Happy Endings

Often, romance (genre) is considered “escapist” literature. Nonetheless, what I love about it—besides relating to the emotional arcs (I’m a naturally emotive creature, after all)—are the happily ever after’s.

Daily life doesn’t always grant us those positive outcomes. Romance novels have the potential to instill hope that, yes!—something good could still come from this, my own, very real and complex situation. Or if it’s already good, help keep it alive. Why not? As a writer, if one can create a positively influential scenario in her/his mind, then it’s possible to reenact the scene in reality. As a reader, if one can glean novel inspiration for conduct with a partner, then escapism transforms to realism. We could all use more happy endings, right? All hail Romance in all its variations!