All your kind comments and heartfelt stories about how autism (as well as other problems) have touched your lives, has left me speechless and feeling so blessed to be part of this community. I was just going to leave a long comment, but thought it was better to write another blog.
I have this speech I do usually at librarian conferences or to reader’s luncheons, and the part that always chokes me up is when I talk about how personal romance novels can become to each of us. These aren’t just stories, they are our books. Not because we’d prefer our lives if we were Lady Elizabeth with a hundred servants at our beck and call or Princess (insert your name here) being pursued by the ruthless and devilishly handsome Duke of Dreamy, but because these stories become our refuge from the challenges and mountains we all face in our daily lives. I wouldn’t trade away or wish away my life for anything, but romance novels always make the darker days just a little bit brighter with their message of hope, resilience and hopefully that lucky bit of humor that makes you smile or laugh at loud.
So to me is a huge responsibility when I sit down to write. I want my stories to entertain, because I know there are so many other women out there like me, with children with autism or a myriad of other horrible and awful disabilities, with aging or dying parents, struggling to make ends meet, going through marital problems, the list goes on and on. So find a story today, carve out a bit of time to read, and know that we are all in this together. Writers, readers, fans and the fortunate who get to be all three.
Now it is time for me to get back to what I love . . . writing. Just after I finish another chapter of Lorraine Heath’s new book….
Here’s a question: What story or book or movie has touched you when you needed it the most?
Teresa Medeiros, One Night Of Scandal, touched me in a way few other books had at the time. I even wrote Teresa a huge long email about it too.
That book came at a time that I was battling some deep dark demons in my life and her character did what I wanted to and in a strange way that helped push me past all the darkness.
I will admit that there are several stories out there that have gotten me past rough patches in my life, but none has reached the core of my being as much as that one did. I must say though, reading some of the funnier books while on several pain medications, including morphine really does change the story haha. I had to reread a few books just get the story down, correctly.
As always wonderful topic.
I loved LLfaD! It was a wonderful holiday read…I was even able to sneak away after “bedtime” to finish it! Of course this makes me long for the rest of the stories…the older Danvers novels (the backlist, sigh, I still love Rafe best) and the, um, story of Kit?
We all need to get away sometimes, and my favorite romance authors provide my own private island!
Thanks!
Dahlov Ipcar The Queen of Spells, My first trist into the romance/paranormal
I found a mysterious man and a girl strong enough to fight for what she knew
was rightfull hers. Very empowering for an 8th grade girl.