|
Tracey Livesay | Escape From the Ordinary...
February 19, 2014
There was a time when most romance novels featured elements of extravagance.
Millionaires, princes, and CEOs were the most common romantic hero. They had
lots of money and weren't afraid to use it to get what they wanted and that
usually involved the heroine. If you were searching for a romance where a
regular guy looked for love, you were out of luck. Publishers didn't believe
everyday heroes would sell so those books were written with much less frequency. It took awhile, but readers started voicing their displeasure with wealthy,
alpha heroes. They tired of reading stories where no one worried about paying
the bills and were finding it harder and harder to suspend disbelief that there
were so many gorgeous, powerful, wealthy men...under thirty. In real life,
female readers were kicking asses and taking names. They were struggling with
the ordinary and finding ways to make it work. They wanted to see that same
strength, that same realism in their beloved genre. I understand because I was looking for representation, too. I'd been reading
romance novels since I was eleven years old and a common theme had emerged.
Book after book contained some variation of the hero waxing poetic about the
heroine's fine, delicate features, her flowing mane the color of wheat, and her
smooth peaches and cream complexion. That would never describe me. And I wanted to be seen as beautiful, too. I
wanted books where men were entranced by the cocoa color of my skin, where they
loved the tight coils in my hair and the fullness of my lips. Just as I wanted
to read about heroines who looked like me, others wanted to read about love
stories that could occur in the real world. Where a plumber meets a teacher and
falls in love. No princes, no billionaires, no CEOs. I'm really lucky. I met my husband during our first day of law school and we've
been together ever since. We got married, bought a house, and had children. We
work, laugh, parent and love. He is an amazing man. But when it comes to
reading, I'm looking for something else. Something utopian. Something ideal.
Something... extravagant. I want to read about the fantasy, about handsome, rich men who sweep the
heroine away from everyday life. Cleaning the bathrooms? Grocery shopping? In my
favorite books, daily concerns don't matter. No one worries what to make for
dinner because the hero and heroine can jet away to a small European country or
travel to a beautiful, tropical beach. Didn't wash clothes this week? That's
okay; the heroine has a Sex in the City closet full of couture clothes, shoes
and purses. It's not that I don't appreciate the beauty of realism. I just
choose to engage in romantic flights of fancy. At least for a few hours. J Which do you prefer: realistic romance or tales of fantasy? A Tracey
Livesay/True Love tote bag filled with a selection of romance novels and a free
autographed e-book of THE
TYCOON'S SOCIALITE BRIDE to one lucky commenter. (US only for all items.
International winner can still get signed e-book.)
Comments
29 comments posted.
Re: Tracey Livesay | Escape From the Ordinary...
Great idea! Interesting article! If you need a really effective solution to your academic problems, we have the answers! Writings-centre.com
(Alta Apple 5:45am February 19, 2014)
I mostly prefer realistic romance but sometimes I want a fantasy.
(Pam Howell 7:39am February 19, 2014)
i love both realistic and fantasy novels the book sounds
really good
(Denise Smith 7:55am February 19, 2014)
I like both, but mostly a combination. A real-life story
with elements of fantasy. I love paranormal romances, but I
like the ones with true-to-life experiences.
(Karin Anderson 9:28am February 19, 2014)
I enjoy both realistic romance and fantasy... it is how they come to life on the page that I enjoy... their journey to a HEA.
(Colleen Conklin 11:59am February 19, 2014)
I like both, but sometimes it is nice to escape into the fantasy.
(Jean Patton 12:36pm February 19, 2014)
The book sounds interesting. Thanks for a chance to win your book.
(Linda Hall 2:48pm February 19, 2014)
I like realistic romance, but the setting should be interesting. My favorite books were the old gothic stories where a lady goes to work as a nanny at a castle... and soon afterwards things get really interesting.
(Sandy Fielder 3:05pm February 19, 2014)
I really prefer realistic romance not one for fantasy!
(Denise Austin 4:53pm February 19, 2014)
If the characters are great, either works for me!
(Janet Martin 5:52pm February 19, 2014)
I like to read both realistic romance and fantasy books. Thanks for the giveaway.
(Kathleen Beale 6:09pm February 19, 2014)
I like more realistic romances, but romance books are to get away from the real world and escape in the fantasy of the story.
(Marcy Shuler 6:10pm February 19, 2014)
I really don't care which it is as long as I love the book.I enjoy the realistic and the fantasy it depends on the mood I am in.
(Mary Goodman 6:10pm February 19, 2014)
realistic romance (Then I can believe!!) sounds like a really good read...thanks for the giveaway!!
(Barbara Studer 7:35pm February 19, 2014)
I think realistic is great because I like
to feel in tuned to the character as I
read. It's great to read fantasy because
it gives a sense of what could happen. A
mixture of the two is quite unexplainable.
You get to relate to some characters and
scenes in the story as well as imagining
certain situations (just as we do in real
life)!
(Cheyquetta Charvis 8:41pm February 19, 2014)
I like both. It is really the story that I'm after. As long as the story makes sense, that is all I care about.
(Kai Wong 9:01pm February 19, 2014)
You know, for me what matters is what mood I am in for
reading. Sometimes something fairytale like, sometimes more
like "reality".
(G. Bisbjerg 9:07pm February 19, 2014)
I'm a fantasy gal. I read to escape, so please, carry me
away. After all, it's fiction, baby!
(Denise Golinowski 9:38pm February 19, 2014)
Wow, Congrats on your new book: THE TYCOON'S SOCIALITE BRIDE.
I like the book cover too! I love to read both fantasy and
realistic romance books. I would love to win and read your
book in the New Year 2014. Thank You very much. Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 11:59pm February 19, 2014)
Both!! LOL I don't think I could ever choose!!
(LaShaunda Buckhana 5:12am February 20, 2014)
I like realistic romance...but I won't turn down GREAT tales
of fantasy either!
(Heather Coulter 10:18am February 20, 2014)
Most of the time I like the realistic stories--but sometimes I just need to escape into total fantasy land.
(Sue Farrell 2:08pm February 20, 2014)
I love to read a twist of both... a fantasy with a realistic
feel.
(Crystal Rister 4:45pm February 20, 2014)
I think I like a little of both. I get enough of reality in my job so I don't read total real life situations but I don't like total fantasy. I would say your book is a very good happy medium and one I would read. Best of luck on your book and thanks for the giveaway.
(Sharon Extine 5:15pm February 20, 2014)
I love realistic romance hope to win love to read i have over 500 books
(Ann Tracy 5:28pm February 20, 2014)
I like both. It depends upon what I feel like reading.
(Mary Preston 10:51pm February 21, 2014)
I love realistic romance the best. They are just pretty hard to best! Keeping
my fingers, crossed.
(Melanie Backus 10:53pm February 21, 2014)
Realistic romance suits me fine.
(Alyson Widen 5:40pm February 25, 2014)
I love both types of romance novels to read and I like the fact that they are
not all millionaires in the book
(Niki Edwards 3:45am March 17, 2014)
Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!
| 
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy