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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5496-Valentine-Inspiration.html
Romance/Love: February 05, 2013 Issue [#5496]

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Romance/Love


 This week: Valentine Inspiration
  Edited by: StephBee
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

A banner for the Romance/Love newsletter.


Valentines are in the air. Heart shaped balloons. Candy Hearts. Soft roses and lace handkerchiefs. Cookies that melt on your tongue and cute little cherubs float above with arrows at the ready to strike. In this newsletter, I'd like to take a look at some historical Valentine inspiration.


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

Charles, the Romantic Duke


One of the earliest Valentine's ever wrote for which we still have a record of was by the Duke of Orléans, Charles Valois.

Charles was born in Paris in November 1394 and became the Duke when his father, Louis, was murdered on the orders of John, Duke of Burgundy, a rival nobleman.

Charles is best remembered as a poet, writing over 500 poems. Most of these were written when he was a prisoner of war.

Charles was 14 when his father passed and he became the Duke. He was young and impressionable, and fell under his father-in-law's influence, the Count of Armagnac.

Charles's first wife was Isabella of Valois (a daughter of French King Charles VI) He loved her dearly, but she died in childbirth. In 1410, he married Bonnie d'Armagnac, Count d'Armagnac's daughter.

In 1415, Charles was taken a prisoner of war in the Battle of Agincourt. He was 21. Henry V of England took him to the Tower of London were Charles composed most of his poetry. Charles was in captivity for over 24 years (he was in the line for the French throne and England didn't want to give him up.) With nothing better to do, Charles wrote.

Most of his poetry was for his wife, Bonnie, but she died before he was released. He was let out in 1440 at the age of 46 and married a third time. His son from his third marriage, became Louis XII. His poems are mostly French Rondeaus, a two line rhythm and are usually about love and the spring time.

Charles's Valentine in the original French:
Je suis desja d'amour tanné,
Ma tres doulce Valentinée

Rondeau VI, lines 1-2.

Here's another of Charles' poem in English:

(To his Mistress, to succor his heart that is beleaguered by jealousy)

Strengthen, my Love, this castle of my heart,
And with some store of pleasure give me aid,
For Jealousy, with all them of his part,
Strong siege about the weary tower has laid.

Nay, if to break his bands thou art afraid,
Too weak to make his cruel force depart,
Strengthen at least this castle of my heart,
And with some store of pleasure give me aid.

Nay, let not Jealousy, for all his art
Be master, and the tower in ruin laid,
That still, ah Love! Thy gracious rule obeyed.

Advance, and give me succor of they part;
Strengthen, my Love, this castle of my heart.

ASIN: 1456506595
ID #111050
Product Type: Book
Reviewer: StephBee
Review Rated: ASR
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Amazon's Price: Price N/A



Editor's Picks

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#1061602 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
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#1911355 by Not Available.


 Just a Cup of Coffee  (ASR)
The story of a young journalist who's writing a story about a mystery coffee house.
#1912448 by featherpen


 
STATIC
Best Of Enemies  (GC)
How can two enemies become friends?
#1916067 by ☮ The Grum Of Grums


 
STATIC
Two Summers  (E)
Traveling down the road of memories.
#1916177 by Kotaro


Just Another Valentine's Day  (E)
♥ ♥ A Little Love Story ♥ ♥
#1750389 by ChrisDaltro-Chasing Moonbeams


 Meeting Strangers in Familiar Places  (13+)
A quick story written for The Bards Hall contest
#1912753 by Sarah


 Invalid Item 
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#1851650 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
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#1912154 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1916033 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
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#940126 by Not Available.


 Roses in Vancouver  (ASR)
Three strangers visit Stanley Park in Vancouver, Canada
#986197 by StephBee



 
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Ask & Answer

Feedback from my 9 JAN 2013 Romance/Love NL:

Annette
Great newsletter. I think I learned a lot about one of my favorite characters. I always thought of him as an Alpha Male, but people told me he is mostly a jerk. I guess I have to give him some good motives and introspection to help others see him the way I want him to be seen.

Yes, you must! I love to use "The Romance Writer's Phrase Book" by Jean Kent and Candace Shelton and "The Emotion Thesaurus" by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. These are great resources to get you started when it comes introspection. "On Writing Romance" by Leigh Michaels is a another great resource that gives you a comprehensive look at the Romance genre.

☮ The Grum Of Grums
Thanks, StephB, for your listing of heroic types. But there must be more. The silent withdrawn guy sitting in the corner, carrying a tragic and devastating secret that only the heroine can help him exorcise. The sensitive artistic type whose world crumbles around him, eg the pianist who damages his hands. The "wimpy nerd" rejected at school, who turns out to be a genius who saves the heroine's family from ruin. And I'm sure there are more. Thanks for an intriguing look at male types, but ...

}It's all in the writing. While the 'types' you describe wouldn't fit a Beta male, they sound like they could definately fit in as Alpha males or Omega Males.

A pic of me taken 2 years ago.

StephBee is a 911 Dispatcher for LAPD. Her latest release is "A Gentleman and a Rogue," Book 2 in "The Windsor Diaries" a steampunk romance. Edmund travels through time to win Keira's heart, but will his mischief-making ruin their romance for good?

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