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Comments107 comments posted.
Re: Shana Galen | The Best Thing about Writing Romance
I actually thought I'd already written something on this blog. I guess not.
I read romance because I want to see two people actually fall in love with each other and try to make a relationship work. There are so many ups and downs in real life that even my prince charming can act like a troll sometimes.
I read romance because I love reading about the relationships of the characters, watching how it develops, and then seeing how they reach their happy ending.
I read romance because it's my connection to my Grandma. She would give me her Harlequin romances to read when I was around 10 years old and I've been hooked ever since!
Sigrun, I always like to learn something new when I read too. One of my
Kathleen, I think all of our Prince Charmings have their not-so-charming
Chelsea, people sometimes ask me how I write fresh stories since it's
Renee, I love that! I'm sure that makes romance especially sweet for you.
I love to read these because I put myself in the place of the woman in the story and just imagine having such a romantic life!!
Congrats on the release Shana. I love reading romance because it takes me to a happy place. I hope to find someone special to share my two kids and my life with one day, until then I read or listen or watch stories. Not for the HEA but for the connection, feelings and hope it can happen.
I read romance because I enjoy seeing how the characters meet--what attracts them to each other--the obstacles that they overcome during the story. I love history and I have learned quite a bit about the French revolution, Regency era and Edwardian era. I love the descriptions of the parties and the clothes....it's fun to read a book and escape from your own every day drama!
I read romance to escape the more unpleasant things in real life. It is a struggle nowadays to stay afloat so spending time with a wonderful book is just the thing to regroup and push on. I value my reading time very much and am thrilled when I am able to find a book that transports me to another time and another place!
I started reading romance because it made me feel good. The stories gave me hope that like the flawed people in the stories I could find love too. Now that I am older (lots) I find I read them to remind me of the first spark of love. I have been with my dear husband for over 20 yrs now and although love endures that initial heart pounding can't get you off my mind feeling does not. I read to remind me of those days so I don't forget them.
I do love the HEA. I also enjoy the historical tidbits I pick up reading about past eras and different locales. Thanks for visiting today.
My favorite romances are the ones where the reader can't
I have read romances as far back as I can
Awww romance. How can you not love something with a guaranteed HEA?? The passion and even the drama just pull me in. Other then in soap operas, when do relationships like this really exist? Don't get me wrong, I love my husband and he's romantic, but we didn't have to go through hell and back to be together. Romance will always be my favorite, because I'm a super sap at heart and as girly hearts in my eyes as I can get.
It's simply a way to escape. Dealing with real men all day long leaves something to be desired. ;)
Dawn, think how much fun it is to write these books--some days, anyway. I get to become the characters for a little while too.
Christine, I hope it happens for you too. It's so hard to find the right person.
Susan, that's so true. I have a lot of drama in my life (created by my 2-year-old). I prefer my drama all in a book!
Susan, I find giving myself reading time is a nice reward for me. It's something calorie-free and relatively inexpensive to indulge in.
Patti, I love your post!Twenty years is quite an accomplishment. That's a real love story.
GS Moch, I don't know how people read books without HEAs all the time. I couldn't do it. I don't mind them once in a while, but I need my HEA fix!
Gayle, I love those too, especially if the author can pull it off at the end. I know you just won Joan Swan's FEVER. That book really made me wonder how the hero and heroine would ever end up together.
Carla, it would be nice to be a trend-setter! Maybe everyone got tired of pirates for a while? And you're right. Almost all of those fairy tales are romances.
Thanks, Sharon. In real life, going through hell to be together often breaks the relationship up. It's a strong couple who can stay together after something like that. That's why we admire those romance heroes so much!
Holly, I've always had jobs where I worked mainly with women, so i can't imagine what it would be like to deal with men so much. I'm sure I'd chalk it all up to research!
I love meeting so many characters, visiting so many places and eras... but for me it is the journey the characters take to find their HEAs...
There is nothing like getting lost in a good story with swoon worthy men,
Colleen, I have really learned so much from romances. I remember when I was in Scotland years ago, and all I wanted to do was see Culloden. I knew as much about it as the guide. Okay, almost as much.
Jane, I'm with you. Love it when the damsel rescues the hero!
love escape reading after a hectic week
I love romance stories mainly because of the happy ending and the fact that in real life falling in love is never as good of a story as in the books, lol. Reading when two people meet and watching how the relationship grows and developes is always exciting!
I love romance novels for the HEA, for the emotion and romance, and the history and escape.
I love romance so I do read for the HEA. But I also like a little mystery or suspense that has the H&H fighting for truth and justice but also for their love and realizing it is the forever kind of love.
I love romance novels because it let's me escape to a place more exciting
I LEARN ANCIENT HISTORY WHEN I READ AND LOVE IT
Debbie, me too. It's so nice to pick up a good book at the end of the day.
Heather, I have to say that it's much easier to write a romance when you're falling in love than when you've just broken up with a boyfriend. But it still provides a much-needed distraction.
Jennifer, I'm so glad you mentioned the romance part of romance novels. Sometimes I read romance that aren't all that romantic. Lately, I've been trying to make sure my own books are high on the romance scale.
Brenda, I was going to say, I bet you'd like Lord and lady Spy. I always write some adventure in my books. I can't seem to make a "drawing room" novel work. My hat is off to those awesome writers who do!
I love romance novels for the complexity of the " Love Conquers All", type effect. So many of us would love these stories to be a part of our life. The writer takes you there and then let's the passion of the story give you a sweet and warm feeling inside to bring thoughts of what love really feels like. Then you take it from there.
Dawn, I couldn't agree more! My life is so not exciting--and that's probably good. I would not want to have to fight a pirate with my sword. I do like reading about such adventures, though!
Me, too, Linda. Sometimes I buy a book just because I'm interested in the hero's profession or the time period.
I read romance because these stories are usually fun, and about people you would like to meet and have as your neighbors.
I love the happy endings!
I read romance because it gives me an escape into another
I read romance because of the great stories and HEA's.
I prefer the positive instead of the negative outlook on life. Romantic fiction takes me on a trip into a different and more exciting place and, most important, there is a happy ending.
I love to read...romance, historical romance, romantic suspense. I like a book that has the main characters go through a bit if adversity before getting the prize at the end of the book, the "happily ever after". Just like in real life, I believe a challange faced by characters in a book allows you to know and understand the person...it either brings out the best or the worst in that character. I think a challange well met will get the reading audience to cheer on the couple.
I read romance to get a respite from lifes hectic pace. I also like to read about different places and times I will never be able to visit. Of course the hero and heroine need to overcome some obstacles to get their HEA to make a good story too.
I read romance novels because they make me happy. I started reading them 3 years ago, while I was pregnant of my son. I had trouble sleeping at that time, so romance reading was a fun thing to do at night. Now I'm still reading romance at night... while I'm feeding my baby girl!
I read romances strictly for escape. They can take me to a whole other world which gets me away from the boring day to day life.
Cheryl, your post was spot on. It's definitely that warm fuzzy feeling I love
Marjorie, if you think about it, you usually have the characters floating
Me, too, Tara!
Mary, your life sounds like mine. But maybe it's a good thing our lives aren't
Cheryl, me too! I think all the media types disparaging romance as fluff
I read romance novels because they're uplifting. I love reading about how the characters meet, where, what takes place when they're finally attracted to each other, problems they're faced with and reasons why it shouldn't work for them, and how it then starts to develop into a relationship that leaves you wishing you could have that, if you could trade places with the characters, to have the romantic, better life with those enjoyable adventures filled with desire, passion and romance, and of course, the happy ending. Thanks for the giveaway, Shana. Love this blog today!
I am a romantic at heart, so I am a sucker for the happy
I like the comfort of knowing there will be a HEA. I can become engrossed in the story without worrying if everything will work out or not.
Why do I read romance? To escape from the real world.It's also relaxing.
When I read a romance, I love to be transported to a different place, and away from my worries for the length of time it takes me to read the book. If it's really good, the memories stay with me for a long time afterwards. Usually, I like to put myself in the place of the woman character, even if it sounds a little weird, and imagine what it would be like to go through her experiences. I like to really "feel" the book, not just turn the pages and read it. The cover of your book is strong, yet romantic, the title interesting, and I would adore having the chance to read it.
Hi Shana, I read romance for the couple's story. I want to experience their journey to HEA with all its ups and downs. I want to feel every emotions they feel, root for them and see them develop. Of course the HEA is an added bonus :)
I was always so busy with my kids that I never took the time to read. My oldest daughter became terminally ill and almost 4 years in and out of hospitals (mostly in, 11 months the longest stretch) is when it began. My 2nd grader wanted to read Harry Potter for class assignment and her teacher said no. I got the book and read it and couldn't see why she couldn't. Well it helped me pass the time instead of magazines. Later while sitting in a hospice room (for my husband this time) there was a romance novel on the table and I picked it up and well... the rest is history. It really helped me escape for a while and I found I really enjoyed them. Now it's what I seem to do a lot and my youngest daughter asks me where I traveled today..HAHA. It's time for me to kinda start over again but in the mean time I crave my books to take me away. Maybe someday I will find my own pirate to sweep me away and I will find my HEA. Thanks for the great books.
It is great that you ran out of books to read so decided to write your own =)
It's not really the HEA but it is nice to know there is such a thing. I just enjoy being taken to other times and places, different worlds and historicals seem to do it best! I have the first two books and am looking forward to this third!
I think in a world where we struggle constantly, it's nice to see that things do work out. I think the HEA is what we seek, and it is affirming to see it in a book even when we can't see it in our own lives. Many women are hopeless romantics and want to experience that first moment of love over and over to rekindle what they really want in their own lives. I'm waxing philosophical.
I enjoy romance novels but never questioned myself as why? Guess maybe it's the "take me away" aspect of the story...and of course I like happy endings!
Anna, I feel like there's so much negativity around all the time. It's nice to pick up a romance and know you're getting something that ends well.
Robin, I agree completely. There's nothing worse than a story where the characters don't have any problems.
Earlene, I'm the same way. There are a lot of places I don't want to visit or can't, and I feel like I know something about them if I read about them.
Kanya, I have definitely held a sleeping baby in one arm and a romance novel with my free hand. There's nothing like a good book to make those long hours in the middle of the night go by more quickly.
Sue, I think romance novels are a really healthy form of escape. thanks for stopping by.
Linda, that's a great comment. Romance novels can be uplifting. We all need that some days.
Margay, you've hit on one of my favorite things about romance--that build up to the declaration of love. There's just something so fun about it!
Stacie, I completely agree. Sometimes I reading literary fiction, and I have no idea if at the end I'm going to be happy or sad or annoyed. I like knowing the ending is going to make me sigh.
Me, too, LL. Thanks for stopping by.
Deb, I was thinking today about ways I can relax, and reading definitely came to mind.
Peggy, I don't think that's weird at all. I imagine most readers put themselves in the heroine's shoes. I know I do when I read.
Na, you brought up something that's so important. I want to be able to root for the hero and heroine too. Sometimes when I'm writing a book that's not going well, I realize it's because one character isn't coming across how I want.
Margie, when I hear stories like yours it makes me so happy I am an author. There have been many times in my life when things were going badly. What got me through them, more often than not, was a good book.
Lexi, I certainly couldn't ask for more! Thanks for chiming in.
the hea is a big part of why I enjoy reading romances but the getting to that point is also a big part of the enjoyment.
I may be biased, Jeanne, but I think historicals transport us to other worlds the best too. I just love the manners, the clothing, the carriages. It's so...romantic!
Renee, I like some philosophy once in a while! I agree with you completely. Thanks!
Leanna, I guess I never thought about it until I started writing them, and then I tried to think about what it was I enjoyed and to write books that conveyed that. The "take-me-away" factor is really important to me.
D Kenny, I definitely like being able to wonder how the characters will ever find their HEA. I want to be kept guessing!
I just love this series. It is so much fun! Ok, now to your question. I read romance novels for the love, humor, action, and, yes, the HEA. Although, I don't think every romance novel must be HEA. I can be happy with a HFN. In fact, I love Karen Marie Monings Fever series and she didn't give a HEA for a LONG time!
Jennifer, I love the HFN. I think I sort of did that with Lord and Lady Spy, but readers know it's coming!
Thanks again to everyone who stopped by and said hello. I always love blogging with Fresh Fiction!
I love reading romance novels,I love to do and go to places in my mind. Gives me a chance to get away from real life.Thanks for giving me a chance to win your book.
I have two of your books and I've love to win this one. Keep 'em coming!
I read it for the happy ending, but also for the travel and adventure.
I read Romance novels specifically for the happy ending and the feeling of
Thanks for stopping back and replying to everyone Shana. I know it takes your
Linda, thanks for stopping by!
Molly, that's awesome. I hope you enjoyed the ones you have.
Lisa, obviously I love books with an adventure element. I also like lots of action in my books.
Sharyn, I try to stay away from the news. It seems every time I watch it I hear another sad story.
Thanks for coming back again, Lexi! Of course I stop by and reply. I read all of the comments on my blogs because I know it takes your time to stop and submit a comment.
This book sounds wonderful. I'd love to read it.
I read romance because it's fun and lively and couldn't we all use a little romance in our everyday lives? I like the drama and intrigue in your stories.
I love to read about Romance. Especially after a long day at work. Helps me to relax .
Escape! I like to put my husband and myself into the book as the hero and heroine. I also use books to escape the daily stuff, like the kids being sick, looking for a job, cleaning the bathroom... Thanks so much for the "escapes".
I read romance for many reasons. The HEA is definitely #1. I
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