After a Sunday Hike
Yesterday I
had one of those moments. I didn’t
realize it was Valentine’s Day. For some reason I thought it was on Monday. So
Happy Belated Valentine’s Day to those who did
remember. I hope it was a special day of romance.
I have to be
honest. I don’t care for romantic novels. My grandmother, bless her heart,
loved romances with a little spice. She used to say that at her age (nineties)
she could do or say whatever she wanted and get away with it. I should be so
lucky.
However, give
me a good mystery with a little romance and I’m happy. I still prefer a story
that will leave some of the romance to my imagination, but that’s just me.
Maybe when I reach my nineties I’ll look for a little more spice in my reading
material. After all, I take after my grandmother in so many ways. Thankfully I
have a very long time to go before I reach that stage of life. Nah, I think I’ll
do or say whatever I want to right now. Why not?
My husband
was a romantic, although he wouldn’t admit it. Maybe that’s why I spaced
Valentine’s Day. He passed away last May. I’m entering a new chapter in my
life, which has both pros and cons. Sometimes, in life, there just aren’t any
do-overs. One of his favorite sayings? “Nut up and get on with it.” I hope that
doesn’t offend anyone. Maybe I should have rewritten it to “Man up,” but I
preferred to quote him – exactly.
I’m working
on a time travel mystery right now, and I’m including a little romance along
with the mystery. It’s part of life, after all. If all goes as planned, there
will be a few little surprises along the path to 1909. I guess I gave away the
era when my story takes place. Oh well…
Romantic
writing can be tricky, at least in my opinion. Does the author want to be
graphic, or are the sweet moments in life his or her choice? Can the author
create a conflict that will please the reader? Romance isn’t as easy to write
as I used to think, but then, it’s not my shtick, so what do I know?
Yesterday my
daughter and I went shopping in Portland, Oregon. I observed several couples
out shopping together. Is love about the gifts given on Valentine’s Day? Maybe
it is to some people, but if I were to judge by the facial expressions I saw,
true love is more about the thought behind the gift, not the present itself.
Maybe that’s
one of the keys to romance writing. Let the reader get inside of a character’s
head to learn why they do the things they do. The same can be said for a
mystery. The reader needs to know why
things are happening, or the story can become one-dimensional.
This week’s
post is relatively short, but since I’m not a romance writer, I’ll leave the
wise thoughts about love to the professionals.
In the
meantime, I’ll leave you with these two links. There are so many romantic songs
out there, but these two, at least to me, are particularly romantic. I hope
they inspire you to let Valentine’s Day become a two-day event, or even better,
a lifelong event.
That Sunday
That Summer – Natalie Cole
You Make Me
Feel Brand New – Johnny Mathis
Until next
time, have a great week and tell someone how important they are in your life.
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Exceptional post, Marja. I agree with you in all ways. Probably that's why we're best friends. :) My Valentine's day was spent with 5 of my high school classmates. I had a few slices of pizza and came home to eat a Snicker's ice cream bar with my Valentine, Kinder. That was my Valentine's Day.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dorothy! At least you remembered it was Valentine's Day. LOL And Kinder makes a great Valentine. Thank you so much for commenting!
DeleteI take my coffee with cream and sugar and I like my mysteries to have a dash of humor and a dash of romance. That goes for the books I write and the books I read, which is one of the reasons I enjoy your books so much, Marja.
ReplyDeleteHappy belated Valentine's Day!
Thank you, Pat! I drink tea with a dash of sugar, but I can relate to the rest of it. I hope you had a good day. Thank you so much for commenting!
DeleteYour grandmother reminded me of a used book store in the community where my mother lived. I always went there to buy mysteries but the place was inundated with Harlequin Romance novels. I asked the proprietor if anyone ever bought any and she replied, "Oh yes, little old ladies buy them. One told me that was the only way she could get any these days." (You can interpret that how you wish, Marja.) Since I write both romance and mystery, I guess I change personalities for each one. However, I like a bit of mystery in my romances and sometimes romance in my mysteries.
ReplyDeleteYou gave me a good laugh this morning, Pat. Thank you! Your romances are among the very few I read, and I've noticed there's always a little mystery in them. I appreciate that. Thank you so much for commenting!
ReplyDeleteIn my latest novel, Mrs. Odboddy-Hometown Patriot, Agnes is 71 years old and with the unexpected return of an old lover, she is faced not only with a mystery, but another chance at romance,... so we've added the two elements and thrown in the elderly age factor. Someone's grandmother should be pleased! Great post, Marja.
ReplyDeleteI've got to start this series, Elaine. Grandma would have loved it, but she would have been 115 now. :) I, on the other hand... Thank you so much for commenting!
DeleteYou're never too old for romance, but, like you, Marja, I sprinkle it lightly into my mysteries. I like to leave the graphic details to the reader's imagination.
ReplyDeleteYou do it well, Jean. Romance should be, well, romantic. Leaving nothing to the imagination takes the romance out of it for me. Thank you so much for commenting!
DeleteAnother great blog post. I remember when I was first married, my husband sent flowers to me at work on Valentine's day, and I nearly keeled over. He wasn't the romantic type. And 43 years later, he still isn't. Sigh! You new novel sounds like a fun story. Can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Evelyn! Well, at least he gave you a memorable moment even if it was 43 years ago. : ) Thank you so much for commenting!
ReplyDelete