Comments on: Highly Seasoned

By: irisheyes

irisheyes — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:25:00 +0000

Maggie – I have both a contemporary and an historical I’m fiddling with. I love the Regency Christmas traditions written about in a lot of Mary Balogh’s books. They really set the scene. To tell you the truth though, I’m so cold all the time that winter love-in-the-snow type of stuff just doesn’t wash with me. LOL

By: Maggie Robinson

Maggie Robinson — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 13:59:00 +0000

Bernard, I was stranded at JFK this summer, and believe me, sex was not on my mind, LOL. It’s a wonder my marriage survived! But I agree, propinquity and opportunity are good to throw people together that otherwise wouldn’t find each other. Something to remember for the plot of my next book!

Keira, I agree—in the hands of a great author, anywhere is fine, even up against the library door!

By: BernardL

BernardL — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:48:00 +0000

The stranded theme works well; because it happens so often in real life, people identify with it. Think of all the times people are stranded together by weather in airports, ski lodges, etc. Depending on where you get stuck, it can be a very believable theme.

By: Keira Soleore

Keira Soleore — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:08:00 +0000

Maggie to answer your question: anywhere depending upon the person writing them. It’s not like *moi* has to be in them.

Terri, I love that line about the heat wave. Very Susan-Crandallish.

By: Maggie Robinson

Maggie Robinson — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:54:00 +0000

Terrio, i think all the time of the clothing restrictions. I just did a display in the library of all the beauty and fashion books we have, and am sooo glad I can wear jeans and a turtleneck.

Hellion, I love to cut grass---a task where you can see what you've done, but I sneeze my head off. Consequently we have this crazy old hippie who does it for us. John pledged when he turned 50 he'd never mow again (he earned money that way when he was a kid).

Janga, I'm intrigued at the weather-love angle. My husband and I first dated in the middle of a New York City heatwave, and somehow ice cubes became involved...

Irish, are you working on something contemporary or historical (do I know this already?)? I have a scene in the book I'm revising where everyone goes to gather greens in the snow. Not sure if it's going to stay, but it was fun to research Regency Christmas traditions.

By: terrio

terrio — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:34:00 +0000

Forgot to mention Balogh uses the snowbound plot in Simply Unforgettable.

Irish’s comment made me wonder if the seasons are as important in the historicals? I mean, they are wearing several layers no matter what season it is.

By: irisheyes

irisheyes — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:59:00 +0000

I actually think about the seasons a lot. Taking the seasons into account when plotting can be a plus. I made a very short list a while ago of all the activities available and unavailalbe to my H/H throughout the winter and summer seasons. You know… skiing, sleigh ride, snowball fight, etc. as opposed to skinny dipping, swimming, bicycling. Clothing is an issue too – the lack of said in the summer as oppose to the bundled up factor in winter. I also love the idea of a cold winter night by the fire and having to snuggle to keep warm.

I, myself, HATE the winter. I’m a spring/summer gal myself, but I do appreciate the nuances of a good snowbound storyline. I just finished one as a matter of fact – Susan Wiggs’ Snowfall at Willow Lake. The whole dormant, snowed-in atmosphere added to the romantic aspect, IMO.

By: Janga

Janga — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:31:00 +0000

TLWH opens in early May and ends in November. I use a fair number of seasonal references to reflect the changing stages of the H/H relationship–particularly summer references. Summer in Georgia means steamy, sweaty days and nights. I use that fact and the clothing such weather requires to add to the sexual tension.

By: terrio

terrio — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:11:00 +0000

My full length WIP starts in late spring and goes through the July 4th holiday. There’s still a bite tot he air at the beginning but it’s softball weather.

My short story happens during a heat wave and I have something like “The heat wave suffocated anything that ventured to show signs of life, including the wind.” Never said it was good. And I think the real thing is better. Gosh, I hope it is…LOL!

By: MsHellion

MsHellion — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:29:00 +0000

I don’t really think about them. *LOL* One story does take place somewhat in summer…and autumn…and NYE. It’s more HOLIDAY focused, than weather/seasons…

Probably because I’m allergic to everything…so describing the leaves makes me sneeze most of the time. *LOL*