A Kiss to Build a Scene On with Myra Johnson

by | Feb 4, 2010 | Fiction Book Reviews | 6 comments

Wuv….twu wuv (from the Princess Bride in case you don’t know;-) The Perfect Kiss.

Kissing books. Kissing blogs. In February, we’re in the mood for love and one of the most beautiful and initial ways we express physical attraction is through a kiss. Of course, it’s very rare that complete strangers draw each other into a smoochable moment – unless it’s on reality t.v. – but in typical relationships attraction builds over a period of time and eventually leads to The Kiss.

Well, oh my, oh Myra Johnson is my guest today and her newest Heartsong novel, Romance by the Book, sounds absolutely WONDERFUL!! It completely skipped my TBR list and went to my BUY NOW list. I love the premise. If that’s not a teaser enough for you, she also has a beautiful novel out about an ex-con and a widow learning to trust and eventually love again…maybe –  or a book about the mayhem and magic that can happen with One Imperfect Christmas. You’ll have to check out her website to learn more. www.myrajohnson.com

So… let’s move along to the juicy stuff.

Myra, what do you think makes a good kissing scene?

What makes a great kissing scene? It’s all about the emotion. My favorite is the first kiss, when two people are just discovering their love for each other. Emotional tension rises as they find the courage to express their love both in words and touch. That first kiss can be so tentative, exploratory, even frightening, because afterwards there’s no going back.

Would you be so kind as to give us an example of a great kissing scene from one of your books?

My favorite kissing scene to write is from my Heartsong Presents contemporary romance Autumn Rains. Healy, an ex-con, at first resists his attraction to Valerie because he doesn’t believe himself worthy of a woman like her. Valerie, a widow recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder, is only now finding herself ready to love again. She sees beyond Healy’s rough edges to his tender heart. In the scene below, she is already falling for him, hoping he’ll finally admit his love for her. 

            He held her at arm’s length. “Valerie, I. . .” His throat worked, and he seemed to want to tell her something but couldn’t get the words out.

         Say it, Healy. Say you love me.

         Lowering his eyes, he murmured, “I can’t believe how lucky—no, how blessed I am to have found you. Nobody has believed in me like you have since—”

         “Oh, hush.” She silenced him with a finger to his lips. She looked up at him coyly, surprising herself with the sudden yearning she felt. “If you really think I’m so amazing, then why don’t you kiss me?”

—–#—–

         Kiss her?

         He didn’t need to be asked twice. He drew her to him, so close that he could smell the delicate honeysuckle scent of her shampoo. His lips hovered over hers for the briefest of moments before he gently, tenderly kissed her. The warmth of her mouth made his head swim. He relished an ecstasy he never imagined possible. No wonder Tom had fallen helplessly, head-over-heels in love with this woman.

         He drew back, and for a moment her lips seemed to follow his. He sensed in her the same keen urgency welling up in himself.

         “Valerie, oh, Valerie!” He gave a ragged sigh. “Tell me I’m crazy, tell me it’s hopeless, but I’m in love with you. I think I have been since the first minute I laid eyes on you.”

“You’re not crazy,” she said, her voice like liquid silver. “I’m falling in love with you, too.”

Oh my, oh Myra – that was beautiful and intense. First kisses can be either explosive (like – I’m gonna brand you for eternity) or they can be sweet, gentle conversations without words. Love it! AND like I said, Romance by the Book is out this month, right Myra? You can order it by going to http://www.heartsongpresents.com/book/detail/9781602606999/

Thanks for being here, Myra. As usual, it’s such a pleasure.

Kissing Quote for the Day:

“Ancient lovers believed a kiss would literally unite their souls, because the spirit was said to be carried in one’s breath.”   – Eve Glicksman

Bible Kissing Quote for the Day:

You’ve captured my heart, dear friend.
   You looked at me, and I fell in love.
   One look my way and I was hopelessly in love!
How beautiful your love, dear, dear friend—
   far more pleasing than a fine, rare wine,
   your fragrance more exotic than select spices.
The kisses of your lips are honey, my love,
   every syllable you speak a delicacy to savor.
 – Song of Solomon 4: 9-11 (the Message paraphrase)

I think I keep repeating myself here – but so do the lovers in the Song of Solomon. Lips are for tasting, so what does the kiss your writing about taste like? 😉 Of course, we want to write how it feels. Yes. But there is so much packed within these few verses.

Another thing I REALLY like about the Song of Solomon is the emphasis the two lovers place on their friendship. It’s beautiful. They were just hot and bothered, they were connected in the soul. Lips and bodies weren’t the only things to touch, but also the spirit. Isn’t that lovely?

TOMORROW:

I’ve lassoed Mary Connealy in for a visit tomorrow, plus you’ll get  the lineup for next week for A Kiss to Build a Dream On BlogFEST.

6 Comments

  1. sherrinda

    *Trying to get my breath back here* I loved that excerpt and this book will definitely go on my 2Buy list! Goodness, I love it when his lips hovered. Ahhh, the build up of tension in a kiss…excellent!

    Pepper, I am loving these quotes! Those from SofS are great!

    Reply
  2. Myra Johnson

    Hi, Sherrinda & Pepper! What a fun week this is! And BTW, the opening lines of this verse from Song of Solomon are very special to the characters in Romance by the Book. Read more at the Heartsong Presents blog next week when RBTB is the featured romance.

    Reply
  3. Carla Stewart

    Myra, you’re such a romantic! And that kissing scene was breathtaking! There are first kisses and then there are FIRST KISSES. So excited about your newest book, too. Well done, my friend.

    Reply
    • Myra Johnson

      Hi, Carla! Thanks for stopping in today! Oh, yeah, I will have a special copy of RBTB just for you when I see you Saturday. I KNOW how much you enjoy reading romances–LOL!

      Reply
  4. pepperbasham

    Myra,
    I’m so glad you could be a part of the BlogFEST. What fun!! And since I’ve already RAVED about the book (but haven’t read it), you know I’m going to visit Heartsong to get my own copy. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Julie

    Oh, man, I’ve been gone most of the day, so I cannot believe I almost missed Myra’s incredible scene!! Although I didn’t really miss it because I already hyperventilated over it when I read the book, WHICH is fabulous, of course!

    Cannot WAIT to read Love by the Book, Myra — the title alone hooks me!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

    Reply

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