What a joy it is to be invited to share some insights into the topic of love on Shirley’s blog this week.
I – a returning author – am honored by the invitation, and so happy to be at the start of a friendship with such a page-turner of an author.
I’m currently reading, “Into The Fire” which holds so much promise in storyline, high points and character development.
So! Quick-quick self-introduction. I, too, write about love: Unconventional love.
Recently my writing has focused on the slogan, “love is love”; i.e. an acceptance that humans tend to fall in love for inexplicable personal motivations and justifications, regardless of society’s mores. Singer Selena Gomes says it best in the lyrics of her song, “The heart wants what it wants”. Isn’t that what it all comes down to?
Going forward I hope to explore, in my writing, the psychological underpinnings of what mainstream society would consider untoward pairings and how couples overcome the challenges that they throw it in and choose, “love is love”.
In my 2021 republished SHE-CAT, main character, “Felicia” (a Los Angeles photo journalist) goes on the prowl every night window peeping to study the dynamics of familial love after a childhood of molestation at the hands of a step-father and submissive mother.
Felicia realizes that her neighbor Janey (whom she nicknames “Kitty”) is living under the thumb of her brute of a boyfriend, Jesse.
Felicia commits to saving Kitty. (Is it love?) Kitty wants to be more like Felicia.
You see, dear readers, Kitty has been unfavorably compared to Felicia by Jesse; and therefore, wants to be groomed by the woman she idolizes for her strength and alpha-characteristics (Is it love?)
The power dynamics of the sexual attraction between Felicia and Kitty is a teeter-totter that adds a brimstone of fire. But, be warned, the consequences are dire.
As their relationship develops do Felicia and Kitty each get what sought in the beginning of their liaison? Is it acceptable that they are attracted to each other for dynamics other than romantic notions? ..Or for notions that include romance + ulterior motives?
In my current WIP “Street of Broken People” (a NaNoWriMo 2020 badge winner) each of the characters solve their need for love, attention, and security in very different ways – all of which society would consider unacceptable.
In “Street of Broken People” mad, passionate, soul-mate love is not a one-off for Don Bridge who is driven by his covert narcissism. Like all narcissists he must control the dynamics of the love and attention terrain while maintaining focus on himself. Any success in this regard subconsciously makes up for the deficits he suffered as a child.
Perennially struggling financially, he is looking for a mark, and finds it in character, Elise.
Elise Chapman, of Seattle’s ‘tony’ Broadmoor neighborhood, is gorgeous, indeed monied – but much older than Don. She has been married to a neglectful narcissist and is starving for sexual attention and the trappings of affection.
Elise fully recognizes that Don is using her – but if he will just be her passionate lover; she will pay for the luxury of being a “lovee” for once in her life.
However, it all must appear somewhat proper to her monied arts clique, so marriage is a must – even if tongues wag.
Suzanna Traon, Paris model and emigrant refugee whom Don encounters on a three-month photography junket (which Elise has financed) wraps her need for love in the concept of family.
She enters into a relationship with Don with her eyes wide shut.
Suzanna hopes (and isn’t love primarily based on hope?) that Don, who is much older that she, will enfold her into his family. However, she realizes, much too late, that Don’s family is comprised almost exclusively of his Cougar wife.
What infidel Don Bridge wants from Suzanna is the reassurance that he, an aging but strikingly handsome devil-may-care type, can maintain the attention of a young beautiful model. Suzanna is the trophy which he, a narcissist, needs.
“Street of Broken People” plays on the theme ‘Three lives, One triangle’.
In each work, “SHE-CAT” and “Street of Broken People”, the motivations for seeking connection, attention and affection are driven by underlying psychological needs. These needs are outside of the standard norms of dating-love-marriage that Western/Christian society finds acceptable. But remind ourselves again, “love is love”.
Would my characters be judged for their choices if they were real people making their way in society? More importantly, should they be judged for their choices if they were real people making their way in society?
You be the judge, and let us know your finding.
Emily Hill, AV Harrison Publishing & Promotions
Stalking the author:
Again, “Thanks!” for a fun experience, Shirley.
I’m following your story along with my new ‘Book Boyfriend that you’ve so kindly introduced me to…. Steve Martin!
So…. Back off, Ladies!! He’s mine!
Comments