Re: Get the fuck over it
Friday, June 2nd, 2006Dear haters of erotic romance, and by association, haters of erotic romance authors and readers,
When I read comments like these by print authors it makes me even more diligent to get out the word about ebooks and erotic romance.
I have a little note I hope reaches every close minded, uppity, old school “traditional” romance writer who feels the need to bash erotic romance: Get the fuck over it. Erotic romance is here to stay, and has been around for a while. Ebooks have definitely accelerated the spread of erotic romance by introducing readers to different types of stories, but here’s a newsflash: many of those readers were looking for something spicier. I came upon ebooks through a PRINT author’s site. Yep, Emma Holly links to Angela Knight at EC in her recommended reads, and I’ll forever be thankful for that awakening in my young life. Before Emma Holly I gobbled up Susan Johnson and Robin Schone like candy. I gravitated toward the alpha males in Diana Palmer’s stories, and was pleasantly excited by Linda Howard’s more explicit scenes in Dream Man and the MacKenzie series. When my favorite authors lost their minds ventured into suspense and mystery, EC saved romance for me.
Erotic romance is not just about using four letter words and “kinky” scenarios. Many print authors who may not label their stories “erotic” still manage to write very compelling erotic stories without even using four letter words: Elizabeth Lowell’s earlier historical and western romances come to mind. And let’s not forget Dara Joy, a veteran in the game of paranormal, erotic and innovative romance stories who without a doubt has influenced authors like Jaid Black and Lora Leigh.
Wanna call it chick porn? You can call it whatever the hell you want, I don’t care either way, labels don’t scare me from picking up a good story or trying a new author. And they sure don’t stop my mother, who recently found one of my print EC books and demanded to know where she could get more, my sister who is now a regular Wednesday shopper at EC and who encouraged me to review so she knows which ones to pick up, my cousin who is bringing ISBN numbers to Borders to get her favorite ebooks in stock, and my friends who thank me as I email them about a new story I’ve enjoyed.
Given the already close-minded bias against romance within literary circles, I’m disappointed that writers and readers are turning on other members within our community. Print authors need not forget: all erotic romance readers were once and probably still are “traditional” romance readers as well. Don’t alienate your readership out of pettiness, spitefulness and jealousy because your books aren’t selling like they used to. You don’t want to write hotter, then don’t, but lay off the people who do. I recommend you spend your time a bit more productively, go write a novel or something.
Tired of having to defend her reading choices, it’s 2006 not 1886,
Solaine