Escaping Reality

I was drying my hair this morning and trying to think about a topic for today's blog. I got to thinking about my new release and the reviews I've been getting. More than one reviewer has commented that the story in the book could actually happen.

Hmm?

I'd like to think everything I write could actually happen. I mean, it happens in my head, right? I imagine the action, the dialogue, the characterizations as if they're unfolding right before my eyes. Surely somewhere out there, these characters and events could come to life.

I want my stories and characters to ring true. Don't I? But then I thought, wait a minute. When I read, don't I read to escape reality? And don't I write to escape reality? Sure, I do.

That doesn't mean my stories aren't based in reality, but aren't they a bit bigger than life in general -- at least my life in general?

I mean, let's face it, any heroine of mine has better things to occupy her time than the fact she forgot to put away one of her Christmas scenes, and yes, it's now March. (Did I just admit that out loud?)

In the fictional worlds I create, the hero and heroine wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about the fact they haven't gotten around to grocery shopping this week, or that they still need to paint the ceiling in his/her office, or that they're six weeks into their new gym membership and they haven't lifted one weight.

Well, maybe they do worry about those things. But, we don't see it, don't read it, don't necessarily want to know about it.

We want to see them in action, in all of their strong-willed, smart-thinking, true-loving glory. And maybe that's the greatest escape of all. Creating worlds that not only take us away, but hopefully carry away our readers as well.

So, I suppose I've answered my own question.

How about you? What do you expect when you read? A dose of reality? Pure fantasy? A mix of the two?

Until next time, happy reading! As for me, I've got some Christmas decorations to put away.

-Kath