Photo Credit: roarofthefour/Creative Commons
I talked to a friend recently who adores Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction (which, of course, happens to be my tagline.)
“What do you like about it?” (I was curious and–yes, I admit–I wanted to use her answer for this blog post.)
She thought for a moment and then smiled. “It’s like a hot fudge sundae. Sweet and satisfying, but leaves me wanting more.”
Her description mirrored similar words of a character in one of my novels (as she reflects upon her new town.)
My friend hadn’t read my manuscript so I found her comparison interesting. And a relief.
That’s exactly how I feel when I think of Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction. And what I hope others will feel when they read my books one day.
I grew up in the era of The Andy Griffith Show, The Waltons, and Little House on the Prairie. I love old movies, and the memories they evoke. I like vintage, nostalgia, and shows and stories that solve the problems of down-to-earth folks in thought-provoking ways. The characters are flawed, but loveable, and their tales move me from the realm of what’s wrong in this old world to what’s possible in others.
Currently, one of my favorite, new television shows is Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove on the Hallmark channel. Based on the best-selling books, the series focuses on various characters in fictional Cedar Cove, Washington. I must tell you, I’m a HUGE Debbie Macomber fan. I love the way she writes, the stories she weaves, and the mark she leaves upon her readers’ hearts. Of course, this author has perfected the “sweet and satisfying and leaves me wanting more” factor.
Now, because I write Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction, does that mean I pen sugar-and-spice-and-everything-nice tales filled with hollow-souled characters who always eat their Wheaties for breakfast? Hardly!
I find those types of people boring in real life. Why would I create characters like those in my fictional world?
Folks love Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction because the stories exude a down-to-earth warmth that vampires and zombies do not. (Although I am a secret Twilight fan. It’s the good-conquers-evil aspect, people! And the love story, too, of course. Now you know. But…I digress.)
When we read our “hearth and home” novels, we still want meat and potato stories with real people AND real problems. Just like us. We also want to see those problems not necessarily wrapped and tied with a bow by THE END, but with the possibility of a brighter outcome. Hope.
I write stories that delve into the nitty-gritty upset of life, yet stories that uplift, encourage, and foster the belief that “anything is possible.” In fact, when God’s thrown into the equation, not only is anything possible–it’s spine-tingling probable something BIG will happen!
And just to recap…
Why we love Heartfelt, Homespun Fiction:
- It makes us feel good.
- The characters are imperfect with problems like ours.
- They may be down, but they’re not out.
- Because of Christ, possibility outweighs probability.
- Meat and potatoes taste best with dessert!
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What genres are your favorites and why?
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It’s the nitty-gritty of life served with a big, ol’ side dish of dessert (Click to Tweet)
Photo Credit: roarofthefour/Creative Commons
Blessings Always,
Comments 4
You had me at “I like old movies.” 🙂 I love lots of genres but oh, a good rom-com gets me every time. (Note the “good.” I’m very picky, especially when it comes to rom-com in movie form. Haha!) I also adore historical fiction!
Author
Melissa, I adore old classics! (Did you see the Doris Day marathon on TCM recently? And I’m a sucker for Lucille Ball’s Yours, Mine, and Ours and so many others…)
I like historical fiction, too! Isn’t it great that we have so many wonderful authors to choose from?!
I was never too much of a fan of “The Waltons” or other shows in that genre. But I write contemporary romantic fiction, so I guess that’s okay!
However – there is a a niche of homespun, heartfelt history that might be unexpected – it had its genesis in Stephen Ambrose’s “Band of Brothers”.
The way Ambrose introduced us to the members of Co. E of the 506th PIR allowed us to meet these citizen-soldiers as people…and a large number of them came from the “Heartfelt, homespun” heartland. They were good men, led by circumstance and choice into the parachute infantry, a terribly dangerous crucible in which their character and resilience – and faith – would be tested.
Their stories (both those collated by Ambrose, and the later memoirs) tell of the strength of their upbringing, and the fundamental decency which carried them through the ground war in Europe.
“Band of Brothers” is, in large part, a paean to the life and values that you write about.
Author
Andrew, no Waltons? Say it isn’t so! (BUT because of the genre you write, you’ve redeemed yourself.)
While I’ve never seen Band of Brothers, I know a lot of folks who have and they identify with the characters and situations you describe. You’re right–without the necessary grounding in our beliefs/values, we’d never develop the mettle to take us through life’s hardships.