Romancing the Love Boat

Why do I write romance?

Blame it on The Love Boat. I grew up watching that 70s TV show religiously every Saturday night with my grandmother and my older sister. As a six-year-old, I absorbed those weekly stories of romance on the high seas with Captain Stubing and his crew and it was a very comforting ritual for a child. I knew I could sit in the basement with my matriarchy and watch characters fall in love and live happily ever after.

Then, when I was twelve, I saw the movie Romancing the Stone. I thought Joan Wilder was the coolest person on earth. She wrote romance novels, she lived in NYC, she got a jungle makeover, she fought the bad guys, wrestled with crocodiles (or was that Michael Douglas?) and, in the end, saved the day.

My latest favorites? The English Patient (both the film and the book): great love story (not necessarily happy) with a world view. Perfect. Or how about Pride and Prejudice - great UST (unresolved sexual tension) and character development. Love stories are great platforms for all kinds of lit and film, and I've never met a love story I didn't like.

So, why do I write romance - is it a question of nature or nurture? Certainly, TV and film have influenced me, but I think it's also in my nature to gravitate towards a genre with empowered women and plenty of room for comedy. Love stories and happy endings don't hurt either.