Guest Post from Author Liz Schulte – Literary Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner (two days away in fact, eek!), and I am thankful for many things. I am thankful people enjoyed my first book Dark Corners and I made so many new and wonderful friends. I am thankful I am releasing my second book, Secrets, on time (today), and I hope people connect with this story even though it is in a different genre (urban fantasy). So in honor the release and of Thanksgiving I thought I would share with you my favorite literary men who nourish my soul and make my heart threaten to stop.
The Turkey (i.e. main course)- Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. He is the perfect hero in my eyes. He is misunderstood, but not overly consumed by it. He is honorable, smart, doesn’t mince his words, and all types of arrogant. I can hardly hear the name without swooning just a little on the inside.
The Mashed Potatoes (second to only the Turkey)- Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre. He is not perfect. In fact, he is flawed. Really, really flawed, yet I sympathize and excuse his actions. I want Mr. Rochester to live happily ever, just like I want seconds of the starchy mashed potatoes staring at me on the table. I know I shouldn’t, but I do. Mr. Rochester is somewhat bipolar in his actions, he never lets Jane get two feet on the ground, but in the end he is totally worth it.
The Cranberry Salad- Don Quixote de la Mancha. Cranberry salad is a little nutty, definitely sweet, and you might not want it all the time, but you enjoy having it. Don Quixote is a perfect gentleman who has read too many romance and fantastical novels (something I can sympathize with) which has distorted his perceptions and caused his mental facilities to waver. What are the holidays without a little crazy?
Sweet Potato Casserole– Mr. Rawden Crawley from Vanity Fair. Rawden is sweet and decadent. He is has a tragic story much like my leftover sweet potato casserole that never gets eaten. Rawden married Becky against the wishes of his aunt, and loses his inheritance, becomes an indifferent soldier, a decent gambler and dueler, but he never waivers from Becky and sees her as no more or less than the woman he fell in love with. When he finally realizes her reputation it breaks my heart.
Corn- Mr. Knightly from Emma. Corn isn’t too exciting and a little sweet, but if it wasn’t there you would miss it. That is very nearly the problem Emma found herself in when her match matching schemes made her realize perhaps she would like the same service. Of all the men in her acquaintance there is only one who is constant, steady, and she would miss terribly if he was gone.
Hot Rolls and Butter– Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind. Rhett is so hot he could make butter melt. He is a man’s man and sees right through all of Scarlet’s games and coyness. He sees her for what she truly is and loves her all the same. If that doesn’t melt a cold heart I don’t know what does.
Coffee– Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. He is strong, dark and bitter. He loved and lost. There was little else he wanted from life than to be able to be with his only love Catherine Earnshaw, but her family would never let it happen so Heathcliff left to earn his fortune only to come back and find Catherine went and married a latte. Obviously Catherine regretted this immediately, but it was too late. Heathcliff was tragic, but in the end not as bad as he tried to be.
Pie– Mr. Arthur Clennam from Little Dorrit. Arthur is sweet and kind and gentle. There is nothing sharp or bitter about Arthur, he is simply a good person trying to be good while surrounded by bad. He loses everything while righting the wrongs of the past, only to find his true happiness.

Thank you for having me today and letting me indulge in the literary world I love so much. If you are interested in checking out more from me, please visit my blog at www.LizSchulte.com or you can pick up either of my books on Barnes and Noble or Amazon