Sweet Romance

AliceUK · Apr 10, 2009

I'd love some advice from any sweet romance writers.

At the midpoint of my sweet romance, I have a kiss between H and h.
And another one a couple of chapters later.

I don't want the second kiss to just seem like a repetition of the first and heating things up isn't an option. (They are visiting friend someone could walk in on them at any moment so it can't turn into a sex scene, even with a fade out )

Would it be better to make the second kiss the all important one, and turn what is now the first kiss into a lips briefly touching kiss? (A brief brush of the lips before one of them pulls away)

Deb Kinnard · Apr 10, 2009

I like any buildup between kiss #1 and #2. If the couple is sincerely attached, they're going to get from casual-kiss to kiss-with-significance at some point in your story. You might want to frame it this way: what if kiss #1 was interrupted, and kiss #2 was one they could take a little more time with? What if (and this is so compelling I'm tempted to use it in every book I write--but can't) he takes her face in his hands for kiss #2? Anthropologists say touching the face with the hand is the first real step of intimacy, more so than the actual snog.

And I write sweet romance, so you gotta have some snogging in there! The question IMO is finesse...

Josie · Apr 10, 2009

Sigh. I love when he takes her face in his hands sigh
:LilLove:

Robin Bayne · Apr 11, 2009

Josie said:
Sigh. I love when he takes her face in his hands sigh

yeah, and then he can push a strand of hair off of her face, and trace around her ear.

Oh, and I like Deb's idea of the interrupted kiss.

JrFFKacy · Apr 11, 2009

I would agree with Deb Kinnard. Or perhaps, the first kiss is really quick, and one of those 'oh my goodness did you just kiss me?' sort of moments where the girl doesn't totally realize what's just happened. The second kiss allows her the anticipation of seeing/knowing he's going to kiss her, and it ends up being a longer kiss.

...maybe that made no sense, if so disregard it. It's early, I'm not quite awake yet...

Bukarella · Apr 11, 2009

Delighted to see this thread!

I have a sweet romance developing in my story. I want to make every touch count!

anne_marie · Apr 11, 2009

Most of what I write is Sweet Romance (or it had turned out that way despite wanting to be a horror writer

0

I totally agree with the touching of the face. My first kiss was like that. he held my face with both hands and kissed me as his hands moved down to my shoulders and then down my back.

20 years ago and the memory still makes me shiver!

Josie · Apr 11, 2009

Well, that reminds me how much I must work on my writing.

Deb, I see you have a story coming out in Desert Breeze. I see in May's Romantic Times they have a page of advertizing. Why did you pick them?
And also I guess they did already published's. And I trust they accept
sweet romance.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Should I have changed threads for this? I thought all here might want to know.

Cheers, Josie

AliceUK · Apr 11, 2009

Thank you --some great ideas there. (one of those 'oh my goodness did you just kiss me?' sort of moments sounds exactly right for my story)

Robin Bayne · Apr 11, 2009

Josie said:
Well, that reminds me how much I must work on my writing.

Deb, I see you have a story coming out in Desert Breeze. I see in May's Romantic Times they have a page of advertizing. Why did you pick them?
And also I guess they did already published's. And I trust they accept
sweet romance.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Should I have changed threads for this? I thought all here might want to know.

Cheers, Josie

I might try them also, for stories that have been left homeless by a publisher closing. At this time they aren't accepting novellas, though, and that's what I have to offer.

Glad to see they are advertising in RT!

Deb Kinnard · Apr 13, 2009

Yes, you're right, I have a reissue coming next month from Desert Breeze. My former editor, a freelancer who sells her fantasy and Christian fic to just about every publisher out there, recommended I send them a proposal for one of my orphaned romances. I did -- Gail Delaney liked it and offered me a contract. I, too, am glad to see they're advertising in RT! Good on 'em!

They are looking for romance, from inspirational to PG rated, no erotica. The books they want to publish will all be on the sweet side.

And isn't my cover a honey? LOL

Josie · Apr 13, 2009

Yes, the cover is very sharp. Classy!! Who chose it?

Deb Kinnard · Apr 14, 2009

Jenifer Ranieri did it. She's DB's publicity/marketing/art guru. I'm told she went through 12 concepts before she found one she liked. This one she sent to me and I just about did the Happy Dance.

Sweet Romance

AliceUK

Deb Kinnard

Josie

Robin Bayne

~writes for Him~

JrFFKacy

Rookie Firefighter

Bukarella

anne_marie

Josie

AliceUK

Robin Bayne

~writes for Him~

Deb Kinnard

Josie

Deb Kinnard