Hi everyone, welcome to a new event on Buried Under Romance -
Saturday Discussion!
They say you never forget your first time. I was
eleven when it happened, under the big brass bed in my parents' guest bedroom, during a
thunderstorm. I’d known I was in for something I’d never experienced before,
something unknown and thrilling, a grand adventure my parents would stop if
they could. My father disapproved of the whole idea, and my mother had told me,
in no uncertain terms, that I was too young for something this adult, and yet…and
yet, the object of my desire called to me, a siren song I could not refuse.
Between those covers –the covers of my very first historical
romance novel- I found what I wanted to read and write for the rest of my life.
So far, so good. With book in one hand and flashlight in the other, I traveled
back in time, to the misty Highlands of Scotland, took a sea journey to find
myself plunged into the splendor and intrigue of the Ottoman Empire. Within
those pages, I lived a life far removed from my suburban upbringing, and I
learned that people who lived hundreds of years and thousands of miles away
from me wanted the same things. Love, adventure, family, security, purpose and
friendship are universal, not restricted to any one time or place, which means
the possibilities for a great romance story are unlimited. That’s great,
because we have a lot to discuss.
My name is Anna Bowling, and I'm a romance writer, romance blogger, romance reader, and most of all, romance lover. The only thing as fun as writing or reading a great romance novel is talking about them, and that's why I'm excited to be here with all of you for the first of our Saturday discussions. Every week, we'll have a new topic concerning the books and authors who contribute to the romance genre we all love, so get comfy and get ready to share your favorites.
As this is our first time together, it’s only fitting that
we examine how we got here. Though I’d always gravitated to fairy tales and
myths about star-crossed lovers, my love affair with romance novels began when I
stole a copy of The Kadin by Bertrice Small from my mother’s nightstand, and
there was no turning back. I pilfered my mother's nightstand until she knew there was nothing that could keep me from reading my new favorite genre. I scoured the library, flea markets, bookstores both new and used, and, when the time came to begin writing my own stories, there was no doubt in my mind what genre was right for me. While historical romance is and always will be my favorite, I've read wonderful stories set in the past, present, and future, as well as in mystical worlds of the imagination. Romance novels open the door to countless lifetimes of love, and I can't think of a better way to spend my reading time.
So, dear readers, how did you come to be buried under romance? Do you remember your first romance novel? How did you find it? What romance novel would you recommend to a reader who's new to the genre? Tell us everything; we're dying to know.
