As I type this, things are slowly opening up in Ohio. I went to the post office yesterday to mail a book and discovered a new normal. Everyone in line practiced social distancing. Everyone in the customer line wore masks. A sheet of plexiglass hung from the ceiling, creating a barrier between the customer and the postal worker. It’s a very different world than when I was last there in March.
There’s a lot I’ve thought about during this season, and one question I’ve pondered is what impact, if any, will the Coronavirus have on romance books, specifically, inspy romance? After 9/11, it took me time to want to read anything that used that day and NYC as a plot and setting. It was too real, too close, too soon. I still haven’t watched any movies about it. However, in time, I started reading titles that featured the tragedy in some ways. Karen Kingsbury’s work comes to mind.
What about now? Are you ready to read about anything that comes close to what the past few months have been like for you?
I tried to think of plots we might see in the near future.
–A nurse treating a patient suspected of having the virus when little is known.
-A former couple reuniting when one is a doctor and the other is a family member of a critically ill patient.
-A news reporter and a health official assigned to give daily briefings clash and fall in love.
-College BFF’s together to celebrate an engagement when stay-at-home is enforcecd and one BFF has to live with the other and her family, including the brother who seems to always be in the way.
-An Army Reserves officer meets a food pantry worker who wants to help everyone to the point of endangering herself.
-Sparks fly online when a student needs tech support during isolation.
-Celebrity musician crashes a Zoom gathering and falls for one of the viewers.
That’s just rough thinking off the top of my head. I’d love to read the plot ideas you think might become books. IR authors, maybe you’re already outlining that book!
The question is, are you ready to read them? I mentioned to my husband the last thing I’d want to pick up right now is Dystopian, that feels too real right now. It wouldn’t be relaxing or entertaining to me. Yet I’ve read where some readers aren’t interested in romance right now. That seems to be the one genre I really want to read more than ever. I like the escape. But am I ready to see Covid-19 mentioned in these books? I’m not sure.
Let’s talk!
Share your thoughts. Are you ready to see anything related to the pandemic in romance yet? I’d love for you to take the poll and leave your comments.
Image: Pixabay
Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to surrender the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of ENTRUSTED: Surrendering the Present, as well as ENTANGLED: Surrendering the Past. The last book in the series, ENGAGED: Surrendering the Future, is coming soon. She also shares her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. She also blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read. She resides in Ohio with her husband, two children, and chocolate stash. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com.
I am in the ‘I’m not sure camp’. It’s still ongoing.
I’ve offered the following in previous comments:
We need a romantic comedy about a young single woman whose married friends are all infecting each other. She’s healthy and winds up helping a handsome and conveniently single doctor at an impromptu recovery center while caring for her friends. She’s shy and a little klutzy but loving and true of heart. He’s socially awkward with a bedside manner to match. Neither appears to be susceptible to the virus so they become their own dynamic duo. That ought to have some potential, don’t you think?
I know there are historical books that feature the Spanish Flu so am sure this will be in books. I am not ready for it as I think there is so much yet to come. The problem with a book right now it would need to either start before this started or be a very short time span cos we don’t know what is to come.
One scenario for a current book could be 2 singles meet on a cruise only to be isolated in there own cabins but keep each other sane via phone, internet etc and disembark to find they are both clear.
But right now I need things I don’t need to think in (hence the reason I am rewatching Stargate SG1)
Hi Julie! Interesting question. Presently I am not reading much. Of course spring is in the air, so I am spending time outdoors. Taking walks, bird watching in my back yard, people watching in my front yard. Since the grandkids live nearby and have been staying home and couldn’t go to our neighborhood public park; they often rode their bikes to come swing, slide and play on our fort. Their uncle Nate after loosing his job in Texas moved back home and the kids enjoy playing with him, which gives our oldest son Matt working from home a break.
I voted, I am not sure. Our middle son Jon is going through a divorce during this unprecedented time. My prayer would be that his soon to be ex-wife would have a change of heart for the sake of their three year old daughter and since his ex-wife’s sister Megan had the virus. Megan was quarantined for 5 weeks in master bedroom suite. Megan posted video clips about her experience with Covid 19. Megan had no contact with her family and her two children for six weeks. So a second chance romance. As someone state above, the couple most likely would need to already know each other. Would have to court via social media. Unless they were an essential worker. You did state some interesting plot ideas. Best wishes.
I just read Port of Origin by Lynn Gentry and Lisa Harris. It hit pretty close to home with an unknown virus on a Mercy Ship. I find myself leaning towards romantic suspense. I have a lot of concerns at this time regarding children and families and the closing down of schools. This time has also meant that so many of our elderly are alone in long term care homes. So many die alone. Photos are not allowed in hospitals or homes, yet Jesus touched lepers. Perhaps a story called The Healing Power of Touch. Imagine a single mom with 2 or 3 kids who need to learn online. I do not think she would have the time or energy for romance…”Just one more day….” and then we have stories of racism by authority figures….so much anger and fear…is there any room for hope and love?
I’m already ready, as long as the topics aren’t too heavy. I follow a sweet romance author, Lorin Grace, who included us fans in her writing process for a romance in real-time during the pandemic. It’s called
A Little Clean Fun, and it’s available in the Kindle store for only 99 cents right now.
(my Amazon affiliate link is: https://amzn.to/36QriRt)
I’ve read 3 of them. I enjoyed them because they have poked fun at some of the crazy aspects of this time. A Little Clean Fun by Lorin Grace also noted some of the hard day to day parts like a grandma dying, and an ex with COVID but it didn’t get in the real gritty. Let’s face it -it’s an escape book -looking at things in a humorous light and gently poking fun at what we are living through. It’s important to our attitude to be able to step back from the hard stuff and find humor in the daily foibles. Isn’t that what Jane Austen was a pro at?
Hi Julie, great post! I think romance books during this time would give hope. When I was first sent home to work from home, I read Contagion and Pandemic and a few other fiction stories regarding this. I could point out and say yes, that’s what’s happening. Or, no, that’s not quite right. But COVID-19 has affected so many people in so many different ways. Some are essential workers and having to work in this. Some are working from home and only going out when absolutely necessary but still have their families at home with them. Some are single or live alone. Some act like nothing is going on. I think stories filled with faith, hope, and love are good at any time, and if they include what we are going through right now, and done right, they can offer peace and hope at a time where there seems to be short supply.
I agree. I think I would need a little more time before I read a story that hits so close to us all. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I’d read it!
I agree with you, AusJenny. I do love that cruise plot, though!
The challenges your family is going through makes a real case why I think waiting is best. It’s too raw for so many. I think the plot ideas lend to great reading and chances for readers to surrender some issues God is nudging them on, I think we need some time. I appreciate you sharing.
I love romantic suspense, that’s always a good escape for me. I love your ideas. There are so many real-time challenges around us that in time lend to great fiction that could transform lives.
I’m definitely not ready! I do have a book in my TBR stack about a pandemic, though not this one! It was published in 2018. I checked before I hit “buy.” It was also free, but I still wouldn’t have gotten it if it was written this year. I’m not too sure I want to read it, though it did sound good, so it’s in my TBR stack, and who knows when I’ll actually get around to reading it! I have so many in that, it’s going to take me a long time to get through it!! Still, as my oldest sister says, she and I aren’t happy if we don’t have a stack of books waiting for us to get to them!
I was aware some pandemic books were out there, but sadly they appeared to be not at all clean romances. I’m glad to know other genres are able to share their work so soon.
That’s a great perspective, Wren. I think humor makes all the difference. I know for me I had to back off Karen Kingsbury because the conflict in her oooks were so good that it was too much for me, and not an escape. It took me years before I read her series about 9/11.
Sally, that’s another great perspective. As an author, that’s what I want, to offer hope and for the readers to find freedom in Christ through surrender. As a reader, I remember some romances, and I referenced Karen Kingsbury in my last comment, her conflict was so good that it wasn’t entertaining for me. I look forward to seeing what God does with this season and His writers.
Trudy,
Things are opening up here, so I think in time I could tackle reading it. But to be in siolation reading about it would be hard for me. I think a lot of great books are coming that will use this season well. I’m not quite ready to read about the harsher aspects of it all. The romantic opportunities, for sure. :)
I like the scenarios you mentioned, so if the pandemic was like a background thing, I could handle it. If the pandemic is the main focus, no!!
Eventually, but not yet. It’s too soon.
I totally agree, Trudy!
I agree, Laurie.
Not sureyet, but you have interesting ideas for plots! Never considered it before but how do you meet someone and progress the relationship without touching?
I’m not sure if I would or not. I think it would depend on how prominent it figured into the story. At this point I’d rather read something to escape instead of reading something that reflects what’s currently going on.
No, I don’t want to read about it. I’m living in it so I want something to make me forget for awhile.
I was thinking maybe its a romance that’s already started and they are planning a wedding when all this happens and can only have a few people and part of it could be working out who to actually have at the wedding and planning ways to celebrate in a different way.
Dianne,
I’m not sure, and I think it would be a wonderful challenge to tackle!
Megan, that’s pretty much where I’m at. My reading time has doubled because I walked away from the news.
I definitely understand, Lucy. Thanks for sharing!
I love it! You should write this down…:)