Oh, you write those kinds of books.
The slight narrowing of the eyes. The perfectly-plucked-brow arch. The pursing of the lips, or it’s counterpoint, the wide-eyed jaw drop. How can someone so sensible, so practical, so independent write those kinds of stories?
Actually, I can’t imagine writing anything else. I’m sensible. I’m practical. I’m independent. And I’m an avowed romantic. I love happy endings, the oft-ridiculed happily ever after. Oh, I have nothing against a good drama. I treasure a story that makes me think, that brings important issues to the forefront and opens avenues to rich discussion. But why-oh-why is a happy ending commonly regarded as a bad thing?
Not in my book! A good love story brings joy to my soul, the sense that I’ve gone along for the ride with characters who’ve managed to meet and fall in love despite whatever obstacles the author tossed into their path. And a good author will make the road to true love a minefield. Just like those relationships that survive and thrive in real life, the hero and heroine in a romance face road blocks along the way, whether those trials involve villains out for their blood, the challenges of balancing two careers while forging a life together, or their own inner demons.
I love a hero who’s not afraid to show his chivalrous side (yes, I do believe chivalry still exists) and a heroine who can hold her own with the hero and any antagonists who come her way. My favorite romances have an adventurous bent (Raiders of the Lost Ark contains one of my all-time-favorite movie romances – the interactions between Indiana Jones and Marion are priceless!), a touch of the paranormal, or depict the battle-of-the-sexes with a hefty dollop of humor thrown in for good measure. My tastes are admittedly a bit eclectic. But one quality is a constant: I keep turning the pages to get to that holy grail of romance, the happy ending.
I write the kind of books I love to read. Yes, those kinds of books. Smart, sexy romance with an adventurous soul. And, it goes without saying, a well-deserved happily ever after.
It also goes without saying that I’d love to hear from you. Please connect with me on Facebook or Twitter and let me know what you think of the happy endings I’ve created.
