I'm Saying Yes To The Dress

Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, romantic women’s fiction that honors pagan spiritual practices that nourish the soul. My stories show you what life could be like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted, supported and loved as you overcome obstacles and find your happily-ever-after.

This month the Genre-istas’ topic is “Wedding Stories.” We’ve had similar themes in the past so I’m sure I’ve already told my own “wedding story” at some point over the last 8 years.

What I don’t remember sharing with you is the role television shows such as “Say Yes To The Dress” “This Old House” “House Hunters” and other programs on the Discovery, HGTV and PBS channels have played in my writing.

Perhaps because I eloped wearing my navy blue Easter Sunday suit, it’s been important to me to include a wedding scene usually at the end of the book (not true for Hunter and Visions of Happiness). But I digress.

There were literally years when I watched most of the home improvement and extreme homes shows as well as SYTTD. My friends would shake their heads in dismay. What was it about these (to them) worthless reality t.v. shows that drew me? I’d cock my head to one side and shrug my shoulders, a lopsided twist to my mouth. “I like them?”

When I started writing The Sacred Women’s Circle series, those years of watching “worthless reality t.v.” came in handy. I knew a lot about Lily as there are parallels with my own life. However to write the hero's story, those hours of sitting in front of my television were invaluable because Jackson Montgomery turned out to be an inventive sought-after architect.

The same is true for “Say Yes To The Dress.” Ball gown, Mermaid style, fit and flare, the amount of bling, see-through bodices, plunging neck lines and bare backs…before I watched SYTTD, I had a very traditional view of what a wedding dress would (should) look like.

I will admit that many of the programs that used to fascinate me no longer hold me in the same thrall. Why? Because it seems that the producers of programs like SYTTD and HH’s believe that the more obnoxious, demanding, rude, etc. the bride-to-be or her entourage or the house hunter/remodeler are the better.

While I’ve never flipped a house, I have had extensive remodeling done on my own. And I have been involved in numerous projects that have a promised completion date.

If every project had me up doing the “all-nighter” so it would be perfect for the client, I’d probably have slit my throat – I know that’s a bit dramatic but really – these professionals can’t figure out how to estimate what needs to be done in such a way that they do a quality job and still get some sleep?

If you find yourself binge watching certain programs, especially if you are or are considering the life of an author, ask yourself how you can use the experience in your writing or to learn and grow in your own life. And if you already do so, what programs or movies or books or music do you find inspire your stories and your life?

Learn more about Judith's The Sacred Women’s Circle series at JudithAshleyRomance.com

Follow Judith on Twitter: JudithAshley19

Check out Judith’s Windtree Press author page.

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© 2019 Judith Ashley