When I say my first experience with romance, I’m referring to my exposure to the genre as a reader. LOL! I’ve heard tales from romance authors of the first romantic tales they began reading as girls—some of them quite scandalous too. My experience was much tamer and sweeter as the first romance author I read was Grace Livingston Hill when I was in the fifth grade.
For those of you unfamiliar with this author, Grace was a Christian romance novelist of another age (called the Mother of Inspirational Romance). Her first book was published way back in 1877 and she continued writing books until her death in 1947—more than a hundred titles. She was incredibly popular in her lifetime and her books continue to be good sellers to this day. Within her romantic stories were plainly defined Christian messages, a clear cut delineation between good and evil, and an ending that brought resolution to problems both physical and/or spiritual.
She is an author I look up to and who still inspires me in my writing today. In fact, it was after reading one of her books back in 2003 that I decided to write my own for the first time. Three years later my first book was published. Authors are busy people. We get wrapped up in our writing and promotion, make time for our families, and try to accomplish some housework. It is very easy to loose track of what we really are doing.
As inspirational authors more than any other genre, we really have a responsibility to our readers. I never realized that until my first Inspirational, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Your Wedding, released. I received so many emails from readers on how much this book touched them. Then they would give examples from the story on how this situation was similar to something they experienced or that character was just like them or their daughter. Some of their stories were incredibly emotional. I was moved by the response and even educated. I wasn’t just writing for me, I was writing for them and the impact I would make.
At the end of last year, I wrote another Inspirational story, Relationship Rescue. It’s just a short story but one with great emotional drive and a dollop of humor. It’s very hard for me to write without some form of humor. This story came from an idea of—what if a couple broke off their engagement because one still hadn’t figured out what love was all about. He still had some growing up to do both spiritually and emotionally. And what if friends of theirs saw the unhappiness of this broken up couple and decided to get them back together…well, at least talking again? What would happen then?? That is the premise behind this story. It released this past September from The Wild Rose Press. I’m happy to have another Inspirational story to add to my collection. I write in several genres because I just love them all, but Inspirational is close to my heart and no matter where I go or what I do I will remain an Inspirational reader and writer. I really must thank Grace Livingston Hill for that. She instilled the love of romance and even more the Christian romance into my heart and that is something which will stay with me to the end.
So…everybody dish, what was your first experience with romance??
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Hi Cindy. My first experience with romance novels, I think I was around 12 or 13, hiding under my covers with one of my mother’s Harlequin romances and a flashlight. I took my first one because I wasn’t allowed to read them LOL I devoured every one I could get my hands on after.
Inspirational romance is a very difficult genre to write, in that it is such an emotional rollercoaster. At least this is the case for me. Do you find yourself getting caught up in the emotion when you’re writing such heartfelt tales?
this is my first time on here what kind of books do u write how hard is it for u to come up with a book bc I want to write a book I love reading very much
Id love a chance to win a new book how long does it take u to write a book
Great story Adelle! I think I read my first HQ around that age too but I didn’t get into them at the time. Yes, Inspirational romance is definitely more emotional. I FEEL for my characters. I feel my heart pound and moments when I want to cry.
Hi Shirley & Tena. Thanks so much for joining into the conversation.
How long does it take me to write a book?? Well, it depends on the length of course. I have written a 60,000 word manuscript in 4 weeks! Yes, I was on fire with that one. But it also took me 4 months to write a 20,000 word novella. If I’m inspired and have limited interruptions, I can write fairly fast.
Tena, I hope you will try to write a book. When I first started writing to be published it was very cathartic for me and I had so much fun. I write in several genres: Inspirational, Contemporary, Suspense, Historical, and Fantasy.
I don’t remember my very first introduction to romance, but I’ve always been an avid reader of romance novels. I am in the middle of a romance manuscript that has taken me about a year to write so far but I mostly dabble in short stories in the romance genre.
Good post. Loved hearing about your first exposure. 🙂
My first romance book was a HQ I remember it well Blue Jasmine LOL I was about 12 I think and I loved it.
You’re right Jayden, so many of us don’t know which was the first but the romance genre just sucked us in. 🙂 I wish you luck on your ms. Just keep going at it. I love writing short stories along with the novels. It’s good to be able to write both. BTW-love your name. That’s the name of my 6 mo old niece.
Hey Melanie! So glad to see you here. 🙂
That’s terrific you remember the exact HQ. I know I read my first one in like 7th or 8th grade but I have no idea which one. LOL!
Hello Cindy. What a great blog. I always enjoy hearing about the workings of an author’s mind.I came to reading romance very late in life. In my twenties actually. I spent my youth on reading Agatha Christie stories.
Hello Megan. :)I love Agatha Christie. I’ve been reading a lot of here again lately. (Right now I’m reading, Nemesis.) I didn’t get into reading mainstream romance until my 20’s as well. I read more classic literature and best sellers like Grisham and Mary Higgins Clark.
My first was Janette Oke and Love Comes Softly. Before than I had read a lot of teen books and classic novels like Anne of Green Gables but not a true romance. I was hooked and had to read more. I have now grown to love Lori Wick among others. 🙂
Those are all great ones, Krista. They sound a lot like my firsts. L.M. Montgomery (who wrote Anne) is one of my all time favorite authors. My first attempts at writing back in 8th grade are very whimsical like Montgomery.
Well the first romance book I read was a Harlequin Intrigue called Sunrise Vows by Carla Cassidy. I was 12 or 13 at the time and my friend Steven had broght all of his moms’ old books that she didn’t want anymore (they were all Harlequin lol) So I chose that one to read first because of the cover, it was pink (my fav. color), and it had little crecent moons on them (I LOVE Luna in all her shapes and forms) Well my eyes just about bugged out at the sex scenes, HAHA, but the book was soooo good! I even figured out who the bad guy was! I was pumped, I wanted more, I loved the happily ever after. So I read all of the Harlequin and then I signed up and started getting them in the mail, hehe. Oh and btw, I still have Sunrise Vows, it holds sentimental values. 😆
That’s a great story, Jennifer. 🙂 Glad you still have the book. And on a personal note–I really enjoy reading the HQ Intrigues.
Hmm, I’m trying to recall…well, does anyone remember those True Story magazines of the 1960’s?…LOL…I betcha don’t! My mom had a bunch of those and I read them too, so probably that was my first exposure to “romance”.
Afterwards, I loved Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden. Nancy had her boyfriend, Ned, but there really wasn’t any romance. Trixie liked her friend’s brother, Jim, and there were all sorts of cute things that happened with him that tingled my ten-year-old toes.
I think after that is when I discovered Grace Livingston Hill, but I can’t recall that she really had a lot of romance in them. And I also enjoyed Emile Loring (I think that’s how she spelled her name). Also, I devoured romance comic books and for those of you who don’t have a clue what I’m talking about, you’re really missing out! They had some great romance stories in those and the smooching pictures they drew to illustrate them…well, ooh, la, la. Well worth their twelve cents, believe me! 😀
Now you must remember that I, as Miss Mae, am a young, sexy 25-year-old and I dug up all these ancient goodies from Grandma’s attic trunk…and if you believe that… 😉
LOL Miss Mae! 😆
You need to read another Grace Livingston Hill. They are definitely romantic for the age they were written. One of my favs is Crimson roses. The heroine is all alone in the big city trying to make it but she buys tickets to the symphony. And every week she finds a new crimson rose on her seat from an admirer. And these roses lead her on an adventure of a lifetime. It’s really good.
I don’t remember how I got started on reading romance but now I am willing to read anything to do with romance. From gothic to spiritual to mystery. I love ones about families,children. I think it stems from my child hood. I watched how in love my parents were but also saw how badly some of my friends parents got along and I guess I have always wanted to believe that everyone has a happy ending.I have now found my happy ending and my husband doesnt understand why I still read them but you know sometimes you can get some great ideas out of these books. Cindy keep up the great blogs and books.
Hi Tonia! That was a lovely comment. Thank you. I like those kinds of stories too and who doesn’t want a Happily Ever After (HEA).