When I was writing THE VANISHING SPARK OF DUSK, there was no question in my mind that the romance would take a little time to warm up. I love romance, but what I love more than the steamy love scenes, is the deep connection two characters develop before they even realize they love each other. So here are five reasons I love to write slow-burn romances:
- Instalove never felt real to me. I’d never developed a crush on anyone at first sight, and I’d never finished a book where the hero *instantly* falls in love with the love interest. When the main character turns around and sees the super hot love interest crossing the scene, and they instantly have a crush, I feel. literally. nothing. It kind of takes away from character’s journey, for me at least. Let me get to know the love interest. Let me hear how they talk, how they laugh, what makes them tick and how passionate they can be about certain issues.
- I love teasing the reader, keeping them wondering if these two characters will actually end up together. That’s what keeps readers turning the pages. It’s what keeps me turning the pages as a reader. The burning curiosity of what that moment will look like when they admit their attraction toward each other out loud—or through an unexpected kiss.
Which leads me to my next reason…
- I love letting the characters get to know each other, learning what they like about the other before deciding that they love them. I love seeing the fire of attraction grow between them before it completely consumes them. The tension, the flirting, the sneaky eye-contact. Give me a few days/weeks of this build-up, and then let me watch their romance burn. (In a good way.)
- I have tried writing an instalove romance, and it did not work for me. Instead, some other character showed up and stole the romance away from the intentional love interest, and this character took a whole book for me to realize he was the one she would end up with, not that other guy. I’ve come to a place in my writing journey where I don’t even know who my characters will end up with until their conversation strikes that spark, and the attraction grows between them. (Because let’s face it, authors have very little control over their character’s choices. 😉 )
- And finally, the last reason I love the slow-burn romance: My personal romance was QUITE the slow burn. I don’t want to give out too many details, because, I mean, I don’t even know you, but my husband and I dated on and off for roughly five years before we realized we truly loved each other. When we did realize that love, we dated long-distance (as in, literally-living-across-the-world-from-each-other-long-distance) for a whole year, and six months after my return from China, he proposed. <3
THE VANISHING SPARK OF DUSK by Sara Baysinger
Stand up. Be heard. Fight back.
Stand up.
When Lark is stolen from Earth to be a slave on the planet Tavdora, she’s determined to find her way back home to her family, no matter the cost. Placed in the household of a notorious slave trader, Lark quickly learns her best assets are her eyes and ears. And if she’s brave enough, her voice.
Be heard.
Kalen is the Tavdorian son of a slave trader and in line to inherit his father’s business. But his growing feelings for Lark, the new house slave who dares to speak of freedom, compel him to reveal his new plan for the slave ships returning to Earth—escape. Together, they just might spark a change that flares across the universe.
Fight back.
Young Adult Science Fiction [Entangled Teen, On Sale: January 8, 2018, e-Book, ISBN: 9781640634619 / eISBN: 9781640634619]
A world like no other!Buy THE VANISHING SPARK OF DUSK: Kindle | BN.com | iTunes/iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Sara Baysinger
Sara Baysinger grew up in the heart of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador where she spent her childhood exploring uncharted lands and reading all things magical. She now lives among the endless cornfields of Indiana with her husband and two young children. Sara enjoys writing and reading anything out of the ordinary, and has a bad habit of zoning out at the most inopportune moments. She is currently considering seeking medical attention for her potentially life-threatening coffee addiction.
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