Shannon here: Amy R. Anguish shares her inspiration for her latest Contemporary Romance, Writing Home. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for a copy. Deadline: Feb 20th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Amy:
Falling in Love Apart by Amy R. Anguish:
Can you fall in love if you’re not together? That’s a loaded question, isn’t it? And maybe a strange one. But not if you’re familiar with my latest book, Writing Home. In the novel, my characters “meet” through her friend/his cousin, and get to know each other by writing letters. They live two states apart.
So, is it a feasible set up? Could it really happen?
I will say, since going through the process of launching this book, I have heard from a few people who told me about their own long-distance relationship. One girl met her now-husband right before he deployed and they kept up with each other through letters the first few years of their engagement and marriage.
In my own experience, I didn’t end up with my letter-writing boyfriend. We faithfully exchanged letters and emails all through high school, but I was smart enough to know I might meet someone who fit me even better in college. And, turns out, we both did. We ended up getting married to our spouses one day apart, even.
So, how would it work to fall in love through letters? Would it be harder? Easier?
That’s what my characters explore. Her reasoning for starting the whole thing is that she wants MORE than she can get from social media. More than what comes from not having to take time to think things through before you say them. She doesn’t initially set out to fall in love, but of course, it’s a romance, so it sort of had to happen. 😊
What do they talk about that makes them want to be more than friends? Cooking. Family. Home. Worries. Work. Church. Fishing. Holidays. Dreams. Struggles. Everything and nothing all at once.
And if you’re dating someone, isn’t that what you do? They simply did it without having to worry about first impressions (can’t judge someone on looks if you don’t see them). Not to mention who has to pay for dinner that night.
And by writing letters, they also added in the anticipation factor. Would the letter arrive today? What would it say? Would it still carry her perfume? Had he answered all her questions? If you’re like me, you enjoy something more if you’ve been looking forward to it for a while.
About Amy:
Author of An Unexpected Legacy, Faith and Hope, and Saving Grace
Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher’s kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good. Learn more & connect:
Amy’s Website Amy’s Facebook Amy’s Twitter Amy’s Pinterest
Check out the YouTube channel she does with two other authors: Once Upon a Page Youtube
About the book – Writing Home:
Can letters from the past spur a couple on to the future of their dreams?
Christiana Jones dreamed her whole life of living in Huntsville, Alabama, so she can’t figure out why it doesn’t feel like home. Her relationships—on social media and in real life—seem shallow and empty. When she unearths a stack of her grandparents’ letters, it spurs an idea. Could she find something deeper with a pen pal?
Jordan White is taken aback when his cousin Tina suggests he become pen pals with her childhood best friend. What could a Louisiana boy have in common with a girl two states away? After all, he’s happily settled on his family’s property and working the job he always wanted. But every letter they exchange has him wishing for more.
As they grow closer through their written words, the miles between them seem to grow wider. Can love cross the distance and bring them home?
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Get your copy now!
Question for Readers: So, what do you think? Could two people fall in love by writing letters? Have you ever done something like that?
Come back Feb 12th for Sara Davison!
Andrea says
Yes, I believe you can fall in love by writing letters!
Amy Anguish says
Yay! I obviously believe it, since I wrote a romance novel about it. 😉 Thanks for commenting.
Chasya says
Yes I believe it’s possible. And what a wonderful love story to tell.
I have written to a friend as a pen pal and have also wrote a love letter before. It’s great to get one in return
Amy Anguish says
I agree. It’s always great to get a letter in return. Thanks for your comment.
Gayla Martin says
I personally do not have that experience, but I know a couple that fell in love that way. It was during the war ( As she told me) She was a senior in high school and he was a soldier. Their teacher had all the students write letters to the soldiers. She thought he was interesting. After the war they ran into each other and realized who each other was. Long story short, they have been married for 69 years now.
Amy R Anguish says
Oh my goodness! I love this so much. 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Jenny McLeod Carlisle says
This didn’t happen to me, but once met a man (on the phone) who bragged that he married his sweetheart without ever dating her. They courted entirely by mail. When I talked to him, they had been married over 60 years!
Amy R Anguish says
That’s so neat, Jenny. I love stories like that. Thanks for sharing.
Paula Shreckhise says
It seems very possible.
I wrote letters to my husband while we were dating and after we got married when he was stationed overseas before I could join him. We have been married 51 years.
Amy R Anguish says
That’s wonderful. My grandparents wrote letters to each other while he was stationed overseas, too. I love to hear about couples that last so long. Thanks.
Shelia Hall says
Yes it is possible!
Amy R Anguish says
I think so, too. 🙂
Maryann says
Yes I believe it’s possible. I wrote many letters to my now husband when we lived many states apart at one time.
Amy R Anguish says
That’s wonderful, Maryann. So glad they kept you close to each other. Thanks for commenting.
JOAN ARNING says
I believe so! I am better at expressing myself in letters than in person.
Amy R Anguish says
I think a lot of people are. You have to take more time to think about what to write when it’s not spoken. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by.
Abigail Harris says
I think people can fall in love through letters! I love the idea of this book!
Amy Anguish says
Thank you so much!
Diana Hardt says
Yes, I think two people can fall in love by writing letters. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Amy Anguish says
Thanks so much for your sweet comments.
Cherie J says
My hubby and I had a long distance relationship and so besides phone calls we wrote letters. I find that you can be more open sometimes in letters so I believe it is entirely possible to fall in love.
Amy Anguish says
I completely agree.
Shannon Vannatter says
I have a winner! Chasya won the drawing. I appreciate Amy for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.