Nicolette Derens ... sweet romances with a dash of spice

My love of the written word started very early on. My father was a high school English and journalism teacher who had—literally—floor to ceiling bookshelves filled to capacity in our house.  While I certainly had my share of Dr. Seuss and the classic fairy tales as a child, I fondly recall hearing Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll’s original, of course), The Hobbit and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe read to me by my dad before bedtime each night.  I don’t know many other first graders at my school who knew who Bilbo and Mr. Tumnus were. It was their loss.

My mother to this day, simply can not go to sleep at night without reading at least a chapter or two.  But her ‘keeper cupboard’ (a single keeper shelf was simply not big enough!) was full of romances—Lavyrle Spencer, Johanna Lindsey, and on and on.  She let me into that cupboard as a young teen and that was when I knew that Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty’s happily ever afters were only hors d'oeuvres to all the wonderful romantic fiction out there! 

Now I am married to a journalist and have two children who are both avid readers.  The librarians know my daughter by her first name and my son has realized that he gets to stay up later if he’s reading in his bed… and books about football do count as reading!

I started writing at a young age as well.  Much beautiful scenery passed my window on family vacations without notice because my head was bent over a notebook as I furiously scribbled my latest story out long hand.  I’m sure my parents still have floppy disks (seriously) with my first masterpieces on them!

It was very natural for me to eventually begin writing romance.  While I’ve happily made my way through The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Lord of the Rings is one of my all time favorite series, I never stray far or too long from romantic fiction.  I think it’s the ‘love conquers all’ idea and the guaranteed Happily Ever After. 

I was raised in a loving, Christian home so it was no surprise to me that my first romantic fiction was inspirational and those stories continue to speak to my heart. I grew up believing, knowing, that love and God cannot be separated from one another and that God’s love truly does conquer all.  After all, God gave us all the greatest Happily Ever After promise of all time!  Having God show up as a primary character in stories about true love just seems natural.

That being said, I also think it’s crazy to try to separate true love from passion or keep real human emotions and flaws out of stories simply because they have a faith message. Our flaws, mistakes and passions are what bring us closer to God so often.  We certainly shouldn’t shy away from the passion that is the natural part of two people being attracted and falling in love.  So, my stories do address the physical side of these romantic relationships as well.  Sometimes my characters make the right choices.  Sometimes they don’t.  But God is always there to help them start over.  As He is for all of us.

My characters need God and I hope through their struggles and ultimate triumphs, my readers will find that they do too.

Blessings and again, I’m glad you’re here,

Nic

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