Recently I was reminded of the power of friendship when I held a live/video Facebook party to celebrate a new release. I was a little concerned that no one would show up live, and I’d be there for the specified thirty minutes all alone.
But my friends came to the rescue. I wasn’t alone! When I ran out of things to say with ten minutes left they stepped in and asked questions to keep the party moving. I am so grateful for my readers and friends who rescued me!
Friendships in fiction are extremely important. They help keep the story moving along, much like my friends helped my party move along. Friends also help us get to know the main characters better. When I think about Hallmark movies there is always a best friend. There is usually one in inspirational romance books too.
I’m reminded of Kayla and Jill’s friendship in A Love Song For Kayla. Those women needed each other and came to one another’s rescue more than once. They supported each other and stood up for each other. In a way their friendship reminds me of how our relationship with Jesus can be. We can talk to Him and share our deepest darkest secrets, ask Him for advice, or simply just be in His presence. Even if we have no friends on earth He will be our friend, and there is no better friend than Jesus.
What book have you read recently that demonstrated the power of friendship?
Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance, romantic mystery, and romantic suspense that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
I am reading the Alexander Seaton books by Shona Maclean. The main character has very strong friendship ties.
As I haven’t read a lot recently I will go back to the relationships in the Sisterchick books by Robin Jones Gunn. I love the friendship in the books.
Match Made in Heaven where Dane’s best friend was his grandfather!
Also Annie Seaton’s books set in outback Australia, where distance can strengthen or shatter friendships.
I realize that this reference is a little out of place, but it was a big part of my reading as a teen. Sherlock Holmes and John Watson had one of the most enduring and even endearing friendships in literary history. Granted, Holmes could be a difficult man to get to know but Watson’s faithful concern and respect got Holmes to open up and enjoy his companionship. When Watson got married, Holmes felt the loss. When Holmes was thought to have died tumbling over the Reichenbach Falls, Watson mourned him like a brother. I guess those stories meant so much to me because those few, close and deep types of friendship are what I most enjoy. Casual friends are welcome and appreciated but close friends are gold.
I’ve read quite a few, but ones that really stick out are the ones in The Tales of the Grace Chapel Inn. Some of the friendships in those books are as old as the people, and some are just days to weeks, yet they go the gamut of emotions. Also, a book I’m proofing now, as it shows how shallow some friendships can be, when the two people who call themselves best friends really don’t know each other’s deepest thoughts and fears. They’d talked of things, but had stayed to the surface, and while one of them is a Christian, the other is not, at least as far as I am in the book, though I do know that changes! Lol! Still, it seems that the characters that are Christians expect the one who is saying he’s an atheist to know what they mean with “Christian words” yet haven’t really taken the time to make sure he does, if that makes sense. We assume because we know the meanings of words, that others do, too, and know what to do, when in actuality, they don’t understand that you can’t do it on your own, you have to ask God to help you, and we leave that part out, thinking it’s understood.
Have you found that the strong ties help you enjoy the story more, Mary?
Those are such great books!
I love reading generational friendships. :)
It’s true we have a Christian vocabulary that those not familiar with it are unlikely to understand. I try very hard when writing to not use those kind of words.
It’s not out of place to me. Holmes and Watson are an excellent example of true friendship.
Though I have not read any of those books I have enjoyed movies and TV shows with those characters. They are a favorite of mine.
I’ve read a lot of books lately with a best friend, as I usually read romances, and they tend to have a best friend character. The most recent one I read was this delightful, humorous, 5-star-worthy book by Patty H. Scott, one of my online friends — friendships are important! It’s called Love’s Second Chance. Katrina needs her best friend Patrice to support her decisions and talk out her conflicting emotions. It’s great!
I also made sure I included a best friend character in my contemporary romance series. Her name is April, and she is modeled after my best friend Heather, so sweet and a great listener. I think we all need a good friend like that.
Dianne, I’m so glad you enjoyed that friendship! I did, too!
Great topic! I’m in the draft stage for my new series and in the first book I realized something was missing with the heroine. She’s strong and independent, but I need her to be likeable and vulnerable. Reading it over I realized she’s missing a best friend.
Yes we certainly need a friend like that, Lila. :)
Isn’t it amazing how something as simple as a friend can make such a difference in a story and in life.
A Mosaic of Wings by Kimberly Duffy was the recent book I read with friendships.
I, too, enjoyed the Tales of Grace Chapel Inn and the friendships in them.
Some of my favorites! I’ve read most of them more than once!
I just finished a Regency book where the heroine was friends with her ladies companion (kind of like a ladies maid). Margaret’s (the heroine) companion Miss Filbert was an older and much wiser lady who helped guide her in all things. Not that Margaret listened to her all the time, lol!
I’ve also read book series that feature a group of friends who have each others backs…I think of Becky Wade with her Bradford Sister series. Though they are sisters, they are also great friends plus the people in their lives who have been part of their family for a long time. I love seeing a strong bond of friendship in books, it really endures me to the characters. :-)
After reading some of the other comments, another author came to mind. Becky Doughty has two series based around sisters. The Gustafson Girls, 4 books, complete series, centers on the special bonds between the sisters and tells the story of how their friendships grew and deepened as they faced their struggles and found their special someones. She also has the Seven Virtues Ranch series, 5 of the 7 stories available, about a family of a father and seven daughters named for the classical virtues. The bonds of friendship between the sisters play a major role as well as the relationships of extended family and the small town community of Plumwood Hollow, KY. I have really enjoyed both series. BTW, Becky Doughty is also the narrator for Valerie Comer’s Farm Fresh audio books, among many others.
Isn’t it amazing how seeing the characters’ relationships draws us to them?
Thanks for these additions, Lincoln.
And, silly me, I just finished your Sun River series with friendships woven all through it. :)
LOL. Thanks for reading it. I hope you enjoyed the stories.
Absolutely!
Yay!