Is there anything more romantic than a love letter from your beloved for Valentine’s Day — or any day for that matter — especially in today’s world of text messaging?
George Clooney and his wife Amal use this traditional method of sharing feelings. He slips letters onto Amal’s desk; she leaves them under his pillow. That’s how the Clooneys keep the spark in their romance.
But what if you and your partner aren’t writers? We’re certainly not all comfortable sharing feelings on paper. Praise be to those who are, because so many find it irresistible to escape with a good love story.
Whatever your relationship status, for Valentine’s Day I’d like to introduce you to three local authors with unique styles and romantic stories we can all sink our teeth into. Grab a warm blanket and a cup of hot cocoa and join me by the fire on a journey to romance.
Anne Armistead
Native Georgian Anne Armistead was inspired by her parents’ 50-year relationship.
“My dad wrote my mom letters and poetry,” Armistead said. “They only had eyes for each other. I write as a tribute to them.”
“My mom never tired of telling about their meet-cute,” she continued. “They both worked at the FBI building in Atlanta. My dad walked out of the elevator. My mom turned to her work pal and said, “See that good looking guy? I’m going to marry him.””
Since 2007, Armistead has devoted herself entirely to writing after teaching literature for 30 years.
Her fancy for storytelling started early. In the 60s, she wrote fan fiction based on her favorite episodic television shows because isolated plots that didn’t build from one episode to the next left her wanting. She craved extensions or different endings.
“My dad was a supreme storyteller. My mother, an avid reader. We were a big TV-watching and movie-going family. I was surrounded by words, dialogue and stories,” Armistead shared.
Once an empty nester, Armistead decided to earn an MFA in creative writing. Her first novel, “Dangerous Conjurings,” was conceived in her writing workshop.
Stories that need to be told
Having heard accounts about the African American Gullah population from her mother, Armistead was mesmerized and included them in her novel.
“In South Carolina, my mother would watch the Geechee Gullah weave baskets, listen to them speak their own dialect and learn about the medicinal mixtures they made from roots,” Armistead recounted.
The historical romance with paranormal elements was published in 2018 despite challenges finding a publisher willing to take on a story about the Civil War. Some suggested she change the main characters into a Yankee family.
Knowing it wouldn’t work, Armistead persevered until she found a publisher in search of a Southern romance.
“With Kisses from Cécile,” a story about redemption and friendship, was written in collaboration with Jan Agnello. It’s based on a true story about Angello’s great-grandmother and her French pen pal, and won the 2020 Georgia Independent Author of the Year Award in historical fiction.
“A Tryst in Paris,” a 1900s Parisian time travel story, followed.
Passion pivot
After three historical fiction romances, Armistead is turning to closed-door, sweet, contemporary Christmas and sports trilogies.
“Sweet means there’s no erotica and closed door means no sex scenes,” she clarified. “My daughters would disown me if I were to write sex scenes. They say, “Don’t do anything but let them kiss.”
Her protagonists “…kiss and flirt but when they go to the bedroom, it’s just the two of them.”
She’s excited to explore older protagonists in her holiday series, creating characters of a certain age who will “live and breathe in readers’ imaginations.”
Until now, Armistead’s protagonists were 30-something. In the Christmas series, she’s targeting 40- to 60-year-old readers. The 55+ retirement community is a shift right on trend with the first Golden Bachelor.
Armistead senses that people are seeking older protagonists. She’s envisioning multigenerational love stories among the 55+ residents, their children and their grandchildren.
Without having to conduct historical research, Armistead suspects the writing will flow much faster. “I won’t have to stop and see how that corset goes on,” she said.
Great romance
In Armistead’s view, above all else, readers count on a crescendo of conflict concluding in a satisfying happily-ever-after. They enjoy tropes like enemies-to-lovers, a secret child, second chances, forbidden love and forced proximity.
The meet-cute is vital, as are sympathetic heroines, handsome heroes and a believable plot. Readers expect compelling subplots with captivating characters, along with a lovable main couple.
2024 goals
Armistead plans to focus on marketability, finding an agent and pivoting to Christmas in 2024, with hopes of access to Hallmark, Netflix, Lifetime, the CW and Amazon Prime. She’s building story outlines with short, snappy dialogue that can easily transfer to screenplays.
An unpublished free narrative verse novel — a story told in poetic vignettes — resides on Armistead’s computer, along with its various rejections. She hopes to self-publish it one day and already has ideas for a second verse novel “nibbling” at her.
Worthwhile advice
Armistead shared words of encouragement for anyone considering writing a novel. “Persist. If you have a story inside clamoring to get out, don’t give up. Only 3% of those who start writing a novel complete it,” she said.
“To write means WRITING. …No matter how lousy the words, let them come and burnish them with brilliance later,” she added.
Additionally, Armistead recommends growing thick skin, believing in your work even in the face of rejection, writing for the joy of it, not for the sake of publication, and seeking writing partners and critique groups for support and honest feedback.
“Our words must flow because we cannot keep them inside. And remember — the delete key is your friend,” she said.
Valentine’s Day plans
An old movie buff, Armistead’s ideal Valentine’s Day is a dual celebration tying in her birthday, two days before. Their enemies-to-lovers start led to 42 years of marriage, two daughters, two grandsons and four grand-dogs.
She and her husband watch her favorite romantic drama, “Casablanca.” Their romantic ritual includes “sipping champagne and noshing on yummies off a charcuterie board in front of [the] fireplace,” she said.
Where to look for love
To learn more about Armistead, visit annearmisteadauthor.com. Her novels are available on Amazon, in paperback and Kindle formats, or print on demand.
“. . . A kiss in the Christmas cold air, under a streetlight, next to an oversized lighted Santa, with fading strands of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” in the background? It’s as hokey as a scene in one of those Christmas movies.
But she loved those movies.” — excerpt from “A Christmas Cannoli Kiss”
Joi Jackson
Her father’s untimely passing in 2019 spurred finance major Joi Jackson to begin writing STEM romances, which contain elements of science, technology, engineering or math.
It’s not a subgenre yet, but Jackson points out that romantasy (romantic fantasy) wasn’t either, until recently.
In November 2019, Jackson participated in National Novel Writing Month, which led to the release of her debut book, “To Catch a Catfish” in 2022. Emboldened by her first success, she has since published three additional novels.
Target audience
Jackson’s characters are generally their 30s. Her audience is mostly women in the 30 to 50-year-old range who enjoy diversity and a bit of spice.
By including characters of different racial backgrounds and sexual orientations, Jackson’s stories reflect the diversity of the real world. The atypical, curvy heroine in her debut novel has a programming background, loves dinosaurs, science and conducting internet research.
Before going virtual, Jackson worked in tech support at the Technology Center in Norcross. She combined her love for romance and technology, wanting to see more heroines in technical professions.
“As more women get into these careers, they’ll want to see themselves in love stories,” she explained.
A Business Applications Analyst, Jackson is working towards writing full-time. Currently, she writes nightly. Her weekends are spent marketing and volunteering with Romance Writers of America as a workshop coordinator.
A desire to connect with local writers drew Jackson to the Georgia Romance Writers.
“Writing can be lonely,” she said. Surrounding herself with others who understand the agony of writing oneself into a corner, a troublesome plot or characters gone rogue has been beneficial for her.
Her small-town steamy series — a collaborative effort with a group of authors — led to the publication of Jackson’s novels “Silver Santa,” “Sunshine and Silk Boxers” and “Bourbon and Bordeaux.”
The authors create their own stories within a shared world, the fictional town of Kissing Springs, Kentucky. “You could read one and know what’s going on. If you read all of them you get a fuller picture,” Jackson explained.
Hallmark After Dark
“Initially, my goal was to have a story turn into a Hallmark movie, but my characters sometimes have filthy mouths and I write sex scenes,” Jackson chuckled.
One of Jackson’s associates coined the series “Hallmark After Dark.” Their stories are steamier than Hallmark movies.
“It can get pretty spicy,” she revealed. Wishing to err on the subtle side of sensuality, she keeps her novels at two chili peppers.
I learned from Jackson that the degree of sexual content in a romance novel is measured on a scale of one to five chili peppers.
It’s important that authors describe their novels accurately so readers can select their desired heat level. They don’t want to disappoint anyone by making it hotter or colder than expected.
- One chili pepper is considered sweet. There’s basically no physical contact and barely any kissing or hugging. Any flutters are emotional, not from arousal.
- Two chili peppers, a warm heat rating, includes kissing. It may allude to, but doesn’t depict, sexual encounters. No references are made to arousal, though maybe some tingles.
- Three chili peppers mean there’s explicit love-making scenes with lust, arousal and titillating details.
- Four chili peppers describe racy, more overt sex scenes that include spicy bits and risqué language.
- Five chili peppers denote erotic content and darker romances — one step before erotica and some kinky activity. I’d elaborate but this must remain PG-13!
Let’s not keep it real
The men in Jackson’s novels are super fit. In addition to muscular bodies, she gives them wealth. They’re gents who adore pampering women.
“Fairy tale guys — that’s what women want. Reality is totally different,” she laughed.
Jackson sometimes runs her ideas past her husband. He’ll flag anything that crosses into the realm of “something no guy would ever do.”
How does Jackson keep the steamy parts from sounding the same from one story to the next? “Sex scenes are different for each couple,” Jackson shared. “I let the couple’s personalities and chemistry drive it.”
Creative process
Something captures Jackson’s interest on TV or in a movie gets modernized, given a twist and entered into the author’s game of “What if?” Once she’s fleshed out an idea, she transfers it to note cards.
“I’m a plotter. I want an outline of everything that’s going to happen in the book before I start. Otherwise, I meander and things that need to be in the book may not happen. I keep myself reined in by outlining everything,” Jackson explained.
With a solid framework and clear ideas about where the book is going, she begins writing. The author confided, “Sometimes I slip, and the characters take over.”
As the novel progresses, Jackson sends samples to editors and reviews their comments. “It’s important to have another set of eyes on a novel, especially when you’ve been writing for months, maybe years,” she stated.
Great romance
Jackson cites a captivating initial meeting, whether it’s a disaster or there’s an undeniable spark. Characters with interesting careers that allow readers to learn something are her favorite.
Lastly, Jackson appreciates a heroine who excels at her job, even if the rest of her life is a mess.
To readers hesitant about embracing romance, Jackson encourages they give it a whirl. “There are so many subgenres to explore — everything from sweet stories to taboo stuff. …There’s something for everyone,” she said.
2024 goal
Hearing that managers have been given some leeway to include local authors in stores, Jackson said that she aspires to see her books on bookshelves at Barnes & Noble.
Worthwhile advice
For aspiring writers, Jackson offers some welcome encouragement. “It’s OK if your first draft is awful,” she said. “Get it done. Polish it later.”
The author added: It’s never too late to write a book.
Valentine’s Day plans
Even romance writers can by annoyed by the price gauging that’s all too typical of Valentine’s Day!
Married for 13 years, Jackson has sought unique ways to celebrate February 14, like going to the symphony or to a night of jazz at the High Museum.
Where to look for love
Jackson’s books are available on all the major platforms: Apple, Google, Kobo and Barnes & Noble online. Learn more about the author at purplepeacockpress.com.
“… She raised a hand to her own lips, recalling precisely how good his felt…” — excerpt from “Silver Santa”
Having relocated to Georgia from Hawaii, author Jillian Liota said she and her husband are enjoying their new home in Suwanee.
Romance is Liota’s genre of choice when it comes to writing. “I love love, and I believe everyone deserves a happily ever after. …The world needs that,” Liota said.
Her proclivity for writing was evident early on. As a teenager, she scripted tales about her crushes.
An initial career in education was sidestepped when her father passed away in 2013. She became hooked on the romance novels she consumed as a distraction.
After learning about the writing journey of the esteemed Colleen Hoover — best known for her 2016 novel “It Ends with Us” — on the author’s blog in 2014, Liota decided to try her own hand at romance novels.
“I published my first book in November 2016 and …never looked back,” she said.
Liota has produced an impressive list of contemporary, new adult romance novels. There are four books, so far, in her Cedar Point series: “The Trouble with Wanting,” “The Opposite of Falling,” “The Start of Someday” and “The Problem with Perfect.”
Both her Hermosa Beach series and Like You series have four titles available, while her Sandalwood series and Keeper Duet series have two books each, to date. If that’s not enough to choose from, Liota has also produced collections of short stories and poetry.
Scattered and peppered
Unlike Jackson, who meticulously plots her stories, Liota said she is a “pantser.” That is, she likes to fly by the seat of her pants with the story unfolding as she writes.
Liota credits her characters with guiding the conversations and actions. “My writing process is a bit scattered. I usually have an idea of who the characters are and maybe a scene or two in my head. But other than that, I just sit down and start,” Liota said.
The author rates her romances a four on the chili pepper scale.
Great romance
According to Liota, a great romance novel comprises a relatable main character whose choices, fears and desires readers can identify with.
The second ingredient of a deliciously steamy romance, in Liota’s view, is credible conflict. Something seemingly real must keep the protagonists apart initially — whether it’s workplace restrictions (an employee/boss relationship) or friend code related (falling for your bestie’s brother) or personal views (closed-off to love) — the hiccup needs to be believable.
Lastly, Liota stressed the importance of good dialogue. Clever exchanges between characters are imperative; communication is a fundamental part of a budding romance.
“Cheesy lines and cliches have their place,” she conceded.
Romantic at heart
Besides being fueled by the intoxicating notion of happily ever after, Liota’s own love story with her husband informs her writing.
“Writing romance is an extension …I’m able to take the over-abundance of love that I have and pour it out on the page,” she said. “I get joy out of writing romance because it excites me to create characters who find a love as deep as mine.”
Worthwhile advice
If you’re an aspiring author and feel unsure about where to begin, Liota suggested, “…start by writing a sentence. Then another one. …You can’t edit a blank page,” she said. “Write, write, write.”
The finetuning can happen later.
For those who’ve started their writing journey but can’t move beyond the first few chapters, Liota said it’s best not to focus on critiques at first.
“You have to push through that resistance and just keep going if you want to actually complete a book,” she advised.
Valentine’s Day plans
You’ll find Liota and her husband enjoying the holiday celebrating love. They take turns every other year planning a Valentine’s Day adventure for two.
One example she gave is a surprise road trip to feast on his favorite tacos. “It’s usually a whole day extravaganza,” Liota said. “We have so much fun.”
The author made it a point to caution against reserving the show of affection for one day only.
“We celebrate each other constantly, so while Valentine’s Day is a fun time, it isn’t the end-all, be-all,” Liota stressed.
Where to look for love
Find Liota’s 15 published novels and novellas on Amazon. They’re also available on Kindle Unlimited. Learn more about the author at jillianliota.com.
“Love scares you, because the men who were supposed to give love to you in the past let you down, made you believe it was something so much smaller than it really is. They made you believe it isn’t worth the trouble, and that is a lie.” — excerpt from “The Trouble with Wanting”
Words by Patrizia Winsper
