Joely Sue Burkhart

Thirteen Creative AffirmationsI’ve been reading Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way and I really feel like some of my creative mo-jo is coming back. I wasn’t blocked, exactly, but I wasn’t nurturing my artist. I was on the slippery slope downward. Now, I write my Morning Pages and read positive affirmations every day. These are 13 that she recommends in the book that really spoke to me personally. 1. I am a channel for God’s creativity and my work comes to good. 2. My dreams come from God and God has the power to accomplish them. 3. As I create and listen, I will be led. 4. Creativity is the creator’s will for me. 5. My creativity heals myself and others. 6. I am allowed to nurture my artist. 7. Through the use of my creativity, I serve God. 8. My creativity always leads me to truth and love. 9. I am willing to let God create through me. 10. I am willing to be of service through my creativity. 11.  There is a divine plan of goodness for my work. 12. My creativity leads me to forgiveness and self-forgiveness. 13. I am willing to create.  What positive affirmations do you use? [I’m running a Book Giveaway this week but will NOT include Thursday Thirteeners in the drawing unless you voluntarily comment on the main giveaway announcement here.]

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Balancing sweeping, epic fantasy and romance is not easy, as this discussion at Dear Author demonstrates.

Speaking as a reader first, I’m usually disappointed when I read so called “fantasy romance.” The fantasy elements are trite while the romance ticks me off. I don’t need a big bad warrior riding up on his horse to save the perfect, sweet, delicate maiden from the Evil One. I want the heroine to have flaws and doubts; I want her to be sorely tempted to walk on the Dark Side; and I want her to save HERSELF. If she can save the hero at the same time and have some awesome, hot sex, why all the better.

I couldn’t find this kind of book on a romance shelf.

When I read “romantic fantasy,” I’m as equally dissatisfied. The fantasy might be wonderful, but then the romance is an afterthought. If I’m lucky, the hero and heroine might have one angst-filled scene together prior to the big climatic dark moment of the fantasy thread. They know they’re going to die, so they must love each other one last time….

*yawns*

However, there are risks that a fantasy author can get away with that a romance author can’t. For instance, look at Rand al’Thor’s three “wives” in Robert Jordan’s (The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. You are Legend, Mr. Jordan; rest in peace) Wheel of Time series. That certainly wouldn’t fly in romance. Yet the romance reader in me is not happy that I had to read TEN hefty fantasy tomes before the relationship angle paid off.

In the same vein, I’ve enjoyed Patricia Briggs’ Mercy series, but I was seriously getting impatient with the whole love triangle. Ever since King Arthur, Guinevere and Sir Lancelot, I must admit that love triangles never happen the way I hope. Mercy couldn’t make up her mind until the third book, and again, I personally was disappointed but thought the author handled it rather well, considering. Again, the romance reader in me wants the relationship (and yeah, the sex) to happen earlier and on page, not ending the third book with a tossed shirt! 

Sadly, though, once a “fantasy” author culminates a relationship in the series, it seems to signal the end. It’s like Moonlighting. Once they get together, what else can happen?

Well, I’ll tell you, a LOT can happen. But we rarely see a “romance” story crossing over the length of an entire series arc. Lynn Viehl’s Darkyn series is one of the few I can think of off the top of my head where the hero and heroine of If Angels Burn continue to develop their relationship through the other books. I really, really like that.

So I can see why The Witch told me to get off the fence all those years ago. As a writer, I can’t have my fantasy and write my romance too. It’s too hard to decide which shelf to put it on. If I make the fantasy readers happy with meaty mythology and worldbuilding, I’ll bore the romance reader who wants the emotional development. If I concentrate on the romance, I’ll end up with “fantasy lite.”

I understand the argument. Truly. But I still disagree.

It’s a rahke’s edge to walk, but I write to please myself. I write the kind of book I wish I could find: epic fantasy AND steamy romance with real stakes and darkness. It’s not all sunshine and bunnies, but in the end, light shines through the shadow. In the Blood and Shadows books, I’ve tried to build a rich, detailed world AND a satisfying, emotional, hot romance at the same time. An epic fantasy series gives me room to take the relationship from “Happy For Now” to married with children, through grief and sorrow and loss, but in the end… Love is the greatest gift of all. Love always finds a way. And there is the “Happily Ever After.”  It’s bigger than a ring on the finger, the end, you know? 

This is my theme and always will be. I don’t care which shelf my books end up on, as long as they’re on YOUR keeper shelf.

So tell me, whether as readers or writers, who takes risks?  Who have you read who successfully blends meaty fantasy (urban or other) with meaty romance at the same time?  Because I’d really like to read more.