My last guest for Day One (although I do realise I'm going by Australian time!!! Apologies to all my lovely international friends although the good thing about doing it this way is the days last for about 36 hours!!!) is the fabulous multi-published Helen Hardt! Helen was one of the first authors I met after I sold my first novelette to The Wild Rose Press and writes sinfully seductive erotic romance. She was also a debut author and has since gone on to sell almost a dozen novellas in two years.
It's a bit of a closely guarded secret, but Helen has a soft spot for some guy called Gerard Butler... and look who I found, ready and willing to offer his services as a modern day warrior...
Forbidden Love Across Time
"If I have to search for a hundred lifetimes, I will find you again, Aida." Radames
Who can resist forbidden love?
Romeo and Juliet, Tristan and Isolde, Anna and the King of Siam, Rose and Jack of Titanic, Ennis and Jack of Brokeback Mountain…the list goes on and on…
Are these romances? The cardinal rule that we, as romance writers, must observe is the happy ending for the hero and heroine. That means the above sagas are not technically romances, because the main characters do not end up together. But would any of the above stories be quite as emotional had the happily ever after occurred? Let’s all admit it – we love a good cry sometimes, and nothing works as well as a pair of star-crossed lovers who can never be.
My personal favorite pair of such lovers are Aida and Radames from the musical Aida. I first saw Aida when a national touring company came to Denver. I wasn’t familiar with the story, but when I heard it was an Elton John and Tim Rice collaboration, I was there! I loved their work on The Lion King. Recently, my interest in Aida was renewed when my 17 year old son won the rule of Zoser, Radames’s father, in a local youth theater production.
Aida is the story of the timeless bond between Aida, an enslaved Nubian princess, and Radames, an Egyptian soldier who happens to be engaged to the Pharoah’s daughter. As forbidden love blossoms between them, the young lovers are forced to face death or part forever. As they are buried alive in one tomb, their true devotion to each other ultimately transcends the vast cultural differences between their warring nations and a period of unprecedented peace and prosperity results.
Peace is definitely a happy ending. But what of Aida and Radames? At the end of the production, we return to present day, where two strangers are drawn together in at an Egyptian exhibit in a museum. They are Radames and Aida reincarnated, finding each other again across time.
Hand me a tissue, please…
Helen Hardt is an attorney and stay-at-home mom turned award-winning romance author. She met her real-life hero in law school, and they live in Colorado with their two teenage sons. Helen writes contemporary, historical, paranormal, and erotic romance for Ellora’s Cave, The Wild Rose Press, and Aspen Mountain Press. Her non-writing interests include Harley rides with her husband, attending her sons’ sports and music performances, traveling, and Taekwondo (she’s a blackbelt.) Visit Helen at www.helenhardt.com and www.helensheroes.blogspot.com.
Pianist Envy by Helen Hardt coming September 22 to Ellora’s Cave.
Huge success has so far eluded musician Jane Rock. Coming from a modest background, she’s had to work hard for everything she has. When a music agent attends one of her rock band’s performances at a local club, she thinks her big break has finally come, until an inebriated—though handsome and muscular—patron spoils her show.
Classical pianist Chandler Hamilton has had most of his success handed to him due to his family name. He has his reasons for detesting rock music, but he finds himself drawn to beautiful and talented Jane. Although the two sizzle between the sheets, outside the bedroom they bicker endlessly and envy what they perceive as the other’s good fortune. When Jane needs a favor, Chandler resists. Can love blossom amid clashing notes and tempos?
Oh wow, thank you for that wonderful post, Helen. Aida sounds wonderful, a tragic story of forbidden love. Although I must confess I do love my happy endings... actually that's a fascinating topic - how do you feel about love stories that end tragically but then the hero or heroine (or both) are reincarnated and reuinted? I love them myself but I know some think that doesn't quite count as a HEA?
Because of the time difference I won't be around until later, but please make yourself at home and enjoy all the hospitality my darling boys will be only too happy to offer you!!!
ETA: Helen will give away a download of any two of her backlist to one commenter drawn at random!!!
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