Tag Archives: romcom

The Role of Love Letters in Romance Stories #MondayBlogs

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I have been busy working on book 4 where the main characters used to date as teenagers and write each other love letters. It’s sent me love letter crazy and a bit nostalgic.

Does anyone remember sending handwritten letters or even better receiving them? I used to cover mine in doodles – flowers, hearts etc and maybe the odd – T.L.N.D (true love never dies) and S.W.A.L.K (sealed with a loving kiss).

I think I sent out more love letters than I received back in the day.

There are 2 memories I have of love interests wrriting me love letters:

The first love letter was one I never got to read as my sister and her friend shoved his love letter to me down a drain. He moved away shortly after that so I never knew what it said.

The second was from a love interest who I was dating. I was 16 and this love interest was…a little boring. He liked to talk about himself a lot and that was the problem. Rather than sending me the love letter he chose to read it aloud to me in the park – it was 15 pages long and most of it was about him. By the time he’d finished reading it I was dozing off. We ended the next day – ha ha!

Love letters / romantic post-it-notes / romance text messages/ romantic emails, serve multiple purposes, enriching the narrative in various ways:

Intimacy and Connection: Love letters provide a glimpse into the intimate thoughts and feelings of the characters. They allow readers to witness the depth of emotions shared between the protagonists, fostering a stronger connection between them and the story.

Romantic Gestures: Love letters often serve as romantic gestures within the storyline, showcasing the effort and thoughtfulness of one character towards another. This can heighten the romance and create memorable moments for readers.

Character Development: The content and style of the love letters can reveal insights into the characters’ personalities, backgrounds, and motivations. Through their writing, characters may expose vulnerabilities, desires, and fears, deepening readers’ understanding of them.

Plot Advancement: Love letters can drive the plot forward by conveying important information, such as hidden feelings, secrets, or conflicts. They may serve as catalysts for character decisions and actions, influencing the direction of the story.

Historical Context: In historical romance novels, love letters can provide historical context and authenticity, reflecting the communication norms and societal expectations of the time period. They offer readers a window into the past and enhance the setting of the story.

Anticipation and Suspense: The exchange of love letters can create anticipation and suspense as characters await each other’s responses, heightening the emotional tension and keeping readers engaged in the unfolding romance.

Overall, love letters serve as powerful literary devices in romance books, enhancing the emotional depth, character development, and overall storytelling experience for readers.

Exploring Close Proximity Romance: Finding Love in Shared Spaces #romancebooks #romancewriters

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In a world where connections are forged through shared experiences and mutual understanding, close proximity romance emerges as a compelling narrative of love blooming in the most unexpected places.

From roommates turned soulmates to colleagues discovering a deeper connection, the dynamics of close proximity relationships offer a rich tapestry of emotions, challenges, and ultimately, profound intimacy.

Proximity Breeds Familiarity

Close proximity romance often begins with a simple proximity: living in the same apartment building, working in adjacent offices, or frequenting the same neighborhood café. It’s the everyday interactions, the casual conversations, and the shared routines that lay the foundation for something more meaningful to blossom.

In these shared spaces, familiarity breeds intimacy. As we navigate the intricacies of daily life together, we begin to unravel the layers of our personalities, revealing our quirks, vulnerabilities, and aspirations. What starts as a casual acquaintance evolves into a deep connection forged through shared experiences and mutual understanding.

Navigating the Boundaries

However, the proximity that fuels the flames of romance can also present challenges. Close proximity relationships often blur the lines between personal and professional boundaries, testing our ability to maintain a balance between intimacy and independence.

Living or working in close quarters can magnify disagreements and conflicts, requiring open communication and a willingness to compromise. Navigating these challenges requires empathy, respect, and a mutual commitment to fostering a healthy relationship dynamic.

Embracing the Magic of Everyday Moments

Despite the challenges, there’s a unique magic to close proximity romance that lies in the beauty of everyday moments. It’s the stolen glances across a crowded room, the shared laughter over morning coffee, and the comforting presence of a partner by your side through life’s ups and downs.

In these seemingly ordinary moments, we discover the extraordinary depth of our connection—the shared dreams, the whispered confessions, and the unwavering support that sustains us through life’s trials. Close proximity romance reminds us that love is not always found in grand gestures or sweeping declarations but in the quiet moments of togetherness that fill our days with warmth and joy.

Embracing the Journey of Love

Ultimately, close proximity romance is a journey of discovery—an exploration of the intricacies of the human heart and the transformative power of love. It’s about embracing the vulnerability of opening our hearts to another, knowing that the greatest rewards often come from taking the greatest risks.

So, whether you find love in the apartment next door or the cubicle across the hall, embrace the beauty of close proximity romance. Celebrate the shared moments, navigate the challenges with grace, and cherish the gift of finding love in the spaces where we least expect it. After all, it’s in the closeness of our connections that we find the true essence of romance.

Here’s my close proximity romance – The Car Share.

As Lia and Mateo share the road, their connection deepens with each journey. Yet, personal losses and familial obligations loom large, casting a shadow over the possibility of romance. Will these commuting companions overcome their individual struggles and find love amidst life’s challenges, or will an unexpected rival derail their journey to happiness?

Join them on this touching and humorous exploration of love, loss, and the un-expected detours that lead us to where we truly belong.

Click here for more

Exciting News: Revealing My Next Book – The Car Share 🚗❤️ #romance #romcom #commuterlife

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Welcome to this glorious Monday where I reveal my next book to you, my lovely blog followers.

Following on from the success of ‘I’ll Miss You This Christmas’ and ‘Instructions for Falling in Love Again,’ here’s my next romance novel – The Car Share.

Embark on a heart-warming journey that proves, it doesn’t matter where you’re going, it’s who you have beside you on the way.

Behind the Scenes:

  • Ideas for my romance novels never come fully formed. Parts of this one came to me in 2018, in 2020 and in 2022. It was like the universe sent me a book idea via three cosmic downloads.
  • In 2022 I wrote the first draft but I didn’t feel like it was the right time for this story to come to life. I am a huge believer in timing. I started working with my publisher, Bloodhound Books, in 2023 and whilst I was busy launching my other two books this story began to take shape. I played around with a few ideas and did a few more drafts. However, it wasn’t until I started working with their editor that I got that tingling feeling which told me…it was time.
  • Inspiration for the book came from all the commuting I used to do, to and from the office. I used to travel by car and train. Travelling with friends to and from work was always the best way to commute. Even better was making new friends on a damp platform or sandwiched together on a packed train. I always loved the conversations we had.
  • Inspiration also came from watching the Lionesses football team and loving women’s football. In the book, my main character Lia used to play for her local football team, The Tigresses, but she gave it up after the death of her fiancé. Over the course of the book and the time she spends car sharing to work, she begins to realise how important football still is to her.

Things I love about this book:

  • Stella is the woman who runs the car share. She drives a bright pink mini, has bright red hair, is unable to control her teenage children who are put on speakerphone in the car and likes to give her worldly wisdom on things. She’s a larger than life character and she made my editor laugh (a lot).
  • Every car share chapter includes Stella switching on the radio and tuning into DJ Rick Carter’s Breaking Commuter News. This is where commuters phone or text DJ Rick Carter about the highs and lows of their journey to work. Expect funny, sad and heartwarming commuter shout outs on the radio.

Meet the Characters/Themes:

  • Lia and Mateo are my main characters. Through Stella’s car share they both embark on a journey of self discovery…and maybe fall in love??
  • Stella has some car share rules. The main one being – no romance is allowed between car sharers as it can make an uncomfortable journey for others.
  • Will Lia and Mateo keep their strong feelings and emotions to themselves?

Release Details:

  • The Car Share is available for pre order. Please click here.
  • I have included a link to my Instagram so you can see fabulous video for this book.

The Role of Friendships in Romance Novels #MondayBlogs

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In the glorious world of romance novels, the spotlight often shines brightly on the passionate and tumultuous love affair between the main characters. I believe there is an often overlooked but integral element that adds depth, richness, and authenticity to the narrative: the friends of your main characters.

Friendships in romance novels serve as the unsung heroes, quietly weaving themselves into the fabric of the story, yet playing a pivotal role in shaping the characters and their relationships.

Here are some of the things they provide:

Mirror. They provide a mirror through which the protagonists reflect upon themselves, offer unwavering support and guidance, and sometimes serve as catalysts for personal growth and self-discovery.

Character development. One of the most significant functions of friendships in romance novels is their role in character development. Through their interactions with friends, protagonists reveal different facets of their personalities, vulnerabilities, and aspirations. Whether it’s the witty banter between best friends, the heart-to-heart conversations over coffee, or the shared moments of laughter and joy, these scenes not only add depth to the characters but also help readers connect with them on a more intimate level.

Sounding Board. They act as a sounding board for the protagonists, allowing them to navigate the complexities of their romantic relationships. Friends offer valuable advice, challenge their assumptions, and provide much-needed perspective when emotions run high. They serve as a steady anchor amidst the stormy seas of romance.

Growth. Friendships also serve as a catalyst for growth and self-discovery. Through their interactions with friends, protagonists are forced to confront their fears, confront their flaws, and ultimately evolve into better versions of themselves. Whether it’s overcoming past traumas, embracing vulnerability, or pursuing their passions, the influence of friendships can be transformative, shaping the characters’ journey towards love and fulfillment.

Importance of friendship. By depicting strong, supportive friendships, romance novels support the idea that love comes in many forms and that true happiness lies not just in finding a romantic partner but also in cultivating meaningful connections with others.

The friends of your main characters offer unwavering support, invaluable guidance, and a sense of belonging that transcends the boundaries of romance. This is why they are so important.

EXCITING NEWS – My NEXT ROMANCE book is coming – THE CAR SHARE 🚗❤️

COVER REVEAL 23 FEBRUARY

Writing the Romance 💔 Break-Up #MondayBlogs

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As a reader of romance I think writing a good break-up is an art form. The authors who do it well make their fictional couple break-up emotionally impactful and believable. They write them so well you can almost hear your own heart breaking into two.

I have been known to shed a few tears at the break up of a much loved fictional couple. I do love it when they break up mid-book and then I’m left wondering / praying / hugging a cushion they’ll get back together at the end.

Here are some things I think should be considered:

Character Development:
The breakup has to align with the characters’ growth and development throughout the story. The reader needs to see how the relationship has changed them individually and whether a breakup is a natural progression for them.

Motivation and Conflict:
You have to establish the reasons for the breakup. As a reader, I don’t want to be thinking whether I would break up with that person for that reason. I am not a fan of vague break-ups either. If they are going to split up, let’s make it a good reason. Whether it’s external conflicts, personal growth, or irreconcilable differences, you must make the motivations authentic and believable.

Setting and Atmosphere:
This is important. You must choose an appropriate setting for the breakup scene. The location can contribute to the emotional impact. I like to use the atmosphere and surroundings to enhance the mood. A rainy day, a quiet café, or a meaningful location can add depth to the scene.

Emotional Impact
As readers we want to FEEL the tension, heartache, and vulnerability of the moment. This is why we read romance. We want to FEEL things. I am all for reading about the aftermath – the characters’ immediate reactions and how they cope with the breakup emotionally. Love all this.

Setting and Atmosphere:
Think about the breakup on supporting characters. Friends and family can offer insights, support, or create additional conflict.

Here’s the secret sauce – Decide whether the breakup provides closure for the characters or leaves certain aspects open-ended. Is there a chance they could get back together?

Good luck splitting up your fictional romances 💔

Writing The End of a Romance Novel #MondayBlogs

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I have always enjoyed writing the final chapters of my romance novels. They are great to write and they usually result in me turning into a blubbering and snotty mess. I always need to go hug my dog and eat a lot of chocolate after writing a good ending.

The romance novel ending is the crucial and emotional part of the story. It’s where you wrap up the romance and leave a lasting impression on your readers.

Here are some things I think you should consider when writing the end of a romance novel:

  1. Sort Out The Main Conflict: You need to ensure the main conflict keeping your fictional couple apart is resolved. When I say, main conflict, I mean misunderstandings, external forces, or personal issues. Readers need your ending to feel satisfying and believable.
  2. Emotional Closure: You need to bring emotional closure for your characters. This means all internal conflicts they may have faced throughout the story have been addressed.
  3. Character Growth: You have to show the characters have evolved throughout the novel. They must have learned something about themselves during your novel. This adds depth to the story and gives readers a sense of satisfaction.
  4. Final Moment: You need to come up with a memorable final romantic moment between the main characters. This could be a declaration of love or simply a quiet and intimate moment that reflects the depth of their connection.
  5. Tie Up Those Loose Ends: You must resolve any subplots or character arcs. Readers appreciate closure, and tying up loose ends contributes to a satisfying conclusion.
  6. Leave Room for Imagination: While it’s important to provide closure, leave a little bit of room for readers’ imagination.

Here’s my secret sauce to an ending:

I remind the reader at the end of a similar scene at the beginning of the book. I love a full-circle feel to a story. For me it offers a satisfying ending for readers and a sense of closure.

Here are some famous romance endings which I have loved:

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne: It ends with a declaration of love and a satisfying resolution to the love-hate dynamic between the main characters, Lucy and Joshua.

One Day by David Nicholls: The novel follows the lives of Emma and Dexter over the course of several years, and the ending is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.

The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green: This ending broke me. I won’t say what happens but I was inconsolable for hours. My daughter made me watch it as her school friends had told her it wasn’t that bad. It destroyed me. Never listen to teenagers!

Love At First Write Christmas 2023 Special

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https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-tzc58-1529f00

In this Christmas special we look back over season 1 and talk about our favourite episodes. 

Find out more about your hosts:

The books we talk about are:

         – The Ex-Mas holidays by Zoe Allison

         – My Flatmate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

         – The Bodyguard – Katherine Centre 

         – Attachments – Rainbow Rowell 

Ep 5. Love At First Write – Talking Tropes

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https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-54hfr-14b6b47

In this episode we cover:

  • What a trope is and how it works in romance.
  • Different types of romance tropes

Find out more about your hosts:

  • Lucy Keeling – Written the Just Friends series, with the final in the series, Just Friends for Now available from Amazon. https://bit.ly/3YEqich 

Find out more about me – I’m in all the usual places but most often found here:  https://instagram.com/lucy_k_author 

  • Bettina Hunt – My latest romantic comedy novel, ‘A Girl Like Me’ is available now from Amazon. mybook.to/AGirlLikeMe 

Find out more about me – author.to/romanticcomedies

The books mentioned in this episode are:

  • The Words by Ashley Jade
  • The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
  • Straight as a Jalebi by Ritu Bhatal
  • The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

We also mentioned in this episode:

You can email the podcast by using the following email: loveatfirstwritepodcast@gmail.com

My Book Cover Reveal Diary #MondayBlogs #AmWriting

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Last week the new cover for my Christmas romance novel was revealed. The book is titled ‘I’ll Miss You This Christmas.’ I thought I would share with you extracts from my diary in the lead up, during and post this event.

My publisher (Bloodhound books) and I started coming up with ideas for my book cover towards the end of March / start of April of this year. This is when my book cover diary entries began.

6 April: 18:55. In the pub after work with my husband when I noticed my publisher had sent me their proposed draft cover for my book. Was taking my first mouthful of a gin and tonic when I opened up the email and saw my cover. The shock at seeing a cover so beautiful and eye catching made me cough and splutter sending gin and tonic everywhere. Was only going to stay for one drink but book cover excitement made me stay for a few more. This resulted in me feeling a little jaded the next day and wearing dark shades for most of it. Tip – beware of book cover excitement.

7 April: Felt dog rough all day. I have never been good at keeping secrets. This was the day where I realised that I had to keep my new book cover under wraps until August. It was a tough day as all I wanted to do was show everyone. Had to sit on my hands a lot, plus take a nap and a few paracetamol for my hangover.

10 May: Showed my mum the cover on holiday in Majorca. We both got emotional as Dad would have wanted to see my cover and he would have been so proud. Celebrated by having an extra large cocktail, getting carried away with book cover excitement and buying myself an expensive new handbag. I asked Mum what I would tell my husband when he questioned how much it had cost and she said, ‘blame it on your book cover.’ Tip: book cover excitement can make you buy expensive things.

1 July: Go away for weekend with friends to celebrate big birthday in September. Again my book cover excitement gets the better of me. Drink a number of cocktails and show friends the cover. They love it – drink more cocktails. Hangover next day sends me to my bed. Tip: avoid boozy weekends in run up to cover reveal.

3 July: Still feel rough post weekend. Got to finish my copy edits for the book. Stare at my cover a lot whilst doing my copy edits,

25 July: Agreed the date of the book cover reveal with Bloodhound books – Wednesday 2 August at 1pm. Felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Would readers like my new book cover?

26 July: Felt anxious about my book cover reveal so found myself in a book shop in my lunch hour. I made a purchase. I was supposed to be on a book buying ban. Told myself a new book would soothe my book cover reveal nerves. Tip: avoid bookshops in the run up to a book cover reveal.

27 July: Book cover reveal panic has set in. Its starting to feel real now. I am actually going to be a published author soon. Bought myself a lot of chocolate to eat whilst over thinking everything and coming up with fantasy scenarios where no one on social media replies to my book cover reveal communications. Tip: try to eat healthily during book cover reveal week.

29 July: did some social media warm ups. Told followers I was on the book cover reveal countdown.

28 July: Asked some author friends whether they would help share my cover on the day. They agreed. Felt excited. Ate more chocolate.

30 July: Emergency visit to dentist. Explained to the dentist that I have a book cover reveal taking place this week and my book cover nerves made me eat too much sugar. He frowned so I showed him book cover and watched his face for instant reaction. He said his wife would like my book. Tip: don’t eat too much sugar in run up to book cover reveal.

1 Aug: Nervous. Soothed myself by preparing all my cover day media. Tip: pre preparing your social media is so valuable. On cover reveal day you will be a mess.

2 Aug: Long morning at work. It dragged. I couldn’t concentrate. Had far too much coffee. At 12.30 left to go camp out in a cafe near where I worked. Butterflies in stomach. At 1pm my publisher posted out my new cover on social media. The response was amazing. Not sure why I worried. Came back to work at 1.30, beaming, flustered and pink faced. Struggled to string a sentence together for rest of afternoon.

3 Aug: Woke up in cold sweat – oh my god, I am one step closer to my book being published. 🤣

Here is my new cover ❤️❤️❤️

I love it so much. My book is available for pre order:

Here’s the blurb…

As the holidays draw near, she’s missing him—again and again. . . . “[Mitchell’s] writing is deliciously funny and has so much heart.” —Sandy Barker, author of One Summer in Santorini

Emily feels like her life’s been shattered into tiny pieces and glued back together the wrong way. With her heart still aching after her sister’s sudden death, Emily has stepped up to care for her nine-year-old nephew, Felix. Trying to do the right thing, she also ended her two-year relationship with Rory, who wasn’t ready to settle down, so she could focus on Felix.

But when she takes Felix into London to see the Christmas displays, he wanders off and the two of them wind up on a train to Leeds . . . where Rory just happens to live. The long ride will give her time to reflect on whether she made a mistake in letting Rory go. But as Rory embarks on his own journey at the same time, will the three of them manage to cross paths in time for Christmas?

‘Lucy Mitchell writes with such heart’ – Sandy Barker author of One Summer in Santorini

5 Things Every Romance Series Needs by Romance Author @sandybarker #MondayBlogs

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To celebrate my wonderful and supportive friend, Romance Author Sandy Barker, here’s a great guest post she wrote 3 years ago. Sandy is the queen of romance series in my eyes.

Hello all,

Here are the 5 things I think every romance series needs

Lovable and relatable main characters

This may seem a little obvious―shouldn’t all main characters in a romance be lovable and relatable? Yes, absolutely, but even more so in a series, because the reader will be spending lots more time with them than in a stand-alone.

TIP: Think about your closest friends (yes, even the ones who sometimes drive you around the bend) and ask yourself why you love them. Those are the traits you can build a lovable and relatable character around.

If I think of mine, I love them because they make me laugh ’til I can’t breathe, they love every version of me (even grumpy, morose, or self-pitying Sandy), and they show up―no, not uninvited on my doorstep at inopportune times. I mean, they’re there―when I need them, no matter what. And, those are the women I write.

Interesting and well-developed supporting characters

The most wonderful thing about supporting characters in a romance series is that once they have played their supporting role, you can give them their own story, their own romance! And all the work you did to create and develop them in the earlier book(s) will pay off (big time) when they get the starring role. You will already have established the cadence of their speech, their looks, their mannerisms, and how they feel about life, the universe, and everything. They’re already part of the world you’ve created, so a lot of the heavy lifting of creating a person from scratch is already done.

TIP: Create detailed character profiles for your supporting characters as well as your main characters, including their vernacular, style choices, and the minutiae that makes them them.

A thread or a theme

I write travel romcoms, a sub-genre of romance novels that will one day properly take off and be a thing―known across the world to readers everywhere (I digress and yes, I may have an agenda). But what this means is that travel is a prominent thread that weaves its way through all the stories in my ‘Holiday Romance’ series. And, more specifically, it is the transformational effect of travel that acts as a catalyst for my characters’ arcs. Simply, if my main characters stayed put instead of opting to travel, they would not transform.

TIP: Consider what will link the books in your series together―besides the characters knowing each other. Many series are set in one location (e.g. Phillipa Ashley’s ‘Cornish Café’ series). Many series will have a theme, such as ‘the importance of family’ (e.g. Lucy Knott’s How to Bake a New Beginning and its sequel), and many series centre around an overarching story where all the characters have buy-in (e.g. Katie Ginger’s ‘Seafront’ series).

No matter the thread or the theme, ensure it speaks to you. You’ll be spending a lot of time with it.

A thoroughly developed character arc

Yes, here’s another one that is essential to every story, but if you’re writing a series, you have time to really marinade in the main character’s development. In romance, this may mean that the main character gets a ‘happy for now’ ending for one or two books before getting their ‘happily ever after’. And maybe their ‘happy for now’ isn’t about the romance at all. It could be a major decision they’ve made, or a self-discovery. The main thing to remember is that by the end of the series, they will have significantly transformed―even if for some of series they have been a supporting character.

TIP: Even if you’re a pantser, at least have an idea where your main and supporting characters will end up by the time the series concludes.

A good name

What’s in a name, right? Well, my publisher and I agonised over my series title for months (yes, really). And then we realised we were over thinking it. It’s a series about holiday romances, so that’s what we called it.

TIP: Choose something that no one else is using so your series stands out! The brilliant Julie Caplin snagged ‘The Romantic Escapes Series’ before I even discovered her. Otherwise, I would have wanted it for myself.

If you want to check out Sandy and her books here are the links:

Sandy’s website

Amazon UK

Wasn’t that fabulous? Huge thank you to the wonderful Sandy Barker!

Author Photo Sandy Barker