Chapter One
When it comes to books, I’ll gladly read anything and everything, but my favorite will always be novels, especially in the romance genre. I adore spending time turning the pages, letting my heart race as I wonder how each love story will play out.
However, when tales of love turn tragic, I’m not so fond of them. I understand there’s demand for such stories; a number of people definitely like them. And indeed, they do have a certain dramatic flair that stirs up emotion. The leads fall in love, reach out their hands to one another, their happy union all but certain—only to be cruelly ripped apart. It leaves you shaken to your core. I can fully understand why a reader would fangirl over that.
Still, I would rather close a book with a feeling of joy. To be satisfied knowing that the couple overcame every twist and turn, then finally found their happiness. I don’t mind how much heartache and struggle it takes to get there, as long as that reward comes at the very, very end.
As such, I invariably avoidedwriting any tragic love stories.
I insisted as much to my editor. In today’s meeting, he had suggested I go in a slightly different direction, but I’d firmly refused with a shake of my head. “A tale of blighted love? No! The central pairhave to live happily ever after. When I write, I always have the steadfast intention of giving them that. It’s my driving force. I’d never be able to write knowing they won’t end up together!”
“I’m not saying ithas to be a tragic tearjerker. You can try whatever you like.” Frowning awkwardly, my editor—Paul Satie, the head of Satie Publishing—presented a bundle of envelopes. “But some of the readers have been saying it too. You’ve been repeating the same kinds of plot twists lately, and they’re getting bored.”
A strained noise escaped my throat.
“If most of your readers are looking for a happy ending, then in principle, there’s nothing wrong with giving it to them. But happiness can come in different forms. If you don’t try to explore those facets, people will grow tired of
