The Back Story to a Romance Novel Makes It Even More Interesting!

A really good romance book can be made even better by an interesting back story. Sometimes we are just left to imagine what happened to the main characters either before the book opens or the rest of the day after what was reported in the romance novel. Other times, authors have written books that feel some of the back story in. For example, there are several books about Carrie, the main character in Sex and the City that fills us in about her life before Sex and the City. I’m not sure when they were written, but I think one of them is fairly new and may well have been written after the hit television series.

What I have done in Next Year in Jerusalem! is create a back story that at this point is comprised of letters, e-mails, and texts back and forth between the two main characters, Natalie and Maggie. This correspondence fills you in on more about their lives both present and past.

Here is one example: Dear Maggie,

I think you are really ready for a decent relationship. You know I had mixed feelings about your ex. You didn’t tell me everything in the beginning, but once I realized that he always put you down and belittled you, I begged you to leave. You just weren’t ready. I understand. But now you are free of him and you are ready for that perfect someone. Maybe Gary is that person. I like what you are telling me about him. But just remember that you haven’t been free all that long and just started to date. Maybe there will be other men who interest you also. Psychologists always recommend not committing to a new relationship for at least a year after divorcing. Of course, I’ll love you no matter what you do.

I feel in some ways like I am living out Eat, Pray, Love here in Jerusalem. I’m eating the most amazing food and exploring an unbelievable city at the same time. And the lovemaking hasn’t been bad either. At least when David is around. He is awfully busy. That leaves me on my own to wander. The old city is the most fascinating part of the city, I think. Once you walk into the different sections you are in these endless alleyways that have to be hundreds of years old. They are bazaar areas where goods of every kind are being sold.

IMG_0281 I fell in love with the smells, the fabrics, the jewelry, the foods, even the bags of spices. I can’t wait to bring you adventuring with me. Take a look at my picture! I’m so glad you will be here in a few days. I can’t stand to see all of this without you.

Love,
Natalie

See what I mean? You get a little fuller flavor othe what Natalie is doing before Maggie arrives and also what Maggie’s past was like with her first husband. I’ll be back with more back stories in the next blogs.

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