February Love

Jennifer talks about love...

February is the month of love.

Okay, maybe not. But with the push every holiday gets, Valentine’s Day takes on a huge role in stores—flower shops, chocolate and candy stores, jewelry stores and any other store that can come up with something suitable for your sweetie.

As a romance author, it takes on special significance, too. Because everything I write has to do with love. In my stories, love overcomes everything—horrible parents, rough backgrounds, difficult career decisions, physical and mental and emotional scars. No matter what happens, ultimately, love wins.

In books, love is often demonstrated with grand gestures. But in real life, love is often the simple, almost unnoticed, things. It could be a tone of voice or a touch. But it doesn’t even have to be romantic. This year, my husband is away for Valentine’s Day, so we won’t be celebrating. But he shows me his love all the time in things he does for me and by the support he offers me.

As a writer, I try to remember that when I show how my characters express their love for each other. It’s not always the “I love you” moment. Sometimes it’s more subtle than that. However their love is demonstrated, by the end of the book, the hero and heroine go off to live their “happily ever after.”

So, for those of you who write, remember the big and small “love moments.” And for those of you who read, I wish you your very own “happily ever after,” however that may be expressed.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Dracula

While most people will be fixated on hearts and flowers and romance today, I'm going to take a different look at February 14 with a topic near and dear to my heart: vampires. To be specific, the most famous vampire of all.

It was today in 1931 that Bela Lugosi orginally took to the screen in the premiere of Dracula. The story itself had been around for ages, but Lugosi's film interpretation became instantly iconic. Even those who aren't fans of the vampire genre are familiar with his classic look and the name. In my upcoming novella The Vampire and the Vixen, my hero Rafe dresses as Dracula for a Halloween party. It was fun to recreate Lugosi's iconic look for Rafe: Flowing black cape with a high collar. White vest over a white tuxedo shirt with a white bowtie at the neck. The famous gold medallion. I even gave him some fangs. It leads my heroine to wonder if perhaps Rafe is a real vampire: not just dressed as one for Halloween.

Over the years, other film makers have also interpreted Bram Stoker's famous novel. Most have featured well-known actors in the title role.

In 1974 a tv version starred Jack Palance. Almost a household name when it comes to horror.

My first experience with a movie version of Dracula came in 1992 when my boyfriend at the time took me to see Gary Oldman play the part. Back then, I didn't know who Gary Oldman was (I'm more familiar with his work now.), but I did enjoy the movie. We saw it at a historic theatre with red velvet curtains, (padded) wooden seats, ornate decorative scrollwork, murals on the walls, and a tin ceiling. The setting couldn't have been more perfect.

In 2000 another version came out, aptly titled Dracula 2000. This has always been on my list of movies to see as I am intrigued about the plot tie-in to Judas Iscariot and those pieces of silver earned for betraying Jesus. However, I've never gotten around to seeing it. Although since I recently discovered that it's Gerard Butler playing the title role, I'm going to have to make an effort to move it up in the que. He's yummy: I'd let him bite my neck anytime.

I guess in a way having Dracula's original movie debut on Valentine's Day makes sense. For all the legends of blood and gore associated with these powerful creatures of the night, they are just as often thought of as dashing, romantic characters.

Until next time,

Happy Reading!

Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com