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Pepper Basham | To Romance or Not to Romance?
August 28, 2015
In case you haven’t noticed, romance is popular.
Some of the best books and movies of all time are either solely based on the
art
of ‘love-making’ or have threads of sweet adoration pouring through the
subplots. Think about it. Jane Austen’s works display it in beautiful
complexity, as well as Louisa May Alcott’s and the Bronte sisters, but even
in
books where romance isn’t the main theme, amour has thrived.
We can find hints in Charles Dickens’, sprinkled through Agatha Christie’s,
even
showing up in Dracula, Frankenstein, and Star Wars. Tolkien doesn’t shy away
from a shade of romance either.
(Do keep in mind, I’m referencing romance here, not erotica. Erotica serves
a
different purpose altogether).
Clearly, romance can come in all shapes, sizes, and degrees of heat, but
underneath the steam or scent of roses, there’s a story of two people,
adventure, joy, and….inevitably (most of the time) hope. In fact, those are
some
reasons why romance is so endearing, because it feeds on three of our human
longings.
Adventure, Joy, and Hope.
(And I’m sure a few of you just like to read them for the kissing, etc,
scenes.
I’m not complaining, I like those too)
So let’s have a little fun talking about those three, shall we?
1. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)
Adventure – Most people delve into a romance to take an adventure, and
thankfully with the large number of novels out on the market, adventures can
come in great variety. They give us, as readers, the opportunity to travel
to
places we’ve never been, explore time periods and worlds to which we could
never
journey, embark on amazing adventures, and enjoy the process of discovery.
Reading creates magnificent possibilities, and when it’s filtered through a
romance-lens, the possibilities grow ever sweeter, because we don’t just see
the
hero reach his personal goal of defeating the dragon, he has the afterglow
of
love from his princess to enjoy. It’s the best of both! A HEA for the head
and
the heart.
If we’re honest, whether we seek it from the silver screen, between the
pages of
a book, or in real life, we all crave a little adventure, right? And romance
through books provides adventure for our hearts.
2. I Dearly Love a Laugh (Lizzie Bennett, Pride and Prejudice)
Joy – I’m a big fan of ‘feel good’ movies and stories, which is one of the
reasons why the happily-ever- after process of romance feeds my giddy
internal
romantic. Evidently from the mass market appeal, romances do that for a lot
of
people. Even if the novel ends like a Nicolas Sparks book, the process of
two
broken people finding each other…and making each other better by the end of
the
story, can bring out a sigh in the most notorious grinch ;-) Both the sweet
and
the savory novels leave the warm flavor of contentment and belonging behind,
because of the changes that take place in the characters from page one to
the
end. It’s a remarkable reminder of how good can triumph over evil,
loneliness
can find its end in belonging, wounds can heal with the tenderness of true
love,
and the most frightened hearts can gain strength when encouraged by someone
who
believes in them.
Joy is a powerful tool to keep us reading…sprinkle in a good dose of comedy,
and
it makes me even happier. What about you? 3. There is Some Good in This World and It’s Worth Fighting For (Samwise
Gamgee, LOTR)
Hope - Hopeless Romantic? Pshaw, there’s nothing ‘hopeless’ about being a
romantic. In fact, the whole air around romance carries the scent of hope.
Love
brings the aroma of something better, the tantalizing whisper for that “one
thing” the characters’ hearts have been craving.
For some reason, it always reminds me of dessert :) In a world where the news sheds a gloomy light on life, the glow of romance
in
stories makes us hope for something good, wholesome, lasting….The happily-
ever-
after. The dream come true.
And sometimes it creates the impossible. Overcoming social boundaries,
defying
time, healing the deepest scars, or scaling enormous obstacles both
internally
and externally.
Romance brings back the childhood understanding of ‘believing’. It always
makes
me think of the C.S. Lewis quote: “Someday you will be old enough to start
reading fairytales again.”
GIVEAWAY
Please add your thoughts! What makes romance worth the read for you?
Leave a
comment below and be entered for a chance to win a copy of THE THORN
BEARER.
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with
grace
and humor. She’s a native of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a mom of five, a
speech-
language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate. She enjoys sprinkling her
native
Appalachian culture into her fiction whenever she can. She currently resides
in
the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she works with kids with special
needs, searches for unique hats, and plots new ways to annoy her wonderful
friends at her writing blog, The Writer’s Alley. She is represented by Julie
Gwinn and her debut novel, The Thorn Bearer, released in April 2015.
Website
From the decks of the ill-fated Lusitania to the smoke-filled trenches
of
France, Ashleigh must choose between the forgiveness of her past, life in
the
present, and a Savior who can rescue her from them all.
When her fiancé leaves her eight months before their wedding, the unexpected
blow ignites a battalion of insecurities stemming from her father’s intimate
betrayal. Her worst fears are confirmed – who could ever love a soiled
woman?
In an attempt to escape the shame and disappointment of her past, Ashleigh
boards the ill-fated Lusitania to cross the war-torn waters of Europe. Much
to
her dismay, she isn’t traveling alone.
Sam Miller is always making up for his best friend’s mistakes. Determined to
help Ashleigh, he offers his compassion and protection as she ventures
across a
perilous sea. With the faint hope of renewing his lost love for Ashleigh’s
sister, Sam never expects to find the woman of his dreams in his best
friend’s
former fiancé and his own childhood companion.
As they travel across the Atlantic, neither is prepared for the life-
altering
and heart-breaking journey of their friendship.
When the truth of Ashleigh’s past explodes in the middle of war and Sam
rejects
her, Ashleigh must decide if God is enough – or if the double weight of her
betrayal and past will crush her life forever.
Comments
31 comments posted.
Re: Pepper Basham | To Romance or Not to Romance?
The characters.
(Marissa Yip-Young 6:08am August 28, 2015)
It gives you a chance to put yourself in the place of the
characters of the book, so that you can forget about your
own problems, and be whisked away to a different place, with
new tastes and experiences. In the end, you usually feel
much better after turning the last page. In some cases, you
also learn a little History in the process, so there's a
little extra in your reading. Although I was not alive when
the setting of your latest book took place, there was a lot
written about that time, and also the famous movie!! I'm
looking forward to reading your book, and have put it on my
TBR list. After reading your posting, I know you've really
put your heart into that book, and it should be a wonderful
read. Congratulations!! It should do well!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:14am August 28, 2015)
The newness, the unknowingness of the story and the people in it. The sense of discovery - of what each page in each book will bring. Thanks for your blog today. Your book sounds wonderful.
(Nancy Reynolds 9:25am August 28, 2015)
Interesting question. It's difficult to put into words, as
I've never really pondered that question, but I'll try to
answer as best I can.
It's about the people, the places they go and the things
they experience. Are they good people, but flawed? Do they
do wrong, but learn from it? The best romances to me are
when the couple go through the stages from attraction to
love, without intentionally hurting each other most of the
time. I want to experience this through their eyes. I don't
want to feel as though I'm reading a book. I want to feel as
though I'm watching someone's life experience play out in
front of me, and I'm a participant/viewer of their love
being played out. Those are the best romance novels for me.
(Edward Washington 11:48am August 28, 2015)
With historical romances, an author has to carefully balance accuracy with entertainment. What gets me to read an author, is the "chemistry" between the romantic leads.
(Cecilia Rodriguez 1:09pm August 28, 2015)
romance!
(Debbi Shaw 10:08pm August 28, 2015)
Romance puts a color, a texture to everything around it. That is
why I enjoy reading it, not the erotic.
(Nancy Luebke 1:34pm August 29, 2015)
I would love to win and read this book
(Kathy Church 5:39pm August 29, 2015)
the info you in romance and then i love to have it and read and you picture is great romance are still out there
and then i love to read and talk on them
(Desiree Reilly 7:08pm August 29, 2015)
I love romances because there is almost always a happy ending. I often think there isn't enough happiness in the world and my escape in romance novels feeds that need for me. I'd rather read a book than watch tv.
(Ida Stone 2:47am August 30, 2015)
Solid writing and characters that interest me.
(Pam Howell 8:08am August 30, 2015)
The happily ever after.
(Christina Riggs 8:10am August 30, 2015)
Intrigue & romance producing, indeed, a story that looks
well worth the read!
(John Dallal 11:02am August 30, 2015)
I'm a sucker for romantic comedies. I especially like when the couple hate each other when they first meet and then it turns to love.
(Nancy Marcho 2:53pm August 30, 2015)
Romance is worth the read because problems get solved, people end up happy and I'm able to take my mind off the half dozen repetitive chores and worries I fixate on and that ultimately are meaningless!
(Flora Presley 9:08pm August 30, 2015)
I enjoy romance because of the happy ever after ending.
(Bonnie H 9:33pm August 30, 2015)
There are many things that can make a romance great. I like how the characters interact. If done tastefully sex scenes can also be enjoyable. Plus, hunky men descriptions.
(Jessica Fox 10:49pm August 30, 2015)
It has to be believable Romance. Not just a quick meet up. Needs an honest feel together. Not sloppy! A relationship that developes.
(LeAnn Knott 3:26am August 31, 2015)
What an interesting question! Romance, of course!
(Nancy Ludvik 9:07am August 31, 2015)
Love and the magic of romance.
(Carolyn Moon 9:21am August 31, 2015)
The chance to put yourself in different situations and
always the romance.
(Mary Hay 10:09am August 31, 2015)
I enjoy when there are subplots in the story. Just the
romance can get a little dull. When the turmoil arises
between the two love interests, I like it best when it is
NOT just a silly misunderstanding, but something real to
overcome. Historical accuracy is also a must when reading
a historical romance.
(LaCinda Jameson 10:16am August 31, 2015)
I love a good romance between the two people that you least expect it .Then you have the 'Happy Ever-after'.
(Joan Thrasher 12:01pm August 31, 2015)
It's difficult to answer this one. The characters and intriguing plot are part of what keeps me interested and of course, for me, it needs to have a happy ending to be a true romance.
(Anna Speed 12:40pm August 31, 2015)
A well developed plot with an interesting storyline and a
little intrigue thrown in.
(Denise Austin 1:43pm August 31, 2015)
I'm a sucker for a well-written romantic comedy. I hope to have a chance to
read your books. Thanks for the chance in this contest. Good luck on
record sales.
(K'tee Bee 4:16pm August 31, 2015)
Romance novels give the reader a chance to step out of their
environment and enter a time and place meant just for them. I
especially enjoy historical fiction with a touch of romance
and I appreciate that this novel is inspirational also. Thank
you for this giveaway.
(Connie Saunders 5:11pm August 31, 2015)
I like historical romance because of the manners and dress and history.
(Arlene Downey 7:58pm August 31, 2015)
I love reading romance since there is a happily ever after in the end
(Debbie Rudder 9:30pm August 31, 2015)
I love to read a romance with well developed characters who have a sense of
humor so that reading about them gives you a good feeling and you don't
want to stop reading!
(Cindy Rader 11:07pm August 31, 2015)
The ability of the author to to take me to a time (usually) and place
(sometimes, since I have traveled a lot in the parts of Europe where a lot of
my favourite romances are set) I wouldn't necessarily have had a chance to
go to. Learning some history about the setting/background of the story is
always a plus, as the following example shows. Recently, I was at a dinner
party, and there was a trivia competition afterwards. Because I read a lot
(make that a TON!) of romance novels set in the Regency period, I knew
the answer to one of the questions (Who crowned Napoleon emperor?
Napoleon did it himself, while the Pope looked on.) Admittedly, I had also
learned the answer from a public TV travel series (Thank you, Rick
Steves!), but I learned it from romance first!! While I didn't admit it was in a
romance novel that I first learned that fact, I did say I learned it from
reading. And our team won that portion of the contest!!
(Lynn Rettig 12:12pm September 1, 2015)
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