Why I Write Fantasy – Part 1: A Study in Romance

I had a revelation recently about why I like romance stories.

I was watching Penelope, one of my all-time favorites. (If you haven’t seen it . . . do so. ’Tis a delightful contemporary fantasy full of wit and whimsy, starring James McAvoy, Christina Ricci, Peter Dinklage, Catherine O’Hara, Richard E. Grant, and Reese Witherspoon. The cast alone merits investigation.) As it concluded, I realized the rush of feeling inside me was far stronger and more complex than mere satisfaction at...