Last week, my five-year-old daughter--known online as Little Miss R--was on spring break. We had playdates. We went to the park and the library. We covered the driveway with elaborate chalk drawings. We made sheaves of art. And she built fort after fort out of my paperbacks, continuing a family tradition.
The 85th time I tried to cram in a few minutes of work while she constructed a romance-novel ziggurat next to my desk, we wound up having a rather humbling interview. Since I was at my computer, I typed it all out:
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Any time I need a humility check, I don't have far to look!
Just for fun, let's have a giveaway of IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE--the first book in my Matchmaker trilogy. (Book 2, TO CHARM A NAUGHTY COUNTESS, is out May 6!) In this Regency version of the Cyrano tale, the wounded hero and wily heroine become friends before they tumble into a love affair--and secrets come to the fore. Eloisa James called them "irresistible, funny, and sexy." Little Miss R called the whole story--well, you know.
To enter the giveaway, just let me know something you like about romance! Is it how the characters get to know each other? The kissy bits? The beautiful covers? It's all good (unless you're five years old).
I'll open the giveaway internationally, and the winner can choose a print, Kindle, or Nook copy of IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE. I'll randomly choose a winner tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon ET, so please check back to see if you've won. Good luck!
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| "This is a doll of me," said Little Miss R. "Or you. We both have brown hair." |
TR: What’s my job?
LMR: Your job is to make books.
TR: What kind of books?
LMR: Books where the people get girlfriends and boyfriends because they love each other.
TR: Do you like that kind of story?
LMR: Um…no. They’re way too hard to read. And there’s lots of
kissing and I don’t like that. But I like the covers. The covers are pretty.
TR: *blinks* …How do you know there’s lots of kissing? Did I tell you
that? [Please note: she does NOT read my books.]
LMR: I don’t know. Is there?
TR: Yeah. There is.
LMR: Blech! You’ll get germs!
TR: What kind of people do you like to read about?
LMR: I like to read about people who don’t know each other and
then they start to like each other. But NOT love each other.
TR: So you like to read about people getting to be friends?
LMR: Yeah.
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| The "disgusting" romance in question |
TR: Did you know I wrote a book where the people get to be
friends first? First friends, then love.
LMR: (thoughtful pause) Well…that’s still disgusting.
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Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest, where she is working on her next book.
Website: http://theresaromain.com
Twitter: @TheresaRomain
Great artwork! And I loved the interview. So cute and innocent. We have a 5 yr old granddaughter so this blog touched my heart.
ReplyDeleteThanks, glad you enjoyed it! I love getting Little Miss R's viewpoint on things--I never know quite what she'll say.
DeleteToo funny! Love it!
ReplyDeleteCheryl, it made me laugh. "Disgusting"--oh, kiddo. :)
DeleteOut of the mouths of babes! Five year old kids are such honest folks. Precious story to start off the week. I love the whole package when it comes to good stories. The build up, the kissy part, the cover and even the end.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, well said! I love it all too. It's hard to pick just one favorite part of a good romance.
DeleteWell, as they say, "love makes the world go round' Since you know there is a HEA with a romance novel, it is the journey that is the most fun--how on earth will these two people get together?! And kissing is good too. ;)
ReplyDeleteAlisa, very true. The journey is what makes each romance unique. (And a good kissing scene never hurts either.) :)
DeleteI LOVE this interview! Thank you for posting this! My god daughter hates that I am writing lovey dovey books. Kissing is bad! LOL
ReplyDeleteHa, Christy! Ok, so I'm not the only one facing this sort of attitude. How old is your goddaughter?
DeleteOut of the mouths of babes. This interview made me smile. Thanks. I love reading romances for the HEAs for all types of characters. That makes me smile too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, knye--glad it gave you a smile. :)
DeleteThat's pretty funny! My daughter generally thinks about my books in terms of the covers. There's the blue book and the pink book and the red book. She likes the blue one best :-) She doesn't care what the book is about. It's all about the color for her.
ReplyDeleteShana, same here! Little Miss R is indifferent to the contents of my books because she knows they're all "disgusting" love stories. But she likes the covers because they have big dresses on them. Little Galen's favorite of yours is Sapphires? That's a gorgeous cover.
DeleteI like reading romance because they take me away. Sort of like the Calgon effect. Insta-love is a bit unbelievable though!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, they are a wonderful escape! I'm with you, I like it best when the love grows over the course of the story.
DeleteAw.so sweet and funny :)
ReplyDeleteI like to read romance with HEA,who doesn't want happy ending :)
Thank you for the chance Theresa :)
Hi, Bube! Thanks for stopping by. Yes, gotta love a story with an HEA. :)
DeleteBube, you are the winner! Please email me at theresa @ theresaromain.com (without spaces) to claim your prize.
DeleteYay!
DeleteThank you very much for the book Theresa! :)
Cute interview; like the HEA
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thanks, bn100!
DeleteLove it, Theresa. I have two boys, now teens, but I used to get the exaggerated eye roll form my guys. When my youngest was in elementary school, I remember watching Spiderman with him on TV. When Spiderman kissed the girl, he got, threw his hands up in the air and said, "Great, it's a romance" and left the room. If there's even one smooch among the explosions and acts of derring do, he labels the movie a "romance." Now that he's a teen, he's a little more lenient on that stuff (but still likes lts of explosions and adventure). Your post was great! I hope you had lots of book action too with you fab "toast" graphic.
ReplyDeleteTake care-
Gina
Ha, Gina! I can just imagine the sort of disgusted look he was wearing. :) Nice to know the attitudes about romance mellow a bit over time. Last week when Little Miss R watched "Frozen," she was rapt until the wedding scene--when she screamed with horror. You'd have thought it was a splatter movie.
DeleteTotes ADORBS :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gina! :) Little did I know how strongly she held these opinions...
DeleteThat's adorable. Remind her of the germ factor when she hits teendom. :)
ReplyDeleteTerri, I most certainly will. "Remember when you were five and you couldn't wait for me to interview you? Well, there are records. Let's just see what you said…"
DeleteMary, thanks for stopping by! Got you counted in the giveaway. :) I love classical tales turned into romances too (obviously!). Especially Pygmalion stories--I can't resist those. Have you read Judith Ivory's The Proposition? That's one of my favorites.
ReplyDeleteI love the parts in romances where the main characters are just getting to know each other and discovering that there is quite a bit to admire in the other, despite any problems they may have with each other. And of course, I always love the happily ever after.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Barbara. I love to watch characters get to know one another.
DeleteThanks for your comments! I'm glad you all enjoyed Little Miss R's latest interview. :)
ReplyDeleteI just visited random.org to choose the winner, and it is @Bube from 12:36 yesterday. Congratulations, Bube! I replied to your comment above with instructions on how to claim your prize.