Comments on: Mormon “Home Literature” and Romantic Fiction http://mormonrenaissance.org/2008/04/24/mormon-home-literature-and-romantic-fiction/ Critical Conversations to Redeem and Perfect Mormon Arts Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:39:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: L.M. Steen http://mormonrenaissance.org/2008/04/24/mormon-home-literature-and-romantic-fiction/#comment-170 L.M. Steen Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:37:13 +0000 http://mormonrenaissance.org/2008/04/24/mormon-home-literature-and-romantic-fiction/#comment-170 As a new writer of an old subject, I'm convinced that the romance genre, even in it's finest form, seems to be something we need as humans. The Bible is full of love stories whether good or bad. Our lives are pointed toward it and the Lord instituted the feelings between a man and a woman right from the Garden. To say that such feelings shouldn't or don't exist seems to be contrary to the human necessity of being loved. Also something we have been given by our Father. The solution might be to have well-written novels that acknowledge the need to be loved, the need to be touched, and the practical needs in life that we all face, while drawing from a deeper well within the reader that reflects the spirit in all things. A huge difference exists, however, in the general market versus the LDS market. My novel, as that of other LDS writers of "romance", does not associate the use of blatant sexual content. To do so confuses the lines between real romance and loving, which should continue after marriage, through marriage, and stay with us in the hereafter. That, and the laughter. That said, we then need the Steinbecks to write the books. Men and women who are far better trained than this older woman who writes what she's seen in life. Add to that a generation that has been raised to appreciate a good book and actually read it. As a new writer of an old subject, I’m convinced that the romance genre, even in it’s finest form, seems to be something we need as humans. The Bible is full of love stories whether good or bad. Our lives are pointed toward it and the Lord instituted the feelings between a man and a woman right from the Garden. To say that such feelings shouldn’t or don’t exist seems to be contrary to the human necessity of being loved. Also something we have been given by our Father.

The solution might be to have well-written novels that acknowledge the need to be loved, the need to be touched, and the practical needs in life that we all face, while drawing from a deeper well within the reader that reflects the spirit in all things.

A huge difference exists, however, in the general market versus the LDS market. My novel, as that of other LDS writers of “romance”, does not associate the use of blatant sexual content. To do so confuses the lines between real romance and loving, which should continue after marriage, through marriage, and stay with us in the hereafter. That, and the laughter.

That said, we then need the Steinbecks to write the books. Men and women who are far better trained than this older woman who writes what she’s seen in life. Add to that a generation that has been raised to appreciate a good book and actually read it.

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