Romance Novels - Some Examples of Romance Novels

Novels have become the chief source of entertainment despite the various entertainment resources. Romance has always been one of the common and central themes in the novel. And so came into being romance novels focusing on the stories of love.

Jane Eyre (1847): One of the Greatest Novels

One of the first great romances was Jane Eyre (1847) written by English novelist Charlotte Brontë. The novel is all about a young orphan girl who gets a job as a governess. With the course of the time she finds love with her employer. Rebecca (1938) is another good example of romance by British writer Daphne du Maurier. It also tells of a young woman who gets married with a widower. The story tells us that what sort of woman the man's first wife was.

Love Story (1970): A classic Romance

Love Story (1970) from the pen of Erich Segal is a classic romance. The novel is all about a man from a well-to-do family who gets married with a poor girl who dies very young. There is a famous passage from the novel which describes the intensity of love in one of their conversations:

I stood there at the bottom of the steps, afraid to ask how long she had been sitting, knowing only that I had wronged her terribly. "Jenny, I'm sorry-"

"Stop!" She cut off my apology, then said very quietly, "Love means not ever having to say you're sorry."

Other Famous Romance Novelists:

There are some famous romance novelists such as Judith Krantz, Jackie Collins, Nora Roberts, Jacqueline Susann, and Danielle Steel. Their writings continue to appeal the common people.

Valentine's Day Is Made for Romantic Movies: Here's Your List

Valentine's Day is a great day to snuggle up with your sweetheart and watch a romantic movie. The following are a few romantic classic movies that are great for Valentine's Day.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)-When Harry Met Sally is a movie about two people who try to be friends, and only friends. It is a story of platonic friendship, and whether or not it really exists. The starts are Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. The film is humorous, and complete with fake orgasms, and funny fight scenes. It is a great Valentine's Day movie for couples.

Pretty Woman (1990)-The stars of this movie are Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. It is a fairytale storyline of the hard working whore, and the rich business man. She is a hooker, who gains the attention of the high society businessman and reels him in, hook, line and sinker. With shopping trips on Rodeo drive, and jests about her profession, this is a fantastic movie for the romantic at heart.

Casablanca (1942)-This movie might as well be the definition of a romantic classic, as it has all the elements of a good love story. Casablanca stars Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. It is a tale of love, and chivalry. It is a great way to spend Valentine's Day.

The Lady and The Tramp (1955)-This might be an animated classic, but it is a romantic love story none the less of the lady, and the underdog (all puns intended) falling in love over a plate of spaghetti and meatballs.

Titanic (1997)- This is a tragedy and love story, and a popular movie featuring Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet. There is intrigue, sex, and an epic love story that you could hold on to for generations.

Top Gun (1986)-This classic romance features Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. Tom is the cocky pilot, and Kelly his beautiful instructor. The film captures the intrigue, excitement, and thrill of new found love.

Romancing the Stone (1984)-This features Michael Douglas, a treasure seeking adventurer, and Kathleen Turner, who is a romance novelist. Together they go on a quest, and end up finding love. It is a great story, and a great film.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Rest Break, Romantic Challenge Polarized

FORWARD

Kal Bishop's 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template. Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

MASTER PLOT

There is a theory that there are a finite number of Plots (Tragedy, Rags to Riches, Rebirth. Man vs Machine, Man vs Environment etc). If you deconstruct these, you will find that they all reduce to the Hero's Journey, which is the Master Plot.

Further, if you reduce these, you will see degrees of Detachment and Attachment, New Self and Transformation.

The point being that, most plots are variant situations of the same base (and it is the base that you must first master).

(For the Complete 188+ stage Hero's Journey simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ )

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

*****Rest Break*****

It is common for a rest break to occur (past the stage of the Road of Trials). In The Godfather (1972), Michael gets to walk around Sicily.
This is a time to bond with Allies. In Alien (1979), right before the Alien explodes from Kane's stomach, time is spent getting to know the characters. In Romancing the Stone (1984), Joan gets to know Jack in the downed aircraft.
The Hero and allies reference their Old Selves and Back Story. In An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Zach talks about his days in the PI. In Romancing the Stone (1984), Jack didn't know the Doobey Brothers had split up; he was into short cuts.

*****Romantic Challenge Polarized*****

The Romantic Challenge is just that - a challenge that has to be resolved. As such, the Hero and Romantic Challenge are, at first meeting, highly polarized. In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Marion argues with Indy outside her bar. In The Deer Hunter (1978), Michael is a world away from Linda. In The English Patient (1996), Laszlo and Katharine have the problem of her husband.

Couples Aloud in Bed - Romancing With Words

It's 11:00 PM, and you've hardly talked to the people you live with. First there was a full day's work, then driving to various activities, then groceries, laundry, emails, making a to-do list for the weekend, helping your sixth grader with homework, or catching up on office work that didn't get done in a day full of meetings. You could zone out on a little television or flip though a catalog - or maybe, story could become the last thing you do at night and the first thing you do in the morning.

Story - like talking quietly to each other, turning off distractions and asking for details, for narrative, for what made your partner happy or sad or something clever the kids did, or a challenge going on at work. It's simple, just ask a leading question, pause, attend, and invite story to unfold. Almost every night, make the last thing you and your partner do is to ask each other: What's your favorite thing that happened today?

Story - like reading a book aloud to each other, sharing a story that weaves its way through several weeks, becomes the source of other conversations, becomes a shared journey away from daily details and into the art of a good tale. Snuggle up with your children for story-time, listen to them, help them tell stories, read to them, help them read to you, even write with them. Then, what do you want to read in bed: mysteries, historical or contemporary fiction, essays, memoir, fantasy, poetry? Go the library and bring home a stack and experiment.

Valentine's Day Movies for People Who Hate Sappy Love Stories

If you love romantic movies, there are about ten million possibilities if you want to watch a film on Valentine's Day, most of which are helpfully packaged in pink and red at WalMart to help menfolk who are out shopping for their ladies. Romantic movies run the gamut from tearjerking same-sex epics (a la Brokeback Mountain) to wholesome teen musicals (of the High School Musical subset) in an attempt to hit every possible demographic.

But what about the rest of us, who don't like romantic movies? We who gag at the mention of Nicholas Sparks and have had our eyeballs surgically removed from the backs of our heads after watching Another Cinderella Story? What is there for us to watch on Valentine's Day? Believe it or not, whether you're a misanthrope or a serial killer, there's a love story out there for you.

For Action Movie Aficionados and People With Short Attention Spans

THE TERMINATOR

A resistance fighter is sent back in time from an era where the world is controlled by machines in order to protect the future mother of mankind's last hope from a robot assassin.

Starring: Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton
Released: 1984

I have a love/hate relationship with James Cameron movies, but this one is firmly located at the "love" end of the spectrum. The Terminator gave birth to several popular phrases and spawned four sequels. There's a lot of action: explosions, vehicle chases, gunfights, even a futuristic war, but thematically it's a love story, which helps it stand the test of time even now that the impressiveness of 1980s special effects has worn off.

For Lord of the Rings Fans, Dungeon Masters, and Fantasy Lovers

STARDUST

A lovestruck young man ventures into the magical kingdom of Stormhold to fetch a fallen star for the girl of his dreams, only to find the real girl of his dreams is the star.

Starring: Charlie Cox, Claire Danes
Released: 2007

If you're into fantasy at all, you know that Neil Gaiman is a genius. Anyone looking to get into writing fantasy or science fiction should be required to take lessons from Neil Gaiman on balancing familiarity and imagination. This is a star-studded (pun intended) adaptation of his novel that involves, flying pirate ships, witches, sword fights, castles, and one of the most impressive examples of acting I've ever seen (hint: it involves Mark Strong and a voodoo doll).

For World War II History Buffs and War Movie Enthusiasts

ENEMY AT THE GATES

Famed Soviet sniper Vassili Zaitsev dukes it out with his German opposite number as Nazi bombers turn the city of Stalingrad to rubble. At stake: the outcome of the war.

Starring: Jude Law, Rachel Weiss
Released: 2001

One of the things I like best about this movie is that the British/American actors don't try to fake Russian or German accents (if you've seen K-19 you know why this is not a good idea). The love story here is a triangle involving Vassili, the commisar publicizing his feats, and a female soldier (yes, Russia had female soldiers back then). Tragic yet uplifting, this is one of the best war movies I've ever seen.

For Science Fiction Fans and Comic Book Nerds

AEON FLUX

An assassin, one of the last few hundred survivors of a deadly epidemic, is sent to kill the dictator of their futuristic society only to discover that everything is not what it seems.

Starring: Charlize Theron, Marton Csokas
Released: 2005

This movie, which is based on a comic book, has it all: futuristic technology, martial arts, gun battles, skintight outfits, and a love story that's organic to the plot rather than jammed in to appease the girlfriends of male nerds. I can't tell you much about it without including spoilers, but it does have a happy ending.

For Adventurers and People Who Love Irony

ROMANCING THE STONE

A lonely romance novelist with no travel experience enlists the aid of a jaded mercenary to help her find the treasure that will allow her to rescue her kidnapped sister from a Colombian drug lord.

Starring: Kathleen Turner, Michael Douglas
Released: 1984

The irony here is that this comedy pokes fun at the absurd plots of romance novels from within the framework of a plot that could have come from a romance novel. Ms Romance and Mr Uncouth naturally fall in love through the course of the film, but there are enough crocodiles, motor vehicle stunts, and jungle survival tips to please even the biggest Indiana Jones fanatic. As a bonus, you can turn it into a 4-hour movie marathon by screening it back-to-back with its sequel, Jewel of the Nile.

For Fans of The Godfather and Members of Organized Crime

DIRTY DEEDS

An Australian soldier returning home from Vietnam joins his uncle in organized crime just as members of the American mafia make their first inroads into the country.

Starring: Sam Worthington, Kestie Morassi, Bryan Brown, Toni Collette
Released: 2002

This is not your typical mafia story. It's unexpectedly hilarious and actually kind of heartwarming. Bryan Brown, Toni Collette, John Goodman and Sam Neill get top billing in all the promotional materials, but Sam Worthington's character is actually the center of the film. There's the requisite murder, car chases, shootings, and destruction of private property, but there's also a subplot involving the introduction of pizza into Australia and two love stories: between the soldier and his uncle's mistress and between his uncle and aunt.

For Serial Killers and Horror Film Fans

THE SIGNAL

A woman, her boyfriend, and her husband find their lives interwoven in the aftermath of a mysterious signal that makes everyone who watches it crazy.

Starring: Anessa Ramsey, AJ Bowen, Justin Welborn
Released: 2007

The story is told in three parts from three different perspectives by three different directors, but make no mistake, it all fits together. This movie is simultaneously scary, hilarious, and uplifting, with a love story that sets it apart from the usual "let's have sex as murder happens around us" horror movie fare. Relatively unknown, this movie is worth every second you have to put into finding it.

For Martial Arts Enthusiasts and Asian Cinema Lovers

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON

A great warrior in Qing China must outwit a deadly assassin to regain possession of a magical sword.

Starring: Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh
Released: 2000

Despite the furious Kung Fu battles, mystical elements, and incredible special effects that have actors dancing through the treetops during fisticuffs, this is essentially a love story between two warriors. There's also a princess, a female assassin, and some smashing cinematography, so it holds appeal for both romantics and karate kids alike so long as they don't mind reading subtitles.

For Misanthropes and Inanimate Objects

WALL-E

A trash compacting robot abandoned on a garbage-strewn Earth for 700 years teams up with a sleek vegetation-seeking robot to help a ship full of spoiled humans return to the home they've forgotten.

Starring: voices of Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, and a MacIntosh computer
Released: 2008

Yes, there are even love stories for people who hate other people. In fact, EVE and WALL-E's romance may be one of the cutest in film even though (or perhaps because of) the fact that they only know about four words apiece. Show it to your lovestruck toaster and inspire it to propose to the blender. Great CGI animation and a timely message also make this a great film for Environmentalists and sci-fi buffs.

For People Whose Major Relationship is With a Computer

HACKERS

A teenage computer hacker whose childhood exploits are famous moves to New York and becomes embroiled in a plot to frame hackers for ransoming an oil company.

Starring: Johnny Lee Miller, Angelina Jolie
Released: 1995

Anyone who's owned a computer made after 1996 will find the "cutting edge" technology employed by the hackers laughable, but people who play World of Warcraft 24/7 and dream of beautiful women coming onto them will relate to main character, who manages to land a hot girlfriend despite spending most of his time in a dark room with his computer.

Mountain Wild

 Introduction

In the year "Mountain Wild" begins, the American frontier was still in its infancy. The exploits of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett were fresh in the hearts and minds of Americans, for their legends were still relatively new. These famous frontiersmen led the way for a nation expanding ever westward, and those who followed in their footsteps were eager to prove themselves equal to the challenge.

guest author Ami Blackwelder

What lies beneath the water? This is the question I ask in my latest release The Mers, which came out halloween night! Available on kindle, nook, smashwords. Would we find enlarged sea monsters? Mermaids? If our world ceased to be as it is now....and the land crumbled beneath the water....how would we survive?

I love teasing readers with dystopian questions about how our actions will affect our future. I like to make readers think. But I also want them to have fun. So, in most of my novels, The Mers included, I give the reader a plausible world, one plausible way our world could turn out and insert many heart-felt characters to tell a story that is relatable on a very human level.

I enjoy reading stories that are not just unpredictable, but also character driven. I love to fall-in-love with the characters. When I write I keep those two points alive. I want readers to sit at the seat of their pants, to cry, laugh, throw something when the characters does something they didn’t like. I want my readers to care, to FEEl. After all, that is half the fun of reading fiction. That and an amazing new world.

I hope I do that for all my readers with my array of novels: The Gate of Lake Forest (elf romance), Shifter Evolutions (books 1-6, shifter romance), The Day the Flowers Died (historical romance set in Munich, Germany 1930), and with my latest book The Mers.

I am building a variety of worlds for readers to explore: elf, shifter, mermaid...but also I will be writing about angels, psychic abilities, and vampires. So, look out for a plethora of intriguing worlds to enter in 2012! 

Do we really ever know what we are stepping into whether in the water or in our life? What if everything you thought you knew turned out to be a lie?

Please check out my latest release The Mers and find out why my books are stories readers just can’t put down (I’m not kidding)

Please order the books from kindle, nook, amazon, BnN online and front desk, and on the author's website.















Book Trailer code:


Enclosed are images to include and a bio and synopsis.

SYNOPSIS:

Paranormal and SciFi Author Ami Blackwelder will have two new books out soon!

Find out more about her and her books at http://amiblackwelder.blogspot.com


The Invasion of 2020, the first book in the Shifter Evolutions series is scheduled to be released Sept 1st 2011, (Books 1-5 are out now)
The Invasion of 2020 is the prequel to Shifters of 2040. The Shifter Evolutions begins with the middle book, The Shifters of 2040, and gives the reader the choice for the past or future. This release of the first book in the series, The Invasion of 2020, will allow readers to engage the series chronologically also.
Readers will enjoying finding out more about Uri Petrov and Dr. Samantha Croon as they discover what exactly brought the shifters to Earth and what sparked human fears. Who was the young Marn and young Raul and what molded them into who they became?

BIO:

Ami Blackwelder is a forbidden romance writer in the paranormal and historical romance genre. Growing up in Florida, she went to UCf and in 1997 received her BA in English and teaching credentials. She travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. Thailand is considered her second home now. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand.

Having won the Best Fiction Award from the University of Central Florida (Yes, The Blair Witch Project University;), her fiction From Joy We Come, Unto Joy We Return was published in the on campus literary magazine: Cypress Dome and remains to this day in University libraries around the country. Later, she achieved the Semi-Finals in a Laurel Hemingway contest and published a few poems in the Thailand’s Expat magazine, and an article in the Thailand’s People newspaper. Additionally, she has published poetry in the Korea’s AIM magazine, the American Poetic Monthly magazine and Twisted Dreams Magazine.

http://amiblackwelder.blogspot.com


Straddling Lane, Frenier’s knees dug into the soft porch sofa and his arms braced on each side of her neck. He dangled a fresh strawberry above her wet lips and teased. The resolute glint in her eyes stayed fixed on the moist fruit as it oscillated.

“Let me have it!” she demanded, her long tongue showing.

“Come and get it,” he whispered, his breath blowing over her porcelain like face. With only his beige trousers on, the beads of water from the shower earlier slid over his defined muscles and dropped one by one over Lane’s naked leg. In only lace panties and a pink bra, her blonde hair sprawled over the sofa, under- neath and behind her. Like the indents in desert sand made by slithering snakes, her hair appeared soft and perfectly patterned.

“Give it to me, Frank!” She batted her lashes, her chin angling upward as her lips fought to secure the strawberry. Like getting a fish to charge at bait, Frenier had become an expert fisherman when it came to her, when it came to most women. Both players at love, they understood the game.