Hi all,
Today I’m taking part in the Valentine’s Day Blog Hop. If you have a look at the link here, you can see lots of other posts from over a hundred different authors and bloggers, plus some great giveaways.
Since this is Valentine’s Day after all, I should probably be talking about romance. I have a small confession though – I’m not a big fan of Valentine’s Day. Shock, horror! From a romance writer and someone in a relationship for over 10 years. I think I slightly resent being told that I ‘must’ be romantic on this particular day. What about the other 364? Romance to me is more about doing something thoughtful and spontaneous rather then been prodded into buying a card and an overpriced bunch of flowers by mass advertising that tries to convince you must not love your partner if you don’t. It’s more about the small, everyday things then the once a year grand gesture. Oops, mini rant slipped in there!
This got me thinking about romance in writing. When we write a romance novel or story we’re only showing a snapshot of our hero/heroine’s relationship. Often there has to be a ‘grand gesture’ on the part of one (or both) of them in order for them to come together, to reconcile whatever conflicts they’ve been facing and hopefully get their HEA (or at least their HFN). So, is there still a way to work in the ‘small’ things?
I would like to think so. Sometimes the smaller things can give depth to the relationship – for example, the hero might be driving the heroine mad but if he brings her coffee every morning the exact way she takes it without being asked then it shows her he takes notice of the little things.
Anyway, speaking of little things (ok, this link may be a bit of push!) I have a short in an anthology that’s just come out this week. 
The link to buy it is here
Or if you’re in the US here
Since no blog hop would be complete without a giveaway I’m offering a copy of either this anthology or my previous release An Angel for the Tree, both on ebook. To win all you have to do is leave me a comment – I’ll even help you out with a topic 🙂 Are you a fan of Valentine’s Day or not? Do you prefer the big romantic gestures or the little everything things? And how, if at all, do you work them into your writing.
Happy Valentine’s (said with a straight face I promise!).