Is a Break from Romance worth the Gamble?

I should be feeling guilty right now. Here I am, gambling and losing my money in a casino – have I mentioned that I love to gamble– and not sitting and writing. Well, okay, at this very moment I am writing, but I will hit the tables or slots as soon as I finish this post.

There are a few things I like to turn to when should be writing but need an escape. Gambling is one of them. I love the idea of winning, and allow it to outweigh my fear of losing. It probably shouldn’t, with my track record, but hope springs eternal.

I love going to the movies, or watching movies on TV. I can sit all day avoiding my latest novel while avidly gazing at the boob tube, usually engrossed in the predictable new Hallmark movie or worse, the one I have seen so many times that I know every line. Much as I love them, even on first viewing it doesn’t take much to guess what’s going to happen.

Another thing I love to do rather than write is listen to music and dance around my living room. I can’t hold a candle to Tom Cruise in “Risky Business,” and currently there are construction workers outside my windows, so I wear more clothes.

But today, sitting in the lounge of the casino, I realized that the movies, the hope of winning, and the music are all about romance. I am listening to tunes from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s when songs were all about love. Right now, Madonna is belting “Borderline” but moments ago I was singing along to “Bus Stop” by The Hollies.

Romance is a Gamble

We all want that happy ending, be it in a song, at the gaming tables, in a movie or of course, in a novel. We all want to believe that love conquers all, that we will find that winning hand, that perfect mate, that we will ride into the sunset of our happily ever after.

My job as a romance writer is to provide that happily ever after for you. Love is more complicated in today’s music, movies have grown into franchises with increasingly complex situations, and while you, as a reader, still have an expectation that all will end well, you now expect characters to be more three dimensional. You expect them to struggle with juggling career and family, money problems, complicated family situations. In short, you expect them to find love, but not without jumping some hurdles.

I am struggling with the hurdle of completing my final “Beguiling Bachelor” book, while meeting your expectations for character growth and a compelling story. But I know although the casino will be open all night and all day tomorrow, my novel “Besotted” awaits and won’t write itself.

I am gambling that a day off here and there to regroup, to listen to love songs and get inspiration from romance novels and movies, will help me be a better author. Losing at the tables will remind me to add twists and turns before I get to happily ever after. The simple lyrics of long ago remind me that today’s music is often darker and tackles difficult themes. Today love is everywhere, but cannot be gambled on.

So it is with my novel. I cannot take it for granted, or you, my wonderful readers. Tomorrow, it is back to work with a fresh perspective and renewed dedication. I thank you for indulging me now and then, when I I play hooky. We all need refueling, and Stevie Wonder and the promise of a royal flush are filing my tank today.

Keep your fingers crossed, I could use a win.