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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Moonlighting Curse: To Believe or Not To Believe
Happy Tuesday, D. D. Scott-ville!
Every romance writer has a choice to make...with each book or series...and with each Hero and Heroine. And that choice is:
"Will They? Or Won't They?"
As in...will they become a couple and complete that part of their romance...or won't they resolve that part of their relationship journey...then continue that quest in the next book, if a series, and keep the reader guessing...and in some cases, guessing...and guessing...and guessing.
So...while I'm writing my new Stephanie Plum-Wanna Be, Cozy Cash Mysteries Heroine - Zoey Witherspoon - "will she" or "won't she" hook up with her Hero Roman Bellesconi?
I'll tell y'all, right up front, that, as a writer, I tend to lean far, far away from The Moonlighting Curse...
Not familiar with The Moonlighting Curse?
Here's the scoop:
The popular '80s series that starred Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd sizzled in the ratings, until the two of them sizzled in the bedroom in the 14th episode of season three. After that, the ratings took a steep nosedive and the show never recovered.
Denise Warner, The 'Moonlighting' Effect: Is That Why 'Bones' Refuses to Pair Leads Romantically?
And Bones isn't the only hot TV show where writers and producers battle the "Will They? Won't They?" of The Moonlighting Curse. Take this fabulous article last month in TV Guide regarding one of my all-time fave, quirky crime procedural dramedies Castle
Castle Exclusive: Inside TV's Hottest Romance
Castle's Creator and Executive Producer Andrew Marlowe had this to say about the studios' fears of The Moonlighting Curse:
Everyone talks about the Moonlighting Curse...Will they or won't they? [The resounding answer] They will. I'm absolutely convinced there's quality storytelling to be had after they get together. Anybody who's been in a relationship knows that they have complexities and compromises. There's plenty of stuff to mine.
And Marlowe certainly knows all about that relationship stuff to mine as he's been married since 1997 to fellow Castle writer Terri Miller.
Like Castle's Marlowe and Miller, then, my Cozy Cash Mysteries Hero and Heroine are sooo not goin' the Stephanie Plum relationship route of Morelli vs Ranger, Ranger vs Morelli, to infinity and beyond.
No way!
My Zoey is gonna have her hands - full for books and books and books - dealing with all Roman's secrets, but dammit if she doesn't fall for the guy, and wayyy beyond just fallin' into his bed...
I'm an Andrew Marlowe-style writer through and through...who says, like him, "I'm as impatient as the fans when it comes to the relationship."
In D. D. Scott-ville, The Moonlighting Curse can take a big 'ole hike!
'Cause yeah, my Rachel Zoe-esque Zoey Witherspoon and her super-hot Hero Roman Bellesconi have their own "Castle"s to explore and conquer...lit-er-a-lly.
And their love, trust, and rock-solid relationship are the only things keeping 'em happy...oh, and keeping 'em alive too.
Sexy Sassy Smart Moonlighting Curse be Damned Wishes --- D. D. ScottLabels: Being a Gutsy Romance Writer Girl, The Moonlighting Curse, Writing Theories
14 Comments:
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YES! Moonlighting curse be damned! When I read a book, I pick it up b/c I want the heroine/hero to get together. I love how they have the chemistry and they will help eachother out! WTG!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY,SOUL SISTER!!!
I think we all love a good hook up. But you still have to keep the story interesting afterwords, or suffer the Moonlighting curse!!!
Happy Birthday D.D.!
I agree with Tonya; I definitely want the hero and heroine to get together, but of course I enjoy the tension leading up to it. Great post!
I think tv and culture has evolved since Moonlighting... like Tonya said, a reader picks up expecting the two to get together.
So the curse is dead.
Long live Zoe & Roman!
Me too, Soul Sister...I must have my Hero and Heroine "a couple" by The End, both in the sack and outta the sack too!
No dying-off or leavin' me hangin'...or I get wayyy peeved!
LOL!
And thanks a ton for the fab B-Day Wishes!!!
Great points, C.G.!
Ohhh yeahh on the fabulous hook-up but then u gotta keep on hookin' your readers every page and every chapter 'til The End...then maybe hookin' 'em on the next book to come too!!!
And thanks bunches for the B-Day Wishes!!! You rock!!!
Ohhh yeahhh to the tension between the H and h and tons of it, Pam!!!
Tickled you enjoyed my post!
Cheers and welcome to D. D. Scott-ville!!!
Yippeee, Pamela!
Ding-dong the wicked Moonlighting Curse is dead!!!
Here's a toast to you, and Zoey and Roman too!!!
I just want to get this out there, I love Castle! lol
That said, I have to say did you actually WATCH Moonlighting? My mom did and it didn't have much going for it...lol
I'm so glad you're not going to have them wait.I want romance now.
The best will be how they live and work with their romance, that's where the conflict will be, but again, I want that romance now.
Don't make me wait till the end of the book for that romance either.
So how long do I have to wait for this book?
I love the chemistry that develops between your hero & heroine-----it keeps the story interesting, especially when you tease us a little at the beginning. You must, though, keep it intriguing ALL the way through to hold your readers' interests.
Yay, Elizabeth!!!
Another CASTLE fan!!!
Okay...now regarding Moonlighting, I have seen a couple episodes...but never watched the entire collection. It was nooo CASTLE, imho.
Welcome to D. D. Scott-ville! I'm sooo thrilled you're here!!!
Me too on the 'I want romance now', Dru!
Ohhh, trust me, Dru, Zoey and Roman are sizzlin' hot together from Chapter One...and talk about some continuously crankin' up the heat sexual tension! I'm damn near worn-out just writing about it! LOL!
THUG GUARD will hit Kindle and Smashwords shelves on or around May 16th! So not much longer, Dru!
And all told, you'll get three Cozy Cash Mysteries this year, featuring Zoey and Roman...plus a Christmas Novella in our Nake Hero Christmas Anthology too!
Ohhh they'll be tons of intrigue and sexual chemistry build in the Cozy Cash Mysteries, Jaw!
No worries...LOL!
You'll be on the edge of your seat and wanting more from THUG GUARD's page one...to infinity and beyond.
I can't wait to get in my chair each morning and see where Zoey and Roman take me next!!!