Welcome back to Romance Writers Weekly!!! This week, Tessa Gray www.tessagray.com wants us to discuss the taboos of romance novels. It is said romance novel readers love emotionally satisfying endings. Tessa has asked: Are there issues you feel are taboo in romance novels that you wish you could write about? What are they?
Romance novels have changed a great deal over the course of the last several years and I think the authors of romance are venturing out into topics and areas that once were considered taboo for a ‘formula’ style romance novel of the yesterdays.
With that said, I already write on topics some may consider taboo, racism, rape, molestation, abuse… Before you get your pants in a bind, these are not topics I write graphic detail on, I write about the victims of such acts and their rise above what has happened to them. These items are implied, led up to, or the book begins at the results of ____________.
It has taken a great deal of thinking, assessing, and decision making on my part as to where I draw the line.
In Into the Darkness, the rape scene is implied, led up to, and the aftermath is what pushes my heroine, Raven, into her full self. Even though she is a paranormal character the message I am trying to relay is clear, a woman can rise above what has happened to her to become a stronger person deep within.
In Destiny’s Price, Destiny, my heroine, must learn to overcome a harsh past. You will really get into the mind-frame of a victim in this story. Children of abusive homes have minds which are wired differently than the ‘normal’ and in our society it is easy to mistake these young people’s behaviors for promiscuous. My hopes with this novel is to enlighten those who read Destiny’s Price that these children are not hopeless and it just takes the right person to believe in them for them to reteach themselves right from wrong.
With that said, I already write on topics some may consider taboo, racism, rape, molestation, abuse… Before you get your pants in a bind, these are not topics I write graphic detail on, I write about the victims of such acts and their rise above what has happened to them. These items are implied, led up to, or the book begins at the results of ____________.
It has taken a great deal of thinking, assessing, and decision making on my part as to where I draw the line.
In Into the Darkness, the rape scene is implied, led up to, and the aftermath is what pushes my heroine, Raven, into her full self. Even though she is a paranormal character the message I am trying to relay is clear, a woman can rise above what has happened to her to become a stronger person deep within.
In Destiny’s Price, Destiny, my heroine, must learn to overcome a harsh past. You will really get into the mind-frame of a victim in this story. Children of abusive homes have minds which are wired differently than the ‘normal’ and in our society it is easy to mistake these young people’s behaviors for promiscuous. My hopes with this novel is to enlighten those who read Destiny’s Price that these children are not hopeless and it just takes the right person to believe in them for them to reteach themselves right from wrong.
So there you have it. My take on the taboos of romance writing. I’ve never been one to follow the rules, LOL. Let’s hop on over and see what Teresa Keefer has to say on this topic!!!
http://teresakeeferauthor.weebly.com/musings-from-the-woods