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| Learn how to write your novel...AND get it published in the privacy of your
own home with the "Writing For Love and Money" home-study program designed for
beginners. |
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Michael O'Hearn
You're a New York editor specializing in women's fiction. A hefty
manuscript crosses your desk and features a hero who is a wealthy
entrepreneur, an actor in a major film, a potential Olympian and Mr.
Universe. Wouldn't you scribble "too unrealistic" in the margin and move
on?
But a Topaz editor would know better, for their latest Celebrity Topaz
Man, Michael O'Hearn–a debut cover model for Justine Dare's HEART
OF THE HAWK–fits that profile exactly. His company, Michael O'Hearn
Enterprises, is a thriving multifaceted fitness-oriented concern. And
he's landed a substantial role in an upcoming film that will co-star
Gary Busey and Mickey Rourke. (O'Hearn teams up with Busey's character
to track down villain Rourke.)
As all of us know, whether in real life or fiction, a perfect hero can
be perfectly boring. Sure, we like the fellow capable of bashing a few
villains with a flick of his finger and, say, landing a role in a
Hollywood film, but we have to see a chink in his emotional armor to
really love him. Fortunately, in the tradition handed down from Mr.
Rochester to Rhett Butler and to Justine Dare's Hawk, Michael has a
tough exterior cloaking his vulnerability. As such, Justine Dare's Hawk,
a gunslinger with a heart of gold, is a fitting role for O'Hearn's first
cover appearance.
In Hawk's colorful, gun-fighting travels, he meets an orphaned boy, whom
he takes under wing. Similarly, Michael has spent so much time with kids
as a volunteer, he received a certificate of merit from the
International Federation of Bodybuilders. And what a role model. If not
for an application snafu, Michael was to be a powerlifting contestant in
the Atlanta games. Unfortunately, talks between the two powerlifting
federations broke down just before the deadline to submit a new sport
for approval for the '96 games, says Michael. But, his sights are set on
the 2000 Olympics.
And while the new cover model isn't as tormented as Hawk (a character
who author Justine says is "afraid of the day he kills a man and feels
no remorse"), Michael has fought demons of his own. Diagnosed with
dyslexia as a child, Michael admits he had a lot to contend with,
working harder than his classmates. "My family really came through for
me," says Michael, who is the eighth of nine children and a college
graduate. "They read my text books to me, and helped me strengthen my
memory and listening skills."
So, it makes perfect sense that this seemingly invincible man with a
soft heart would steal the cover of THE HEART OF THE HAWK, which is the
prequel to WILD HAWK (Mar. '96, Topaz). In Wild Hawk, modern-day Jason
Hawk mystically received a letter from his ancestor through a book that
magically appears whenever the Hawk lineage is threatened. The Heart
follows the ancestor who wrote that letter, who, as the sole Hawk, is
about to be executed for murder–until the heroine, his victim's
widow, saves him at the last minute.
Fans wearied of covers falsely portraying the story will be satisfied
with the cover of The Heart of the Hawk, which illustrates the couple's
first love scene. Details as minute as the unrolled bolts of cloth at
the heroine's general store are accurately portrayed. "The artist truly
captured the mood of that moment," Justine says approvingly. And
O'Hearn, it appears, has truly captured the essence of her mighty, but
gentle hero.
AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL O'HEARN
Michael O'Hearn is one of three highly visible celebrities under
contract as part of the new strategy to market Topaz Romances and
authors through 1996 and beyond. You might have seen him two years ago
on the "Joan Rivers Show" when he was awarded second place in Joan's
production of the Mr. Romance Cover Model Pageant. Michael was the
baby-faced man flexing his perfectly sculpted physique, a physique that
has since caught the attention of the entire bodybuilding industry, and
has now brought him to the notice of Topaz.
"We searched through a lot of photographs of celebrity models and actors
and loved Michael's looks. When he came for an interview, I knew that he
was special," says Mary Anne Patalla, part of the publicity team of
Topaz Romances.
On the day of our interview, Michael posed for his third Topaz cover at
the chic NYC photography studio belonging to lensman extraordinaire,
Michel Legrou. The final outcome will grace Denise Domning's Dec. '96
release, A LOVE FOR ALL SEASONS, illustrated by the debonair Pino. Two
beautiful female models posed separately with Michael, who was
'costumed' in nothing but a black colored brief.
Yes, Michael's first covers will imply that he is nude! The studio was
packed with "ET's" and People's cameras and reporters and, of course,
the crew for the actual cover shoot. One could barely get a glimpse of
the blonde Viking-like model who was creating such excitement in
Michel's spacious studio.
His first two covers, HEART OF THE HAWK by Justine Dare and WAYWARD
ANGEL by Patricia Rice will hit store shelves sometime around their
release (Nov '96 and Feb. '97 respectively).
As we relaxed in a charming Italian restaurant after the shoot, Michael
and I talked about his past and future plans. Originally from Seattle,
he left home to pursue dreams of a Hollywood career in L.A. It didn't
take long for agents to notice this 6'2" blonde Adonis. For the next
four years he appeared on 52 covers of exercise and bodybuilding
magazines and was named "Model of the Year" by the Body Building Academy
Awards. He has won the Mr. Universe competition three times, held the
title of Mr. USA, and also scooped the California Heavyweight Judo and
Powerlifting Championships, and a contract with "American Gladiators."
In addition, Michael is a spokesperson, alongside David Hasselhoff and
Troy Aikman, for the food replacement shake MET-RX.
With all these accolades, he still finds time to run his three-year-old
company, Super Star Fitness, and its success has brought him financial
security. "I can relax a little now," he replies with a wink. Michael
will add to his already hectic schedule when he lends his expertise to a
training camp for children this summer. Along with several Olympic
athletes, he will train children in sports and martial arts. He shares
the First Lady's belief that "It takes a village to raise a child."
Michael hasn't abandoned his acting career, however–he features in
the upcoming Gary Busey and Mickey Rourke film, a murder mystery. He's
also waiting anxiously for the Olympics Committee to announce whether
Powerlifting will be a medal sport in Atlanta. If so, he will represent
the USA.
The first Topaz books to feature the new Celebrity Topaz Men are
expected to appear in August, although they will be promoting the Topaz
imprint throughout the year.
When reminded that the books he was posing for would be brought into
women's bedrooms, Michael blushed a little, and replied, "I am flattered
and honored that I was chosen to portray the heroes for Topaz."
Asked if he plans to start reading romances he replied, "I love happy
endings so I think I will be picking up a book or two." His favorite
historical time period is Medieval Scotland and he would love to portray
a hero in a kilt.
No matter what the time period I'm sure we all agree, Michael will
capture the hearts of women around the world on any romance cover!
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