Friday, September 28, 2012
Does Happy Ever After Exist?
Alisha: Thrilled to have the lovely Kenra Daniels on my blog today! What's on your mind lately, Kenra?
Kenra:Hi Alisha, thanks so much for having me here!
I've been thinking about Happily Ever After. Of course, a book must have an HEA ending to be considered a Romance, or at least a Happy For Now ending, so creating those endings takes up a good bit of my time, as I'm sure it does every other romance author.
One of the big arguments detractors of Romance novels trot out regularly is the fallacy of the HEA. Supposedly, there's no such thing. How sad, that, as a society, we've lost so much faith in the power of love and romance that we no longer believe in Happily Ever After!
The problem seems to be our perception of Happily Ever After. In past eras, for a woman to be happy and secure, she needed a committed relationship, a man to provide for her and her children. Having a man who took that responsibility seriously, and cared for his wife, was a good thing. Serious relationships didn't just end at the drop of a hat, and women were rarely left to work two jobs and raise three kids alone just because the man fell out of love.
Today's Happily Ever After, I think, is far different. It's in knowing your partner will be there, trusting they won't fall out of love, or leave, as easily as they'd change underwear. It's in facing challenges together, working together to improve your lives.
In some ways, I think today's Happily Ever After is far more romantic and meaningful. Couples don't stay together now out of fear of social criticism, or out of feelings of responsibility toward children. Rather, they stay together because they want to, because they love each other.
As romance authors, today, we have more exciting options in relationships to explore than ever before. And Happily Ever After has never been more possible than it is today.
Blurb: A lonely woman goes dancing with friends to kick the Bad Breakup Anniversary Blues. Her fantasy-man is willing to help, until her lowlife ex ambushes him.
With the first anniversary of the messy break up of a long-term relationship bearing down, Amy has the blues. When her friends suggest an evening at the Double Dare, she reluctantly agrees to go along. She doesn't do the casual sex thing, but it'll be good to spend time with her friends.
Seeing Jesse at the Double Dare immediately cheers her up. She's fantasized over him for months. The evening gets more pleasant as they heat up the dance floor. Things go from hot to sizzling, until her ex shows up and confronts Amy in a low blow. Will his interference deter Jesse and Amy from continuing what could be the start of something wonderful?
About the Author: Kenra Daniels lives in a tiny rural community in north eastern Kentucky with her very own Romance Novel Hero. In addition to Erotic Romance, Kenra writes Paranormal Romance, and has plans for Historical Romance, Urban Fantasy, and a few other things. She has a completely new paranormal being in development and will soon start those stories. With multiple other projects in the works, time and energy are her only limits.
Kenra's Links:
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4 comments:
So happy to have you here today, Kenra! Your book sounds yummy!
Very nice. I very much enjoyed reading your post. "Happily Ever After" does have so many different meanings, doesn't it? It all depends on your point of view. :-) Susan Cooper
The truth is, there isn't a 'fairytale' happily ever after, where all the work is done, and you can sit back and relax. But I reckon the reality is better.
If a novel has shown two people who are prepared to work through their differences because they love one another, then I think that we can believe that they can continue to work through the differences life will throw at them.
I think a lot of people do, otherwise why would we continue to get married, and read romances?
Alisha, Thanks for having me today! And for the compliment :)
Susan, Thanks! Yes, I think like anything related to love and relationships, Happily Ever After really does depend on point of view. What makes one woman happy and fulfilled might stifle another, and leave a third feeling empty. To me, that's part of the fun of writing Romance - I can experience all those points of view vicariously through my characters.
Hi Rinelle! I agree, a Happily Ever After where the couple never faces another challenge doesn't exist. Strangely, though, that seems to be what many people expect. When they have to continue working and making the effort to meet challenges that change over time, many give up, and leave the relationship.
When a couple has successfully dealt with problems, and managed to stay committed despite expecting to deal with future problems, I think they've found a true Happily Ever After.
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Thanks for reading and commenting, everyone! I hope you entered the giveaway for your chance to win a copy of Tight Spaces.
Until next time,
Kenra
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