Southern Fried Chicas

So I have been coming down with a cold/the flu and over the weekend it came in with a vengence, so I holed myself up in my room with a passel of DVD’s and let the DH tend to the two sickies that followed my into germ-town (both of whom are still ill, but I at least see the Kleenex-free tunnel quite well–but I digress…)

I was watching The Lake House (Sandra Bullock–Kate {I heart Sandra} and Keanu Reeves–Alex). Don’t know if you have seen the movie or not, but there is a scene with Alex and his dad–there are really only two in the entire movie so it’s not hard to narrow down–think backless gown. They are talking, or rather dancing around talking and Alex stops, looks at the older man and says with major emphasis, “Dad!”

Don’t know why that moment stopped me, but hearing the son call to his father, use the name so many of us do, that made me flash to many of my books. I thought through all the WIPs I could come up with on the top of my head. In all but one story, there’s no dad(s). Only one of my hero’s has a father still living–well Her Passion, I supposed the parents are still living, I don’t know that I ever even mentioned them. Odd.

Do I have issues with my dad? I’m guessing so. Why else would a writer habitually leave out an integral part of the family dynamics?

I do have two hero’s that are dad’s so obviously I am not opposed to male influences on their children. But still, I thought it interesting I have a serious lack of paternal dynamics for my Heroes. I am going to make a point to add this in the next story I work on.

What do you think? Do you habitually construct your worlds with one major influence always the same? Tell me…