Monday, November 14, 2011

Winter Romance; It's Dark Out There

The clocks turned back the weekend before last, and now I find myself ready for bed by 5pm. It's dark so early, it feels as though I've walked miles by the finish of every evening. I'm wondering about the upside of the time change for the modern non-agricultural residents of this planet. Is there an upside to extra dark? And then I thought romance.

If the darker, less pleasant weather cocoons us inside more often, this becomes prime time to snuggle down with a loved one. Perhaps the early dark is an excuse to rejuvenate connection and contact with a partner. Watch more movies together. Read together in bed. Or do other activities in bed (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean, eh?)

Winter weather (if one lives where winter rakes its frigid claws down one's goose-pimpled flesh) can be harsh and unpleasant. (I'll put aside attraction for winter sports enthusiasts.) Although I've suggested winter darkness provides great moments for extra cuddling, I also thought about romance books set during the winter season. Aside from those novels using devices such as two lovers snowed into a secluded cabin, or the many amazing seasonal Christmas stories (see Penny Watson's latest release, Sweet Magik, for an awesome example) few of the romances I read are set during winter.

Is it the inconvenience of describing characters climbing in and out of heavy winter gear to go outside together? Or the fact that snow might slow down the action adventure romance? Are layers of clothing less sexy? Maybe I am miscounting the prevalence of winter set romances. I read a lot of fantasy and sci-fi romance and perhaps winter is underrepresented in those. Certainly none of the novels I've written are set in snowy months, but I am sure this is a personal bias. I am not a winter sports enthusiast and I abhor cold.

If someone undertook a research study that measured the most common season used in romance novels, which would win? Spring, summer or fall? I'm betting it's not winter, snuggling opportunities notwithstanding.

What's your guess?

7 comments:

Wynter said...

Hmm. Good question. I've only set one of my more than two dozen books in the frigid winter (in a blizzard, no less). Springtime seems most appropriate for blooming love -- or blooming whatever;-)

Casey Crow said...

I'm guessing summer. More skin showing...more temptation!

Jina Bacarr said...

Being Irish, I tend to revel in rainy day stories or inclement weather, but I agree with you, Michelle. Sunny weather and balmy nights make for hot sex!!

Michelle Polaris said...

So we have one vote for spring, one for summer, and one for sun in general. But people do have sex in cold weather. Hmmmh.

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

I write paranormal so love to set mine around Halloween. Y
ou have a vote for Autumn.

Callie Croix said...

Hey, Michelle. There was a book released this week from Carina that's set in Antarctica! I thought it was cool (um, no pun intended) to have such a unique setting for a romance.

I love romances set in any time of year, but I think summer and fall are my faves. There's something magical about those early fall days when the leaves are turning and a heavy rainstorm pounds on the roof while I'm all snuggled up inside. Autumn's my prime nesting mode time :)

Michelle Polaris said...

Halloween is great, Ash.

And I'm intrigued about the Antarctica thing now, Callie. It sounds like fun.