Today I'm participating in a mass blogging. WOW! Women on Writing has gathered a group of blogging buddies to write about family relationships. Why family relationships? We're celebrating the release of Therese Walsh's debut novel today. The Last Will of Moira Leahy (Random House, October 13, 2009) is about a mysterious journey that helps a woman learn more about herself and her twin, whom she lost they were teenagers. Visit the Muffin www.wow-womenonwriting.com/blog.html to read what Therese has to say about family relationships and view the list of all my blogging buddies. And make sure you visit http://www.theresewalsh.com/ to find out more about the author.I could probably come up with about ten different blogs on this topic without even blinking - a lot falls under family relationships (depending on how much dirty laundry I'm willing to air!). But I'm going to go with a topic that I imagine, haunts all of us to a certain extent - sex (did I get your attention?). Yup, I am a romance author, which means my books have sex. Explicit sex. Well written, sweaty, no holds barred sex. Both because the story demands it, and because it is almost compulsory in romances these days. The promise of a few great make out scenes and one full scale bedroom romp is a great way to sell to total strangers, but with my debut novel coming out in December, I am struck with the realization my family will read it. My father will read it. Gulp.
And I don't want him to just turn the page and skip it, because I labored really hard to make it good (truly ladies, is there anything harder to write than a well crafted sex scene?).....but can I look him in the face once he has read it? A paradox, I know. He grew up in the 60s, but lived as opposite a life as possible from free love/drugs/rock 'n roll. Strangely, I don't mind the thought my co-workers, friends, and even in-laws reading it. But I can't quite wrap my mind around how awkward Christmas dinner might be at our house this year, once my father finishes my book. So I turn to you for help. I'm sure everyone has encountered this. What did you do - how do you deal with it? I'm grateful for any and all suggestions.
I can't imagine my pop reading my love scenes! I used to ask my mom to crit stuff, but once she read a scene where a woman was watching the hero ride a colt, thinking about how his hips moved, and would they move like that on her?
ReplyDeleteMom refused to read any more, and that was tame for me! LOL!
Thankfully I also write trivia books(which my dad reads). I think many of my family members think my fiction is based on real people--real people IN OUR FAMILY--and always want to know who the characters are based on. But they aren't based on anyone except the people in my head. I think it's hard for non-writers to seperate real life from fiction. They always assume fiction is just real life with a few names changed.
ReplyDeleteOh boy. I can be no help here. I wouldn't know what to tell my dad. And my family, my son, 15 and my hubbie, will never read my work either. Sad, but true. Maybe just tell him to be proud you're an author, but don't let him read it??
ReplyDelete:) billi jean
Wow, see, I haven't dealt with this issue, either. I'm no help, but I sure feel the worry pangs when you mention it. I picked the wrong week to quit biting my nails!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm no different, this thread is cracking me up!
ReplyDeleteAs your father,...thanks for the Head's up! I am really looking forward to your debut as an author. It is my problem, and as I have told your mother, I'll just have to get over it. Love 'ya.
ReplyDeleteDad
My dad will never read a book of mine. He loves me, but not quite enough to read a romance. Sad, but it's who we are as a family. He's not a reader, anyway. Maybe if I wrote a firefighting manual, or some Civil War history...
ReplyDeleteMy mom's read my first manuscript. I thought she lied about having finished it, but I was chatting with her about an editor's revisions and she busted out all this super-specific knowledge about the plot. I was shocked, and she laughed. "What? You thought I didn't read it, didn't you?"
LOL. My mom cracks my butt up. I asked her then what she thought of all the sex, and she said something along the lines of, "It was nice. There wasn't that much of it, you know. I thought there'd be more."
I figure that it I weren't married she wouldn't be quite so nonchalant about it, but I am, and she is. I did hear her telling someone a few days ago that I wrote "historical, with a bit of romance."
Whaaa? I write contemporary romantic suspense, with spies and evil geniuses and the like. I actually now wonder whether she A) forgot, and made something up (not beyond her), or B) thinks "historical, with a bit of romance" sounds more impressive (also totally within the realm of Mom).
Christi!
ReplyDeleteWay cool dad!
Jamie!
ReplyDeleteHysterically funny. Historical with a bit of romance. LOL!
My family was thrilled to hear about the HOR win, until I told them there was no money prize, then they were just ok.