I’ve been with my husband for 20 years, for starters. 😂 It’s what I know. But that’s not the only reason…

I’ve written a lot of emotionally complicated men across 30+ books. Some express themselves by keeping their distance. Some through protection and their actions. And some shut down completely.

But it’s about more than what I know when it comes to the men in my life.

First, not all of my male family members and friends are bad communicators, but most of them are. We could go into a HUGE discussion about social and cultural pressures and why that is. But that’s not what this letter is about.

I may want to pull out my hair when I’m trying to deal with real men in my life, but when it comes to male characters, I enjoy reading the broody men with an “I’m no good for you” exterior and cinnamon roll interior. And I more than enjoy writing them.

Jackson. Greyson. Jake. Luke. Erik. Knox. Dean. Zander. Killian. Sylas… If you know, you know.

There’s something so alluring to me about a broken man who feels unworthy, and yet he’s the pillar of strength he can’t quite grasp.

And Lucian? Well, he has been a particularly emotionally constipated male character to write, and I’ve LOVED every minute of it. He’s the type of character that you must see inside their head to understand him because words are as equally difficult for him to handle as his emotions are. And I think that’s why readers love him so much.

Every word Lucian speaks is earned.

Perhaps he’s at the top of my mind because I was re-reading a deleted chapter from his POV. Or maybe I’m just REALLLLLLY anxious to get to his big scenes in Fatesworn I’m writing next. Shrugs.

Until next time, Roguelings!

- Linds