother and he’s a bit of a rogue, but I couldn’t resist falling for him too. He’s a different kind of hero. Kishan is quieter, less prone to expressing what he wants, but when he does share how he feels, the impact sends shockwaves. This prince is steady, determined, and willing to break the rules to get what he’s after. I never wanted a casual hookup It’s very easy to sense the passion smoldering beneath his surface and what is exciting about him, is not knowing when that heat will bubble over and consume him. There’s something very intriguing about Kishan and I can’t wait to explore more of his character.

So whether you like them blonde, tall, strong, or dark, it’s raining men in Young Adult literature and I’m leaving my umbrella at home.

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Colleen Houck

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My Teen Crushes

January 19, 2014

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Colleen Houck