Do you use a Muse for Inspiration?

The famed painter Andrew Wyeth had his Helga (Helga Testorf), Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa has been a muse for many budding artists.  Even Greece had their mythological Helen of Troy. If her face could truly launch a thousand ships * then she must have been inspiring – at least from a writer’s aspect.  

When I started writing my current WIP I knew that I wanted my male protagonist to be Scottish first and foremost. But other than fleshing out who, where and the why of the character what should he look like?

He had to be handsome of course but not in the classic sense. Describing him as tall, dark and handsome is too typical. I pondered for some time on what I wanted just his eyes to look like and so as usual I trolled the net looking for pictures of gorgeous but not your usual average male model.

I stumbled upon former Romance cover model Cherif Fortin. His dark swarthy visage was exactly what I was looking for in a muse for my character. A year later I found out that not only was my muse a former cover model but he was a true artist and writer in his own rights.

The stunning creations I found on his website impressed me so much that I wrote to him letting him know that he was muse for my first book as well praising his works.  He was very gracious considering I could have been a stalker!

His partner Lynn Sanders who is responsible for all the beautiful images of Cherif on most of his former covers including current covers for their co-authored ‘Passion’s Blood’ and co-illustrated ‘There Be Dragons’, author Heather Graham, is just as equally prolific in her illustrations.

My muse is not only an author, illustrator and former cover model; he is also a volunteer fire fighter, husband and father of three. Wow.  How is that for inspiration for a romantic hero?

You can see my muse’ works at:  http://www.cheriffortin.com/ and purchase works by Fortin and Sanders here: http://www.amazon.com/Passions-Blood-Cherif-Fortin/dp/160542062X

*Christopher Marlowe - Doctor Faustus