Aug 26, 2016

In praise of romance...



I think there must be something in the water, or perhaps the general non-romance reading population are finally catching up...but today I was alerted to TWO articles praising the romance genre. The first:

http://www.bustle.com/articles/175941-i-read-a-romance-novel-for-the-first-time-and-i-learned-the-stereotypes-are-absolutely  sets out to slam all the stereotypes and perceptions that people have about romance books and the protagonists etc.

The second one https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/24/mills-and-boon-romances-are-actually-feminist-texts-academic-says talks about an academic researcher who claims Mills and Boon books are actually the 'literature of protest' and feminist texts.

I don't know about that... I guess that's for people cleverer than me to debate. But I do know that I love to read about strong sassy women who won't settle for second best, who value their self worth and won't take any crap. Overcoming obstacles is something we all have to face in life, believing in love and a HEA keeps me going when things are going wrong.

When I tell people I write romance for a living I generally have to wait out the pause before the other person answers. (I secretly LOVE telling people what I do every day!). I usually get a fabulous response but, a few months ago I was out with a 'literary bunch' and when a man found out I 'made money' from writing he asked what I did. I told him I wrote romance and he literally turned his back to me. Honestly. Turned away from me without saying a word. I was pretty shocked and lost for words. His attitude sums up the ignorant, the snobby and the downright ill-mannered- someone who's never read a romance book in their lives but thinks they know what it's all about because of some 1980s book cover they once saw.

I don't care what other people think, though, I just love to read them and to write them. I love the thrill of making life complicated for my hero and heroine, I love living vicariously through my heroine (because, yes, I do! I'm always smarter, funnier and sexier in my books). I love going to conferences and meeting the strong sassy women who write and read these books and sharing my love for a bloody good plot twist and a gorgeous hero we all fell in love with. Mostly, I love it when a reader tells me a story (and not necessarily one of mine, but one of many) helped them through a difficult personal time.

What do you like best about reading romance? Any new releases you've read recently you can recommend?


12 comments:

  1. Hi Louisa

    That man was rude as but I am very glad there are lots of romance writers out there because I love reading romance and am very proud of the fact that I do and will tell anyone who wants to hear and I if people make faces I tell them they should try them :)

    I have read a few great books lately I have read the first 3 in The Billionaire's Legacy about The DiSione family these are Harlequin Sexy line and I am loving them and I have read the first one in Amy Andrew's Rugby Union series awesome and Helen Lacey's newest one in The Cedar River series :) lots

    Have Fun
    Helen

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    1. You are our biggest cheerleader, Helen. Thank you!! I am definitely going to binge read AAs rugby series- being a rugby 'widow' at the moment with hubby off working with his team all hours. I have the others down on my tor pile (which is getting longer and longer and longer....)

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    2. Thanks for the plug, Helen! :-)

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  2. Some people are astoundingly rude, aren't they Louisa? Although sometimes I think they're preferable to the people who radiate judgement when they know what you do and make assumptions about your intellect...
    Grrrr!
    I've read both Ainslie Paton and Sandra Antonelli's latest this last week and loved them both. Oh and I just started a certain indie book published by this fab NZ author, Louisa George - awesome stuff!

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    1. LOL- hope you enjoy it, AA!

      I have one of Sandra's on my kindle- I must bump it further up the tbr list... gah, so many books, so little time!

      I can't believe the rudeness of some people, honestly, I can do without that negativity in my life!!!

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    2. I have Louisa's calling to me as well :)

      Have Fun
      Helen

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  3. I played with a number of scenarios in my head when I read how rude that man was to you, Louisa. And believe me, he has learned the error of his ways and won't be making that mistake again. ;-)

    I'm so behind on my reading! But I recently finished Nikki Logan and Marion Lennox's latest romances. And I finally got to Rachel's The Finn Factor. All of them were fantastic reads.

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    1. Thanks Michelle! Glad to see you've got my back- *wondering exactly which scenarios you've been toying with* LOL

      There are SO many amazing books, right. I just read a Marion Lennox medical- so gorgeous. Didn't know Nikki Logan had a new one out-must check that out!

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  4. Louisa, I guess we have to feel sorry for the narrow minded out there. That said, I don't expect everyone to love reading romance, but at the same time I don't put anyone down for reading, or for writing, anything. Reading is good! My parents did not speak English as a first language so I guess it was surprising to them that I loved reading and writing and comprehension and later, English, so much at school. Books, any books, are a gift to be savored and enjoyed. Never denigrated.

    The thing I love most about reading romance is the promise of happy ever after. It's not a given for everyone, except between the pages of a romance novel, which in my mind is a wonderful place to be. :D

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    1. I absolutely agree, Yvonne, reading is good, so good. I adore books and have all my life. And I really duo love a happy ending...nothing better!

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  5. What a ghastly man, Louisa! I guess we're all used to the sniggers and snide remarks but for every one of those there are the "I love reading romance" replies too. My hand luggage was slightly overweight when checking in at Adelaide airport. The lovely check in girl suggested I move some books from my carry on to my suitcase. I pulled out a few (as you do when coming home from a romance writer's conference!) One was one of my own books and I asked her would she like to have it. She seemed delighted to accept!

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    1. What a lovely moment for you Kandy! I always love it when people share my love of books and romance.

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