Posted Aug 30 2012, 12:01 am
When I tell folks I’m an author, they of course ask me what I write. I tell ’em, romance. With a capital “R.”
Then they ask why romance (maybe even with a slight lip curl.) My reply is because in romance story, the good guys win–all the time. It’s what separates romance from love stories. Only bad guys die in a romance. Romance stories always have an emotionally satisfying end. After x-number of pages of the hero and heroine fighting the odds–and each other–they wind up living “happily ever after.”
And then of course there’s the sex. With a capital “S.” And that can be pretty darn satisfying, too. On several levels. 😉
But it doesn’t matter what heat level you write or enjoy reading. The vital thing about romance is that all important HEA.
As a reader, I want to feel the joys and the sorrows, the highs and the lows of the characters. I want to be tormented into believing the hero and heroine will NEVER get together only to be proven wrong by the end of the book. I want to laugh out loud and cry in private while reading. I want to be entertained. To escape for an afternoon with hot guys and sexy gals.
This is what I strive for as a writer. Take my latest release, Wildflower. (The blurb is featured above and through tomorrow, Sept. 1st, you can get Wildflower for FREE, exclusively through KDP Select.) It’s a classic “Ugly Duckling” story, with the appropriate amount of torment thrown in. Add a stampede, some nasty cattle rustling bad guys and a hero/heroine with stubborn streaks as long and as wide as the Mississippi River, and you’ve got the true makings of a romance.
But something’s still missing.
Ah, yes! The sex. With that capital “S.”
But, as I said, it doesn’t matter whether you prefer sweet or erotic in your stories. What matters is having two characters, from opposite sides, thrown together to overcome insurmountable challenges so they can live “happily ever after.” HEA. The reason I not only read romance, but write it as well.
What about you? What’s your favorite part of a romance story? What draws you to read Inspirational, Young Adult, Romantic Suspense or Paranormal? I’d love to hear from you!
Remember to leave your email along with your comment. We’re got some AWEsome grand prizes for this blog hop.
First Grand Prize is a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet. Wooza!
Second Grand Prize is a $130 Amazon or B&N gift card. Totally cool!
Third Grand Prize is a Large swag pack. Suh-weet!
I’m giving away a separate Amazon or B&N gift card for $10 as well so leave your email address with your comment!!
Please check out the rest of the authors on this hop. http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=150398
There are over 200 writers! Remember, the more you comment–with your email address–the bigger your chance to win one of the outstanding grand prizes.
94 Comments
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I love the emotional tug of war and the guarantee of a happy ending. It’s what makes me return to romances time after time. of course, if there’s an underdog involved all the better.
lindaaandrews@lindaandrews.net
Linda~
I totally agree with you! Gotta love the torment, the underdog and, of course, the Happily Ever After.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I love happy endings. I’ve been a sucker since I was a baby watching Snow White.
kesummer69 at gmail dot com
Thanks so much for popping in, Kelsey! Good luck with the drawing!
I do like the immediate attraction or sparks.
lcahoon7(at)gmail(dot)com
Lynn~
Ya, the sparks that can lead to a really HOT attraction! Thanks for commenting and good luck!
I love when they first meet, is it love at first sight or hate at first sight? Either way the sparks fly and I am hooked
fencingromein at hotmail dot com
I think it’s better when it’s “hate” at first sight. You know they’re attracted to each other. THEY know they’re attracted to each other (but won’t admit it). It’s all good from there.
Thanks for stopping by, Shannon!
What a fun hop! delphinareadstoomuch at yahoo
It is a hoot, isn’t it, Delphina! Thanks for popping in to visit me!
Lynda:
Ahhh romance. Us “oldies” love it! I’ve got a long email coming to you about the screenplay, Mongolia, critique group. I like Wildflower.
Thanks for stopping by, Kate!
I love m/m best, since there’s a greater variety of appealing male characters. But no matter what the romance genre, I like to see all the different ways that characters find their HEA.
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Trix!
I love the way your mind works! Thanks so much for stopping by!
I admit it I love the HEA, but enjoy reading all the ups and downs that they go through to get to the HEA.
Finding so many new authors and their great books, such a fun bloghop.
skpetal at hotmail dot com
This hop is fun, isn’t it, Jean? Thanks for taking the time to visit me!
I like all romance novels, especially happy endings.
I know whatcha mean, Susan! Good luck with the drawing!
Is romance writing really only about HEA? I love the character arcs!
Jesse
jesse.kimmelfreeman@gmail.com
So true, Jesse! The tormented character arcs make the HEA just that much sweeter IMO. Thanks for stopping by!
I love the guaranteed HEA 😀 Books tend to “live” in my head for a few days after I finish them, so sad ending would just depress me for days.
Thanks for doing this giveaway!
~Krista
pinkbonanza{ AT }gmail{ DOT }com
Thanks for popping in, Krista!
I like it when there are sparks between the hero and heroine—neither of them want to admit that they like the other one but they just can’t help it.
Great blog title, btw.
celestejones215 at rocketmail dot com
Thanks for the kind words, Celeste. And thanks for commenting.
I love that I can live vicariously through the characters in the book. It allows you to escape to a whole other world for a little while 🙂
Thank you so much for the giveaway!
songbird1613 at yahoo dot com
I’m with you Marie. Sometimes I just want to escape into the pages of a romance book.
Thanks for popping in and good luck with the giveaway.
Romance Hop…awesome idea! Best love story for me…Pretty Woman…romance indeed with the must have HEA!… 🙂 A romance novel has to have the same. I love to watch love develop!
Nice to checkout your page! Thanks for the opportunity!
Belinda, belgre@comcast.net
Thanks for popping in, Belinda!
I’m with you. I love a story that leaves me feeling good. If the sexy scenes get the endorphins flowing then I’m feeling even better!
sclare(at)sharonclare(dot)com
Glad you agree, Sharon! Thanks for stopping by.
For me it’s the happy ending, because it doesn’t always work in real life romances that way.
Thanks for the chance!
spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com
Dovile~
If only real life was more like the books we love to read. Guess that’s why it’s called fiction, huh? 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
My favorite aspect of reading romance is the journey to HEA. As for reading a certain sub-genre, it depends on my mood.
bituin76 AT hotmail DOT com
JanD~
My mood determines which sub-genre I read as well, though I’m most always in the mood for a sexy contemporary. Sometimes the world building in a paranormal gets in my way of enjoying the story.
Thanks for commenting!
I love the journey they go through and how they make it despite the odds 🙂
Thanks for the awesome & amazing giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com
Thank YOU for commenting Cassandra. Best of luck to you and all the folks participating in the hop.
I love the way the relationship in romance develops and the happy ending!
sqwalker2@hotmail.com
Me too, Lisa! Thanks for stopping by.
I’m a big fan of reading about the first love and love happy endings!
verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
Veronika~
I love romances whether it’s about a first love or a last love. Thanks for popping in!
I love when you get that gut feeling while reading the book. I love cheering for them on their journey to finding love. I prefer romantic suspense because I like the added tension due to the danger. lol Thank you for the giveaway.
kaylyndavis1986@yahoo.com
Kaylyn~
So you’re a fan of romantic suspense, eh? I’ve enjoyed one or two RSs in my time, though I really hate to be scared…..;)
Thanks for commenting!
I love reading romance books because it is an escape away from real life, knowing in the end that the girl gets the guy and they live happy ever after….I have met my Love and we do have a Happy Ever After…
ronnkelly3@aol.com
I couldn’t have said it better, Kelly. Escapism is the reason I fell in love with romance stories. Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for participating! Really like the hop so far!! I love reading, especially romance. I love reading contemporary, historical and erotic romance. I love the happy ending that is garenteed at the end. My favorite book is Lover Mine by JR Ward! I love John Matthew and Xhex. My favorite romantic moment was when my fiancé asked me to marry him! We meant two years ago right around when summer was ending when my friend and I went out for our last big night out before classes started again. I think it is romantic when he brings me flowers because no one else has ever done it! Thanks so much! Hope everyone else is having a great long weekend!!
prettyunicorn78@yahoo.com
Patti~
Thank YOU for participating. There are some truly talented authors doing this hop.
Sounds like you married the *love of your life.* I did too! It’s great when reality mirrors fantasy.
Thanks so much for the contest!! I love the happy ending in romance which is why I read them!!
forettarose@yahoo.com
Thanks for stopping by, Foretta!
Thanks for the awesome hop and giveaways! This is so much fun! Thank you! My favorite thing about romance is the romance. lol I love the characters, the plots, the HEA’s, the love. I love it all!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Shadow~
Glad you’re enjoying the hop. Sounds like you love EVERYTHING about a romance. Me too!
Thanks for popping in!
Thanks for sharing. Love the blog, great hop!
krystalshannan@yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for stopping yb, Krystal!
Love to read romance books because I like to know that at least someone is getting an HEA, even if the characters are only fiction! Thanks for joining the hop and the awesome giveaway!
ehaney578 at aol dot com
Elizabeth~
It is nice knowing that no matter how bad things are between the h/h, things will work out in the end.
Thanks so much for commenting.
Romances make my life a little happier and joyful!
readingromances.contactATgmailDOTcom
Can’t ask for more than a little more happiness or joy in your life, huh?
Thanks for commenting, Nat.
Thanks tons for the hop! I only read romance. My fav is Lora Leigh! Going to parade Monday with brothers and sisters! Should be FUN!
swkimbell@yahoo.com
Kim~
Lora Leigh has some ubber intense alpha males. For me, I like a little beta mixed in with my alpha. 🙂 Hope you had a great time at the parade today and thanks for stopping by!
I like the happily ever after.
Thanks for the giveaway.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
And thanks for popping in!
I love the happy ending when she always gets her man.
Joy~
Just like the Canadian Mounties, she always gets her man. LOL
Thanks for commenting!
Thanks for being in the hop!
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Donna~
This blog hop was a ton of fun. That’s for visiting me!
For me, romance is all about the trust and respect built between the characters. Since I write BDSM, these elements are very important.
Thank you for participating in the blog hop!
qwilliarain(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you too, Qwillia. We’ve got so many talented authors on this hop, makes me sad I couldn’t visit them all. 🙁
Thanks for popping in!
I love the happily ever after of the romance. I hate books and movies where you think the characters are going to end up together and then one dies or leaves like in Titanic. I want my characters to struggle but find true love in the end.
I write contemp romance. I read contemp, as well as historical, and paranormal.
Good luck with the book. Sounds great
christina cgricci@yahoo.com
Thanks for visiting, Christina!
I love the chase and the HEA.
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Tracey~
IMO, if you don’t have the chase you don’t have a story.
Thanks for commenting!
I love many things about romances! HEA, Alpha Men, Sci-Fi, paranormal, Contemporary, BDSM, friends to lovers, suspense! I love to be able to escape for a little while from reality over and over again.
susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com
Susan~
As a writer, my goal is to provide the reader with a bit of escapism from reality.
Thanks for stopping by today!
I never thought about the fact that the good guys always win and never die in Romance. I think some part of me knew it. Course, I read Science Fiction Romance so sometimes good guys DO die but usually they come back! LOL. Well, if they’re heroes.
Thanks for participating!
AnnaM.
doxisrcool at aol.com
LOL AnnaM!
I never thought about it, but in sci-fi, fantasy and paranormal, you could have the good guy die – then have him/her come back to life.
Love it!
I love when their is a misunderstanding and then the HEA. Oh and alpha men and the headstrong women who make them fall to their knees is always fun to read about. Young Adult romance is usually more realistic to me so I connect more to that genre.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Meg G.
megonski216(at)yahoo(dot)com
Meg~
Thanks for stopping by!
only genre where there’s always a happy ending – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Yes. Always a happy ending in a romance. Thanks for commenting, Daniel!
I love romance because I get to fall in love over and over. Just such a wonderful feeling.
Mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
Mel~
Falling in love is the best feeling in the world, isn’t it? And if you’re married to your true love, romance stories help you to never forget those sensations.
Thanks for popping in!
My favorite part of romance stories is the journey to the ending. I know when I pick up a romance book that there is going to be a HEA, but it how’s the individual writers take us there that is what I love.
koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
Michelle~
I agree that the journey – the torment – different authors take me on keeps me reading and discovering new voices.
Thanks for stopping by!
I love the HEA. I love paranormal romance because anything can happen.
sstrode at scrtc dot com
What a great hop! Grand prizes, old friends to visit and new ones to meet… and chances to win at each stop too. I’m in Blog heaven! :-}
I’m a sucker for the HEA. All my favorite authors give me a great story line, characters I can identify with, HOT love scenes and a perfect HEA!
Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win.
reneebennett35(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thank you very much great giveaway! I love happy endings in romance Fun blog hop!
tishajean@ charter.net
I love romance for the HEA.
Thank you for being part of the blog hop. 🙂
yazmin.z.rangel(at)gmail(dot)com
I love the way they all fight the fall. The struggle is so much fun. Of course I like the secondary characters that are laughing at the main characters and ribbing them the whole time cause you know that they are going to get theirs in another book. So much fun.
proudarmymom32(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like paranormal romance the best – and I think that one of the things I like about it is that the women are just as tough as the men.
jochibi AT yahoo DOT com
The HEA, of course!
I’m enjoying the hop and discovering lots of new authors!
mcv111 at hotmail dot com
Thanks for the great giveaway!
red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favorite part of a romance story is when the hero and heroine fall in love despite all of their differences.
jmesparza821(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for being a part of the hop. I hope that you had a great Labor day weekend!
jessangil at gmail dot com
Love is a funny thing. Never changes no matter what era you write in. I have an unwilling marriage issue going on in Ancient Rome. hee hee. I guess that is what makes the world go round and why we enjoy writing romance. To give the world another spin.
Awesome
J
I start to not like stories with a happy ending. They’re good stuff for dreamers and let you fly with the fantasy, but unfortunately reality is different and right now I’d like to read something closer to my real life. Or looking for fantasy tales where at least you know that’s all unreal and because they are full of surprises as well.