Does a Character Like Grant Exist?

Funny thing about fiction, is it's very subjective to the person reading. No different than strolling through an art gallery, really. Some may view Picasso as an artistic genius, others may scoff and compare it to their child's craft corner. Regardless, fiction is an art, and not everyone is going to like what an author pens.

I love reading reviews. Even the 1-star reviews. It's been interesting to peruse reader's thoughts about The House on Foster Hill. One comment, I've noticed, had threaded its way through several reviews that were super valuable and cherished.

I don't believe a man like Grant would actually exist in real life.
I preferred Joel over Grant; no man is as perfect as Grant.
Where is this sensitive man who can read a woman's heart? He doesn't exist. Grant wasn't realistic.

(paraphrased reader comments -- not actual quotes to protect the reviewers because I appreciate their feedback!!!!)

So. Here's a little back story on Grant. He was actually modeled after someone near and dear to me.

This particular individual has the majority of Grant's personality traits. And while he trumps Grant in age and potentially, in wisdom, he really does exist. This man was pivotal in my life and still is.

But I also get the concept of a "too perfect" hero. Here's my authentic thoughts about the proverbial "Grants" of the world, based on my own experience and nothing more:

1. They seem few and far between. I'll "grant" you that (pun intended). Many men are not as adept and perceptive. However, I will argue, if any female readers out there are married to men who are marriage, grief, or children's counselors, you will totally relate to Grant's sensitive and intuitive read on a person's emotions. (also my personal experience)

2. Not all men are oblivious to a woman's emotions and troubles. Some men, like the real "Grant" are deeply in-tuned to their significant-other's needs. In fact, sometimes, this male type is actually the calm to her storm, the gentle to her harsh, and the nice to her bitter.

3. Some men simply don't have troubled, haunted pasts. Some men actually did make healthy, stable choices enabling them to be strong, calm, and functional as a man. I know I sort of broke the fiction world's rules by not writing a hero with something he needed to overcome, but I also know several men in my life, who seriously do have it pretty much together. Outside of a few small personality flaws that are completely over-lookable (says their wives to me). :)

That said, I'll give the readers some leeway in that, I'm sure even the most "perfect" man does have some negative traits. The real Grant doesn't like coffee. HUGE negative. MASSIVE negative. :) You COULD make the argument that I have a phony, rose-colored glasses view of the real "Grant". Maybe I do. That's a viable argument, I suppose.

But in the end, when I look at the real Grant, I see my Dad. There. Now you know who he was loosely based on. I see how he treated my mom growing up. How he really did seem to be the stabilizing force for our family, the ying to her yang, the sensitive soul who could assess a person (me!) and be right 99.9% of the time. Is it weird to model a hero after my own dad? Sure, that might strike some of you as freaky, but then, there's worse people to model a hero after. My dad grew up making wise choices. He doesn't carry a lot of baggage around. He's trained and educated to be highly perceptive of other human being's emotional needs. Is he perfect? No. Is he almost perfect? I think so. (insert personal bias here)

So in the end, maybe some of you are right. Maybe Grant doesn't really exist in real life. But I think he does. He raised me. Call it a tribute to one of my heroes, if you will. The world today needs more "Grants". The strong, the wise, the perceptive, the emotive, and the iron-clad faith of a man who looks out for others.