To Romance or Not To Romance

Tags

love, lust, romance, RT book lovers convention, writing my voice, writing real teens

That is the question.

As I wandered through the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention, I saw the loyalty and passion of romance fans. Epic.

Did this make me want to write kissing scenes? Nope.

I felt a bit out of place, but I didn’t feel inadequate, like my writing was somehow lacking because I don’t include hot guys with abs. I appreciate these guys, but never have I found myself drooling over them or dreaming of spending moments with them. This has never been me. I was not a boy-crazy teen. I didn’t date until college, and that one guy I did date is now my husband, so my dating history is, well, short.

If I feel this way, so do others. I might be in the minority, but we need stories out there for those of us who don’t want the kissing. So I write for the teens who don’t need romance, who don’t need hot guys, who don’t need to live through these fictional relationships. I hope I write realistic people, who go on a journey of self-discovery, regular teens with regular problems.

Don’t get me wrong, I see the need for the schmexy, lusty books. My sisters won’t read a book unless there’s a half-naked man with rippling abs on the cover. They love it. They need the escape, the fantasy.

I don’t. I mean the men are pretty and so are the women, but I’d rather go to a cool fantasy world and fight monsters or hang out in a haunted house. Though I don’t mind love…an honest attraction or a simple connection between two characters makes me smile and can enhance the story.

I can’t guarantee that romance won’t appear in my writing. I can’t always control what the characters do, how they feel, and who am I to say NO ROMANCE EVER! Emotions and developing relationships are real life, but I will more than likely stay away from the lusty stuff, for that has never felt real to me.

And I think that’s the thing. I need to believe in the love. So when one of my main characters told me that she had feelings for her best friend…yeah, well, I had to believe her. And they kissed and it was awkward and endearing…I hope.

So as I walked the convention halls plastered with images of men’s torsos and the promise of hormonal excitement, I felt empowered to write for people like me. To add my voice to the chorus. Isn’t that what art is supposed to do? Give every view, every opinion, every way of life a voice.

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Reconnecting with Reality

Tags

authors, being away from home, hotels, reality, RT book lovers convention, thoughts, writers conferences

So I’ve been away.

First spring break, visiting with my family.

Then Vegas for the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention.

The first two weeks of April pretty much lived in some other realm of existence. I got home Monday night and have just reclaimed the ability to create coherent thoughts. Maybe. Well, as coherent as I get anyway.

Vegas was spectacular. Crazy. Crowded. Loud.

Full of people who love books.

Full of authors ready to celebrate how they create, what they create, and so excited to mingle with their fans and chat with other writers.

It was scary. I did shuffle to a few corners to avoid the insanity. But not all the time! So yea!

I had a hotel room where magically everyday the trash was taken out and my bed was made. I lived in a world where all I had to do was decide what session or panel or reader event I was going to attend and find the correct room. I ate at odd hours and all that was required was to sit and order my food.

I found authors to sign my books. Amy and I wandered along the Las Vegas strip, gazing in awe at the sights. I hung out with people I had only spoken to over the computer.

No chores. No kids. No dog. No hubs.

A strange world, an in-between world. Not reality. And yet so real.

Since I have come home, the edges of life have been a bit blurry. My role here a bit out of focus. But my Vegas daze is fading. I am slowly coming back to the real world where I am a stay-at-home mom with a house to take care of and kids to get here and there. Track practices. Track meets. Ball practices. Grocery shopping. Vacuuming. Cooking. Laundry.

My kids did a fabulous job taking care of the house and pets and themselves. My daughter looked at me when I got home and said, “I got to be you!”

I asked her how that went. She replied, “It was hard.”

As I was out learning all sorts of writerly wisdom, my family was home missing me and maybe gaining a bit of appreciation for what I do. And they are ready to hand all the responsibility back to me. And I’ll take it because it’s my job. A job I am proud to do.

However, if a chance like going to Vegas for a week arises again…I’ll take it. I learned tons. I met great people. I pushed past my anxiety about leaving home, my comfort zone. I got myself to the airport, on the plane, to the hotel by myself. And let’s face it, I loved not having to do dishes or laundry. Not once did I worry about the people I left at home.

I became a better me. A stronger me.

When adventure knocks…go.

GO!

Enjoy every moment life offers. Learn. Grow. Be the best you ever.

Where’s Kathy…

Tags

leaving home, meeting computer friends in real life, new experiences, new things, RT booklovers convention, scared, Vegas

I am not really here.

I am on my way to Vegas. Yes, Vegas for the RT Convention.

What am I doing there? I have no idea. I’ll let you know what happened when I get back. If I get back…when my head stops spinning when I get back…

I am excited. I get to meet so many of my friends who live in the computer! Amy! Emma! Diana! Kate! AND MORE!

I’ll attend sessions and learn something to make me a better writer.

But I admit…I am nervous. Crowds scare me.

Doing things outside my comfort zone, which would be my home, terrify me. I have to drive myself to the airport and hope I get to the right place with the correct papers…I am not an experienced flyer. At all. Not that I’m scared of flying…plane rides are fun!

I am abandoning my job as stay-at-home mom for a week. A week. To be honest, I feel like a big weenie for dumping my job on my hub’s lap. He has enough to do and now I leave him in charge of the kids and house…

Okay, let me rephrase that. I will leave the kids in charge of the house and their dad…

I will miss my son’s first two track meets of the season. But there are always more of those.

Ball practices? Maybe they go, but if not the world won’t end.

I bought them food, so hopefully they will eat. And if they don’t? Oh well…pretty sure they won’t let themselves starve.

I won’t have time to worry about them, not that I would. Worrying about other people is crazy. I don’t care what goes on at home when I’m not there. However, let’s hope someone feeds the cats.

I’ll be too busy trying to navigate the convention, trying to not huddle in a corner, trying to make the most of this experience I am lucky to have.

So I’ll get on the plane, fingers crossed it’s the right one…I’ll get to the hotel…I’ll enter the world of people and books and writing because I am lucky! And maybe I’ll have a few stories to tell when I return. If I return.

So, if anyone needs me, I’ll be in Vegas.

Vegas, the last place on Earth I belong as my hubs says.

Vegas, baby.