Planting the Seed to Romance

Linda Howard did a workshop a few years back (okay almost 12 now I suppose) on the 12 steps to Intimacy. In the next several installments of this blog I'd like to explore those steps in relevance to Romance in Bloom.

Step 1: Eye Contact
Without seeing we may never notice that someone special who has walked into a crowded room, stumbled on the sidewalk, or even bumped their way into a crowded subway car causing that steaming cup of Starbucks to spill all over your favorite blouse. In fact, without our sight we'd miss a darn lot of what goes on in the world. But it takes a trained eye to really see what is going on in front of our noses sometimes.

Lucky for us readers we have authors out there who spend hours upon hours slaving over the computer keyboard making sure we see that first glance between the hero and heroine. Will it be a shy and timid look, or a bold and lusty 'I dare you to ignore me' glance? The possibilites are endless.

Making eye contact with another can be very intimate. Our eyes can be windows to our souls and exposing our feelings and emotions in the way we look or react to another human being or situation.

The sense of sight is a very useful tool How do you use it to your advantage as a writer? Do you notice how others use it when you are reading?

All Good Romances Take Time to Bloom

Like all flowers a good romance takes time to bloom. There is much leg work that must be done by the author, as well as the honey bee who pollunates in the spring. A reader wouldn't get their feel or be as satisfied if the author didn't do the best job depicting the courtship between the characters that leads up to them becoming lovers.

I've been reading Regency Historicals lately and the authors of the books have been fabulous. I've leared a great deal from these authors even if I do write American Historicals. (Face it, there aren't that many American Historicals out there these days so you have to take what you can get. And I'm not complaining.) The description and detail given to scenes, the sexual tension between hero and heroine and the love scenes all culminate to make the books enjoyable reads. Sometimes these three elements mesh so well the reader can't put the book down.

And for those curious to know who I've been reading just shoot me an email. I'll be happy to share.

Budding Romance: Edward and Bella

Today I watched Twilight again. I've lost count how many times I've actually watched the movie. I loved the Twilight series (I'm counting the days until Nov. 23 and New Moon hits the theater) and couldn't put the books down as I read them. The characters are so real. And to let you in on a little secret, I'd love nothing more than to go to one of the many Twilight Conventions being held around the US by I won't let myself indulge that much.

But this blog isn't about that. It's really about the budding romance between Bella and Edward. Sigh. Their romance is that of the forbidden nature. They both know they shouldn't get close, yet they can't stop their attraction for one another. Their desire to be together is so overpowering that nothing else matters. And isn't that what most of us in "real life" would like to have?

What is Romance in Bloom?

To me Romance in Bloom is that first bud or spark of romance between a man and a woman, a boy and a girl. It's that bubbly feeling you get inside. The warmth you feel whenever you think about him. The flush you feel on your cheek and the silly grin on your face at seeing him again. It's the beginning of what could be the happiest days of your life.

I believe this is what draws romance readers to book after book. The yearning to experience this feeling over and over and over again. It can even be what keeps a reader turning page after page until they reach the last line of the best novel they've read until they pick up a new one.

So until the next one, keep reading faithful reader. Keep falling in love with each story, each tale, each irresitible new couple that is brought to life by your faviorite author or authoress.

A New Outlook...

Today is the start of a new blog. I've had this account for two years without really knowing what to write. And then this morning, poof, like an ephiemy I knew what I was going to do. So sit back, buckle your seatbelts and get ready to read my ramblings.