First, a little happy dance… my February 2006 release, the first in my ‘Awaiting’ series, Awaiting the Moon, has been nominated for a Romantic Times ‘Best Paranormal Historical of 2006′.  Yay!

 

 

     

 

 

     Now, the actual topic of my blog entry is Friends

     No, not the TV series, friends in fiction!

     The goal of most writers is to reproduce some feeling of real life in their work, so the reader will be engaged in the plot enough to care what happens and keep reading! Though lovers and family relations are vital in fiction, one oft-overlooked relationship is real friendship. Speaking of the TV series (Ah well, you knew I had to go there eventually in a blog entitled ‘Friends’) one thing I appreciate about it so much is the interplay between the various characters, how they have quarrels and spats, but come back together and truly care what happens to each other.

     In my own books, friendship is always part of the plot, I suppose because I have a fairly close-knit group of friends. It’s been a difficult winter in some ways, and I have found friends to be an infinite source of light in the darkness. In my November 2006 novel, Awaiting the Night, jealousy between friends is one aspect I explore lightly in a couple of different ways, but in the end Melisande and Charlotte overcome any little problems they have.

     So, for the writers, how do you create realistic friendships as a part of your fictional character’s world?

     And for readers… are there any memorable friendships in fiction you have read? And also, to pick up on a plotline featured in the movie When Harry Met Sally, can men and women be ‘just friends’ without the love thing coming up and being a problem? I certainly think so, but that’s me – what do YOU think?