Into the Fire

No, we're not going to discuss the old Robert Redford classic film. Or baseball. Or history. Or the color of my hair.

Nope. I'm referring to myself as a writer with that title. If ever I was born to write a genre, it's romance. More specifically love stories. It seems romance requires a formula in today's literature, and perhaps it always has. I don't profess to be a scholar of literary history, the classification of genres and their specificities and/or definitions.

I only know I'm a natural at romance.

I've discovered that my latest effort, the police procedural, cannot exist without a thread of romance and the solid love factor. Not obtrusive or demonstrative but evident in places, haltingly in some, blatant and confessed in others. As a writer, this is who I am. And the contrast to romance must be present too. That ugly thing we call lust that drives the flesh to get satisfaction – something Mick Jagger couldn't find way back when – over and over again.

I know the word romance makes men quake. My husband has so often apologized to me for not being "romantic enough", but there's no need for that apology. You see I'm not the fluff and high maintenance kind of romantic. I guess in keeping with my pension for writing, I think the most romantic thing that can be done is with words. What is said (or written) fans the flames of attraction, desire, contrite hearts, depth of emotions, appreciation, passion, understanding, and love. Regardless of the time, place, era, culture, or language – be it proper or slang – words accentuate feelings. Words deceive or words proclaim truth. Words declare or deny love. Words envelop or expel. Words capture or set free. Words communicate or silence. Words embrace or ignore. Words set the tone for romance.

And finding those words to communicate a love story? The tools of the trade for this natural romantic . . .

Father, thank you for this soft heart. Thank you for defining the romance in my soul. Thank you for being the lover of my soul. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.