I write local history books as well as romance novels; and although I write contemporary rather than historical romances, I do find that things I uncover in my non-fiction research end up sparking ideas for my fiction.
Originally, I was going to write a blog about the lure of the Mediterranean man (and this is where my fellow authors start groaning: ‘Kate’s going to bang on about how wonderful Antonio Banderas is…’ – well, yeah, he is), or about sexy archaeologists (my September UK release, Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded – out in Australia next month and as a Presents in the US in Jan 09 – stars a gorgeous archaeologist), or about how I’m trying to sneak a reindeer past my editor in my current book. (Yes, I did say ‘reindeer’. Setting for me is important because it reflects the conflicts in the relationship. So I really do need this reindeer!)
But then I spent Saturday with my non-fiction hat on, doing location research. And I discovered this incredible brass, dating from 1384, in a tiny country church.
It’s very similar to the tomb that inspired poet Philip Larkin to write An Arundel Tomb. The line I’m thinking about is the one describing the earl with an empty glove, because he’s removed it so he can hold his wife’s hand.
The last line of that poem is incredibly moving: What will survive of us is love.
And it got me thinking: this is what romance novels are about. Why we read them. Why we write them.
Love.
How do you know it’s love? Sometimes – as Nicola Marsh put it, in her post – it’s a matter of opposites being attracted and completing each other. (I love those kind of stories. Possibly because I’m married to a man that many would say is my complete opposite. Actually, we have similar viewpoints on the important things, so it works. It doesn’t matter that I’m the nerdy, clumsy academic and he’s the practical one who’s good at sport: together, we’re a team.)
Sometimes it’s something that creeps up on you unawares: the best-friend-to-lovers story (also a favourite of mine – in Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded, Alex and Bel are great friends. They just take a while to realise that their previous relationships all went wrong because nobody matched up to… well, each other).
Sometimes it’s the tall, dark, handsome stranger whose smile makes your heart turn over and then you find yourself acting completely out of character – as Becky does when she meets Leandro in The Spanish Doctor’s Love Child.
And then something happens. Something that makes the hero and heroine realise how much they love each other. I absolutely hate writing the end of a book, because it means I have to say goodbye to the characters; but I know that, after the book finishes, their love will continue. So really, it’s a happy ending rather than a sad one (and I can always sneak favourite characters in to future books: another bad habit of mine!).
My question is: what would make you realise it’s love?
I’ll choose a winner from the commenters – the prize is a signed copy of my latest US release, The Spanish Doctor’s Love Child (though it will be a UK edition, as I haven’t had my US copies through yet!).
Kate’s current release, The Spanish Doctor’s Love Child by Kate Hardy, is available in the US as a Presents Extra (and is also still available as a Medical Romance from the Mills and Boon website in the UK). You can find out more on her website on http://www.katehardy.com or her blog http://katehardy.blogspot.com – there’s an excerpt on the eHarlequin website as well as her own website. Hotly Bedded, Conveniently Wedded is available next month in Australia and in January 09 in the US; it’s also still available from the Mills and Boon website in the UK.)
