"Now, that has got to be one of the most
romantic stories I have ever heard!"

Blazing Reader,

Jeanette Thiessen, a reader from Vancouver, wrote in response to my "slightly insane" post on Tuesday:

"Now, that has got to be one of the most romantic stories I have ever heard! Arranging a fantastic date like that is something that every woman dreams of, but, alas, only happens in movies. Until now!"

Well, it also happens in novels. And I am a novelist. So I figured... what if? What if I travel from Canada to the Netherlands for a single date with an amazing woman? The "what if" question is usually how I come up with ideas for a story, so why not for my life?

Oddly, when my wife passed away it didn't instill in me a fear of death, rather it kindled a greater desire to live life. Life is short, and playing it too safe will only lead to a disappointing ending. I hate novels that have disappointing endings.

Karen Goldthorp, from Ontario, wrote to say:

"You may be insane however you definitely are a romantic."

Despite having written a romance novel (with a hefty dose of dystopia) I've never really thought of myself as romantic. Ten years ago, if you told me my first book would be a love story involving policemen wearing surgical masks, I'd have asked you which mushrooms you'd been chewing on.

I simply knew that Ina Backbier is a person who I admire tremendously and feel amazing around, so the small hiccup of an entire ocean between us seemed like a fun obstacle to a first date.

Those who have read Much Ado About Corona will remember the rather bold romantic gesture Vincent makes to get Stefanie's attention. I remember showing the beta copy of the novel to Jordan Henderson, the cover artist, and he couldn't believe what Vincent did. Jordan said his heart was pounding as he turned each page, waiting to see how Vincent's daring plan unfolded. However, for me, it seemed like the most natural thing to do in the world to win some points with the woman he loved.

Anyway, Ina agreed with Jeanette about our date in Amsterdam, saying: "It is the most romantic story I’ve ever heard, let alone experienced. Maybe many women dream of a fantastic date like that, but the fact that you were crystal clear and determined and I didn't dream and instead inquired into my fear of intimacy for the past year, is what opened the door to the magic and reality of love we’re feeling now, instead of skirting on the surface of what often reveals to be an illusion."

So maybe there is more of Vincent McKnight's romantic character in me than I realized.

Now, if you haven't read Much Ado About Corona: A Dystopian Love Story you need to crack open your copy and see what "slightly insane" stunt Vincent pulls off to win over the town's beautiful blonde baker. It is so insane it could only have happened in the first year of the scamdemic.

For those deprived souls who don't own a copy, you can order my dystopian love story at MuchAdoAboutCorona.com.

John C.A. Manley

PS Part of Much Ado About Corona is set in Christmas 2020, with an illegal ice hockey game that turns super romantic. It's a love story about a time when the world was filled with fear. It makes a great Christmas gift for those you care about.

John C. A. Manley is the author of Much Ado About Corona: A Dystopian Love Story, the forthcoming All The Humans Are Sleeping and other works of speculative fiction. Get free samples of his stories by becoming a Blazing Pine Cone email subscriber at: https://blazingpinecone.com/subscribe/