It was the best of times...


Good Monday morning! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We did. The whole weekend, actually, with all the kids and and all grandkids but one, was pretty near perfect. We ate an extraordinary amount and played games of Cards Against Humanity that ran the gamut of insanity, obscenity, and painful realism. Duane doesn't like the game and never plays, but he loves listening to the laughter and the voices as the rest of us surround the big dining room table at our daughter's house.

Sometimes family members have asked if I used them in books. I always say, "Not really," and that's true. Sort of.

However, an editor I had once argued that the "young people" in my books were too articulate--the editor never sat and listened when a flock of them argued a point. Profane, yes. Extreme, yes. Articulate--oh, God, yes.

I love writing girlfriend scenes, both because I'm blessed with a bunch of "gal pals," and because I watch my girls working together in the kitchen, shopping together on Black Friday, rubbing affectionate hands over the heads and shoulders of each other's kids. I don't know how close they are--their relationships are their own--but I know they have each
other's backs.

There are long marriages in our family. The newliest-weds have married 18 years, the oldest ones over 26. Everyone who's in a long marriage knows better than to take anything for granted, but it's what those of us who write traditional romance (and read it) hope for when we write happy endings.

My youngest grandson Eamon, who is six, had on shoes with velcro fastenings. His Uncle Chris, who is 46, asked if he was able to tie his shoes. Eamon said he was. "Well then," said Uncle Chris, "will you tie mine?" Eamon did, working quietly and earnestly. Midway through the session, he asked Chris, "Why can't you tie your own shoes?"

Although I was laughing so hard I could hardly contain it, the six-year-old and his uncle--who adore each other--continued their serious conversation.

And there we have my favorite part of writing romantic fiction. It's not the romance--sorry!--or the sensuality, or even the HEA (which I truly do love)--no, it's the relationships. Between girlfriends, teenagers, sisters, uncles and nephews, and...yes, the protagonists. If they're friends, they'll be even better as lovers.

On to Christmas! That's our new tree up there. It's flocked, which means there is white stuff all over my living room, and I found out if you decorate a flocked tree with mostly silver ornaments, you really can't see the ornaments. You just learn something new every day, thank goodness.

While you're out rambling today, stop by Angela Hayes' blog. I'm today's Thankful Author and would love to see you!

Have a great week!

Comments

  1. I love it when you ramble! So happy you had such a good time with your kids and grands--isn't that the best blessing of all? Love the tree--I haven't even gotten that first holiday decoration out yet...ack!

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    1. The tree--and maybe one in my office--is all I'm really doing this year. If we hadn't just bought it, the tree wouldn't be up yet, either! :-)

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  2. What a beautiful Thanksgiving! I'm envious--we only got one very lovely day! ;-) I've enjoyed your thankful posts, too, Liz!

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    1. Thanks, Anna. Doing those posts has gone a long way toward making this month better for me--I'm glad others enjoy them.

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  3. So glad you had a lovely Thanksgiving with your family. I totally agree with you about the best part of writing romance is writing the relationships. I'm currently writing about the loves and the relationships of three sisters. Even though I don't have a sister, it's fun to imagine what a relationship with one might be.

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  4. We had a great Thanksgiving, too, and I'll post about it later this week - LOVE your tree!

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    1. Thank you--I love it, too, except for all the white stuff that looks like soap flakes falling everywhere. :-)

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  5. The part about do people you know show up in your books struck me because I do this even though it may be a small part of the person, that part is there. I love your Thanksgiving tie the shoes story, too.

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    1. Thanks, Vicki. Sometimes you don't even know it's there until you have an aha moment when you're reading back over things. It makes sense, though, because other people are so much a part of our lives.

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  6. So happy you had such a fabulous time with the kids and grandkids! Time together makes it all worthwhile, doesn't it?

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  7. "Why can't you tie your own shoes?"

    LMAO! Out of the mouths of babes....

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    1. No kidding. This is the kid who, when Duane had to get a new knee, told his mom he thought Papaw should have a new head, too.

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