Saturday 10 November 2012

Contemporary Romance: Fantasy and Reality

by 
Synithia Williams

Contemporary romance doesn’t have the added drama inherent in other subgenres of romance. There are no sexy shape-shifters or wizards to tempt a human female. No threat of scandal if you’re caught in an embrace with the Viscount. And unless it’s a suspense, you’re not solving a murder or avoiding being murdered. No, straight up contemporary romance requires taking the mundane of dating and living in present times and make it exciting, dramatic and romantic.

At first glance it may seem impossible to make real life romantic. In fact, I had a co-worker say I couldn’t make engineers sexy in my first novel, You Can’t Plan Love. But as a contemporary romance writer, I have to make real life seem fun and sexy. All it takes is a big imagination and little fantasy.

A fantasy can make environmental engineers sexy and even water quality conferences—which are usually dry as toast—seem exciting. Throw in a few what if situations and the boring can become dramatic. What if an environmental consultant worked for a tall, dark and handsome man? What if that sexy boss made a play for her heart? And again, because this is fantasy, she kind of wants it so it’s not creepy and a sexual harassment lawsuit isn’t imminent.

This can work for the most commonplace of experiences. A boring family dinner that occurs routinely every week or month can be re-written in a romance with the added drama of an old love arriving on the arm of your favorite cousin. This situation can go many ways. Let’s say your heroine still loves that old flame. Did he show up to see her again? Is the cousin aware of the relationship and brought him there out of spite? Or, is the cousin unaware and fancies herself in love? That makes it kinda hard for your heroine to restart a relationship with someone her favorite cousin loves. There’s enough drama in that scenario to make a juicy contemporary romance. Sweet or spicy, big city or small town it’ll fit any modern day location.

Most writers are always finding story inspiration in everyday events, but contemporary romance writers need just as vivid an imagination as a fantasy or paranormal writer to make the happenings in day to day life—or the love life of an environmental engineer—sexy and interesting enough to capture readers. To take reality, throw in a lot of daydreams and fantasy and write a page turning contemporary romance is a fun challenge worth taking.

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You Can't Plan Love

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After several bad relationships, Kenyatta Copeland decides to control her love life with the same discernment she uses in her professional life.

Knowing first hand the heartbreak that comes when desire and emotion rule a relationship, Kenyatta assumes marrying Brad Johnson will lead to a stable life. But as much as she believes she can plan her future, it’s hard to ignore the way her boss, Malcolm Patterson, ignites her passions with just one look. 

After Malcolm learns of her engagement, he makes a play for her heart and reminds her that passion between a man and a woman has its perks … but also its costs. 

When Brad suspects there’s more than work between Kenyatta and Malcolm, he works harder to keep Kenyatta by his side. 

Torn between her promise to marry Brad and her irrepressible longing for Malcolm, Kenyatta must decide if she can live her life in a passionless marriage of convenience or once again trust her heart. Yet Brad isn’t as perfect as he seems, and by the time Kenyatta realizes this it may be too late.


Author Synithia Williams
Synithia Williams has loved romance novels since reading her first one at the age of 13. It was only natural that she would begin penning her own romances soon after. It wasn’t until 2010 that she began to actively pursue her dream of becoming a published author. 

When she isn’t writing, this Green Queen, as dubbed by the State Newspaper, works to improve air and water quality, while balancing the needs of her husband and two sons. You can learn more about Synithia, and her novel, by visiting her website where she blogs about writing, life and relationships.

Her first novel, You Can’t Plan Love, was published by Crimson Romance in August 2012. 

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