HEA Canada: A CanLit Romance Hub
For the love of Romancelandia, Canada
By Catherine, HEA Canada Did You Know? The easiest way you can support an author is by posting a review of their book. I don’t even mean that you should have a social media account dedicated to reviews, I mean just popping onto the website of a bookseller or review platform and posting just a… Continue reading You gonna review that? A copy+paste list of reviews to support the authors of the books we love
But “your characters’ identities are such that romance readers won’t want to read about them, and romance publishers won’t want to buy a book about them?” That’s not fixable. I didn’t want to fix it. It’s one thing to hear “your book’s not that good.” It’s quite another to hear “your book’s great! But peasants don’t sell.” That, to me, is not acceptable.
By Lindsey-Anne Pontes, AuthorFind her on Instagram! Being slapped with the IEP (Individual Education Plan) label in elementary school put you in a “special” category, and this label followed me into high school. Though my IEP was for Reading and Writing and was given to me because I needed extra time when it came to… Continue reading Lindsey-Anne Pontes: From IEP (Individual Education Plan) to Self-Published Author
Remember when times were precedented? Yeah, me neither, but let’s assume there was a moment. The world needs stories of all kinds. If you’re struggling to keep writing in unprecedented times, here are a few strategies that might help.
One unique feature of Bloo Moose is the life-sized moose statues that grace the boardwalk and businesses. Deputy Mooris hangs out at the police station. Elvis likes the view from the boardwalk. Michelangelo sports a cheesy moustache in front of Fortini’s Italian restaurant. Gill with his fishing gear and lures poses in front of Lachance Fishing lodge.
How do you make a story interesting, raise the stakes, and make the journey worthwhile when the map is already laid out for you? When the beats - the set up, meet cute, turning points, crisis, and resolution - are so ingrained into the modern reader they know without knowing what to expect and when to expect it. As someone who - illogically, misguidedly - decided to take that leap, I am here to tell you, it’s not easy. First, writing a novel means coming up with names. So. Many. Names!
What is it about the familiar that is so comforting? Romances are already comforting with zero stress about how they will end. Yet there’s an extra layer of happiness for me if the romance is set in Canada.
As a writer, I adore writing banter, not just between my hero and heroines, but between the FMCs themselves. All of the Everwell Spinsters are unique women, with distinct personalities. They have to rely on and work with each other. And like a family, sometimes they get on each other’s nerves. But they are also there for each other.
Personally, I think we need romance books more than ever these days. We need books that depict healthy, thriving relationships–not just between the central characters, but between the friends and communities featured. We need more love in this world, not less. We need to embrace vulnerability and authenticity. We need hope.
We may be at the very very beginning of 2025, but I’m declaring it my year of scheming. It’s my year of making all the plans and doing all the things I want.
HEA Canada: A CanLit Romance Hub 