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Happily Ever After...The End????


Of Course.

It goes without saying.

We are writing Romance, aren’t we?

With such a wide spectrum of choices available to people who enjoy reading, I prefer Romance. The first Romance I read as a pre-teen was Lost Island by Phyllis A. Whitney. I’ve been hooked ever since and have been a faithful reader of romance. I thrive on reading and writing books with the all important HEA…Happily Ever After. The twists and turns of the plot can take Romance readers on a wild ride, but in the end we expect the hero and heroine to achieve that all important ending. They don’t have to get married and buy a house with a white picket fence or have babies, but the ending must be satisfying to the reader.

As a writer, I have to go one step beyond that… I have to satisfy my characters. If they aren’t happy with what I’m writing, and as odd as it may seem, the do wake me up arguing in my head, they will definitely let me know. I always have a synopsis that I try to follow, but there are times when my characters, balk refusing to follow the plan. When I force them to, it shows in the story. So over the years, I’ve learned to compromise.

I was planning murder and mayhem in THE SAXON BRIDE. Harald the Saxon captures Lady Eyreka and Augustin de Chauret’s daughter Angelique, BUT Lady Eyreka isn’t the type of woman to sit and wait to be rescued by her new husband, and she certainly doesn’t want to have to wait for Augustin to show up and save the day (which BTW was my original plan). She waits until de Chauret and his men storm the rebel’s camp, and then at a crucial moment, throws herself in front of Angelique, protecting the little girl from Harald the Saxon’s blade, taking the blade for the stepdaughter she’s come to love. OK, so Lady Eyreka's idea really worked. It pays to listen to your characters.

Then there’s Emily, my heroine in TYLER, my March release from Sourcebooks, while she’s no pushover, I had no idea she would go to such lengths to protect her budding relationship with Tyler when his ex shows up, showing off her engagement ring in front of Emily while Tyler’s innocently stripping down to this black spandex briefs and chaps on stage—did I mention that Tyler will do ANYTHING to save the Circle G? Emily is a woman who knows what she wants— Tyler— she clenches her hand into a fist and punches the busty blonde in the nose. Emily and I are quite satisfied with the outcome.

Life can be tragic or magic, with stumbling blocks and and heartaches, or new beginnings and celebrations along the way. I read and write Romance because I don’t want to read or write about real life… I read to escape the real world and have a feeling other Romance readers do the same. I’ve been fortunate enough to have married the man who stole my heart when I was seventeen…he’s kept it safe and sound all these years and given me the greatest of gifts in return, his love and our three amazing children (now adults)…best of all, the dear man never complains when I ask him to help me research love scenes. Can a Romance writer ask for more?

Because after all...


May you find your hero because...


Stop by my website www.chadmirand.com to read an excerpt from TYLER, the first book in my new series The Secret Life of Cowboys releasing March 1, 2011.

While you’re there, check out my current releases, A GIFT FROM HOME and THE SAXON BRIDE.

Slainte’

C.H. Admirand


Comments

  1. Can't have a good romance without a HEA! Our characters don't always do what we want them to, but it doesn't matter as long as they're happy, and we know they will stay that way.

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  2. Yep, we have to satisfy those characters or they pester the devil out of us. Sounds like your Emily has spunk and sass! Can't wait to read what happened after she showed busty blond who was boss!

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  3. I was at a dinner and the hostess mentioned I was a published author. I said I wrote romances, and one of the ladies was thrilled, but her husband said, "They have happily ever afters?"

    "Absolutely," I said, brightly. The lady and I had a delightful talk about romance, and one of the other men was just as interested adding his 2 cents. So some men like HEA after all! :)

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  4. I love a good HEA. I really liked you point that a HEA doesn't have to include babies, a house and a picket fence. Every character's happily ever after is specific to their romance. Great post.

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  5. Fabulous post. Oooh, I love cat fights. Hmm...you may have just given me an idea. Don't you love when that happens. Off to write my HEA!

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  6. I love your real life love story :-)

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  7. Yay for HEA!!!! Love reading them.... love writing them.... Great blog!

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  8. I'm glad I'm not the only one who gets lead by the nose by her characters. The book sounds fun. Great post!

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  9. Absolutely, the HEA is essential.
    I'm so glad I'm not the only one whose characters insist on having their say.

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  10. Pestering is what mine have been doing since sunup! Emily is spunky and definitely kicks butt and takes names...but I've got to get back to Ronnie, she's giving Dylan a run for his money right now. Poor man.

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  11. It's funny, Terry, but I do know of some men who will sit through a "chick flick," too. LOL! There's something to be said for a man who can appreciate the all important HEA.

    They are definitely out there, waiting for the right woman to come along and educate them. LOL!

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  12. Thanks, Sara. Everyone has something they need to make their happiness or relationship complete...it's what I think makes people and life so interesting.

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  13. I'm so glad, Robin! Yeah, my women are hands on and not afraid to stand up for what the want.

    BTW, the cat fight was really fun to write.

    Good luck with your HEA.

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  14. Hey Shana...I knew the moment I laid eyes on Dave that I was keeping him. Who knew it would be so much work to keep going forward together...but worth every damn minute!

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  15. It's a relief to know my characters aren't the only ones trying to take charge and drive me crazy!

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  16. I'm a little baffled by the HEAs that I'm writing. In real life, I'm drawn to a tall, lanky beta - endlessly kind, and who has housekeeping, repair and computer skillz in equal measure.

    So where are all these alpha heroes coming from? I'd really like to know.

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  17. Interesting question, Tamara.

    Since my characters are the ones doing the talking, I usually try to match my heroines with heroes that will challenge them on every level, but will have a character flaw that will appeal to my heroines.

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  18. I grew up on Phyllis A. Whitney. My mom got me started on her books. I have to have my happily ever afters, not only as a writer--of course, since I write romance--but also as a reader. I don't want to read about unresolved tradedy and problems. There is enough of that in real life.

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  19. Exactly, Anita. Ms. Whitney wrote so many wonderful romances, and I've read them all. Lost Island is one of my faves and the spine shows the wear and tear.

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  20. I love it when my characters tell me what happens instead of the other way around. And yes, I do so love a happily ever after!

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  21. I'm with you, CH. When I read or write, I want to escape the real world, and my HEA is a must!

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