This month's topic strikes a chord in me for so many reasons. I'll try to keep it down to a few well thought out ones and not drone on or wax prolific.
You're welcome ( hee hee!)
The definition of hope according to Webster's Dictionary is: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. In essence, it's an outcome that we all desire, and each hope is individualistic.
The concept of Hope is something near and dear to me. As a practicing Catholic, hope is one of the cannons of my religious life. Catholics hope for a life everlasting when we die and our souls exit our bodies. We hope to be reunited with our loved ones who have gone before us once we get to Heaven.
Or in my case IF I get to Heaven. Hee hee.
When my daughter was born, I hoped she would inherit a world that would be free of wars, poverty, bigotry, and racism and where very single person is judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin, where they were born, or their sexual preference.
I'm still hoping for that world and she is now 31 years old.
When I start writing a new romance book, in the back of my mind I always have a question for my hero and heroine: what is it they hope for, or hope to find, once the book is done? Do they want to find everlasting love? Have people accept them for who and what they are? Be the best person they can be?
Do they hope for an easy life, or one filled with excitement? Money, fortune, and fame; or a quiet country life sitting by a fire each evening? A grand passion or the easy, comfortable love of someone who knows you better than you know yourself?
Since I write romance you would think the major hope would be that they find their own happily ever after. Well, that's the end goal for sure. But they may not be hoping that along the way when I tell their story.
My own hope is that when someone reads a book I've penned they've found a few hours of joy and escapism from the horrors of the world we now inhabit and that I bring a smile and a little happiness into their day. I try to instill each book with a sense of hope - for the future and for the lovers - that all will be well and love will rule the day.
It may sound sappy and corny to some, but a Happily Ever After for everyone is my ultimate hope.
In my newest Holiday RomCom, MISTLETOE, MOBSTERS, & MOZZARELLA, Madonna San Valentino hopes that one day she will find a man who loves her for who she is and that she can fulfill her dream of going to design school. Will she get what she's hoping for??
You'll have to read the book to find out ( Hee Hee!)
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9 comments:
Hope such a powerful word and one that is much needed today. I remain ever hopeful that things will return to normal and the divisiveness and despondency will be a thing of the past. Please continue to write uplifting stories of hope.
Peggy, I like the way you think about your characters...what are they hoping for. I think I do the same but not in those words. When I get back to fiction writing, I'm changing my language to yours! What will all my characters "hope" for during the story. And my guess is, Madonna San Valentino Does go to design school - or - maybe she finds something(one) better than design school?
The opposite of hope is hopelessness and I truly, deeply feel that hopelessness is the worst thing that can happen to a society...or neighborhood...or family. Hope lifts everyone. Lovely post, and I think I've been subconsciously thinking of my characters' hopes too. Cheers!
Marcia - thank you for your kind words. I, too, remain ever hopeful the world will once again fell like it's right side up!!!
Judith- thank you!!! It makes me FEEL them more as people when i wonder what it is they hope for in life. I'm so nosy..... hahaha!
Bonnie, unfortunately, these days, I feel a great deal or people feel hopeless instead of hopeful. Through our stories, though, it's my hope we can give them some hope back!
Peggy such a timely message, and so true..
Without Hope I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning. The times we are in does make having hope more difficult. But then, I think there are always times in our life when that is the case. In the end it is about looking where we can make a difference and moving toward that sometimes small light ahead.
I agree that the romance genre delivers on hope in spades, whether it's an entertaining romp or a deeply serous "issues" book, it is a requirement to find love and believe in the subsequent happily-ever-after. Finding love means finding and embracing oneself before entering into a full loving relationship. The HEA doesn't mean there will never be challenges again. Instead it means these two characters know how to face them and will do so in support of each other.
Keep writing these stories. We all need them.
Reading and writing Romance has gotten me through some very rough times. Great post, Peggy!
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