I did some research recently on romance and love letters for Valentine’s Day. The resulting article will come out in this month’s issue of The Samhellion, due out on 15 February.
One of the suggestions to keep the romance alive between a couple was to write love letters and put them in the mail. I don’t know about you, but I don’t write many letters. Heck, I’m lucky if I manage to organize birthday and Christmas cards. Part of it is the expense – those cards cost a fortune and postage costs quite a bit these days – and the other part is the element of time. Oh, and writing by hand is hard on my wrists.
I think I’ve received one love letter and it was when I was at high school. I was actually horrified because the boy wrote that he loved me, and I knew that couldn’t be true. We hardly knew each other. It was the school holidays and when school went back he’d moved on. My feelings weren’t hurt so that couldn’t be love either. Actually, looking back I think he was gutsy to write me a letter.
My husband might write a card or a note now and then. He’s actually more likely to tell me he loves me than write a letter.
My free story The Important Things is available tomorrow as part of The Sahmellion’s Valentine’s Day promotion. You can download your free copy here.
And in writing news, I’ve signed contracts for two new stories with Ellora’s Cave – Currents Run Deep and Lynx to the Pharaoh. They’re both shifter stories and are rewrites of older stories where I’ve regained the rights. I’m not sure of release dates as yet. Watch this space.
Are you a letter writer? Do you write love letters? Have you received love letters? Do you think this is a good way to keep the romance alive in a relationship?
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Congrats on the new contracts!
I’m not a letter writer, especially now that there’s such a thing as e-mail. I’ve never written a love letter (or received one for that matter) though I think they can definitely be important to a romance.
The hubby and I were watching a reality show the other day. I can’t remember the name of it, but the theme is that a worthy family gets sent on vacation and while they’re gone, a team of contractors, workers, interior designers comes in and totally remodels their house. Last week it was a guy who’d been wounded in Iraq, then came back to the States and had his house demolished by a tornado. His wife had a box of love letters spanning from the time they’d been in highschool together, plus the ones he’d written to her every day while in Iraq (never knowing if it’d be the last letter). I admit, I found that totally romantic.
by Jory Strong February 6th, 2009 at 8:41 amI write letters every now and then to my mother. I’m more of a card person. I send cards for everything. About love letters, I have to admit I don’t write them nor does my husband. I think the last time I got a love letter was when we first got together. Jr had done something to upset me. He sat down and wrote me the sweetest letter, that was over 5 years ago. I would rather him do the dishes then write me a love letter. This is romance to me.
by Roberta Harwell February 6th, 2009 at 9:30 amGood post, Shelley! I do write love letters to my sweetheart at times. (I even posted an idea about doing this for a Valentine on my blog the other day.) But I find it harder and harder lately. And email is so much easier. We sometimes write love poems back and forth to each other via email. Overly romantic, I know– but hey, we are both incurable romantics at heart.
by Kaye Manro February 6th, 2009 at 10:42 amI write letters about 6 times a year; to aunts, great-aunts, my niece & my namesake. However, I don’t think I’ve even given a V-day card to my SO. And the same goes for him. He’s more of a deeds guy. A few years ago, he unexpectedly got me a present for Valentine’s Day; a manga drawing book. I’m sure that doesn’t seem very romantic to most people but it was such a perfect present. It said more about how he loves me than a baker’s dozen of red roses.
by Arlene February 6th, 2009 at 1:03 pmJory – I have to agree. I find a pile of old love letters very romantic. With our modern methods of communication, we’re losing a valuable way of connecting with friends and family.
Roberta – I value the little things my husband does for me such as a cup of tea in the morning or arriving at home with a block of chocolate or some fresh fruit just because he thinks I’ll enjoy it. You’re right. That’s romance and makes me feel really special. Doing the dishes is definitely romantic.
by Shelley Munro February 6th, 2009 at 3:04 pmKaye – I think it’s lovely that you write letters and cards to each other. To me romance isn’t the large gestures that cost money but the small things that take place every day. One small thing can really brighten a woman’s day.
Arlene – I think that’s wonderful. The gift of a manga drawing book says he pays attention to the things you like. That’s very romantic and you should keep him.
by Shelley Munro February 6th, 2009 at 3:07 pmI’ve written one or two in my life. My hubby writes wonderful notes whenever he gives me a card. We don’t give them to each other on holidays so a card is usually a “just because” thing, which makes it even more special.
Letter writing is a lost art form.
by N.J. Walters February 6th, 2009 at 3:23 pmBlessings,
by Rhonda Barnes February 6th, 2009 at 4:15 pmRhonda
Yay, new (to me) books! I read your free read and it’s fabulous but you wrote so I’d expect nothing less.
by Amy W. February 6th, 2009 at 6:05 pmAs to the love letters, Will was station on a carrier early in our marriage and I was station on base so we had moths apart where all we did was write love letters to each other with the occasional international phone call thrown in when he was in port. It was fabulously romantic because he had to really think about what he wanted to say and write it down for me. I miss those letters. Sigh. Maybe I’ll have to go dig them out for a reread.
Hugs!
I do not write too many letters. We have the internet now. I takes over. I like The Samhellion
by Debby February 7th, 2009 at 4:55 amNJ – letter writing is definitely becoming a lost art. We’re all about speed and efficiency in this century.
Rhonda – 29 years? That’s great. Hubby and I are 27 years this year. I don’t know where the time was gone. It just seems like yesterday when we were married.
by Shelley Munro February 7th, 2009 at 12:46 pmAmy – I’m so glad you enjoyed the short story. This short story was the very first thing I entered into a contest when I started writing. I received a highly commended. This version is much edited, although the plot is the same.
I’m envious of those love letters. I fine it very romantic even though I’ve never thought of doing it myself.
Debby – I enjoy the Samhellion too. The ladies who organize us all to write stories and articles do a wonderful job. They also have a blog. And I agree about the Internet. It might have brought us all closer together but it’s changed the way we do it.
by Shelley Munro February 7th, 2009 at 12:50 pmErrrr. I think I’ll stick with my own love letters, such as they are.
Free read? Thank you!
by Alice Audrey February 7th, 2009 at 6:42 pmHi Shelley!
Mr. C works nights, so I write him small notes and put them in his lunchbox. That way they stay personal and he can slip them down inside. :) We’ve been together for a little over 20 years now and it has been something that works for us.
I have to say, I always love stopping by your blog. You have such cool topics! :)
Thanks,
by Colleen Love February 7th, 2009 at 9:54 pmColleen
Hi, Shelley! Definitely enjoyed your story! I don’t write often anymore, but I do have a few special cards from my husband that I’ve kept. :) Congrats on the new contracts! Yay for us!
by Fedora February 7th, 2009 at 10:31 pmAlice – I hope you enjoy the short stories.
Colleen – that’s a neat thing to do.
I’m glad you enjoy visiting my blog!
Fedora – Thank you! A new sale is always exciting.
by Shelley Munro February 8th, 2009 at 1:03 amYou might try writing out little messages on index cards, fold them over and stick them into a glass jar for special times.
Little messages as in: The bearer of this card is entitled to …..[you fill in the blank]. Things could get pretty interesting quickly.
by Barbara Martin February 8th, 2009 at 9:56 pmAh, yes. This was one of the things I mentioned in my article. I thought it was a great idea.
by Shelley Munro February 9th, 2009 at 11:44 am