Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1994)
Nebraskan Monday, March 28,1994 ArtscoEntertainment Romantic heroes grace novel covers, dreams Early Sunday I was lost in Omaha, waiting for my romance hero to rescue me, after my friend had accidentally left me behind. So at 2 a.m., alone and careless in front of an empty parking garage, I reflected on what I had learned over spring break about romance writ ing and heroes. My research had started with a phone inter view with Tye Damon, a New York romance cover model and spokesman for Zebra Books. Damon was scheduled to speak at the second annual University of Nebraska at Omaha Ro mance Writers and Readers Conference on March 25-26. As a reporter, I was curious about male models and their lifestyles. As a romance writ er, I was eager to learn more about making fictional heroes come alive for my readers. Damon didn’t disappoint. He was candid about modeling, and he shared some sizzling publishing tips and insight into romance he roes. Besides writing adventure romances, Damon models for a new line of romance books. That’s where “A Man’s Touch” comes in. “A Man’s Touch” is a line of romance books written fromaman’spointofview insteadofthc heroine’s. The first book comes out in August, with Damon on the front and back cover. Another book he is writing is nonfiction — “Romance and the Romantic Hero,” he said. The book includes self-help lips, romantic tips, pictures and exercises. “Plus, the book profiles why cover models are becoming so popular in the ’90s,” Damon said. But jumping from the cover of paperbacks into real life has its drawbacks. “I love being around the women, and I don't mind the autographs, but sometimes it can get to you...especially when women follow you into the bathroom.” he said. Damon was scheduled to appear at the Cross roads Mall in Omaha Thursday night for a pre conference autograph signing party. Unfortu nately, he canceled because of a family emer gency. But in front of the Read All About It book store on the raised platform were four other “heroes” autographing pictures and smiling at the women gawking at them from a safe dis tance. Three of them, wearing blue jeans and sleeve less cutoff denim shirts, made Arnold Schwarzenegger look like Opie on “The Andy Sandy Summers/DN Russ “Savage” Guerrero, former Chippendale model, works as a romance^novel cover model. Besides being a freelance model, Guerrero performs singing telegrams and works for a children’s newspaper. In 1995, Guerrero will appear on the cover of the Avon Romance “Lady of Summer” by Emma Merritt. urimth Show. The Three Huskatcers were none other than Kris, Kurt and Jim Battling, hog farmers from Unadilla, destined to adorn the eovers of fitness magazines and romance novels. Kris and Kurt said they had interrupted their University of Nebraska-Lincoln education to join older brother Jim in New York. i>ince last year, the Nebraska triplets have successfully harvested a living cultivating the look of the blue-eyed Midwest farmer with a strong cleft chin and long blond hair. Their hard bodies appear all over the country on Hallmark cards, fitness magazines, TV shows, comics and book covers. “With the three of us together, very few women nave me guis 10 wane up anu lain to us, J im said. “Women who are confident do, but the introverts will look at us and act like they don’t even see you.” While romance model ing may be just anoth er notch in the Bartling brothers’ weight-train See MODEL on 10 - Courtesy of Creative Artists Agency From left, Kevin Smith, Toby McKeehan and Michael Tait form the rap/ soul/rock trio DC Talk. Christian band rocks, talks of relationships with Jesus Concert review The rap, rock and soul ofDC Talk, combined wilh some fancy light work, a fog machine and rock-sol id Christian lyrics, drew more than 3,000 fans to the scats and aisles of Pershing Auditorium last week. Opening with the rap/soul mix “Say The Words," the group began a three-ring circus of music, dancing and stage magic that slowed only for a few special acoustics that let members catch their breath. Up front were singers Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait and Kevin Smith, backed by a four-man band of keyboards, bass, guitar and drums. Amid hot releases from its most recent project “Free At Last,” DC (for Decent Christian) Talk performed some favorites from past recordings, like “Nu Thang” and “Heavcnbound.” McKeehan, Smith and Tait fell into the arms of fans crowding the stage, reminiscent of a mosh pit. Other fans hip-hopped in the aisles. In fact,only the in-your-face Christian lyrics and the sharing from band members between songs would separate this concert from secular counterparts. Lyrics from“l Don’t Want It” urge people to wait until they are married to have sex — “Don’t give it up ‘til ya tic the knot.” “Socially Acceptable” blames secular hu manism and a society out of whack for making things that used to be wrong, right. The interra cial group also takes a strong stand against racism. “I hate racism,” Smith said. “It sucks.” McKeehan said, “God doesn’t judge on the color of skin. He sees the heart, not the skin color.” The group got up close and personal with fans, sitting on the edge of the stage for a set of soulful acoustics. A remake of U2’s “40” drew- roars with a gravelly Smith solo. The band took advantage of the rel at i ve cal m to share some personal stories and convictions. McKeehan told about the band shooting the video for “The Hard Way” in a maximum security prison. He said the experience taught them all how much they had in common with the people they met behind the bars. “We three guys make mistakes. We don’t deserve the stage. We stumble and fall all the time. “The beauty of stumbling and falling is this ... at least you realize you don’t have it all together. God didn’t say we’d never stumble and fall; he just said he’d be there to pick up the pieces.” The mood continued as McKeehan wrapped up the concert. “Our generation is a generation with a lot of problems. Some problems we inherited... other problems we created on our own. “Either way we’re looking for answers, a way out of our problems. We have found a permanent answer—that permanent answer is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. “He will set you free at last; you won’t be searching anymore.” — Adeana Leftin