Long
before I could read, I loved listening to fairy tales. I remember the magic I
felt at the impossible happening. Fairy tales still fascinate. I savor good
overcoming evil and bask in the knowledge that deep personal trials reap huge
rewards. I’m still a sucker for stories like Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping
Beauty, Rapunzul, Beauty and the Beast, and The Ugly Duckling to name a few.
The
prince or princess always had to go through some horrible tragedy to get the
person of their dreams in the end. Like Cinderella, they’re often the
underdogs. And sometimes they might’ve been ugly. Remember the princess who
kissed the frogs until one magically turned into a handsome prince? (I tried that and it worked.) In the Ugly
Duckling, the poor little duck who lost his mommy became a beautiful swan.
Do
some of these sound like our romances?
Actually,
a lot of romance stories are based on fairy tales. Love has to be tested to
know if it’s real. Our characters have to prove how badly they want the person
of their dreams. We put them through a lot of hardships in order to reach the
prize. And in some cases they have to learn to trust what they feel by
sometimes losing it only to find it again and recognize it as a precious
treasure that’s worth any cost.
Cinderella
had to endure taunts and meanness to overcome and get the prince. The Beast had
to show the Beauty that he had a pure heart capable of great love and she had
to learn that what’s on the inside is more important than the physical.
In
fiction as in real life we all search for a place to belong. The gunslinger,
the outlaw with a good heart searches for that one place where he’ll find
acceptance and maybe love with a special woman.
Belonging
is a common thread in my books. In the old west, people braved such hardships,
searching for a place to plunk down strong roots. They were often alone and
needing a home, love and family.
In
my upcoming book, TO LOVE A TEXAS RANGER, Sam Legend thought he didn’t need
roots. He left them behind when he joined the Texas Rangers. He burned with a
need to see what’s over the next hill. But Sierra Hunt who’d been yanked from
pillar to post, harbored a deep dream for permanence and stability and she
wouldn’t settle for less...not even for Sam.
The
best stories I think are ones where the happy ending seems impossible. Those
are page-turners. Even though we know the guy will get the girl (or vice versa)
in the end, we want to see what he has to go through in order for it to happen.
And we want to root for him every step of the way.
What
are your thoughts about fairy tales? Can you see them in our romance stories?
And if you have a favorite fairy tale romance, share it with me.
PREORDER at:
My daughter is always saying she doesn't like love stories (yuck!), but I point out all the fairy tales she watches are love stories. I do kind of like Disney's trend to make their movies different love stories (like the love between sisters in Frozen). I love romances but I don't think kids always need a huge dose of that.
ReplyDeleteHi Shana, yeah I agree. Kids don't understand what romance really is at that young age. I think stories should focus on overcoming self-image problems, good overcoming evil, teaching that outward appearance isn't important and a person should see what's inside, etc. There are lots of issues we can address for children and entertain them at the same time. The main thing that stuck with me as a young girl was the magic of life and how anything was possible. Thanks for stopping by.
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