This week I’m hailing you from the lovely British Columbia Vancouver area. This must be one of the greatest places on earth. It is green, it is cool and the beauty is spectacular. My DH told me it was a whopping 111 at my house today and it’s been at least 110 every day this week. I swear we’re absolutely certifiable for living in a place like that! LOL! Which is the biggest reason I’m here.
I’m visiting a girlfriend whose mother recently died. I had talked about it for years and always wanted to come up as I’d heard it was fantastic. When her mother passed this spring, I just knew I had to visit her then because it would probably be a while before I had another chance as next time I'll have to bring the DH. And it was the best gamble ever. We’ve been able to catch up on things and talk about many new ones as well.
One of our outings was to where the 2010 Olympics are being held, Whistler, which is north of Vancouver and the Squamish area where she lives. It has some astounding places and sites and this darn gondola I just couldn’t bring myself to get on. Yeah, I’m that afraid of being in a box suspended by wires high above the ground. Planes don’t bother me but this thing would have been devastating and taken a minimum of four rides to even be comfortable. A waste of a good $80 if you asked me. LOL!
After that, we went to lunch and sat at the pub having wonderful food and great company as we watched everything around us. As we sat there we talked about how we both liked to people watch. I told her that I would sit there and wonder how a couple ever got together, especially if they didn’t look like they belonged as well as sometimes taking it a little further and projecting them onto characters in my books. Or I’d see if I could make them characters in a book. LOL!
I was surprised to see she did much the same as I did when she watched people and the world go by. Now my final observation was people were basically the same the world over. She’s a little bit older than me and has traveled the world a lot more. She told me it used to be people were different but now they just all seem to blend together. While it’s great that everyone can blend so well together, I am a little dismayed there aren’t a lot of cultural differences any more. I mean what would we do without a sexy Scotsman? Or an endearing Indian? Sigh. I would not have any fun, that’s what would happen in my world.
Now, that brings me to this week’s question and thoughts. How do you as a reader like to see those cultural differences? Do you see the main characters as people who come together in spite of or because of those differences?
And authors, just how do you deal with those differences? Do they even matter to you as a writer?
I know I’ll never live without a Scotsman in my life! I can’t wait to see all your answers!
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28 comments:
I love stories where the main characters end up together in spite of the differences/difficulties. It just seems much more rewarding when they have ahd to overcome something and still end up with their HEAm ya know?
I love conflicting characters that rise above their differences and finally embrace them because of the love they have for one another. Afterall, once they acknowledge what they believe are their issues, suddenly they aren't so important afterall.
Erin Sinclair
"For love that's out of this world!"
www.erinsinclairauthor.com
I don't think that different backgrounds are are real impedement to true love. If it were we would not be the blended culture we are today, it just adds a little drama and intrigue to the plot which keeps things spicy! LOL I speak from experience! ; )~
I like to read stories about different cultures and those ending up in love affairs between those cultues. I think most cultures have the same basic values and that should be what unites the couples.
JOYE
JWIsley (at)aol(dot)com
Watching people come together with or without their differences is always fun. But to see a couple come together and overcome their or learn to share their difference to make their relationship stronger is a joy to be apart of. Their backgrounds can be a big part of their life together making it all the richer in the future.
I also love stories in which the main characters come together despite their differences, but I like it when they don't compromise what makes them different in order to fit in.
And I do love a Scotsman or a sexy Indian myself!
Margay
Nancy,
I absolutely understand what you mean. After all, opposites do attract and I think it is one of the very reasons romance is so popular.
Thanks for stopping by!
Lynn
Erin,
Me too! I just love those conflicting characters. And that's exactly what I'm going to be writing about in my Christmas book this year. One is from the bad side and the other is from the good.
It will be interesting to see who's on top! LOL!
Lynn
Regina,
I agree. Different backgrounds only enhance the romance in most cases. It is so fun to learn about each other and as an author I can explore that in many, many ways.
Thanks for stopping by!
Lynn
JWisely,
Me too! I so love the read about characters who come from two totally different places! It makes life more fun and interesting in my opinion.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Lynn
Stephanie,
Agreed. And as a writer, it is fun to be able to use all their differences to enhance the story.
Thanks for stopping by!
Lynn
Margay,
Doesn't it make it exciting when that happens? As an author, I love putting those differences into play.
And since I live with a Scotsman, I can tell you it is exciting everyday. As far as Indian, I just finished a book with an Indian man and though I played up a different attribute, I would love to explore the differences between India and the US sometime.
Thanks for dropping in!
Lynn
such a good blog!!! loved your pix
Thanks, Moon!
I'm glad you enjoyed them. It is so nice and cool here compared to home. I really like it here and if I could afford a house I know I'd love to stay here for the summers.
Thanks for stopping by!
Lynn
What beautiful pictures Lynn...glad to see you took some time away to enjoy yourself. Those pictures are gorgeous.
Great post. The pictures are beautiful! I just saw a TV preview yesterday about Whistler and the upcoming Olympics. Very nice!
Beautiful pictures, Lynn.
Personally, I think opposites attract--even outside science. The hardest part is the number of compromises necessary to make the conflicting bits work. As I reminded my son just last week, there is no "me" in wed, but you will find "we" there. He and his young wife are having some difficulties, but "we" can work them out. Me is just too divisive.
And that's what happens in my stories, too. Both must have the desire to make it happen. Once that's accomplished, anything is possible.
Watching a relationship develop always takes a blending of two distinct sets of experiences, regardless of culture and background. I do love to see stories where one of the conflicts between protags results from complete different ways of dealing with things (which can be a challenge when the two are from different cultures), and watch the sparks fly and tears fall as they find a way to bridge the experience gap together!
Love BC, straight up I-5 and/or a ferry ride from me, but it's been a while. Need to start planning a trip... Thanks for the inspiring pics and post!
Lynn,
I fine that some couple like to fine a mother figure or father figure as a replacement they didn't have as a child. But it seem to work for some and that all counts in love and romance.
PS. Love the picture here on blog!
Hugs!
Lisa
A.P.,
I think the fun with the pictures was in the taking them! LOL!
Thanks for stopping by!
Lynn
Corina,
Isn't Whistler beautiful? I couldn't believe just how much so as we drove up there.
The village there is fantastic as well and where I took all the photos.
Thanks for stopping by!
Lynn
Gwynlyn,
I absolutely agree about the me and we concept. In a relationship it is never about the me.
Desire is one of the key components when writing or being in a relationship. I try and put as much as possible into each and every book.
Glad you like the pictures...I sure liked taking them. Thanks for stopping by!
Lynn
Stacy,
I fell in love the moment I saw Vancouver. It is one fantastic place and if I were rich, I'm sure I'd have a place somewhere here.
Yes, writing a developing relationship is great fun. I love those type of stories.
Thanks for checking out my pictures and reading my blog!
Lynn
Lisa,
I loved taking the pictures as much as you loved seeing them.
I agree, some stories have the mother/father figure replacement them. Sometimes it works really well, sometimes it doesn't.
Me, I go for the story every time no matter what the ages. Right now, with my elf books, since the elves age differently it can look like they are robbing the cradle. LOL!
Thanks for stopping by!
Lynn
First I am one of those people living in the 100's every day and can I come visit too! lol I have heard Canada is beautiful and one day we will make it up there.
As to the differences and cultures, I like a little something to overcome like say ones a werewolf, the other vampire. Yes those are fantasy but at the same time shows if you really want to be with this person and love them enough, you will. It applys to the real issues in everyday life. If it is too easy, it is a little boring.
Nice blog, Thanks.
Chris,
I so understand about the hot temperatures. I just got lucky enough to have a friend I could stay with here in B.C. and we've had a fantastic time.
I agree with you in fantasy books, the differences are obvious. But with non-paranormal people it is a little harder and one must work at it to have a fulfiling life.
That is one of the reasons that I love writing complex love stories. People must overcome their differences to make it work.
Thanks for stopping by.
Lynn
I love how characters come together in spite of their differences. Contemporary stories don't have the same cultural differences to overcome as we now accept everyone no matter where they come from but historical novels who have characters from drastically different cultures are great to read to see how the characters overcome those obstacles.
And yes, I couldn't live without a sexy Scotsman.
The hanging flower basket is beautiful.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
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