Thursday, October 9, 2014

Head Over Heels



Falling head over heels caught my attention for this month’s theme. When I hear the phrase falling head over heels, I think of love. I am, after all, a romance writer and all of my heroes and heroines fall head over heels. The phrase does strike me as odd because our head is usually over our heels so where does the falling come in to play?

Head over heels. Makes me think of turning somersaults and getting dizzy.

I did a little on line research. Love didn’t have much to do with the phrase in 1770’s Europe. It was used in the same way as upside-down or topsy- turvy or my dad’s favorite bass-ackwards.  Somehow in the 1800’s the phrase made its way to the U.S., and we coined it for a state of love.

My research took me into another site that suggested head over heels is an accelerated attraction and could send one of the two parties running. It’s that goofy kind of quick to commit love. You can’t eat love. You’re all I can think of love. Sometimes, having someone that crazy for you isn’t all bad.


Although Brenda didn’t start out to write romance, she’s found all good stories involve complicated human relationships. She’s also found no matter a person’s age, a new discovery is right around every corner. Whether humorous or serious, straight contemporary or suspense, all her books revolve around those two facts.

Visit Brenda at www.brendawhiteside.com.
She blogs on the 9th and 24th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com
She blogs about writing and prairie life at http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/
 
My latest novel, The Art of Love and Murder, is a romantic suspense and the first book in my Love and Murder Series.


16 comments:

CottonSr said...

i didn't start off in the romance novel business either. i was also into human conflict and also multi-cultural too. but made a love story out of it and it's not a bad formula.

Brenda Whiteside said...

It's a good formula I think, Cotton. Maybe for some of us it comes naturally.

Jannine Gallant said...

Hmm, that definition of head over heels love sounds kind of stalker-ish to me! Thanks for the background info. I love learning stuff like that!

Brenda Whiteside said...

So right, Jannine.

Margo Hoornstra said...

Thanks for doing the research. Love it when I can learn new things, too. Not original, but sincere. ;-)

Brenda Whiteside said...

Thanks, Margo.

Alicia Dean said...

Fun and interesting research. I've never been in that kind of love, but it's great to create characters who have. :)

Brenda Whiteside said...

Few probably have, Alicia.

Leah St. James said...

Interesting, Brenda! I love learning about the origins of phrases!

Betsy Ashton said...

So other countries use the phrase for topsy-turvy and we use it for falling in love. Really kinda the same thing when someone knocks you over.

rbooth43 said...

I was head over heels in love with my husband for 36 years before his death in 2001. His last words to me were a wink and I Love You!
Rebecca

Brenda Whiteside said...

Thanks, Leah.

Betsy, for sure.

Rebecca, what a totally sweet thing!

Diane Burton said...

Very interesting info. Thanks for sharing, Brenda.

Brenda Whiteside said...

Thanks for reading, Diane.

Donna Michaels said...

I always thought it was odd, too, since our head is over our heels, Brenda. But, somehow, heels over head just doesn't sound right. lol

Thanks for giving us the 'scoop'!

Brenda Whiteside said...

You're quite welcome, Donna.