I’ve been in love exactly once in my life. I didn’t like it. I still don’t like it. Mainly because I’m still suffering from it. Suffering. And, ya know, quite frankly, I find myself telling my friends and family with some frequency that they should accept that I will never find love again, get married, or produce offspring.
Yep.
They don’t listen.
Nope.
My mother is like a dog with a bone when I mention a fellow. My friends recommend I do things I would never do, like joining random community clubs and vamping up a profile on match.com . Luckily, or perhaps because my pals have instincts of self-preservation, no one recommends eHarmony anymore because, yes, I am one of those twenty percenters that was reject by eHarmony. Don’t believe me? Here’s a quote from the email they sent me after I took their marathon length test:
eHarmony is based upon a complex matching system developed through extensive research with married couples. One of the requirements for successful matching is that participants to fall within certain defined profiles. If we find that we will not be able to match a user using these profiles, we feel it is only fair to inform them early in the process.
We are so convinced of the importance of creating compatible matches to help people establish happy, lasting relationships that we sometimes choose not to provide service rather than risk an uncertain match.
Unfortunately, we are not able to make our profiles work for you. Our matching model could not accurately predict with whom you would be best matched. This occurs for about 20% of potential users, so 1 in 5 people simply will not benefit from our service. We hope that you understand, and we regret our inability to provide service for you at this time.
I’m glad they stopped the “This Will Be” commercials because that song literally starts bar fights wherever I am.
eHarmony is based upon a complex matching system developed through extensive research with married couples. One of the requirements for successful matching is that participants to fall within certain defined profiles. If we find that we will not be able to match a user using these profiles, we feel it is only fair to inform them early in the process.
We are so convinced of the importance of creating compatible matches to help people establish happy, lasting relationships that we sometimes choose not to provide service rather than risk an uncertain match.
Unfortunately, we are not able to make our profiles work for you. Our matching model could not accurately predict with whom you would be best matched. This occurs for about 20% of potential users, so 1 in 5 people simply will not benefit from our service. We hope that you understand, and we regret our inability to provide service for you at this time.
I’m glad they stopped the “This Will Be” commercials because that song literally starts bar fights wherever I am.
So, what’s a down-with-love girl like me have to offer in the month of love? For that matter, how in the heck did I wind up a romance author?
Well, my friends, it’s like this. When you decide to read me (and come you should read me if not for the fact that I’ve been rejected by eHarmony), pick the title carefully. Let it be known that you’ll have a pleasant time reading any of my titles, but seriously, they are divided into two distinct categories. The first are stories about how I would like love to be for me. Perhaps, I’ve interweaved some of the things that were beautiful about my terminal relationship, perhaps I’ve added a dash of the working love I’ve seen up close and personal, but stories like The Builder inspire romance in me because I adore the men (all the men) I write and they end up being good guys; good-to-the-core guys.
The second option, should you pick up one of my books or short stories, is to read a tale that is about love in its purest forms and how it has the potential to destroy the universe (literally). Perhaps, I’ve interweaved some pent up aggression or leftover disturb-ed-ness (not a word) from some of my romantic liaisons in the past, perhaps I’ve added a dash of the dysfunctional love I’ve seen up close and personal, but stories like Bright Star inspire romance in me because I always want to know how far one will go for love, even when the greater good is at stake. Will you go when love commands and reason and duty say stay? It’s a question I’ll never get away from so long as I write speculative romance.
I’ll conclude this blog by saying that I’m thirty-something, closing on another thirty-something birthday which I will celebrate on a cruise to a Caribbean island where I will stay at a hotel that is not Sandals, because they don’t let my kind in (filing single on my taxes).
PS for those of you who are wondering, Hedonism doesn’t let my kind in either (I like last names). ;)
For a tender romance, read The Builder.
For something that challenges, read Bright Star.
For an amazing ride of a romantic comedy, read The Prescription Playboy
Grayson Reyes-Cole
http://www.graysonreyescole.com/
PS for those of you who are wondering, Hedonism doesn’t let my kind in either (I like last names). ;)
For a tender romance, read The Builder.
For something that challenges, read Bright Star.
For an amazing ride of a romantic comedy, read The Prescription Playboy
Grayson Reyes-Cole
http://www.graysonreyescole.com/
8 comments:
Hello Grayson! Um, about that eHarmony thing? My favorite ex is also amongst the select 20% who received that note. He wondered if he'd been a little too hard on himself. Ah well, he missed out on me is all I have to say. Had his chance and passed it up ;)
Glad to see the Prescrition Playboy is out. Guess it's time for me to catch up on my reading!
Hey Morgan!
I am very excited that The Prescription Playboy is finally out, too. It's gone through a whole lot of changes is a whole new animal that's still got the spirit of the original work.
About eHarmony... I've been told that I've missed out on some great people too because of my insistence on embracing singularity.
Thank you for stopping by. I've missed talking to you!
Grayson
I am sure I would have been one of those 20%. I don't believe in the compatibility crap any how. A computer can't predict that. Humans aren't that predictable. Besides, who's to say that the other 80% weren't lying when they filled the form out? (grin)
One of our authors tweeted the other day: "Just letting you know, that really hot millionairess you've been chatting to online is a fat dude in his mom's basement."
Having done internet dating before meeting my husband, I know this to be true. (grin)
And, you know, you may just not be ready to meet anyone. Often, we hold on to old loves to protect ourselves. My 2 cent psychoanalysis for the day. (grin)
I went through a period where when people asked me what was wrong with men, my answer was: They breathe. (grin) Obviously, I got over it. (grin)
Big grin, Marci! I actually love men. I love being around them, talking to them, erm... touching them, I just get a little itchy when they press for more than that. I reckon I'll come around some day soon, but for now, I think you're right, I'm not ready.
Hi Grayson :)
How about this one about e-harmony, "I'm sorry but there are no matches in your area". Arrrrrgh!
I can't wait to get "The Prescription Playboy" It sounds like a great read.
Mindy,
Old enough to know better & young enough not to care!
ROFL Mindy! Good luck in your search (maybe you should go fifty miles out?) lol
--Grayson
Hey Grayson!
Umm, isn't it a good thing that you don't fall within "certain defined profiles"? Celebrate your singularity--it's what makes you wonderful. And it's what makes your stories wonderful, too. I love each and every one of them, although I have to say, after I finished Bright Star I couldn't get it out of my mind and kept thinking how special it was. Have a great Valentine's and do something to celebrate your uniqueness!
Hugs,
Rita
Actually, Rita, I completely think of it as a good thing to be unique and to appreciate it enough to be comfortable in my own skin. I'm glad you enjoy my writing and I value your support and your work too. Bright Star is still--for me--the book that represents what I want to write (spec-fic-wise) more than any other piece I've published even though I love them all. I don't mind telling you that I also have a high level of guilt about it taking so long for me to get Domina out, but I promise, it's coming
--Grayson
Post a Comment