Ravenous Wednesday with Isabel Roman

I have a confession. I had NO idea what NCIS was until I read Isabel's post. I sent her an email asking what the heck NCIS was and received a useful link, which I'm sharing here. If you are a NCIS virgin, please check out the link so you know what the heck Isabel is talking about here. I just think it's cool that one of the dudes from MAN FROM UNCLE is in it! LOVED that show. Which I watched on...er...Nick at Nite! Yeah, that's the ticket!...

At any rate, Isabel has been a guest author on Ravenous Wednesday before and we are delighted to have her back again! Two of her books were featured on Ravenous Romance's Home Shopping Network premiere, along with Yours Truly's book RIPPING THE BOIDCE. WOOT to both of us!

As per usual, the bar is open, food is plentiful and we are open all day!

And without further ado, please welcome the lovely Isabel Roman!

My current obsession with NCIS has spawned this blog. Anyone who follows half of what I say will know of this obsession. But that’s not technically what this is about. It’s about tension and conflict within a story. I realized why I enjoy writing historicals so much. Other than my interest in history, it’s because of the constructions placed upon women.

I’m of the firm belief that any woman can get up and walk out if the situation or man is not to her liking. But in an historical she could not. Well, not without serious repercussions. And yes, I know this will spark a flood of protests, but let’s think about it in the NCIS world.

A difficult, realistic, romantic conflict sustained through several seasons. I’m not specifically talking about one relationship, but about the entire cast and their relationships.

Law enforcement officers who have fallen for each other. In a federal agency, any marriage, indeed relationship, would mean the end of their partnership. What do you do when the unit is a skilled team and this happens? When two of this team fall for each other?

Break up the established team for a potential romantic entanglement? Or, as the saying goes, do you suffer in silence?

It’s a good question for romantic suspense writers to pose.

There are specific workplace guidelines in place, especially in the federal government. In acquiring the status of an agent, special agent, etc. in the government takes years, and professionally speaking, not easy to give up. The situation then becomes torture between those who are dancing around each other.

There are many ways one can take this type of entanglement into a romance. Play up the unrequited lust between the pair, play out the clandestine affair (my personal favorite), expel energy on the completely wrong person (both parties and while fun, ultimately unfulfilling), or plan a career change.

None of which are easy choices or taken lightly.

At RWA 2008 in San Francisco, I had the pleasure of speaking to one of the speakers, a federal agent. She said the most common thing is the clandestine affair. Let’s face it, it’s the easiest path of a relationship that may not work out after 6 weeks. However, she admitted, for those truly falling in love, but who also love their career, any choice they make about their future can be very difficult and even painful.

The possibilities for this type of romantic situation are extensive. The most interesting part being the actual struggle, all the various choices and paths to take. Wrapping up a story like this into a happy ending, is often just what we create: Fiction.

While I’m sure over the years, there have been one or two special dispensations for married couples, it is by no means the norm. And so this type of story, while it can present a wonderfully rich environment to work in, also presents a very fine line in terms of realism. That’s why most romantic fiction involving married investigators is done in the private sector.

Now, I’m braced. I have my G&T, it’s early yet so I have my bagel. Have at it. What do YOU think?