Shannon here: Lorna Seilstad shares the inspiration for her latest novella, Lighter Than Air. Comment or answer the question at the end of the post to enter the drawing for a copy of the First Love Forever Romance Collection. Deadline: April 14th, 11:59 pm, central time. Here’s Lorna:
First Loves Forever?
Did you marry your first love? I don’t mean the first person you may have dated, but the first person who captured your heart.
The First Loves Forever Collection features nine novellas with characters who find their first love again. All of the stories are set between 1865 and 1910 and delve into the idea of “coming face to face with that person again [which] can be awkward when the heartstrings are still holding on to the ‘what ifs.’”
In my story, “Lighter Than Air,” aeronaut Titus Knot crashes his hot air balloon into the backyard of an all girl’s school where his first love just happens to serve as the principal. He must make her believe his words are true now and not full of hot air.
But what about real life and first loves? How often do people marry their first loves? According to a British YouGov study, 27% of those married in Britain are married to their first love, while 36% are married to their second loves. Other studies support these same numbers with about 25% percent of all marriages being to a first love.
One interesting statistic, however, is that 64% of those who are married to their first love report being definitely still in love, 78% have never thought of leaving their spouse, and 97% say they will stay with their partner until their dying day. This is ten to fifteen percent higher in each category compared to those not married to first loves.
First love seems to be etched in our minds forever. It’s our first taste of romance and the first time we begin to understand what love is. Feelings of selflessness and love explode, and good or bad, the relationship is ripe with emotions. The feeling of being euphoric or swept away is intoxicating. No wonder first loves who reconnect years later on social media often find themselves together again. It may be easier to tap into that “first love” state and recall all of those early emotions.
Are you ready to read about first loves yet? If so, grab a copy of the First Loves Forever Collection and soak up every story.
About Lorna: Lorna Seilstad brings history back to life using a generous dash of humor. She is a Carol Award finalist and the author of the Lake Manawa Summers series and the Gregory Sisters series. When she isn’t eating chocolate, she’s teaches women’s Bible classes and is a 4-H volunteer in her home state of Iowa. She and her husband have three children. Learn more about Lorna at www.lornaseilstad.com.
About the collection – First Loves Forever Romance Collection:
A first love is never easily forgotten…
and coming face to face with that person again can be awkward when the heartstrings are still holding on to the “what ifs.”
In settings from 1865 to 1910, nine couples are thrown back on the same path by life’s changes and challenges. A neighbor returns from law school. An heiress seeks a quick marriage. A soldier’s homecoming is painful. A family needs help. A prodigal son returns. A rogue aeronaut drops from the sky. A runaway bridegroom comes home. A letter for aid is sent. A doctor needs a nurse. Can love rekindle despite the separation of time and space?
First Things First by Susanne Dietze
1877 – South Texas: Texas rancher’s daughter Georgie Bridge mourned when her first love, Ward Harper, left town to study the law, but now he’s back—as opposing counsel in a case against her father.
A Most Reluctant Bride by Cynthia Hickey
1880 – Ozark foothill ranch: Maggie Spoonmore marries her father’s former foreman, Zach Colton in order to salvage her reputation, yet struggles to believe he married her for love and not her inheritance.
Weeping Willow by Marcia Gruver
May of 1861 – Port Royal, Virginia: In Civil War Virginia, tables are turned for Willow Bates when Julian Finney, her childhood crush and steadfast defender, returns from the war a broken man in need of rescue.
His Anchor by Carrie Fancett Pagels
1894 – Mackinac Island, Michigan: Robert Swaine, a ship captain, returns to Mackinac Island where his first love, Sadie Duvall struggles to support her siblings. Will she anchor him to the island he has vowed to leave behind?
After the Ball by Martha Rogers
1910 – Dallas, Texas: Chase Thornton, a wealthy oil man yearns for the life of a cowboy and his first love, Susannah King, but can she trust him to keep his word to leave the city and stay on the ranch?
Lighter Than Air by Lorna Seilstad
1900 – St. Louis, Missouri: After Titus Knott crashes his hot air balloon behind Ella Mason’s boarding school, he must convince his former sweetheart that his words are true and not full of hot air.
In Due Season by Connie Stevens
1901 – Whitley, Kansas: Leah Brown accepts her role of town spinster until Gareth Shepherd unexpectedly steps back into her life. Now she’s faced with a choice. Can she forgive the man who jilted her?
Heartfelt Echoes by Jennifer Uhlarik
1875—Virginia City, Nevada: A short, urgent letter mentioning his childhood love, Millie Gordon, forces deaf Travis McCaffrey to turn to his estranged birth father for help rescuing the woman he can’t forget.
Prescription for Love by Erica Vestch
1905 – New Orleans: Erstwhile fiancée Natalie Morrison is the last person Dr. Mackenzie wants as his new nurse, but when an epidemic hits, Phin finds she’s come back into his life at the perfect time.
Question for Readers: Why do you think first loves are so powerful?
Come back April 10th for Laura V. Hilton!
because they are the first to stir our hearts to love!
You don’t ever forget your first love and when it happened that you fall in love with that person. I’ve dated several guys when I was younger and thought I was in love with every one of them but I wasn’t. I fell in love with my husband of 35 years and knew he was the one. He is the one I really fell in love with, so he is my first love and my soul mate.
As you said, it is the first time we experience all these new feelings and adventures, and something you never forget.
We always remember our firsts.
First tooth lost, first day in school, etc. so why not our “first love”?
Our first love sets us up so to speak, for the one that we will eventually marry, whether it is our “first love” or not.
It’s the first time you feel such strong emotions and it makes an impression on our memories! 🙂
Amada (a.m.a.th.a)
YEA, a chance to win a book that’s on my wish list, THANK YOU!!!
In answer to your question, maybe because it’s the first time you’ve had such strong feelings for someone other than family.
wfnren at aol dot com
I think first loves are so powerful because it’s a time when one’s heart is swept away and captured for the first time with the magic and wonder of really caring for someone.
And YES!!! I am so ready to read about the first loves in the First Loves Forever Collection!! You sold me, Lorna! I want to soak up every story! 🙂
Your story, Lighter Than Air, sounds wonderful. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of this book!!!
I don’t have anything to compare my first love to since I married him 🙂 But he still makes my heart flutter.
Because it’s a new experience for you. You’re in awe and wonder of it. It’s like having a traumatic experience…but in a good way. You’re hardly likely to forget it.
I have a winner! Rita Jarr won the drawing. I appreciate Lorna for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.