Beauty and the Beast and the Bad Boy Syndrome wortechnologies.com Life - Coaching - Personal Develop

This is the "Author's Note" from Marcia Lynn McClure's romance novel, The Whispered Kiss.

Yes, truly, one of my favorite fairy tales has always been "Beauty and the Beast." To me, the tale of Beauty's beast whispers of so many aspects I love about romance, as well as life in general. The idea that patience and love see beyond the battered and broken, that the power of love brings change, compassion, sympathy, courage and triumph. It's a wonderful lesson, a beautiful romance, and I always wanted to write my own version of it.

And then, there's the fact that, to my way of thinking, "Beauty and the Beast" represents the ultimate example of the ‘bad boy' syndrome so many of we girls secretly long for and utterly understand . . .

I once had a conversation with a young man of nineteen. One day this young man (we'll call him, Bob), explained to me that he had been what he called, a ‘late-bloomer.' A bit chubby and somewhat shy in his early teens, ‘Bob' had been unable to capture the attention of any of the girls he had experienced crushes on in those early years. By the time he was nineteen, he had certainly ‘bloomed,' as he put it, but he still didn't understand the ‘bad boy' syndrome.

He asked me, "Why do girls always want the bad boys? Why don't they see us good guys as attractive, too?"

Well, we all know the answer to that question . . . it's the "Beauty and the Beast Principle," as I like to call it--the idea that the gorgeous, brooding, troubled ‘bad boy' will fall in love with one of us so completely that his entire life alters. In loving us so desperately, the Beast transforms into Prince Charming! Oh, certainly we girls want enough of the Beast to remain that it keeps things interesting, keeps our Prince Charming masculine, mischievous, and ‘perfectly imperfect.' Yet, to imagine a boy/man could love us so thoroughly, so obsessively that he entirely gives his heart over, now that's why so many of us are drawn to the ‘bad boys' in our youth. At least, that's my theory.

I tried to explain my theory to Bob, but he just couldn't quite grasp it. And so, he gave up, eventually telling my daughter (at the time she was fourteen), "Sandy, you are going to be a goddess! Total eye-candy! But do me a favor--don't overlook the plain guys and the good guys. When you're like eighteen and a goddess . . . give those guys a chance." He certainly had a point, but had simultaneously given up on trying to understand my, "Beauty and the Beast Principle." So, off Bob went--off into life with his unanswered question.

Well, shortly after Bob left on his grand post-high school adventures, I watched the movie, A Walk to Remember, based on the book by Nicholas Sparks. Voila!

"That's it!" I told my husband. "That's what I was trying to explain to Bob!"

That story/movie is the perfect example of my own "Beauty and the Beast Principle," theory and the, "good-girl-falls-for-bad-boy-and-the-bad-boy-falls-so-in-love- with the-good- girl, he-completely-alters-his-entire-way-of-life," that it boggled my mind for a moment! As soon as the opportunity presented itself, I relayed my findings of an example of my answer to his question to Bob. I'm not certain Bob ever really grasped the concept, but it further solidified my own feelings on the matter.

Whether or not Bob ever really got it, I know you do. And, in understanding my theory, you'll further understand why I love the story of Valor and Coquette--which began to imprint itself indelibly in my brain this past summer. A handsome hero, tormented, bitter, angry--for all appearances a beast--acquires a sweet, beautiful ‘good girl.'

The story was blending, ripening in my mind one day when my friend Amanda was over for a visit. Of the many stories playing out in my mind, Amanda was inquiring as to which one I would finish next.

"Well," I began, "I'm a little nervous about it."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because . . . I'm thinking of doing another fairy-tale retelling," I confessed.

You must understand this is a nerve-wracking thing for me. Whenever a story is playing out in my head, I'm always afraid my readers will hate it.

"Oh!" Amanda said. "Which one? I wish you would do Beauty and the Beast," she said. "It's my favorite!"

"Mine, too!" I exclaimed, feeling a tiny wave of relief wash over me.

"Except, I think the beast should be gorgeous instead of ugly. I think he should be really, really handsome, and his heart should be what's ugly," Amanda said.

"Exactly!" I replied, another wave of relieve washing over me.

It was then I decided to let Valor and Coquette leap from my mind and onto a page. Amanda had given me the affirmation and courage I needed! (Thanks, Amanda!)

August was upon me and I had written the prologue, first chapter and the first ‘whispered kiss' encounter between Valor and Coquette. Off I was to a book convention, my flash drive in tow. Valor and Coquette however, needed liberation, and I couldn't get the story out of my mind. Therefore, one August night--as my good friend Marnie and I were sitting around in our pajamas in our hotel room listening to Bon Jovi and Harry Connick, Jr., and eating jerky and Chips Ahoy cookies--I asked Marnie if she would read the prologue and first chapter of the book I had entitled, The Whispered Kiss.

As I sat on the bed in my Tinkerbell pajamas, Marnie read the prologue out loud. At one point, she paused and asked, "Where do you come up with this dialogue? How do you think of having them talk like this?" referring to the style of verbiage Valor used. I was momentarily bewildered. What did she mean? I didn't think of it . . . Valor talked that way!

"Well," I began, "That's the way he talks . . . in my head. When I hear his voice . . . that's how he speaks."

Marnie laughed, grabbed another cookie and read on. It was then, however, that I realized something--I had to share my "Beauty and the Beast" story. I had to let Valor and Coquette out of my mind and into your hands.

I'm always nervous about a new book, fearful of disappointing friends, not entertaining to the fullest. And, I will admit, releasing this story for all to read causes a certain amount of anxious trepidation to linger in my bosom. The Whispered Kiss is burned deep into my heart. I love its "Beauty and the Beast" flavor, its lessons of patience, love, understanding and triumph. I love that it's a retelling of Amanda's favorite fairy tale, that Marnie ate cookies and read it out loud to me while wearing her pajamas one warm August night. I love that my dear friend, Amy, called me up one day after reading over a few chapters and uttered two sentences that still make me laugh so hard I cry whenever I think of them! I love that my daughter realized the name of the city "Bostchelan," [bost-sha-lan] came from a blend of Boston (the intriguing and historically rich city) and Chelan (a beautiful blue lake in Washington state our family once visited). I love that my friend Kay-Ron found that I couldn't spell ‘Godfrey' the same way twice. I love that Valor has amber eyes, and that Coquette is named after a line in a song sung by Bing Crosby in the Disney version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

In the end, I love this beauty and her beast--this ‘good girl' and ‘her bad boy'--one of my favorite fairy tales--retold just for your heart and mine.

About the Author
Romance at its finest! Escape into adventure, mystery, clever dialogue, engaging characters and captivating kisses. Void of explicit sex, enjoy books by Marcia Lynn McClure. Marcia McClure may be contacted at http://www.marcialynnmcclure.com/bookshelf/whisperedkiss.cfm. Click here to view more articles by Marcia McClure.