Today post is part of the What’s Love Got to Do with It?
Blog Hop! Stop here, take a read and enter the contest below for a chance to
win a $250 E-giftcard! But before you go, don’t forget to take the time to
check out the other posts happening today, tomorrow and up until February 19th!
Just click this LINK!
So, without further ado...
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Love. It’s February, so that word is constantly being thrown
about. It’s plastered on advertisements, romantic movies are playing on what
seems to be an endless loop on the television—even radio stations have added an
influx of ballads that profess the act as they sing through the airwaves.
Let’s face it. Love is everywhere.
Especially in books. Love always finds a way to weasel into
books. And that’s a good thing. I think now more the ever love—of all kinds—is
being increasingly acceptable in society, and Authors aren’t afraid to write
about it. In fact. That HEA (Happily Ever After) moment is expected in most
genres. Love needs to play a huge roll, definitely in Young Adult Novels, which
is what I write.
So, when the question ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It?’ was
posed to me, I simply answer, Everything.
But there are many different forms of love—sibling love,
parental love, romantic lust, love at first sight, tension filled catalyst love
that moves mountains—I know, I’m probably getting a little ahead of myself...
But for me, and my Young Adult novels, it’s all about realistic love.
Sure, there’s a place for that fairytale romance, where the
princess finds her princess, where circumstances so unbelievable happen
bringing two characters together that it’s really only believable because it’s
a book. A work of Fiction. And that’s great. That’s what lots of readers want.
It’s what I want, a lot of the time.
However, there’s a place for realistic love. It’s what I
often like to portray in my novels, because yes, though readers, at times, want
to indulge in page turning unbelievable romance—the likes of which would simply
never happen in real life—there are tons of readers out there that want to read
about a love that they can imagine could happen to themselves.
Readers want to relate to characters. They want to
understand that there are matters of which they aren’t the only ones going
through alone. And they want to read about a love that is possible. That the
boy next door can find eyes for his best friend. Where the slightly geeky
girl—or secluded loner—can gain the attention of the jock. Where the new kid in
town can turn heads and snag the cheerleader. Because it is possible. I think
that if you believe in something. If you want it bad enough. And you have the guts
to go after it—anything is possible, especially that all consuming, once in a
life time love.
But I also want my characters to grow. I want their actions
to be just as realistic as the love I want them to feel. I want readers to
understand that love isn’t easy. There are good moments, bad ones, even ugly
ones, because real love is messy. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. It takes
work. And I like to make my characters work for it. I think that’s what makes
it just as realistic, showing that it takes two people to make love—and relationships
to work—but that love has everything to do with making a romance novel amazing.
Love has everything to do with it.
Authors shouldn’t be afraid to make love how they want it to
be. That’s the fun of being the author, and putting characters in all kinds of
situations. Don’t forget you weave the story, so don’t just write about the
love you think readers want to read about. Write about the love that you want
to write about. Because love is beautiful.
Alright, I’ve said my piece, leaving it a lot on the short
and sweet side because I don’t think anyone can really tell someone how to love
or how to write about love. It’s one of those things that have many different
angles. You just have to do it and see how you come out on the other side. Remember
that. You decide how to love and how to be loved. It’s your choice. Just like
it’s an authors choice on how to write about love!
Now, take a moment to enter to win an amazing prize! It’s
worth it, and well, if money can’t buy love, it can sure buy a lot of books!
And don’t forget to check out all the other What’s Love Got to Do with It? Posts!
And, if you haven’t had a chance to do so, and want another
great contest, check out the A
Stiff Kiss 1st Anniversary Contest, where you can discover some
of that realistic love I was talking about and enter to win some HUGE prize
packages!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
14 February 2013 at 04:13
I'm with you, Avery, I like a more realistic love, with all it's awkwardness and excitement and heartbreak. Nice post!
14 February 2013 at 05:46
You are absolutely right about realistic love. I think the reason novels and movies that focus on romance are so popular is because we all the need the escape and love it when the story melts our heart.
19 February 2013 at 21:34
Thanks for the fun post and thanks for being part of the giveaway. I love hopping around meeting new authors!!