Another penny in the jar (a research question)
The theory - if you put a penny in a jar every time you make love in the first year of your marriage, and after the first year you take a penny out every time, you will never empty the jar.I looked it up to see if I could find out more of the history, one comment, ‘took four years but we finally got the 6th penny out of the jar’
most people were smug about how quickly their jars had emptied. So, research question / opinion please. My characters started a blazing affair 2 years ago. They don’t live together, are neighbours, spend most nights together, and things are good between them. He hadn’t previously been in a relationship, had spent years hooking up once or twice a week - a pretty active libido. She’d had a long-term placid marriage. They got together in book 5 and this is book 10 (last in series) and the regular older beta readers, who have enjoyed this middle-aged romance, want an indication of how good things are between them, how often they are
taking pennies out the jar? I usually stick to writing what I know but my recent relationships have been LDRs and when you don’t see each other often, time spent together is marked by the urgent clinking of pennies
The question - how often is often in a good relationship after two years? Opinion or experience
I may also do a forum question with anonymous boxes to tick. I never get many responses on my research questions but always get something useful, hopefully this time too
Comments (59)
Daears, I think whoever staggers out of bed first to make the coffee could drop the penny in the jar next to the kettle?
Emmy, both of them are now around our age
Naivete, I suppose I could. I never have yet. Some readers get really quite het up in their reviews, and tick me off, so I want to keep it "real" all the way to the final wire
If I had to complain about something, it would be that I just couldn't warm up to Donald (3 4) /// I love this series, so it truly pains me to say how much I disliked this book. (7 8) There would be only one reason to read it, and that would be to discover who Edge ends up with in the end /// I did enjoy the book (9 10), but I enjoyed by ignoring the parts I didn't care for, because I am invested in the characters after reading the first 4 books. I was glad to see the romance /// I have been wild about this series since I read the first book. However I can't recommend this one (11 12) to new readers /// Sorry lost me completely, this the the last book (11 12) I'll read by the author. I really enjoyed the series up to now. So for those people, I got it wrong.
And readers do follow the characters as much as the stories -
I look forward to each new one and I miss the characters when I'm not reading about them. They are dear friends I would love to know in real life. /// The old characters are wonderful as always and the new ones are so well drawn that you either love or loathe them within minutes. /// .. while experiencing life as mature and vital people .. /// engaging and authentic /// I never put one of your books down unless I fall asleep. I stay so caught up in the lives of the characters. /// And no spoilers, but you'll laugh out loud at some of the character interaction. The friends feel so real to me now I want to go to Edinburgh to meet them. /// spirited, experienced and interesting people who are not afraid to be themselves. /// finally get their act together, praise the Lord.
It puts pressure on you though. They can't break from character.
That's normal, right? Right?
Perhaps there should be one called "Pennies for being in heaven"
I believe there are two contributing factors, firstly, is the cycle of want/need, his and hers are not always in sync so days go by when one wants and the other doesn't. Secondly, one or other or both feel in the mood, but, when finally get to bed at night, are too tired.
Apparently years ago, a noted romeo was asked about his love life. His reply was... At my age, it takes me all night to do once, what I once did all night!
Had a girlfriend once that put an "X" on the calendar in the kitchen!
For when we had done it, trying to mark the "X" whilst doing it resulted in shaky lines that covered the whole page of the calendar and left ink all over the wall!
I think dropping your knickers probably works better than a hopeful look.