4 Posts of Note on Romance Fiction

 

With Valentines Day just around the corner, I wanted to present these noteworthy posts about romance fiction. Whether you're a reader, writer, or bookseller of love stories, you'll find something of interest below. Enjoy!

1. Love, A More Excellent Way
	Blog post by Robin Lee Hatcher (@robinleehatcher) "Love is what you do when the other person is unlovable," writes Hatcher in this reflection on the costs and joys of love. Read more of Hatcher's post, which was also her contribution to a book called How to Fall in Love like a Romance Writer. Learn more about Hatcher's latest novel Belonging. Read Excerpt of Belonging
2. A Touch of Romance: New Trends & Advice for In-store Promotions
Roundtable interview by Christine D. Johnson for ChristianRetailing.com. In this interview of value for aspiring authors and Christian booksellers, Johnson interviews several of Christian publishing's experts on romantic fiction, including Sue Brower, Zondervan's own Executive Editor of fiction. Here is one of Brower's many wise dashes of advice: "Many of our [romance novels] now have discussion questions in the back, and I would encourage the stores to create book clubs or an environment where a book club could meet. Sometimes people don't want to admit they read romance because it's not thoughtful reading when, in fact, it is and what helps that is having these book club questions." Read More
3. Interview with Lori Copeland, Romance Author
	Interview by Kim Ford for ChristianFictionOnlineMagazine.com In this interview Lori Copeland shares wisdom for writers trying to break into the market, and encouragement for writers going through difficult patches. "Do the best you can with what you have," writes Copeland, "and learn to be a lemonade connoisseur. Plenty of lemons will come your way, but stay close to the Father, and through it all you'll have the sweetest of faith, hope, and love to help you reap the rewards God has in store." I love that phrase lemonade connoisseur. Read more of the interview. Learn more about Lost Melody, the latest book by Lori Copeland & Virginia Smith Read excerpt of Lost Melody
4. Finally! Some Romance Characters that Look Like Me...
	Blog post by Grace Hwang Lynch (@HapaMamaGrace) Lynch spotlights three women of color who are bringing diversity to the Romance genre, including Zondervan author Camy Tang (@camytang). Lynch quotes Tang: "My future editor at Zondervan, Sue Brower, saw the lack of Asian ethnic fiction and the need for it, and she persisted in presenting my story to the editorial and marketing teams until they contracted my series in early 2006. Since then, I've heard from readers both Asian and non-Asian who have really connected with and related to my characters, and I'm very grateful." Read more of Lynch's post. Learn more about Camy Tang's new romantic thriller Protection for Hire Read Excerpt of Protection for Hire

Postscript

This stained glass window portrays what may be the oldest love story of them all.

 

Question for Discussion: Is the story of Adam and Eve a love story?

 

-Adam Forrest, Zondervan

(Image attribution: stained glass window, St. Florentin, France. By Mattana (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. This post does not represent the views of Zondervan or any of its representatives. The writer's personal opinions are shared only for information purposes. To receive new Zondervan Blog posts in your reader or email inbox, subscribe to Zondervan Blog.)

 

Comments

[Timothy Fish]

I don't normally think of Adam and Eve as a love story. Some people have speculated that the reason Adam ate the fruit was because he saw that Eve had and he didn't want to be separated from her. If that is what happened, I suppose it could be called a love story. I've never doubted that Adam loved Eve, but it is nothing like a Romance story.

[Kim]

Is the story of Adam and Eve a love story?

Yes, it is the oldest and most honest of all love stories. It tells how temptation can come between a couple, yet true love makes sacrifices. And that this love was unconditional, something few of us know or realize this day and time.
Adam realized his suffering would only begin the moment they left the Garden of Eden, but still he was willing to take this sacrifice, which neither of them understood the full extent until they first stepped outside of Eden. When temptation invited itself in, no one knows how they will react until they face whatever lures them.
Adam and Eve both enjoyed one of life’s little decadent pleasures and bite into the apple. (Personally I think the apple is a metaphor for taking a bite out of sexual pleasure).
If not for Adam and eve, the world as we know it today would not exist. It would perhaps truly be a garden of Eden, but who is to say, because in human nature we wish for what we do not have. Which, is what condemned Adam and Eve, and caused their exile outside of the Garden of Eden.
Their true love should have been God, not man, not temptation, but being human we fail to see where our true purpose should exist.

[Adam Forrest]

Kim, thank you for contributing. I haven't thought about the perspective that Adam could have expected there'd be consequences for eating the fruit of knowledge of good & evil. I guess I always assumed Adam & Eve thought they could avoid any consequences of disobedience; or they didn't think about consequences at all.

Thank you Timothy for sharing as well.

When I think about Adam and Eve, I often picture them in their latter years, lying down next to one another after a long day of toiling in the dirt for their survival. And I wonder what would have gone through their minds about the garden, their temptation, and how their relationship has been different ever since. I wonder if Eve would've read romance books before bed!

In my humble opinion, romance stories are about characters trying to recapture a slice of the garden.

-Adam

-Adam