Julesfest: Day 3

Welcome to the 3rd day of Julesfest, a celebration of that sizzling hot Parisian revenant: Jules Marchenoir.

Tousled Jules

Today’s hot Jules photo is of French actor Pierre Boulanger.

Give him a little razor stubble and a paintbrush and voila—we’ve got another Jules!

In today’s JULESFEST I want to give you more of an idea of how Jules feels toward Kate. This is from a Point Of View piece I wrote for him last year. You can see it in its entirety here. But just to let you know, in Jules’s upcoming eNovella DIE FOR HER (the whole reason for Julesfest), I have changed things around just a little bit: timing, events, emotions. You’ll have to read it to understand. (Ha! How’s that for a marketing ploy! )

So let’s listen to Jules talk about Kate:

I wanted to paint her. If I couldn’t caress her body with my hands, I could paint it with my brushes. Use my fingers to trace her lines. Sketch the curve of her neck, apply the crimson of her lips, form her face into a two-dimensional tribute to her beauty. Mix my oils to the exact shade of her skin, and spread it on the canvas with my trowel. Make love to the image of Kate since I would never have her in real life.

At Vincent’s request, I painted a small portrait of her…but that wasn’t enough. Once I had painted her, I couldn’t stop. She is my inspiration. My muse. My obsession.

I paint like a madman now, with the door locked behind me and curtains closed. I’m afraid one of my kindred will see what I am hiding. That there are dozens of portraits of Kate hanging amongst my still lifes, reclining nudes, and cityscapes.

Kate sitting at the café, nose buried in a book. Kate sitting in a museum, lost in thought in front of a painting. Kate throwing her head back to laugh at something I’ve said—some insane repartee her crazy sister and I have batted back and forth, fighting for the prize of making her laugh.

But I never paint serene, happy Kate. Kate in love. Passionate Kate. Because that’s how she looks when she’s with Vincent. And though I love him like a brother, I have committed the gravest sin of all: wanting what is his. Coveting what he loves more than anything else. Wanting her to be mine. To love me instead of him.

Someone give Jules a hug—quick!

Since today is Day 3 of Julesfest, there are 3 prezzies in the giveaway:

One new and one “vintage” bookmark, both signed, and a signed and dedicated bookplate!

And to enter this random drawing, you just need to give me a link in the comments to a photo of a boy who is your version of Jules. (And if they look like MY version of Jules, I might use your photo during Julesfest!)

Can’t wait to see who you come up with!