Comments on: Blog Hopping: Demon Porn, Pondering, and Who Speaks for Romance?

By: Jill D.

Jill D. — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 03:18:58 +0000

Here, here Sarah! I am not out to change the world. I understand that there are close-minded individuals out there who take one look at a romance novel cover, with all it’s man-titty glory and turn their sophisticated noses up at it. Well, so what! All I can say to that is “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. You and I know what it’s really all about it. They are losing out based on their preconcieved notions. If I feel like they might have just a smidgen of open-mindedness about them, then I might clue them in on a few things. Otherwise, I turn and walk away with secrets of my own.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:11:18 +0000

@Alexia561: I admit I hesitated to take Erin McCarthy's Flat-Out Sexy on public transport! @Wendy: I think I'd go crazy if I were in your position and heard a fellow librarian say something like that.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:51:28 +0000

Do you care what people think of your preference for romance novels?

I care, because it’s my job to care. I have no problem with people saying “Meh, romance novels aren’t my thing.” I DO have problems with people who say, “It’s all poorly written smut and I know this because I read a romance back in 1984.” That being said, I’m pretty good with ignoring those types unless they should know better. Oh, like they’re booksellers or librarians.

Drives me bonkers.

By: Alexia561

Alexia561 — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:49:17 +0000

I’ve never made it a secret that I love romances, but I do admit to reading books with racy covers in the privacy of my own home. Too embarrassing to read them in public, as some of the covers are ridiculous. Maybe the cheesy covers aren’t helping the public’s perceptions of romance readers?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:41:39 +0000

@RKCharron: It is amazing that people continue to dismiss romance novels when their sales continue to rise. I'd love to know how many closet romance readers there are out there! @Magdalen: Nice summary. Spot on, I think. @Venus Vaughn: Thank you! I just shrug when people make fun of me for liking romance novels. I used to be ashamed to admit I read them but I really don't care anymore. @K.C. Smokinhotbooks: That was my fave picture, too! @heidenkind: There you go. @Marissa: I used to go on the defensive but now I just don't engage. It's not worth it.

By: Marissa

Marissa — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 20:15:31 +0000

I must admit I always defend my romance books to others, why I don’t know, it is the automatic pilot in me… Nobody reads them, yet this genre is selling big… I have this huge bookcase in my livingroom so anyone who visits me knows exactly what I read and I don’t care anymore what they think. I love my romance books!

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 05:25:39 +0000

I agree that we tend to be overly defensive about romance. Even I have been defensive about it on occasion. But I totally agree that the numbers speak for themselves. Obviously romance isn’t a narrowly-appealing genre.

By: K.C. Smokinhotbooks

K.C. Smokinhotbooks — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:52:26 +0000

I was cracking up on Meljean Brooks post! The BDSM image has to be my favorite.

I don’t really care if people know I read romnace books. Would I want my ubber conservative hard core Christian cousins knowing I read “erotic romance” or my father looking at my book covers from Ellora’s Cave? Probably not.

Great post!

By: Venus Vaughn

Venus Vaughn — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:25:14 +0000

I am SO with you there. Romance readers are especially defensive, and when one acts that way, it makes those on the offensive think you actually do have something of which to be ashamed.

I don’t care if people know that I read and write romances. If they’re going to judge without ever having read some, that’s their problem. They’re gonna have to live with that closed mind forever.

If they don’t have enough respect for me to respect my entertainment choices, why would I want them in my life anyway?

By: Magdalen

Magdalen — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:57:58 +0000

Okay, literary fiction authors get (sometimes) critical praise but would like readers to actually buy & read their books.

Mystery authors would like their books to be considered more than mere “cozies.”

Science fiction authors would also like readers to know that their books are about real people and (yes) stuff that matters to us today. Oh, and more reviews in mainstream media and more sales would be nice, too.

And romance authors would like the whole world to know that it’s not just porn for women, or poorly written sex=love fantasies, and that while the industry is worth billions, most authors get paid in numbers with only 4 or 5 zeros!

Wow — writers are grumpy gusses!