Fragrance and Love can never be hidden.: #Rodeo Romance

Saturday, December 17, 2016

Prologue and Epilogue—Do They Have a Use? By Connie Vines RR# 12/17/16

Victoria Chatham suggested this topic: Prologue and Epilogue. Do they have a use? Should they be used? Can you have one without the other? This topic was suggested by one of our group, Victoria Chatham. Be sure to check out her blog.

pro·logue ˈprōˌlôɡ/
noun
1. a separate introductory section of a literary or musical work.
"this idea is outlined in the prologue"

It’s an interesting topic. While critique partners and other authors seem to ponder the pros and cons, frequently. I’ve used both in my historical and romantic suspense novels. While my contemporary romance novels have an epilogue so that my readers know it truly is a happily-ever-after story.
My prologues are short and to the point. I have an action event that sets the tone of my romantic suspense novel. I find this effective because it doesn’t leave ‘dead time’ so to speak. I can hop into the action/ skip ahead in time/ or open my story the a different POV.

However, a writer must be selective, I believe. You need to make certain that your story still opens with an inciting moment, perhaps for the hero (Brede, Rodeo Romance, Book 2). Or to set a historical tone for a novel (Whisper upon the Water). Does the prologue change the story? I use my prologue to intensify the emotional connect between my character(s) and my readers.

ep·i·logueˈepəˌlôɡ,ˈepəˌläɡ/
noun
1. a section or speech at the end of a book or play that serves as a comment on or a conclusion to what has happened.

Epilogues tie up all the loose ends. I like to jump forward and show a wedding or have a toddler in the picture. The reader is satisfied, knowing all is well in. Isn’t that what stories are all about?
I also make use of diaries; which, in my experience, editors seem to love or hate. Though in a contemporary novel, I suppose, I would make use of email, twitter, and blog/snapchat.
So, I am pro epilogue, pro prologue. And, I am also, pro Oxford comma!

Happy Holidays!

Connie Vines

Please Blog Hop and see what these participants have to say:

Margaret Fieland http://margaretfieland.wordpress.com
Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea
Dr. Bob Rich http://wp.me/p3Xihq-QS
Marci Baun http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/
A.J. Maguire http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/
Victoria Chatham http://victoriachatham.blogspot.ca
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Rachael Kosinski http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/
Kay Sisk http://kaysisk.blogspot.com
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com

Sunday, March 06, 2016

Brede, Rodeo Romance, Book 2—Sunday Snippet #sundaysnip

This Sunday’s Snippet is from my Contemporary Romantic Suspense novel, “Brede”.

“My head hurts,” she whispered. A sharp, throbbing pain embedded itself in the center of her left temple. She touched her raw fingertips to the tender area, and tried to grasp a fleeting memory. . .of what, she wasn’t certain.

At that moment, a man leaned over her. His eyes reminded her of the ocean; soft blue water reflecting through frosted crystal—sad, lonely eyes.

The warmth from the blankets seeped into her chilled body, but the sound of the pounding rain sent terror crawling through her. She bolted upright, her heart thumping so card she couldn’t catch her breath.

“Lie back down,” the man instructed. “You’ve had some sort of accident.”

Pain lanced through her body and her head. Beneath the wave of pain, she heard the concern in his deep voice, and pressed an unsteady hand to her forehead. “Accident?” Her fear receded, but didn’t go away completely. An accident explained the sharp, pain embedded in her left temple and radiating down the side of her jaw, but it didn’t explain what she was doing here. Here? Where was she? And who was this man standing over her?