Shannon here: Romantic Women’s Fiction author, Linda W. Yezak shares her inspiration for writing romance. Comment on any post dated June 4 – 6 to enter the drawing for a copy of her latest release, The Cat Lady’s Secret. Deadline: June 14th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Linda:
Why Romance?
I never wanted to be a romance writer because, for some reason, I always thought it was trite, and to a certain extent, yeah, it is. It’s fluff. But I’ve come to realize it’s not irrelevant.
The God-given need for a heart connection transcends time and cultural differences. The scruffy guy whose palms sweat the instant he sees her is having the same reaction as his forefathers. The young lady in Indiana who is counting the moments until she can see him again shares an anticipation experienced by women all over the globe.
Romance is in virtually every story. Pick one. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom has a romantic element in it. Even in “Space: the final frontier,” Star Trek’s Capt. Kirk could find someone attractive.
Whenever boy meets girl–the girl–his step is lighter, his chest is puffed a bit fuller, his heart is elated, and his tongue is often tied in intricate knots that makes talking nigh unto impossible.
When girl meets the boy, she floats like a butterfly among spring flowers. Her step, too, is lighter, her heart full. When he stutters words of love through this tangled tongue, all she hears is poetry. Her mind takes her down the aisle in a gown she has dreamed about since Cinderella lived “happily ever after.”
Love affects every aspect of life. The worst possible work day can turn golden with the realization that when it’s over, someone who loves you is waiting. The best possible work day holds only a short celebration when you have no one to share it with. Once love has been experienced, the loss of it changes you forever. Loneliness has never felt more lonely.
The triumph and tragedy of love make great stories. Love’s progression from romantic to mature makes inspiring stories. And the silly things that can happen when boy meets girl make heartwarming stories.
Love stories aren’t just fluff–they touch people. They give those who are searching for love something to dream about, and those who have found it something to remember.
Love matters. Love counts. Love stories are worth writing.
About Linda: Linda W. Yezak lives with her husband and three cats in a forest in east Texas, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. She holds a BA in English and a graduate certificate in Paralegal Studies. Thirty years later, she’s finally putting her degree in English to good use, combining it with her natural inclination toward story-telling to create fun, unique novels.
Her publications include Give the Lady a Ride, a 2008 ACFW Genesis finalist and a 2012 Carol Finalist, as well as a 2011 Grace Award Winner. Her new release, The Cat Lady’s Secret, was a Genesis finalist in 2010. She was a contributing author for 31 Devotions for Writers, and coauthor with agent Terry Burns of Writing in Obedience.
She has served as a freelance editor for several years. Her editing experience includes work for other small presses and small magazines, as well as serving as an editorial assistant to a popular literary agent. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Christian PEN (Proofreaders and Editors Network).
Twitter: @LindaYezak https://www.facebook.com/GivetheLadyaRide https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindawyezak
https://www.goodreads.com/LindaYezak Newsletter: http://dld.bz/drt5t
Blogs: http://lindayezak.com http://authorculture.blogspot.com
About the book – The Cat Lady’s Secret: Emily Taylor loves to help people, loves to ease their burdens and make their dreams come true. But when a conman ruins her reputation, she discovers that helping others is safer and easier from behind the scenes. When one of Emily’s gifts captures the attention of an avid journalist, her identity as the town’s anonymous benefactor-and her renewed relationship with her high school sweetheart-are threatened. As her private life begins to unravel, she realizes the one hope for regaining control lies behind prison walls.
Come back June 9th for Helen Gray!
Thanks for sharing this, Shannon. I hope your readers enjoy it!
Well, it is fluff in a sense. It’s an escape into the Cinderella story with one twist or another. But, so are mysteries, thrillers, and most any kind of fiction that you may lay your eyes to.
Now, before you all go off and find your shotguns, let me say this. Some fluff isn’t a bad thing. Fluff gives it it’s entertainment value. This entertainment value appeals to the masses (or the not so masses). A book that’s all fluff shouldn’t sell well (some do I admit). A book that’s about changing a character or circumstance I don’t see as all fluff. Fluff is like marshmallow cream…yummy by itself but not good for any of us especially in large amounts. But, if you put marshmallow cream in say fudge, well (ok bad analogy). But, you see where I’m going with this.
Let’s (especially me) have our work SAY something that MEANS or SHOWS something (without being preachy).
God bless you in your efforts for HIM
Fluff absolutely does have entertainment value. Romance, in all its subparts, is the best selling genre there is. The escapism it permits adds a value all its own.
Thanks for coming by, Nora!
You’re welcome, Linda. I have to weigh in here since I’m always asked why I write romance. I don’t see Christian romance as fluff since the focus is not only on a relationship between characters, but because on the characters’ relationship with God. My goal with my writing is to show the world that romance doesn’t make the world go around, God does.
Love a good Christian romance like Shannon writes and I sure you write like Shannon does! so would love to win your book Linda!
@Shannon–what a beautiful point! Having that relationship with God can lead to deeper plots, deeper characterization, more intense conflicts. Yes. I like that. Great point!
@Shelia–Good luck!
Linda,
I have trouble writing romance for the reasons you initially stated. That said, when I am exhausted from working on my own book, short stories and essays, and tired of reading intricate thrillers and mysteries, I look for a good, sweet preferably historical romance. Why? Because I can relax, sink into it and just enjoy it. I’m not fond of erotica but I do like some steam in romance. I read constantly and review the books, so as much as I love other genres and write in all of them, it’s still the mushy love stories that I turn to for a comforting read. It’s like having desert after a heavy meal.
Micki
There ya go, Micki! Yes, sometimes a sweet romance is just what we need.
Thanks for commenting!
Great post.
Thank you, Melanie!
I have a winner! Kathleen Friesen won the drawing. I appreciate Linda for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.