Heroes and Heroines Who Don't Drink Alcohol

by Elva Cobb Martin

Why would I want the heroes and heroines in my inspirational novels to be non-drinkers or convert to non-drinkers?

A key verse of scripture that has led me to this conviction is Proverbs 20:1

"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

This verse strongly warns about inherent dangers associated with drinking alcohol.

The key phrase is "whosoever is deceived (by fermented wine, beer, liquor) is not wise." I do want main characters who are wise or who become wiser, as they grow. On the other hand, my villains might partake and be shown suffering many of the consequences. I believe I owe this contrast to my readers.

Here and elsewhere in this book of wisdom, Proverbs warns about a variety of personal and social evil consequences associated with drinking alcoholic beverages. The following notes are listed in my Life in the Spirit Study Bible published by Zondervan.

• As a "mocker" it leads to a decreased capacity for self-control, a weakening of inhibitions and a disdaining of prudent behavior and righteous values.
• As "raging" it contributes to disturbances, conflicts and violence in families and society.  
• It is also associated with inefficiency, poverty, and injustice. Rulers are advised not to drink alcohol since it can affect their decisions.

In our contemporary world in such nations as the United States, the drinking of alcohol is a factor in more than 50% of all fatal car crashes, 75% of all crimes committed, and more than 30% of all murders. It is also implicated as a factor in sexual immorality, pregnancy outside of marriage and high divorce rates. As Christian writers we can show some of these very conflicts.

Abstinence helps guarantee avoidance of the pitfalls associated with drinking so why not inspire readers and the next generation to choose the better way?

Here is a scene from my contemporary wip Summer of Deception showing one way I dealt with alcohol involving my hero and heroine. The novel is set on a Charleston Tea Plantation.

The h/h, Luke and Rachel, are at a party on a yacht in the Charleston Harbor owned by friends Archer and his sister Morgan. Luke is with Morgan, Rachel is with Archer.


       Archer balled his fist and pressed Luke on the shoulder. “Boy, am I thirsty after that carriage ride through history. What are you drinking, old man?”

     “A Devil’s Triangle,” Luke answered, swirling his glass and staring straight at Archer. “Minus the devil.”

     Rachel glanced at Luke, but he had turned back to Morgan. They were the most striking couple in the room. Something about Morgan  leaning close to him annoyed Rachel.

     “Luke’s still walking his teetotaler plank, I see.” Archer’s voice brought Rachel back to face him. “I’m going to have a Wild Affair, what would you like, most beautiful lady in the room?”

      Rachel had never heard of the drinks mentioned but assumed they included alcohol. “Coke—or ginger ale, please.”   

      “Oh, no, another teetotaler in the house?” Morgan  bemoaned with a mock grimace.

        Luke regarded Rachel. He motioned toward the black bartender. “This guy’s been trained on Barbados, and he’s famous for his fruit and berry concoctions. You don’t want to settle for a soda, not here,  Rachel. At least try my drink—you can get it minus the alcohol.”

        So that’s what Luke had meant.

       “Okay, I’ll take a Devil’s Triangle—minus the devil.” The bartender handed Rachel a tall glass. She took a sip and delighted in the rich strawberry-lemon fruit drink with a touch of mint.

How do you treat alcohol in your novels? Leave a comment and please share this blog if you have time. Thanks for stopping by.

Elva Cobb Martin

Character Sketch of a Pirate Hero

by Elva Cobb Martin

Portrait of Pirate Hero Captain Lucas "Bloodstone" Barrett

This is actually Scottish actor Gerard Butler in his role as Attila. 

                Character Sketch

Career: Buccaneer captain/privateer/pirate and new Christian, educated by tutor father

Description models: Gerard Butler, Errol Flynn, Robert Taylor, Johnny Depp

Age: 25

Height/hair/coloring: 6' 4" tall,  long dark hair often in plaits; tanned
    by long days in the tropical sun on deck of his ship, the Blue Heron.

Build: lithe, muscular

Eyes: startling green that shoot sparks when angry (like the bloodstone   gem from which he got his nickname)

Strengths: leadership skills, master of the sea and sailing ships, physical prowess, swordsmanship, takes up for underdog, hates slavery, hard worker, determined to live our his new found Christian faith.

Weaknesses: inability to forgive master of his indentured parents and what happened to them, and wanting to wreck revenge on Spain for the Inquisition and his parent's capture.

History: Lucas was born in England of a noble mother who married a tutor and was then disowned by her wealthy family. The family came to Charles Town as indentured servants when Lucas was 10. Their papers were bought by Sir Roger Poole, Sr., who mistreated them. The parents were captured by the Spanish while being sent on a ship to the Poole's sugar plantation in Jamaica. Lucas ran away and joined the British navy and gained much knowledge about sailing and leading men. As the story opens, he has his own merchant ship which he also uses for privateering when it suits him. He has recently been led to the Lord by Rev. Ethan Wentworth and his wife Hannah when they begged passage on his ship from England to Charles Town.

Spiritual
As a new Christian Lucas has battles to fight with his old nature and with forgiveness to those who have wronged him or his parents. He is respected by most of his crew. He will find his faith greatly tested as the story progresses.

Do you have other traits to add to a hero's character sketch? Next time we may take a look at a villain's character sketch.

Thanks for stopping by. Do leave a comment and I hope you'll  share the blog on Twitter and FB, if you liked it.

Elva Cobb Martin

Heroes to Die For

Doesn't everyone love a real hero? Of course, I live with my favorite hero, my hubby of quite a few years. Then there's our law officer son we put in the same category and a little grandson who may very well fit the bill one day as well. 

As an inspirational romance writer I love to find pictures of possible heroes to consider as I create a novel.  Here are a few of my favorite hero photos, past and present, some of which show a likely heroine as well. Which one(s) strike a creative cord in your writer's heart?

       Here's David Thompson looking ready for any kind of contemporary story about a savvy, determined lawyer maybe.

What's not to like about Tyrone Power--in any role--but especially as a pirate?

Would you vote for Colin Firth and his roles in Jane Austen novels? 

Philip Winchester is this hero's name, I think. Wonder what kind of gun he's holding? Hope he doesn't pull that trigger or he will surely break a lot of hearts.

Eddie Matos has a deep, deep look that          

makes one want to know more of his story! Whatever

it is, I think it will include some pain, and maybe revenge.

Of course Tim Tebow is a modern hero in every sense of the word.....                                                

Here is the picture I've chosen for my next hero, the son of my current pirate hero. Can you guess his name?

There is a lot more to a hero than a photo. In my next post I want to explore some of the characteristics I like in a hero. How would you make this list for a hero? Is there a different list for heroes in inspirational novels than in secular novels? You bet there is. Thanks for stopping by and I'd love to have your take on my "heroes." Is one your favorite?

Elva Cobb Martin

Downton Abbey - Hoorah for Marriage But Oh Me for Ardor

I've watched and have taped all the PBS Downton Abbey series and I  love them. For the most part.

What a great quote on marriage came from Season Four's January 19 program. Lord Grantham is trying to console his valet whose wife has pulled away from him (the valet) due to a rape she's kept secret. The valet is hurting. He has no idea what has happened. Here is Lord Grantham's wonderful counsel.

"There's no such thing as a marriage between two intelligent people that does not at sometime have to negotiate thin ice. You must wait until things clear and they will. The damage cannot be irrepable when two people love each other as much as you two do." 

 HOORAH! So true, so true, if my 40-plus years of marriage experience counts for anything.

But...I have to admit as a southern USA born and raised romance writer, I've found a lack of ardor in the English gentlemen heroes! After all, I have to compare them to our American romantic heroes like Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, or Tyrone Power, to mention a few. Now I've aged myself!

For example, get this scene also in the January 19, 2014, Season Four movie. 

 Mary, emerging from her year-long widowhood, has attracted a new handsome, rich beau who has fallen head over his polished heels for her. She seemed to be responding to him on a couple of outings. Now they are out on a walk alone on the grounds of Downton Abbey.  He asks her to marry him, even if he has to wait a year or two for her to be ready. They are standing about a foot or two apart and looking into each other's faces. He tells her poetically that she totally fills his mind. 

Mary replies, "But that's just it, Matthew still fills my mind and I don't want to lose him."

The next thing just blew my warm, southern romantic mind. This lily-livered English gentlemen, STILL a foot or two away, then ASKS her if he can kiss her, in order to have at least one great memory to carry with him.

Can you, my American friends, in your wildest imagination, ever dream of Clark Cable asking Scarlet, "May I kiss you, my dear? I want at least one good memory to take with me."



 Rhett Butler to Scarlett O'Hara: "What you need is kissing and plenty of it by someone who knows how."

Can you imagine pirates Errol Flynn or Tyrone Power asking ANY heroine they are in love with this kind of question when what the antsy heroine needs is to be clasped in the hero's arms and given an unforgetable kiss that will make her knees buckle and blot all thoughts of any other man clear out of her mind? Don't you just long for Mary to receive such a kiss? As wonderful as Matthew was, it is TIME to move on. He's been deceased over a year.

Now, that I've expressed my romance-writer, woman-married-to a warm-Southern-hero mind, what is your opinion? Would you like to join with me in sending the writer of the series, Julian Fellowes, a message?

Something like: "Hey, why don't you bring a warm-blooded, AMERICAN Navy Seal or cowboy or law officer or any type of Carolinian CHRISTIAN hero into the story to really sweep Mary off her stilted boots?"

And it wouldn't hurt if he looks a little like Peter Facinelli... 

 

And it would be WONDERFUL if he has the Christian integrity, strength and fervor of Tim Tebow.

What do you think? I would love to know your thoughts. Do you think this "American hero" also needs to be wealthy?  Leave a comment and even a photo of someone you recommend for this part!

Thanks for stopping by!

Elva Cobb Martin 

Elva Cobb Martin is a freelance writer, Bible teacher and grandmother. She is president of the American Christian Fiction Writers new South Carolina Chapter. She has been published in Decision, Charisma, and Home Life and is currently working on an inspirational romance novel. Elva lives in Anderson, South Carolina, with her husband and high school sweetheart, Dwayne. You can connect with her through her web site at www.elvamartin.com , on Face Book and Twitter @Elvacobbmartin. Or leave a comment below on this blog!  

Review of ML Tyndales Elusive Hope

MaryLu has done it again with Book 2, in her Escape to Paradise series, Elusive Hope.

Magnolia, uprooted from her pleasurable southern Plantation life by her stern father, battles homesickness, low self-esteem and an addiction to rum. She cannot think of love or of a God who seems to have abandoned her.

 Hayden lives, breathes and dreams nothing but revenge against his swindler father who abandoned him and his mother when Hayden was a child. He also knows he has become very much like the man he hates. Love and faith have no place in his goals.

But romance does bloom between these two in the midst of a steamy tropical forest full of snakes, spiders and demonic apparitions after Magnolia attaches herself to Hayden thinking he’ll help her escape to Rio de Janeiro and to passage on a ship back home. The haughty southern girl and proud, savvy swindler meet their matches in each other. Both of their dreams, his to get revenge on his father, hers to get back home, keep tantalizing but eluding them with every new plan they concoct.

No one but MaryLu Tyndale could write such romantic scenes in a sweltering, dangerous, bug-infested jungle in Brazil and then draw all the story threads together, including spiritual renewal and deliverance, into a surprising and satisfying ending.

In her next book coming out this Spring, MaryLu is back on the high seas with a great romance and adventure. I look forward to reading The Ransom.

Have you read an exciting Christian romance lately? Tell me about it. Thanks for stopping by and do leave a comment.

Elva Cobb Martin

Elva, president of the new ACFW-SC Chapter, has founded and led* writers’ groups since 2007. She is a former school teacher and semi-retired minister with hard earned degrees from Anderson University and Erskine College. Decision, Charisma, and Home Life have surprisingly published her articles. She is currently sweating over her second inspirational novel. Happy to be a mother and finally promoted to grandmother, Elva lives with her husband Dwayne and a mini-dachshund writing helper (Lucy) in Anderson, South Carolina. Connect with her on her web site www.elvamartin.com, on Twitter @Elvacobbmartin and on Face book.    

*some would question the accuracy of this word

Creating a hero tips

In a recent post Mary Lu Tyndale shared some great tips on creating a hero. Here
they are:
1) Pray and decide on a theme for the book, some moral lesson you want to express through the story. Make it a great take away--forgiveness, redemption, destiny, loving others, humility.
2) Choose a personality for your hero. You can use the many personality charts
available.
3) Give him a backstory. Write his history. Interview him.
4) Create a character arc and a spiritual arc for him. How does he grow? What does he learn? How do you get him from A to B?
5) Look for a picture of the man you've created and keep it close by as you write.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and a great time creating a hero!
Elva Martin