I’m thrilled to welcome Collette Cameron, author of Highlander’s Hope, who is with us today to talk about tickling our funny bone. Collette is not only a fantastic writer, but one of my Soul Mate sisters. Thank you, Collette, for taking the time out of your busy life to join us today.
I Want My Funny Bone Tickled
Maybe it’s because I have a quirky sense of humor, but the stories I enjoy reading the most, the ones that stick with me long after I’ve put the book down, are ones with a smattering of humor. Okay, maybe a bit more than a smattering. Come on, don’t you like it when the story takes you some place you didn’t expect to go and zang, you find yourself smiling?
There isn’t a genre that can’t benefit from a bit of humor. It’s a powerful tool to stir our emotions. Technically, mirth is the actual emotion humor evokes in us, and it affects our minds and bodies. Think about it. If something strikes you funny, don’t you smile, giggle, laugh, chortle, grin. . .? You get the idea. You’re mind, brain and your body all react positively to mirth.
The pleasure centers of our brains are affected by humor. When we experience mirth, our brains are very happy and reward us by doling out that lovely little hormone, dopamine. And our dear friend dopamine is the same chemical that causes us to fall in love. . . or out of it. Oh, and it’s the main chemical released during an orgasm. Ah, now you’re making the connection.
Read a steamy sex scene and the pleasure center of your readers’ brain is turned on. Make your readers snicker or guffaw, and you’ve done the same thing. Plus, you’ve made them want to read more because they do so love their pleasure center titillated. Humor is a fantastic way to diffuse tension, prove a point, add character depth, and you can even use it to persuade your readers.
So, get out there and write something droll, hysterical, witty, amusing, or just plain funny. What can it hurt?
Author Bio
A life-long Oregonian, Collette Cameron was born and raised in a small town along the northern Oregon coast. Today she makes her home in a rural community, 30 minutes west of Portland. Her Victorian farmhouse sits on a one-acre certified wildlife habit, interspersed with a plethora of gardens: English, rose, butterfly, rock, water, and of course, vegetable.
A voracious reader of romance since her teens, she even named her daughter after a heroine in her favorite romance novel. An enthusiast of times gone by, and anything related to romance, she writes Historical Romance, with a dash of inspiration, a pinch of humor, and a liberal portion of suspense.
Having dabbled in interior decorating in her youth, Collette returned to school, graduating summa cum laude from Oregon State University, and going on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Teaching. She is member of Romance Writers of America, Rose City Romance Writers, The Beau Monde, and Love Faith and Hope, Inc.
Some of Collette’s favorite things include unique blends of coffees and teas, trivia, Cadbury Milk Chocolate, inspirational quotes, and scented candles. Her Christian faith, husband, three adult children, and five miniature dachshunds round out her life quite nicely! When she’s not teaching or writing, she enjoys amateur photography, bird watching, gardening, interior decorating, rock-hunting, boating or fishing on the Columbia River, and reading.
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HIGHLANDER’S HOPE
by Collette Cameron
Coming April 2013 from Soul Mate Publishing
Not a day has gone by that Ewan McTavish, the Viscount Sethwick, hasn’t dreamed of the beauty he danced with two years ago. He’s determined to win her heart and make her his own. Heiress, Yvette Stapleton, is certain of one thing; marriage is risky and, therefore, to be avoided. At first, she doesn’t recognize the dangerously handsome man who rescues her from assailants on London’s docks, but Lord Sethwick’s passionate kisses soon have her reconsidering her cynical views on matrimony. On a mission to stop a War Office traitor, Ewan draws Yvette into deadly international intrigue. To protect her, he exploits Scottish law, declaring her his lawful wife—without benefit of a ceremony. Yvette is furious upon discovering the irregular marriage is legally binding, though she never said, “I do.” Will Ewan’s manipulation cost him her newfound love?
Excerpt
She stepped back as he pushed his way into the room, leaving the door ajar. His hair was damp, no doubt from bathing, and the stubble darkening his face earlier was gone. Feet bare, wearing only buckskin breeches and a shirt unbuttoned to the waist, he resembled a pirate—a dangerous, rakish, sinfully handsome pirate.
She sucked in her breath. He oughtn’t to be here, but he’d said he wanted to talk to her, and he had promised to behave.
Yvette’s eyes traveled the path of silky hair from his chest until it disappeared into his waistband. Her stomach flip-flopped. Sweet Lord above. She pressed her hands to her frolicking middle. Why doesn’t he say something?
A distraction, that’s what she needed. She escaped to the lumpy bed where she had flung her clothing before bathing. She folded and packed the garments into her valise and set it on the floor beside her trunk. She bent to retrieve her bath towel, and peeked side-ways at him from the corner of her eye. He hasn’t moved. What’s he about?
Grabbing the towel, she glanced down and froze. The candles to her left bathed her in a stream of light. She could clearly see the outline of her legs. Her nightwear was almost translucent in the candlelight and gave him a shadowy view of— dear God—nearly everything.
No wonder he hadn’t moved, the bounder.
Standing upright, she held the towel before her, and faced him. “Enjoying the view, your lordship?” she snapped.
Ewan still leaned against the doorframe, watching her. “Immeasurably.”
Good post, Collette! When I attempted to write humor(after attending a workshop on how to write humor) it didn’t work as well as I’d hoped. I settled for slapstick with my bumbling heroine in Marshal in Petticoats. But I agree every book no matter the subject needs a few chortles or smiles mixed in. I try to have that in every book. Great excerpt!
Thanks Paty. Sometimes I get too carried away with my humor. I’ve had to cut some of my favorite scenes, because while they were hysterically funny, they didnt move the story forward at all.
Great post, Collette! Very interesting stuff! You certainly made me smile and I could almost feel the dopamine release from my brain, especially after reading your excerpt! I can’t wait for April to get here so I can read Highlander’s Hope!
My congrats and here’s to many sales!
All the best,
Darcy
Yep, humor. . . the untapped key to every romance! I used that excerpt because I actually had my poor hubby put on one of my long, filmy nighties and stand in the dark, while I used a flashlight to determine just what angles one might be able to get a glimpse of . . . well, use your imagination!
Great excerpt, and a lovely post!
I like a dash of humor in my stories, too. Most often, it’s a snarky comment from one of the characters during a tense situation–the sorts of things real people might say to relieve the stress. But I like a few awkward situations, too. Mostly because I find myself in them do often!
Best of luck with Highlander’s Hope! The book sounds fantastic.
I do like a droll, character. .One with a dry sense of humor who makes a remark just like you mentioned.
Just can’t wait until April. I love humor, dry and straight out, plus a little sarcasm thrown in. Your cover is absolutely beautiful and your excerpt way too short. Want to read more!
I had to cut some really funny scenes from Highlander’s Hope, but I’ve used bits and pieces of them in my second book and intend to use some in the others I’m writing.
I love touches of humor in books and write those too. However, when I try to write a book that’s mostly comedy, as I just finished, it’s hard work for me! Guess I need to laugh more! So thanks for a great interview and the excerpt with a touch of humor and more!
I actually think writing humor is harding than writing a sensual scene. The two are similar in that what one person “enjoys” someone else might not.