BEA 2010: Reading Between the Loins: Why Romance Is So Hot
By Bridget Warren Jun 9, 2010The stepchild of genre fiction generally garners disdain when mentioned as a reading preference. This knowledgeable panel gets under the covers to reveal the intricacies of romance writing and how librarians can help patrons find the love.
Romance is a lush niche full of complex, intriguing, and witty writing, said panelists Cathy Maxwell (The Marriage Ring); Carrie Feron, Avon Books and William Morrow; Tara Parsons, HQN Books; Jennifer Enderlin, St. Martin's; and Stephani Fry, Romance Writers of America® librarian/bookseller liaison. They joined Library Journal managing editor Bette-Lee Fox for an hour at BookExpo America to discuss romance writing and publishing and how to engage patrons/romance readers.
Avid readers thrive on romance and look for Enderlin's essentials: characters, conflict, concept, and voice. If authors can build a compelling world for readers, they can bend the genre and segue from urban fantasy to mystery to paranormals. Enderlin's wide-ranging reader was reflected in the conversation.
Maxwell started things off by asking, "Why do people fall in love?" and offering profuse thanks to librarians. Her career as a historical romance writer was jumpstarted by a romance panel at the Midlothian Public Library, IL. She loves research and simply follows her curiosity-and it has taken her onto the New York Times best sellers list.
"Jane Eyre is the gateway drug to romance," said Morrow's Feron as she again emphasized the genre's malleability. In mentioning new titles, she highlighted Elizabeth Lowell, who writes hard-edged suspense with a passionate twist, and "smarty pants author" Sarah MacLean's Nine Rules To Break When Romancing a Rake.
Enderlin is "excited by authors who buck trends and not doing what's hot." St. Martin's likes to invest in authors, signing them to multibook deals, as is the case with debut novelist Kieran Kramer. Her When Harry Met Molly is the first of three titles St. Martin's will publish.
"Romance is recession-proof, cheap entertainment that can be read over and over" said HQN's Parsons. But it is written by and for women and speaks to their hopes and dreams, she noted. HQN highlights included the fun, flirty novels by Susan Mallery and Victoria Dahl's fresh voice with her bold, sexy heroines.
Romance Writers of America®'s Fry, a librarian herself, took up the cause of how librarians can spread the word to patrons. Staff training is key, and she singled out King County Library System, WA, as doing a particularly good job with its annual training. Cataloging romances is necessary, and Fry suggested creating a romance section, preferably with subgenres. By contrast, Maxwell felt she picked up new readers when her hardcovers were shelved in general fiction.
Fox concluded the session by asking panelists for their Noah's Ark picks (below) and exhorting the audience to be romantic:
Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
A Tale of Two Cities
Anything by Mary Balogh
Cathy Maxwell, author of The Marriage Ring
Scarface, a YA novel
Anything by Georgette Heyer
Carrie Feron, Avon Books and William Morrow
Friday's Child or Cotillion by Georgette Heyer
Titles by Mary Balogh
Tara Parsons, HQN Books
The Worst Case Scenario Handbook
Italian Folktales by Italo Calvino
Jennifer Enderlin, St. Martin's
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Stephani Fry, Romance Writers of America®
Mr. Perfect by Linda Howard
The Lion's Lady by Julie Garwood
