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Sarah Castille | Heat, Heart and Humor
September 6, 2013
A few weeks ago, I met a romantic comedy author at a conference and I asked her
what she thought was the most important thing about writing humor. Her answer
surprised me, particularly because she taught humor writing at a local college.
She didn’t talk about form or rhythm or even word choice. Instead, she said you
have to have a sense of humor. She talked about seeing the humor in any situation, seeing the ordinary through
Groucho Marx glasses. She said most of the humorous scenes in her novels were
based on real life: her most embarrassing or cringe-worthy moments,
extraordinary events had that happened to her friends and family, things that
may not have been funny at the time. When taken out of context, they made her
laugh. And when she incorporated them into her scenes, they made her readers
laugh, too. Although Against the
Ropes isn’t a Romantic Comedy (too much emotional drama and smokin’ hot
smex), it does have a lot of humor. And, as with the author I spoke with, I
relied on real life events when I wrote the humorous scenes. The beet throwing incident in a fancy restaurant was me. Except it wasn’t a beet
but a glob of mashed potatoes. And it didn’t make the waiter slip and fall, but
instead hit him in the chest and then slid all the way down. My boyfriend at the
time wasn’t as understanding as our hero, Torment, in Against the Ropes. Mortified,
my boyfriend hustled me out of the restaurant and I never saw him again. I
wasn’t laughing that night. I also wasn’t laughing the night my best friend’s wanna-be boyfriend grabbed her
for a little dirty dancing while we were waiting to film a scene for a sports
commercial. Unfortunately, his moves were caught on camera and projected onto
the big screen. When her new boyfriend showed up, he was treated to a twenty
foot high version of another man’s hands on his girl. Unlike Max in Against the
Ropes, my friend’s boyfriend lacked even a modicum of restraint and we spent the
rest of the night sitting with the wanna-be in the Emergency Room. Definitely
not funny. At least not at the time. When I wrote Against the
Ropes, the humor evolved from the characters, and
particularly the heroine, Makayla. Her experiences with Max were an amalgam of
all the bad dating stories I’d heard from friends over the years, as well as the
worries and anxieties of dating a man they thought had been beyond their reach. But the most embarrassing incidents...those were all mine. Even the one with the
caviar and the panties. Thanks very much to Fresh Fiction for hosting me today. I wish you all many laughs! Against the Ropes He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was
getting more... Makayla never thought she'd set foot in an elite mixed-martial arts club. But if
anyone needs a medic on hand, it's these guys. Then again, at her first sight of
the club's owner she's the one feeling breathless. The man they call Torment is all sleek muscle and restrained power. Whether it's
in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when a soft touch is required
and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push.
And he's about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined... Sarah Castille Comment to win your own copy of Against the Ropes.
Comments
37 comments posted.
Re: Sarah Castille | Heat, Heart and Humor
I don't even want to think of some of my most embarrassing moments. Good for you making them work for you. For some reason I like reading romances with MMA as an aspect. It must be because it is something I would never do myself.
(Laura Gullickson 12:20pm September 6, 2013)
i have been wanting to read this book looks really good
(Denise Smith 10:48am September 6, 2013)
I think that a little bit of humor helps to break up a story line a little bit, and your book should take the readers for quite a ride!! I, personally, can't wait to get my hands on your book, since I share your sense of humor, and would love to start my Fall reading off with a bang!! I love the cover, and am sure I'll love what's in-between the cover even more!! Thank you for coming here today, and sharing a bit of your humor with us today!!
(Peggy Roberson 11:03am September 6, 2013)
A little humor always makes a story better and I can't wait to read this book. Thanks so much and I love the cover!!!!
(Bonnie Capuano 11:05am September 6, 2013)
Thanks for your comments and thanks to Fresh Fiction for hosting me today!
(Sarah Castille 11:50am September 6, 2013)
lol I love that you wrote things from your own life into the
books :) This sounds like a great read and I cannot wait to
get my hands on it!!!!
(Jolene Allcock 12:31pm September 6, 2013)
Oh this sounds like a book I would enjoy... a touch of humor can make the book and characters come to life...
(Colleen Conklin 12:58pm September 6, 2013)
A sense of humor will never fail you!
(Richard Proctor 1:39pm September 6, 2013)
There's nothing like a man with a great sense of humor! So
glad that my guy has a wonderful one!
(Maria Proctor 1:43pm September 6, 2013)
Sarah, I really enjoy a book with a plot that brings out humor. It is a special additive that I, personally, enjoy and look forward to. It is so important to laugh and enjoy!
Keep writing!
(Patricia (Pat) Pascale 2:48pm September 6, 2013)
I love when a book brings a bit of humor to the table. I
especially love snarky lead females with witty and sarcastic
comebacks. But the best is when a laugh comes unexpectedly
out of nowhere and has me laughing out loud.
Congrats on the book, and I can't wait to read it!
(Lorie Economos 3:04pm September 6, 2013)
This book looks amazing. I can't wait to read it!!!!
(Jackie R 3:05pm September 6, 2013)
a love humor in a story and those muscles are a favorite too!
(Diane Sallans 3:08pm September 6, 2013)
Humor goes a long way and to incorporate it into a book adds flavor.
(Mary Smith 3:10pm September 6, 2013)
Thanks everyone! Nice to see so many humorists out there! Hope you all have a great weekend!
(Sarah Castille 4:58pm September 6, 2013)
I love humor in books. Sometimes when it is slipped in at just the right moment...priceless! This sounds like my kind of book. Thank you for the chance.
(Melanie Backus 5:08pm September 6, 2013)
Against the Ropes sounds like a terrific story! *Swoon* I'm looking forward to reading it!
(Chelsea Brooks 5:21pm September 6, 2013)
I love reading books with humor incorporated, which makes a book fun and enjoyable and often unexpected. This sounds like a fabulous book I'd love reading!!
(Linda Luinstra 5:40pm September 6, 2013)
If you don't laugh, you cry. I always try to find the humor in any situation, but I REALLY hate to be embarrassed! Sometimes I can't even watch a movie because I know the hero or the heroine is going to be embarrassed! On the other hand, I've spent a LOT of time laughing!
(Marcia Berbeza 6:24pm September 6, 2013)
Love reading romances with humor in them. Your book sounds like a great read.
(Carol Woodruff 6:28pm September 6, 2013)
I could use some humor right now - today. So please enter me to win. Maybe I can laugh and get uplifted.
(Jane Squires 6:39pm September 6, 2013)
I would love to read about MMA! :)
(Lazydrag0n Puff 7:24pm September 6, 2013)
Wow, Congrats on your new book: AGAINST THE ROPES. I love
the sexy book cover too. Yes, good humor, romance and lots
of action can really make a good book become a great read. I
would love to win and read your book this fall. Thank You
very much. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 9:15pm September 6, 2013)
I think laughter in any book makes for a better story. I love that you
incorporate your personal experiences into your writing. Congratulations on
the book and thanks for the chance to win!!!
(Linda Brennan 10:38pm September 6, 2013)
If anyone can laugh at themselves first, you know that is a group of people who know how to live life.
(Kai Wong 10:58pm September 6, 2013)
Can't wait to read this one! It looks good ;)
(Krysten Michelsen 11:49pm September 6, 2013)
This book sounds wonderful. Thanks for a chance to win your book.
(Linda Hall 11:50pm September 6, 2013)
Thanks everyone! I like a good emo read but my fave is always humor!
(Sarah Castille 12:21pm September 7, 2013)
Love a good story that tickles my funny bone. Can't wait to read Makayla and Max's story!
(Anita H 1:58am September 7, 2013)
This sounds like a great read, love books with a touch of
humor in them. It makes them more fun to read!! :)
(Ada H. 3:26am September 7, 2013)
Great advice about humour. :) It's good to know that a cringe-worthy moment can be useful too! :)
(May Pau 8:43am September 7, 2013)
Love this give away. Thank you.
(Charlotte Wills 9:53am September 7, 2013)
I find it's easier to laugh at my embarrassing moments after the fact.
(Mary C 8:29pm September 7, 2013)
The book sounds great! I try to block any embarrassing moments
out of my memory - but this sounds like a good use for them
too! Thanks!
(Laura Garofalo 9:51pm September 7, 2013)
I always enjoy & appreciate a touch of humor in the books I
read.
(Mary Preston 6:14am September 8, 2013)
Wonderful post. I find myself doing that. When I relate a weekend story to my
deep-water exercise group on Monday morning somehow it sounds so funny in the
retelling while at the time is was not in the least funny. How's that happen?
Thanks for the post and the giveaway. I've heard good things on the blogs
about your book :-) - Oh and I love humor in a book!
(Lenna Hendershott 4:12pm September 8, 2013)
I love humor in books. I figure, if you can't laugh at things it's a sad life you're living.
(Marcy Shuler 7:24pm September 8, 2013)
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