Guest: Farrah Rochon

Today we have Farrah Rochon guesting with us! She and I have totally bonded over football, and we even root for the same teams! It’s just a bonus that she’s an author with some awesome books too. 😀 So everyone please welcome Farrah – whether you’re a football fan or not.

Being a romance reader, I’ve known about Limecello’s blog for a while, but it wasn’t until we “met” on Twitter that I learned a love of romance novels was not all we shared. We are both huge football fans. (Interjecting here, actually, I think the blog first was TGTBTU – definitely we were talking before I started this little venture.)

Football isn’t just something to pass the time for me; it is an all-consuming passion. When Kimani Romance bought my fictional New York Sabers football series, it was like a dream come true. What can be better than having the opportunity to combine my two passions while working in a job with a dress code that consists of yoga pants and t-shirts? It is bliss.

Now, as you can imagine, writing a series about a football team takes much of the guess work out of developing the male characters. But when it came time to match the hot football heroes with heroines, I wanted to bring something different to the table. So far, the series has featured a heroine who is a book blogger (Huddle With Me Tonight) and a female sports agent (I’ll Catch You). Okay, so the female sports agent has been done before, but this agent is as knowledgeable about the game as many of the football players and she is a total bad ass when it comes to negotiations.

Chyna McCrea, the heroine in the latest installment, Field of Pleasure, is a freelance choreographer hired to work with the team’s dance squad. I originally wrote her as a member of the squad, but my editor asked me to change her occupation because of the no-fraternizing rules between players and cheerleaders (but we all know that fraternizing sometimes takes place, right?)

I choose to feature a heroine affiliated with the dance squad after attending a NFL game and overhearing several derogatory comments directed at the cheerleaders. I’ll admit, some of the same thoughts had run through my mind a time or two, but this experience got me to thinking about how the dance squad members were probably being unfairly misjudged.

As I researched real life NFL dance squads, I discovered that many of the squad members are college educated, or current college students. A number of them were married, thus, not likely looking to land a rich husband. For the most part, what I found dispelled many of the stereotypes I had attributed to the women.

With the third Sabers book I wanted to show another side to the NFL cheerleader; that there is substance to these women. I hope I was able to accomplish this with Chyna. Of course, I just had to include a stereotypical, catty character, because, let’s face it, some of them are catty and they are there with one purpose in mind, to catch a husband. Others, however, have been in dance since they first learned to walk, and like the heroine of Field of Pleasure, being affiliated with an NFL cheerleading squad is one way for them to continue to indulge in their love of dance.

So, who will admit to being unfairly judgmental towards cheerleaders? Or, are there any current or former cheerleaders out there who have suffered with the stigma attached to that role?

I’ll offer one one reader their choice of one book in my Sabers series along with a bunch of Farrah Rochon swag (a tote bag, pens, ereader cleaner, etc.).

Bio: Farrah Rochon, award-winning author of the popular Holmes Brothers series, hails from a small town just west of New Orleans. She has garnered much acclaim for her New York Sabers football series for Harlequin’s Kimani Romance imprint. Farrah was named Shades of Romance Magazine’s Best New Author of 2007, and her debut novel, Deliver Me, claimed the prize for Best Multicultural Romance Debut.

I’ve got to add my question here too – have you ever seen those shows, maybe on like NFL free previews, where they follow/document the selection of a team’s dance squad? I’ve seen a few and find them hypnotically compelling. Anyway, answer our questions for your chance to win a book! A football romance!

0 thoughts on “Guest: Farrah Rochon

  1. Melanie Carrico (@Kissablysweet1)

    I was judgmental towards cheerleaders since high school. Then I befriended several and found out the stereotypes didn’t fit. I watched the Dallas Cowboys squad selection process and my heart broke for those girls. They gave it their all. I love football and yes Dallas has been my team. The Bengals use to be back in their hey day. I am from that area. They’ve been a disappointment mostly, but then so has Dallas since they took on Romo. *smile* I can’t wait for the season to begin. Thanks for sharing your time with us.

    Reply
  2. Julia Broadbooks

    My girls used to dance so I’ve known Rockettes and Vegas showgirls. Lovely women who were wonderful teachers. That makes it easy for me to appreciate the talent and hard work of the cheerleaders.

    @Melanie The Cowboys Cheerleaders show is one of the few reality show that I really enjoy. I’m always thrilled for the dancers that make the squad, sad for the girls who don’t and endlessly impressed by their work ethic.

    Reply
  3. Jamita Elmore

    I had friends who were cheerleaders and people thought they were dumb. I knew they were extremely smart but people stereotyped them. I love that you are showing that cheerleaders do have substance! They do more than just jump around and date the football players. Good job! I can’t wait to read the book.

    Reply
  4. Wayne Jordan (@authorwj)

    Farrah: A great post. I don’t know a lot about American football, since we play soccer here in Barbados, but I know a lot of our young people follow American Football. I won’t be surprise if it catches on here. However, I love the who ambience of sports; especially soccer and all that comes with it-the excitement, the cheerleading-all these things add the the beauty of the game. I expect it’s much the same thing with your football. I have been enjoying your football series and definitely learning a bit about the game.

    Reply
  5. Ismial

    I work with a former Carolina Panther cheerleader and she is smart enough to use the stereotypes in her favor. Now, she’s co host of a morning radio show in the Charlotte area. It just goes to show you that you can never judge a book by it’s cover. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Limecello Post author

    Hi Farrah! Thanks for guesting with us today! This post and the responses have all made me think. I knew for a few years about the NFL dance squads/cheerleaders, because I’ve seen those shows – for various teams. The interview process is intense, beyond just the crazy practices. I respect them for the latter alone, because it’s crazy hard. Not to say they’re all brilliant. (I always have to be the grey cloud, right? I mean not everyone who goes to college or graduates is brillz… ;))
    In high school and so on though, I was never that impressed with cheerleaders. Perhaps my school was out of the norm though, because nobody else was either. Nobody knew who they were but themselves. In college I knew some people who were cheerleaders, and they liked it and worked hard of course, but it didn’t identify them. Maybe that’s different at smaller schools?
    One of my friends in LS was a former cheerleader/dancer for some Pittsburgh pro team and news anchor. Ismial’s comment made me think of that. I wonder how she’s doing now…

    Reply
  7. Farrah Rochon

    Thanks again for hosting me, Lime. And thanks to everyone who has stopped by.

    I didn’t watch the Dallas Cowgirls reality show. I wish I had. Probably would have been great for researching this book. Keep the comments coming. I am loving this discussion.

    Reply
  8. DK H

    I went out for cheerleading in the 7th grade and didn’t get picked. At the time, I was crushed. To add insult to injury, the person sent to console me about missing the team was hateful and unsympathetic.

    It’s good to know that these ladies at the professional level are educated. It dispels the myths and stereotypes that have long been attached to both cheer teams and dance teams.

    I have read the first two books in the Sabers series, and I look forward to getting the new book. The scene with the chocolate in “Huddle”= smoking hot. Congrats on all your success Farrah 🙂

    Reply
  9. FarrahRochon

    DK, your cheerleader story made me frown. 🙁 Girls, especially at that age, can be so mean. Happy you don’t hold it against all cheerleaders. My little sister was captain of the cheer squad for three years, and even though I gave her grief about it, she really was one of the good ones.

    By the way, FIELD OF PLEASURE has a scene that takes place at Lincoln Center, during the ballet, that may give the “chocolate scene” in HUDDLE a run for its money. 😛

    Reply
  10. Dawn

    I’m a huge football fan and my sister was a cheerleader. My huby and I love to watch cheer meets to – It’s a sport n those girls work the butts off. The one’s that let it go to their heads though are a bit much and can be scary at times.

    Reply
  11. Sam

    Judged unfairly? I don’t know…
    I actually admire cheerleaders for how hard they work and how fit they are. My sister is a HS cheerleader and the amount of time they put into practices is unreal. And the stunts are often very dangerous! Crazy…
    Looking forward to checking out the series.

    Reply
  12. Pingback: Farrah Rochon’s Winner + Football! Squee! « Limecello

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