This week I am celebrating the release of my new novel, Ellenvale Gold. With it I am wondering what is it that draws people to read the romance genre. In an attempt to answer, I thought I would look at why I love to read romance.
I have always had a soft, gooey spot for a good love story. With a happy ending mind you. I am usually quite disappointed if the couple don't end up together. The King and I might be a classic, but I just can't enjoy it, no matter how realistic the ending might be. Right or wrong I wanted the King and Anna to be together.
When I think about it, the yearning for a fulfilling love story with a happy ending has everything to do with God. Everybody has that empty place in their hearts which needs to be filled with His unconditional love - the kind of love that last forever. And not just the friendly, affectionate kind of love. We want deep, passionate love - love that will sacrifice itself to show how important we are.
A good romance always emulates that. In my belief, the best romances also weave in the truth about Jesus as the ultimate person who can fulfil our needs. He loves us with deep, passionate love and went to the cross to prove it. People will search for love their whole lives, in all the wrong places, until they discover Him. At the very least, I think, I should point them in the right direction through my writing.
As with a multitude of things on earth, love stories reflect the heart of God. In light of that (and the fact that I adore love stories), please share with us either how you fell in love with your partner, or how you fell in love with the Lord. I look forward to hearing your stories. :)
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Amanda Deed resides in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne where she fills her time with work, raising a family, church activities and writing historical romance novels. Her new novel, Ellenvale Gold was released at the beginning of November. For more information, see:
http://www.amandadeed.com.au/
http://amanderings.wordpress.com/
You touched a chord with me here Amanda, because I am a romantic too. I remember at the age of sixteen while I was dreaming of my future husband, I had a moment of profound conviction that I would marry a 'poor' man. I soon forgot about it, and went on to date two or three fellow students from University, but none of them was Mr. Right. I became a Christian at the age of 22, and soon afterwards fell very much in love with a shy young man in my church. I didn't know it at the time, but he suffered from severe ADD/Dyslexia, and would struggle with learning all his life. His jobs would always be manual, and we would always struggle financially. However, we love each other deeply and I wouldn't have chosen anyone else. I think that's pretty romantic!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amanda! You touched a deep chord in me too. I do so enjoy love stories that have happy endings. And love is what it is all about, isn't it? The love of God is of course the beginning and ending of our lives! I will never tire of reading love stories and will never tire of hearing God's love story to the world.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and thanks,
Anusha
PS Hey Debbie - yes, that certainly is a beautiful love story you shared - specially seeing you have been married a good many years. 30? Congratulations!
I have always loved romantic stories, so that is mainly what I write. I like a happy ending, even wanted Romeo and Juliet to live happily ever after.
ReplyDeleteBut when I write romance, most aren't straightforward there are issues to overcome. I think it is good to show things won't always be perfect. And when I have children (girls) i want them to see you can have a wonderful Christian romance in their own lives
MEL
Hi Debbie, I love how you had that conviction years earlier. What a great love story.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anusha. God's love story is the best one of all. :)
ReplyDeleteYes Mel, I wasn't happy with Romeo and Juliet either. :) And a good romance needs that conflict to keep you guessing until they end up happy together.
ReplyDeleteYaah! for romance! Boo for those realistic endings eg Message in a Bottle, In Love and War.
ReplyDeleteWho spends all that time and money producing a story that doesn't end up 'happily ever after'. I'm with you, in God it all ends up 'happily ever after' even if our earthly experience doesn't always quite match up.
Hey Meredith. Couldn't have said it better myself! :)
ReplyDeleteWhile it's packaged as a love story, Romeo and Juliet is not just that. It's also a tragedy, a story of unfulfilled potential. I think that's why we love straight romances. We yearn for the characters' potential to be reached and exceeded. It's the same in our own lives and romances. Without God's hand, neither reach their full potential. I'm so blessed the real life romance with my beloved is still growing into its fullness and maturity. (Can I say that after 22 years?) ... And with God, so is my spiritual romance <3
ReplyDeleteGreat post and congratulations on your book! Yes, with God all things are possible, but loving Him does not guarantee a wonderful relationship with one's spouse. Just thought I might throw that in. My work has brought Christian women across my path that endure very difficult relationships, yet through it all they are stretched, refined and polished by the Lord to grow into His image. And some of them don't like reading romance because when they wake up from their escape into the 'book world' they once again have to face reality knowing that they will never experience such a wonderful happy ending themselves (except, of course, when they finally meet Jesus). As for myself, I LOVE romance stories...
ReplyDeleteAmanda, great post! Congrats on your book release :)
ReplyDeleteYes – I am as mushy as a marshmallow over an open fire. What use is a love story without a happy ending? That’s what I write too Amanda. As for the telling of my own unorthodox love story? – it is far too long to tell in this forum – let’s just say it has taught me a lot about the unconditional love and grace of our Lord.
ReplyDeleteHi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteRecently, and I think I even put them on FB, I found a list of what they called the world's top 20 (or it might have been 50) romances, and I was amazed and saddened that with the exception of a couple such as "Pride and Prejudice" they were mostly tragic. I completely agree with your sentiments regarding the satisfying romance novel.