Thank you for stopping by today to read my blog at Coffee Time Romance. I’m honored to be here. Many thanks to Karenne, Bonnie, and the rest of the crew for this invitation to blog!
I think this is the second time I’ve blogged. I feel challenged to come up with a topic that has not yet been blogged about on the web. And while I’m doing it, since I have only blogged once before, and since I’m only starting to hang out and read blogs, we’ll probably be venturing into vastly new territory. Are you still with me on this?
Here are a few suggestions. Feel free to mention whatever you want on any of them:
1) The role of symbolism in romance. ( Hah! Most unlikely to have been blogged about, don’t you think?)
2) What exactly do romance authors contribute to society? (Never seen that one done yet, either! Warning: I don’t know the answer to this one. Does anyone?)
3) Why read or write romance? (All right, all right, this is a nod in the direction of something a little more familiar. I can probably write for days on this one… but that wouldn’t leave any room for your comments, so we’ll skip on to the next topic….)
4) How has the internet changed romance stories? (Fits with my new interest in ebooks. And hopefully, your interest in reading and hanging out online, and maybe reading ebooks once in a while?)
5) Hey, here’s one question, all smooshed together: Why blog? To blog or not to blog? Whither the fine art of the blog?
6) And lastly, kind of on topic, Why do I like historical romances?
There you have it. A whole boquet of possible topics for us to play with today.
btw, I am burying some important information in the middle of this blog to see if anyone is really reading it, or if I am actually just talking to myself. Karenne has posted a coupon number somewhere on Coffee Time, and she says it gives you one dollar off my ebook, Bride of Desire. Ooops, guess what? It actually is a coupon to buy the whole ebook for one dollar… for as long as supplies last. He he
Okay, while I’m waiting for you to warm up your computers, I’ll entertain/bore you with a few little bits about myself. (This seems to be a required part of blogging, yes? no?)
I am one of those authors who ‘fell’ into writing. I didn’t plan on being a writer. It wasn’t something I’d ever thought of doing when I was little.
And although I loved to read fiction when I was a child and in my early teens, as I moved into my twenties, I threw fiction away. No fiction for me, thank you. Just the facts. I didn’t want anything that was ‘made up.’ I actually equated it with falseness, as I recall from that time.
Then, when I took a college class in English, did I receive a jolt. The professor had a gift for making stories fascinating. When we read a Joseph Conrad story, and when I learned that a story about a boat floating on water did not necessarily mean a boat floating on water, that it could represent a person floating on the seas of life, a lightbulb suddenly went on in my head. You mean… it was symbolic??? (See suggestion topic number one above.)
Now it’s your turn…
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Thank you so much for the comments, folks! Delightful!
T.
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Currently, I have two ebook releases, both ebooks, both from my historical romance collection. One is a Viking Indian story, the other is a Western. Both books were print published in the distant past, and I’m re-releasing them as ebooks because I think the stories are still relevant for readers. I hope you think so too.
Bride of Desire is a story of love and destruction on the high seas, set on the east coast of North America, and in Norway, during Viking times.
Bride of Desire, January 2010
Montana Angel chronicles the misadventures of a determined young woman in the wild west, after the Civil War ends and before the west is tamed.
Montana Angel, February 2010
Both books can be found on Amazon’s Kindle as well!
For those of you interested in reading more of my books, please visit my website at www.theresascott.com I am excited to be releasing my backlist of 13 novels in ebook format over the next couple of years.
Theresa Scott with a flower
Thank you so much, everyone, for stopping by to read my blog today! I hope you all enjoyed our few minutes together… May you all find the happiness you seek!
Love,
0 COMMENTS
Laurie Ryan
15 years agoOkay. I pick topic # 4. I think the internet has widened the horizons of romance. You see anything from traditional to erotic, and lots of it. And blogs, to me are like mini-workshops. I always pull some little bit of information that I can use in my career. You, for instance, reminded me about symbolism. I don’t think I use that enough in my writing.
Great post, Theresa! Thanks for making me think. 🙂
Chassily Wakefield
15 years agoGood morning, Theresa! I love the way you came back to fiction. Symbolism! LOL Sounds just like you. Your writing is always about more than a boat on the water, too. I enjoy the way you explore themes of humanity in your writing.
The “To blog or not to blog” made me laugh – that was the title of my very first blog. Mine has been neglected so long that it appears my answer was NOT, but I’ll get back over there one of these days.
I hope you enjoy your new venture, and wish you all the best, as always. Have a great day today.
😀
Chassily
Caroline Clemmons
15 years agoTheresa, the second question reminds me of stories I’ve heard from people with seriously ill family members or who are ill themselves or who are in desperate situations: reading a romance in which the hero and heroine overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles offered the reader hope in a time of despair. If that doesn’t make us writers important, what could?
By the way, I loved your blog post. Very cute.
Lucy Monroe
15 years agoHey, gorgeous – and yes, for those of you who have not met her, Theresa Scott is one of the world’s loveliest people inside and out. 🙂
I’m in a more pragmatic than esoteric mood today, so I’m going to answer the “To Blog, or not to Blog” question: for me, blogging is a chance to connect to not just my readers, but romance readers in general. I put my thoughts out there and then conversation starts. Some bloggers prefer not to allow comments on their posts and this really works for the author who wants to give readers a little more of herself, but not feel chained to computer to stay current with the conversation.
Others, like myself, find this to be invaluable time spent with people that can become friends. I prefer my blog over a discussion list, or even a chat board. It’s static enough I can keep up and dynamic enough not to bore me.
I do blog tours for the releases of my books, guest blog just because and enjoy hosting guests on my own blog as well. 🙂 A blog is only as vibrant as the effort put into creating and keeping it up. While I was ill, my blog suffered and a lot of my regular readers dropped off. Some have come back, some never will, but new ones have replaced them. I’ve found that the people who hang out at my blog are some of the nicest in cyberspace and that’s something I really enjoy.
So, is it worth it? For me…definitely. 🙂
Hmm…was that pragmatic, or phylosophical? 😉
Lavada Dee
15 years agoHi Theresa,
Great blog, hope there will be many more as I love hearing from you. You’ve certainly left us with plenty to think about and comment on.
I’ll take #2. My mother loved romance stories. For the last years of her life it was hard for her to get out much and she said the romance stories took her to places she’d not otherwise get to go. Islands, different countries, different time periods. Romance authors brought mom a whole world. And, of course they always bring happy endings.
Dawn Calvert
15 years agoHey, Theresa! I’m going to echo what Caroline said – I think romance novels are all about hope and knowing there will be a happy, satisfying ending for the characters you’ve come to care about. Plus, there’s that (sigh)…. “what if” element…
Great blog. Love the topics.
Nicole D'Arienzo
15 years agoI have to agree with Caroline, too. Reading romance lift people’s spirits, gives them hope and provides an escape from the stress and drama of every day life.
So romance writers contribute a lot to society!
Fun blog, btw. I’d love to see you explore any of those topics in more detail.
Theresa Scott
15 years agoHi Laurie, Thanks so much for stopping by. Yes, I, too, try to learn what I can from blogs… the content is crucial. The internet is making it better for authors, in ways where we can reach a wider audience. But it definitely is a big sea change in the ways authors communicate with their readers…
Theresa Scott
15 years agoChassily, what are you doing reading my blog when you should be over writing your own, hmmm??? LOL! The whole idea of blogging reminds me of sitting in the mall at one of my book signings, waiting to sign my stack of books… and three people walk over to ask me where the washroom is… Any of you been there? Hmmm, I thought so. Only with blogging, you get to jump up from your chair and go and fold laundry…
Theresa Scott
15 years agoCaroline, thank you for your kind words. Yes, I see the writer’s role, especially for romance writers, as being on of great encouragment–both to other writers, and to readers. The novel is in some ways a very personal form of communication, and if we can lighten someone’s load along the way, that is definitely worthwhile. Thanks again for stopping by, Caroline!
Theresa Scott
15 years agoDear Lucy, it was phylosophical! LOL! To everyone reading this, if you have yet to discover Lucy Monroe’s stories, you are in for a rare treat!!! On blogging… I think its been a watching and waiting routine for me, to see if people do respond. I’m so glad it is working so well for you, Ms Lucy! Most encouraging! (btw, pssst….Lucy Monroe is one of those storytellers whose books really lift readers’ spirits and encourage them!)
Theresa Scott
15 years agoHi there, Lavada Dee! Lovely of you to stop by! So glad your mom found consolation in reading the romances; that is so heartwarming. I’m glad she could enjoy the travel and happy endings of the stories. How proud she would be to know you are delivering wonderful stories to legions of readers, Lavada!!!
Theresa Scott
15 years agoHello there, Ms Dawn Calvert! So glad you posted your comment on hope and satisfying endings. If I hadn’t chosen to write about the lofty topic of Symbolism in Romance Novels, I was going to write about hope and encouragement. For those of you who are looking for some hopeful stories with characters you won’t soon forget, Ms Calvert has some books you will want to try! Great stories and lots of hope!
Yasmine Galenorn
15 years agoJust dropping by to say hello, Theresa! Been quite awhile but looks like I’ll be in Olympia in July. Dive into the blogging world–it won’t bite! 😉
Yasmine
Theresa Scott
15 years agoNicole! So glad you could make it! Yes, lifting people’s spirits is a strength of romance, for sure. As for the topic I would like to explore more, it’s the one on symbolism in romance. Seriously. I think we’re all forging ahead in our collective awareness, helping one another. Romances encourage emotional intelligence, and invite people to explore their inner life. Mind you, the same could be said about fiction in general. So… there we go… just figured out one of the societal benefits to keeping authors writing away: helps the whole planet. Are we all agreed? https://coffeethoughts.mystagingwebsite.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif
Theresa Scott
15 years agoYasmine! Love your Otherworld series!!! It will be so lovely to see you in July!!! Now, Yasmine, I don’t want you out needlessly travelling here and there, or going off to the grocery store or shopping. You need to stay right at your computer and write. Got that? You just stay right there and write all you want about Otherworld! Okay? Good… I promise to dive into blogging if you’ll keep the stories coming!
Janette Harjo
15 years agoHi Theresa!
I”m going to tackle answering #s 2&3, IMHO of course, :)) (or are you supposed to be the one doing the answering?) <g)
2) "What exactly do romance authors contribute to society?
3)Why read or write romance?"
with a single word, "Escapism." Sure, any kind of fiction can legitimately say that it provides escapism, but only with romance can you be assured of a happy or satisfying ending. And God knows we need more happy endings to look forward to in this world!
BTW I read all the way through your interesting blog, but saw no coupon. 🙁
Debby Lee
15 years agoHi Theresa, I hope it’s ok to make several disjointed comments. First, I loved your blog, your ebooks sound really good. I’m from a Scandanavian country (Denmark) so the one about Norway really caught my attention.
Second, to blog or not to blog, I’m just getting the hang of leaving comments on blogs so if I were to try and do one myself, I’d probably be the proverbial person on the high seas only I wouldn’t be floating, I’d be sinking!
Third, what do I think romance has to offer this world? Like most other things in life, it’s what we (as authors) make it. Sure, we could write fluff without extensive depth, meant to do nothing more than entertain the reader. And that’s ok, we all face harsh realities that we need to escape from at times. We could also choose to write stories woven with heavy duty social issues that challenge the reader to let go of unhealthy habits and ideologies. Or we could write anywhere in between.
Each author is on thier own unique journey and our readers are on many diverse paths. So make the most of each step you take.
Sorry I’ve rambled Theresa, I was on a roll. Great blog, great topics, great job.
Love and hugs, Debby Lee
Theresa Scott
15 years ago AUTHORJanette, thanks so much for stopping by! Yes, you are right. Many of us read fiction for escape, and I must say it does the job admirably! I am sure the guaranteed happy ending of a romance does lift many people’s spirits, including mine, when I finish a happy, satisfying book!
Theresa Scott
15 years ago AUTHORThe COUPON (number) for Bride of Desire can be found on the home page of Coffee Time Romance at:
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/
Enjoy!!!
Theresa Scott
15 years ago AUTHORHi Debby Lee! I loved your comments! I so agree with you about the value of romance being what we writers make of it. I think we do best when aiming high: always putting our best work out there for our readers. Novel writing is a lifelong endeavour… We get to integrate our research, and to constantly upgrade our writing and storytelling skills, all with the goal of producing a book that readers will hopefully find entertaining, spirit-lifting and innovative. What a challenge!