Friends

Hi, here's Jo, talking about friends in fiction. On the left is Charlie and Billy with some new friends they made on our recent cruise.

I didn't plan A Scandalous Countess to be a novel so rich with friends, but it is, and it's got me thinking about the role of friends in a romance novel.

Nearly everyone accumulates friends during their lives, even if the friends are scattered around the world, as are many of mine. A fictional hero or heroine without friends is unlikely to appeal to me, and I think most readers will wonder what's wrong with them. Of course the character can be far from any friends, because that's not the same as not having any. In fact snatching a character from their family and friends is a well-used fictional device.

If the hero or heroine is truly friendless, however, it can be a concern. As a reader I wonder if they are capable of forming that deep, warm, believable relationship that's the happy ending I want in a romance novel.

Do you agree with me, or do you like to see loners brought into community? Do you have a favorite romance novel in which the hero, heroine, or both is friendless at the beginning?

Friends and the Author

Friends can be very useful to the author, especially if they're to hand in the book. They give a character someone to vent to, explain things to, and seek advice from. In A Scandalous Countess, my heroine Georgia, dowager Countess of Maybury (and doesn't she hate that "dowager", given that she's only 20!) has a lot of social friends, because she was a popular leader of the young set in Town. However mourning, and the scandal surrounding her husband's death in a duel, causes her to retreat to her family's Worcestershire estate.

Thus she's isolated and away from her friends -- but she has the postal system, which wasn't bad in 18th century England if you could afford it. The BBC recently did a radio programme on the postal system, and you can listen to the episodes. The one relevant to this topic is A Culture of Letters  

After the first shock of grief has passed, Georgia writes to her particular friend, Lizzie, Lady Torrismonde, of the situation in which she finds herself. This fills in some details and gives us a taste of Georgia's character and "voice."

A Letter to a Friend.

"Dear Lizzie,

when I returned to Herne, I half expected to return to the schoolroom bedchamber I shared with Winnie. Instead, I’m installed in a handsome set of rooms, but in all other ways I could be sixteen again! I have no more say in the running of Herne than I did at sixteen, when I so recently was accustomed to managing three houses.

I have no money! In truth, I do, for I have my portion back, but it’s returned to my father and he doles out a few guineas a month. I wasn’t aware a portion could be returned, but I suppose anything is possible if all parties agree to it. The new Earl of Maybury was eager to shed the commitment to pay my jointure of two thousand for perhaps sixty years, even at the cost of twelve thousand now.

You will understand how bitter it is to have a pittance in my pocket. Father pays my bills, but I’m sure he feels entitled to question my purchases, and as all this is done through his clerk of accounts, you will appreciate how it galls me.

Thus far I’ve only purchased mourning clothes and a few essentials, but now I’m awakened, I’m tempted to order something outrageous. What do you think it should be?

A jewel-encrusted prayer book? A gold-plated chamber pot? I can see you laughing and shaking your head, and it makes me smile and cry at the same time. I would order a carriage now and race to see you, but I know you expect a new treasure at any time, so I’ll restrain myself. I’d inflict myself on Babs except that she and Harringay are in France. Ah, Versailles! Will I ever see Versailles again?"

The image is an 18th century letter from a museum in Malaga.

As a young widow, Georgia is in an uncomfortable position. Legally, she is independent of her father, but he doesn't see it that way and nor, really, does she, for her world wouldn't accept her living independently, and she wants to return to her familiar world. With only weeks to go until the end of her mourning year, Georgia encounters the hero, a scarred ex-naval officer who has recently inherited a title and an impoverished estate. Her father has asked -- demanded, in fact -- that she help him adjust to society.

A Letter to a friend about a new friend.

Again, Georgia writes to Lizzie.

"Let me tell you of another lord—Dracy. Dracy is an original—that is certain sure. I came across him leaning so far over the terrace balustrade that I feared he intended to throw himself off. But no, he was merely seeking to identify flowers.

I suppose a life at sea doesn’t provide much experience of gardens. I’m sure I’d hate it, for I do love flowers. When I think of the ones in our London garden, and especially those at Sansouci . . But I will not pine. All that is over and I will have other gardens soon.

I expected a portly, weathered tar, but though he is browned and carries himself in a military manner, he is, in his own way, quite polished. And young. Not yet thirty, I’m sure. And with a fine, manly figure. He has much to learn, however. Would you believe that he lifted me, without request or permission, up onto the coping so I could identify the flowers for him! It quite flustered me, for he’s very strong."

 (You may remember that I blogged about the plant in question a while ago -- the tall, white nicotiana that is intensely perfumed in the evening.)

Georgia ceased writing, brushing the tip of her quill across her lips. Despite the scar, the briskness, and the lack of stylish manner, there was something about the man. He was so firm, so complete in himself. So confident and strong. Such a shame about his appearance.

She was ashamed of her reaction there and resolved to do better if they ever met again. As a start, she could address the subject briskly now.

"The poor man is badly scarred by a burn across the right side of his face. The skin there is shiny and puckered and it twists up his brow and lips as if he’s constantly in a sneer. I made a point to treat him exactly as I would anyone else, but it is a sad injury, for I believe before he must have been a very handsome fellow."

You can read the encounter described here on my web site.

Friends and characterization.

Friends also serve to reflect different facets of a character, helping the author to bring them to life. Gentle Lizzie illuminates Georgia's lively nature. Worldly-wise Babs reveals that she is innocent and even naive in ways. When Dracy becomes a friend, he draws out her intelligence and practical abilities.

His becoming a friend is a mixed blessing, however. Georgia likes him very much, but he's unsuitable husband material -- poor, and with a lowly title -- and she worries he might be falling in love with her. Friends don't hurt friends.

I admit that I began the novel thinking scarred Dracy would be a solitary, even brooding type, but somehow my heroes never are. LOL! He, too, is rich in friends, though most are naval men, scattered around the world. However, he's already made a new one near his Devon estate and that's promising, especially as Knowlton is very different in nature. I think it's healthy for a character to have variety in friends, for it suggests an open mind and generous nature.

Friends care.

Of course, friends care, as we see in this little scene with Knowlton, who's come up to Town, pretending legal business, but really because he's worried about Dracy's entanglement with scandalous Lady Maybury. When out, they hear some gossip about her.

     When they left the chophouse to stroll back to their inn, Dracy said, "It's only a matter of someone stoking the old fires. And nothing to it, either."

     Tom held his silence.

     "Look, none of it's true. I know it. You might trust my judgment."

     Tom looked at him. "My brother almost married a gypsy girl, convinced she'd make an honest wife."

     "Perhaps she would have done."

     "Filched his silver spoons before the knot was tied."

     "Very well, I take your point, but up until that duel Lady Maybury was a respected wife. Flighty, perhaps, and inclined to mischief, but I've not heard anyone suggest a prior sin. It's the duel, Tom! Everything else flows from there. If Maybury had killed himself in that carriage race, she'd have lost her husband and her homes, but she would have been a tragic widow, not a scandalous one."

     "But he didn't," Tom said. "He was killed in a duel with a man some believe to have been her lover."

     "But why? Why believe that? If..." He'd been about to say Annie, but that would be too close to the bone, so he chose Lady Swanton, a virtuous wife of their Devon neighborhood. "If Sir James Swanton were to get himself killed in a duel -- yes, I know it's unlikely -- would anyone believe for a moment that they'd fought over Lady Swanton, still less that she'd been sneaking into the victor's bed?"

     "Lady Swanton hasn't acted a breeches part at Drury Lane."

     "'Struth, did she? Never mind, that's not the same thing."

     "I take your point, Dracy, but don't you see? People who know Lady Maybury better than you do think it possible."

     Dracy crossed the street between two wagons, frustrated by everything. A breeches part at Drury Lane. She did need reining in....

     But he didn't want to be her jailer.

     He wanted to be her lover.

     As they cut down Crick Lane, Tom said, "Bewitched. Come away back to Devon with me, Dracy, and clear your head of her."

     "I'm not bewitched," Dracy lied. "I believe her honest and I cannot tolerate injustice. I truly do have business to complete here, but I will return soon, within a fortnight of a certainty."

     "I'd ask for a promise if I thought you'd make it."

     A fortnight, and he'd already been away from Dracy almost that long. He couldn't neglect his primary responsibility indefinitely.

     "Then I give it. I'll set out to return to Dracy within a fortnight."

     "Good man."

     Dracy laughed. "You sound as if I'd sworn off gin! I'm in complete control of all my wits and appetites, I assure you."

     Tom looked as if he'd believe that only when Dracy was back attending to his Devonshire estate.

********************

So what do you think about friends in romance novels? Do you notice a lack of them? Do you find too many clutter up a story?

What about friendship in the love relationship. How does that show?

As it happens my next heroine is rather friendless, but not by her own fault. She's keen to expand her social contacts and enjoy the company of others, but there may be problems there.

My publisher has made a video of me talking about A Scandalous Countess. You can see it here.

It was a bit nerve-wracking to do, and I was there for about an hour, but it boiled down to a pretty good couple of minutes, don't you think?

A Scandalous Countess will be officially out on the 7th, but it's trickled out in a few places already. To celebrate its arrival, I'll give a commenter a pick of my backlist, assuming I have spare copies. You can find that here.

Cheers,

Jo

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Janice]

I like the presence of friends in a romance. We all live in a context of other lives and most people feel very close to at least a few good friends; even though they have many people in their lives those others may be merely tangential. For the characters to have real friends, even if they're apart, shows me they have souls. They're not just cardboard pawns of the plot. The interactions between the central couple and their real friends add depth to the novel. The lack of it is really rather dull, I think.

[Elaine]

I agree wholeheartedly. While the loner seems to be a romantic archetype, friends make heroes and heroines much more real. It is in their interactions with people they know well that they can truly be themselves and allow readers to get a more well-rounded sense of their characters.

Plus, interesting people generally have interesting friends and it's a delight to meet them, too. It certainly allows for lively dialogue!

On another note, I'm sad to hear that you're only writing one book a year. I can't wait to get my hands on The Scandalous Countess. (I, too, love my e-reader for travel, but for authors I admire, I like to have hard copies.)

Best wishes,
Elaine

[Betty Hamilton]

I do like the characters to have friends. They seem to mirror the traits of the main characters and are great for dialogue. However, I really love to see them with large and close families. Either one can be great for filling out a series....which I really love!

[Pageturner]

I'm always amazed when characters don't seem to have friends, or parents, or annoying relations (little brother, mad aunt...) The only way you can really define people is in their relationship with others, so characters in a vacuum are harder to read.
pageturner345@gmail.com

[Patricia Rice]

I like all sorts of characters, so if someone is seemingly friendless for a reason, I won't hold that against him. My biggest problem with friends in romance is that they tend to be a set up for future books. As a reader, I'm tired of keeping up with all their stories. And as a writer, I'm tired of plotting stories for characters who were only there for entertainment originally. But if done properly, friends can enrich the story.

B&N is very properly holding my Nook download of the Countess to the proper date!

[Cheryl]

I think friends are a vital part of a full life, and thus are essential in the life of a character, too. The times in my life when I haven't had friends with which to do things have been the most miserable (although to be fair, the miserable-ness is what caused the isolation, not the other way around). I can't imagine even a life in which I am connected to my friends only through letters, although the letters do a nice job of helping to explain things that couldn't otherwise be stated explicitly.

I love it when characters who are side notes in a novel drift through other stories and even become the main story line. They add depth to a storyline.

I have to agree, I am sorry only one book a year. I was really hoping for more like a new Jo Beverly every month! But, what makes your novels interesting is the historical detail provided, both overtly in the descriptions and also there as unseen foundations of the stories, and that sure couldn't happen with once a month. So, thanks for so much entertainment!

[Henriette Gyland]

Congratulations on the publication of "A Scandalous Countess"!

I love the extracts you posted, especially the letters because they come across as truly intimate. For what it's worth, I do feel that the presence of friends in a romance novel is almost a must. It gives the hero and/or heroine a chance to bounce off other people and show parts of their personality which they may not reveal so readily to the love interest.

It's great that the hero and heroine become each other's best friends - imho the basis for a successful relationship - but they won't be that from the outset, if the book follows the Pride & Prejudice pattern which many romance novels do.

Friends, or siblings who are friends, are a vital part of life. Where, e.g., would Elizabeth Bennett be without Jane? And Herbert Pockett was important to Pip in "Great Expectations".

I wish you every success with your new book.

[Isobel Carr]

Friends are such a hard call. They can clutter things up, give the appearance of sequel bait, and take up too much of the action. They can also provide too much cover for your hero and heroine, when what the need is to be forced to act and make choices (Disney doesn’t kill off mom and dad for no reason). But overall, I prefer a character who has at least one good friend they can count on, or a damn good reason why they don’t.

AND OH MY GOD I CAN’T WAIT TO READ THIS!

[Kate]

I think the interview piece turned out well. Good luck with this!

[Cathy P]

Hi Jo! I love your books and am sorry you are only doing one a year. As far as friends go, I think that if there are too many, they tend to clutter up the book. I like the idea of a few close friends, and if they end up having their own book, the better, since I love series books. Loved your excerpts of A Scandalous Countess. I also think that friends are important because they tend to help complete the characters in a book. After all, all of us at least have one friend.

[Karenmc]

Friends in books can be a positive, if they don't overwhelm the main characters (which means they probably want books of their own:).

Both the letters and the excerpt on your website have me salivating!

[Jo Beverley]

Jo here, Pat and others, I can assure you the friends in this book are not sequel bait! Georgia's friends are married couples, and the only distinct one of Dracy's is married, too.

The next book has new people for the couple, like this one, and like An Unlikely Countess. I'm enjoying spinning stories for new characters within my established Malloren World.

Jo

[Jo Beverley]

Jo again. "They can also provide too much cover for your hero and heroine, when what the need is to be forced to act and make choices "

Interesting comment, Isobel. However, don't you think friends can also be the ones pointing out choices and pushing for change?

There are also the "with friends like these, who needs enemies" type!

Jo

[Jo Beverley]

Hi, Henriette. No Pride and Prejudice formula here, I promise. Georgia definitely considers Dracy beneath her in status, but she's too kind and courteous to turn her nose up at him. And as I say, they're pretty well instant friends.

It's true the distinctions of rank between them are real, but they are real and external, not internal.

Jo

[Mary Jo Putney]

Indeed, we need friends as foils for the protagonists! It's a dangerous path, though--when I tossed friends into my first book, they immediately became three dimensional to me and required their own books. Hence my propensity for open-ended series.

Looking forward to the Scandalous Countess!

[Isobel Carr]

"Don't you think friends can also be the ones pointing out choices and pushing for change?

Absolutely! I really try to keep in mind the comments I’ve seen over the years about how many heroines seem to exist in a friendless bubble. Sometimes this is purposeful, but often I think it happens because we’re just concentrating too hard on the romance and not thinking about what went on in the character’s day to day life before the opening pages of the book. Yes, we have the BIG BACKSTORY down, but the minutia is easy to forget. I know it is for me. I’ve actually forced myself to outline who their friends are before the story and where those people are during the story.

[LilMissMolly]

I think Loners should be welcome into the community. A lot of times they could be afraid of what others thinks of them and if they know they are accepted, that's half the battle.

[bn100]

I notice that characters in a series tend to have more friends. It doesn't bother me if the main characters don't have any friends or have a lot of them.

[Jo Beverley]

Good point, Isobel, about ordinary life. I try to remember that, too. What life was like just before everything changed, and also what the character's dreams and plans were. If a character is forced into change, there's a natural tendency to try to restore what was, even if what was wasn't that great. So that will affect what the character does.

Jo

[Betty Hamilton]

I do love to see friends in a novel as they allow the author to more fully "fill out" her characters. However, too many friends clutter the story for me and I lose track of them all.

[Theresa N]

I like friends in novels singular or in a group I think they add a lot to story and personnalities.

[Kathryn Smith]

"Friends," a friend, or friends (old &/or new,)of the heroine or hero are vital in helping to describe the physical appearance, personal history, education, mannerisms, potential motivations, actions, decisions, etc., to help us empathise with them. It is more than "getting to know them" in the unfolding story, readers want to know what they are thinking, feeling, what might happen next? by the conversations of the friend(s) in the story. Most notable heroine friends are neighbors, fellow school mates, extended family members, etc. Hero friends: school mates, military chums, sporting fellows, club & gambling members, business associates, etc.
No friends, no personality, no character, equals a boring story.

[Quilt Lady]

I like to mix it up so in some cases a lot of friend and others just a few, makes the stories more interesting.

[Linda]

It's definitely more interesting to include friends as well as family in a story. They (can) provide a comic foil, loving support; it makes the story more real & believable. It's nice to read how the hero/heroine interact with others too. But as some1 else did mentions not too many else it clutters the story & one loses track of who is who.

[Laura Battista]

Hi Jo, I like very much your books, I think your character are so real... And I think their friends contribute to make them even more real, human. In fact that is what I like more in your books, your capacity to convey human feeling, when I read your stories I feel my stomach in a knot for grief, or my heart leaping for joy....and my opinion is that friendship relations enriched stories and real life too.
I'm looking forward your next book in Italy....
Kisses!
Laura from Rome