Wednesday, November 10, 2010
It's the Holiday Season!
First of all, Happy Veteran’s Day to all our heroes. I can’t express the deep gratitude I feel for what you do for us.
This next week kicks off the start of my holiday season. My eldest DS’s birthday is the week before Thanksgiving, so the party begins a little early in the Gunner household. From there, it’s parties and dinners and general merry-making clear through until the Monday after New Years.
I love the holidays. All the decorations and good food and seeing people I don’t see often enough. Lots of wine and just a general feeling of well-being. I spend most of November and December just feeling lucky and blessed. It's my favorite time of the year.
I was in Walmart yesterday and, of course, I was browsing the book shelves. There is an excess of holiday themed romances available right now. I expected the category Christmas titles but there were a bunch of single titles too. Lisa Kleypas, Heather Graham, Mary Balogh…. All new books with holiday themes.
I admit, I haven’t read a holiday-themed book in years. I get so busy, I rarely get a chance to read. I'm already planning a birthday party so I haven't investigated these books either. Therefore, I don’t know what’s in them. But, I can probably guess based on some of the tropes from years gone by.
The Christmas Miracle – when some sort of preternatural being steps in a la Clarence from It’s a Wonderful Life. Maybe the miracle isn’t as overt as Clarence, but there’s some inexplicable force that pushed the hero and heroine together.
A Lost Loved One – when one of the main protagonists has lost a spouse. I don't downplay the sorrow of losing a spouse. I suspect the holidays must be difficult for those who grieve. I can also--as a writer--see the richness of this backdrop.
A Homecoming – there’s definitely something special about homecomings at the holidays. Returning to those we haven't seen in a while, good or bad.
I’m totally blanking on others.
Maybe the holiday-set romance is popular this year because of the downturn in the economy. Maybe people need a boast of holiday bliss. Maybe we're all just reconnecting with what's important and the holiday backdrop incites a nostalgic wave within. Beats me.
So, why do you think there’s such a market for books set against the holiday backdrop? Are there any holiday tropes I missed (I’m sure there are, I just need a refresher)? Ever considered writing a holiday book? If so, why and wanna clue us in on what it was about?
PS, this week the Revenge toppled over 1000 posts. That's pretty amazing stuff. In typical pirate fashion, we missed this milestone. A belated hooray for us! And a big thank you to all of you reading. You make us keep this boat afloat. So, huzzah to you all.
This next week kicks off the start of my holiday season. My eldest DS’s birthday is the week before Thanksgiving, so the party begins a little early in the Gunner household. From there, it’s parties and dinners and general merry-making clear through until the Monday after New Years.
I love the holidays. All the decorations and good food and seeing people I don’t see often enough. Lots of wine and just a general feeling of well-being. I spend most of November and December just feeling lucky and blessed. It's my favorite time of the year.
I was in Walmart yesterday and, of course, I was browsing the book shelves. There is an excess of holiday themed romances available right now. I expected the category Christmas titles but there were a bunch of single titles too. Lisa Kleypas, Heather Graham, Mary Balogh…. All new books with holiday themes.
I admit, I haven’t read a holiday-themed book in years. I get so busy, I rarely get a chance to read. I'm already planning a birthday party so I haven't investigated these books either. Therefore, I don’t know what’s in them. But, I can probably guess based on some of the tropes from years gone by.
The Christmas Miracle – when some sort of preternatural being steps in a la Clarence from It’s a Wonderful Life. Maybe the miracle isn’t as overt as Clarence, but there’s some inexplicable force that pushed the hero and heroine together.
A Lost Loved One – when one of the main protagonists has lost a spouse. I don't downplay the sorrow of losing a spouse. I suspect the holidays must be difficult for those who grieve. I can also--as a writer--see the richness of this backdrop.
A Homecoming – there’s definitely something special about homecomings at the holidays. Returning to those we haven't seen in a while, good or bad.
I’m totally blanking on others.
Maybe the holiday-set romance is popular this year because of the downturn in the economy. Maybe people need a boast of holiday bliss. Maybe we're all just reconnecting with what's important and the holiday backdrop incites a nostalgic wave within. Beats me.
So, why do you think there’s such a market for books set against the holiday backdrop? Are there any holiday tropes I missed (I’m sure there are, I just need a refresher)? Ever considered writing a holiday book? If so, why and wanna clue us in on what it was about?
PS, this week the Revenge toppled over 1000 posts. That's pretty amazing stuff. In typical pirate fashion, we missed this milestone. A belated hooray for us! And a big thank you to all of you reading. You make us keep this boat afloat. So, huzzah to you all.
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29 comments:
Well, there is the misfit returning for the family get together. Either bringing a "fake" fiance with them to take off the pressure or coming alone and finding someone else brought a new love interest along for them...
Wait, did that make sense or did I mix up pronouns? I'm a little blitzed from doing first round revisions this week.
If I tried a holiday story, it would be a misfit one, as twisted as I could make it. I'm not a fan of the insanity we're headed for. I was at a fabric/craft store yesterday and geez! Stuffed full of holiday stuff already.
NOOOOOOOO!!!! I can already hear the carols in Starbucks.
Awh, bah humbug, Chance. :)
I would love to see a misfit holiday story. You should do that, just to see what you could come up with! :)
Hooray about your revisions! I'm so happy for you!
1000 posts! Woo hoo!
To be honest, I'm not sure I've ever read a Christmas romance, category or single-title. It's not that I'm fully opposed, it's just that...well, there's only so many Christmas story lines, and most of them have that forced-cheer feeling. All books try to draw a specific emotional response from us, so I don't know why I get so twitchy when it's a Christmas book doing the same thing.
But I do love getting together with family (the in-law side, at least *g*) and all the general merriment!
I was thinking of attempting a short Christmas story, for one of my hero/heroine combos--as kind of a "palate cleanser". LOL Just to give my brain something fun to play with.
I remember reading a Christmas Regency novella years ago that I really enjoyed, but I can't remember any recent ones.
I don't enjoy the holiday season that much--too many years in retail will suck the fun right out of Christmas music and decorations, and everything that seems enjoyable to the rest of the world. LOL Plus that "deadline" brings out the craziness in people more than usual, so I try to avoid stores in December as much as possible. :)
I love the holidays, especially Christmas. I love the decorations, the food, the music, the gifts, the gatherings with family and friends. From the most solemn moments in church to the craziest moments of last-minute shopping and frantic gift-wrapping, I love the whole experience. My mother died six days before Christmas, and the first few Christmases after her death were subdued, but she loved the season too. And now when I put out her Christmas angels or read to the grands one of the stories she read to me when I was a child, she seems very close.
Reading--and rereading--Christmas books is a favorite ritual of the season. I've read my favorite Christmas romance--Muriel Jensen's A Carol Christmas every year for two decades now. It has orphans, nuns, a wounded hero and heroine, and an ending as schmaltzy as they come. Any other time of the year, I'd probably find it over the top, but at Christmas, I adore it. This year I've already read Debbie Macomber's Call Me Mrs. Miracle, Sherryl Woods' A Chesapeake Shores Christmas, and Mary Balogh's A Christmas Promise (a reread of a reissued title), and Lisa Kleypas' Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor and That Christmas Feeling, a Harlequin anthology with novellas by Brenda Novak, Karina Bliss, and Kathleen O'Brien are on my TBR shelf right now. I know I'll be adding other 2010 releases.
And TLWH ends with a Christmas wedding. :) Are y'all going to throw me off the ship for offensive cheer?
I'm guessing Scrooge falls under your Christmas miracle right? Usually I think of It's a Wonderful Life, but because Scrooge has a supernatural experience and it's rather a miracle he changed at all--I'd say it fits.
I'm thinking. I don't think I've ever tried writing anything with Christmas...wait, yes, I did get a story idea once with a Christmas like theme, but it's the one that 2nd described. The heroine brings home her fiance, who is a boring guy named Roy and who she plans to break up with after Christmas and New Years (she doesn't want to be responsible for his suicide) and he ends up popping the question in front of her family. She doesn't want to hurt him so she agrees to marry him and still dump him after the holidays. But her family LOVES Roy and if I remember right from the story idea, she begins to see Roy in a whole new light.
Janga, we would NEVER throw you off this ship. Even if you are overly cheerful. *LOL* Sin is just as Christmas Cheerful as you are, really, and as tempting as it is sometimes to toss her over the railing, we don't. It IS Christmas and it's difficult to not be excited and happy with this time of year. Family is important, no matter who your family is: blood relatives, pirates, or friends.
I'm with Janga - LOVE the holidays and holiday themed books. Yes, I am that crazy person who is so ready for teh christmas music and it makes my day when I turn on the radio in the morning and my fav station has switched over to holiday tunes. Always makes me call the hubby all excited.
I'm currently lisenting to Kleypas' Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor and enjoying it. It's my first holiday book of the season, but I'm sure there will be many more. It does feature a widow :)
Hal - Awesome about 1000, right? I noticed it last night and laughed at us all. What with the GH and Nano and revisions, we're all too busy being fabulous I guess. LOL!!
Forced cheer, huh? You're right about how I think most romances are playing on our emotions, but there is something about it mixing with the holidays that feels forced. Or overkill. Like if you washed down an ice cream sundae with a milkshake.
Donna - I'd imagine retail might change my opinion about the holidays. The stores are crazy. This year, I'm going to finish my shopping before Thanksgiving. I swear it.
Janga - I agree; we could never throw you over. :)
I have, in the past, picked up my Harry Potters. Not sure why but I like reading favorite passages at Christmas.
That's hard about your mom. I can imagine that would have put a damper on the festivities. But if she loved the season, that might now make it poignant.
Hellie - I think Scrooge counts as a miracle. And kind of a redemption story, which fits the season, I suppose. :)
I like your story idea. You had me at "she doesn’t want to be responsible for his suicide." LOL!
And wait... Sin is Christmas Cheerful. I want to see pictures, please.
Scape - My DH is a huge sucker for the holiday music. He doesn't listen to anything else in the car or wherever, between Thanksgiving and New Years. He particularly loves the oldies--Bing Crosby, Sinatra, etc. While I love them, by NYE, I'm happy to see the return of "normal" music.
I was just scouting Kleypas' online. I heard it's short. Is that true?
I think it's shorter - I have it on Audio - those usually run 7-10 CD's and this one is only 4 so it must be shorter.
It's a very sweet story so far.
:) I think I need to check it out. :)
Good afternoon, wenches. I'm off today, can you tell?
I love this time of year, even though it's not always the best for me. I'm rarely with family actually. But there's something in the air during Nov/Dec that is different. Something special.
I don't go out of my way to find holiday themed books, but I've read some and really enjoyed them. I think more of movies. Love, Actually. The Family Stone, which fits those tropes you mention, except brother brings home his fiance who falls for his brother and he falls for her sister. That ones kind of convoluted.
I'd love to write a Christmas themed book. I think it's something readers can instantly relate to, no matter which direction you go in. But I'd most likely go with a character who found the season more depressing than everyone else.
Oh, and the Christmas story I sent to WW (and never heard back one way or the other) was a homecomeing. :)
Wait, we tops 1000 posts? As in, we've put up over 1000 blogs? Really? Does that count the ones we did over on blogger?
Wow, who'd a thunk we had that kind of staying power? LOL!
I try not to actually humbug my way through the holidays. I try to keep all of it in my periperial vision. If I don't look directly at it, it won't drive me crazy...
I do like some holiday music. And I know most people don't spent hours in Starbucks every day, so aren't subject to the same tracts over and over and over and over and over...
Like Donna, I worked retail for years during the holidays and it's enough to totally kill the spirits.
So what do I do now? As I wait for my revisions to be revised?
I worked in a mall in Pittsburgh while I was in college and that was the craziest I've ever seen people. I've made it a point to avoid retail at all costs since then.
I'll take my quiet office away from everything, thankyouverymuch. But I am looking forward to decorating my own house. Which means I should probably finish unpacking so I can do that.
Chance - I'll tell you again. TAKE A DAMN DAY OFF! You're making the rest of us look bad and we already look bad enough.
I have, in the past, picked up my Harry Potters. Not sure why but I like reading favorite passages at Christmas.
I do this too at Christmas. Christmas is a big deal to Harry (and the Brits). *LOL* I always want to buy a box of crackers just so I can feel like a Brit once.
Wait, we tops 1000 posts? As in, we’ve put up over 1000 blogs? Really? Does that count the ones we did over on blogger?
Yes, it counts the one from Blogger. But it's also counting the "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner" type posts too. *LOL*
I mean, 95% of these things are actual blogs since we don't tend to give away a lot of stuff here. *LOL*
I try not to actually humbug my way through the holidays. I try to keep all of it in my periperial vision. If I don’t look directly at it, it won’t drive me crazy…
LOL That's about how I see the holidays, too.
I've thought about writing a holiday story but it's a mystery to me how any writer stays in the holiday mood to write a complete book. LOL Maybe it would be something to dust off and continue every holiday. Heck, that's about what my writing schedule is like anyway!
I forgot to say Happy Vet's Day and thanks to all those who have or are serving now. Of course, I could yell this out my front door and probably reach more vets than I'm reaching here, but it's nice to say it.
Living here, you definitely understand the sacrifices they and their families make every day.
I do think holidays are handled best out of the corner of the eye. Straight on and you'll end up blind.
Bo'sun - there is something in the air this time of the year. :)
But I’d most likely go with a character who found the season more depressing than everyone else. I bet that'd be great! I think it's a great motivation and conflict.
Chance - If I don’t look directly at it, it won’t drive me crazy…
I think that the commercialization of the holidays can be a little overwhelming. I try to ignore that. I think having little ones is really making it a lot more fun. My oldest is totally psyched about Christmas this year.
PS, I agree with Ter; take the day off!!
Hells, maybe Harry's love of Christmas explains why
I read them then.
Melissa - I love the idea of an ongoing story that gets continued every year. I bet that'd be sorta fun. :)
Ter - My dad was a vet and I saw what the Vietnam war did to him. It's a sacrifice. I am grateful for those who do it.
Geez! Quit shouting at me! OK! I'll go see a movie, OKAY?
Sounds good. :) Whatcha gonna see? I wanna see Due Date. I loved Hangover and I love love love Robert Downey Jr.
I would have gone to see a movie today, but sleeping in and then having kiddo make plans that required me to be places at certain times totally threw my day out of whack. I haven't even thought about the synopsis.
Guess I'd better get to it.
I saw Morning Glory. Sweet movie and sorta fun. I have to agree that the older woman anchor was a wasted opportunity to do more with that issue. but it was fun.
I saw Eclipse at the movies but that's the last time I've been. I made the DH promise to take me to Deathly Hallows.
Glad you have a good time at the movies! And Ter, hope you had a productive day.
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