Not that it matters this Monday, but I will have a book review a little later in the week. Today I'm going to do something a little different in its place. I know I've shared the "Foreword" from several of my novels on this blog. This time I'm going to share the Foreword from my soon-to-be published for Kindle/e-readers novel . . . in a love song. Doing it in advance of the book is not something I tend to do, but for whatever reason I decided to do it this time. "Set the stage" so to speak. Hopefully, for some, pique the curiosity in those who enjoy romances. So here you are . . .
Foreword . . .
There are myriad inspirations cited by novelists when asked to discuss the motivation for a particular novel. Readers repeatedly ask, “How do you come up with your ideas for a story?” Answers will range from the mundane to the spectacular.
. . . in a love song is a unique romance novel for me for a number of reasons.
First of all, it was inspired by the song “Heard It in a Love Song” by The Marshall Tucker Band on their Carolina Dreams album. I’m a lyrics girl so as I listened to the words of this tune, I couldn’t help but picture the “narrator” as a character in a love story. What kind of guy would he be? And of course from there Dale Rivers came to life with several exceptions to the man in the song. And what kind of female would it take to capture his heart and make him want to settle down? Enter Patricia Edison. And how would life change for them if . . . ?
In the second place I’m not a fan of the typical stack of conflicts often woven into romance novels. There is only one primary conflict in this story of two 30-somethings facing love for the first time in their lives.
Thirdly, this story features everyday life with abundant dialogue as if you’re experiencing conversations externally and internally with them. It’s flirty, romantic, and raw at times, not to “offend” but to be real. There are a few unexpected turns in the story, but really it’s all about the “Big Three”: love, romance, sex.
Finally, I write Christian Fiction. Unashamedly. One thing you will always find in my novels is the contrast of life lived in the world without Jesus as opposed to life lived knowing Jesus personally. The two main characters in this story have a vague awareness of God but it’s not personal in the beginning.
Having said all of that, if you love straight-up romance, I think you’ll fall in love with Dale Rivers’ and Patricia Edison’s love story.
Raw, Romantic, Redemptive
Father, again, apart from you, I can do nothing. Desperate for you. Always. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.