I’ve been having a hard time with this post, so I hope you’ll all forgive me for its tardiness.
I’m struggling with a book I’m working on, so in general, I’ve been a little pissy. But last week, I was out running errands with Offspring 2 (O2) and in a pretty good mood, when I ran into someone I know through work. I don’t know this person well, just in passing, but we exchanged pleasantries and she asked how my summer was going.
I told her about my trip to Maine, about a conference I attended for the day job and then I mentioned my wonderful trip to the RWA conference in NYC. First, she grinned, then she rolled her eyes and then she spoke, and stepped on a landmine. A big one.
Her words, you ask?
“Oh, right, you write that stuff. When are you going to write a real book?”
For a second, I wasn’t sure I’d heard her correctly. I mean, lets put everyone’s opinion of romance aside and talk about good manners. She doesn’t know me that well. We’re professional acquaintances, that’s all. Yet, without thought, this woman openly insulted me.
On one hand, she insulted thousands of women, thousands of accomplished writers and thought it was okay. It was lit snobbery at its best…or depending on your take, its worst. On the other hand, she’s the worst kind of person–someone who has no concern for another’s feelings. Someone who has no respect for something she doesn’t understand.
I probably should have turned around and walked away. Just left her standing there, but I couldn’t do it. I had to say something and I started with a simple question.
“Why would you say that?” (Unfortunately, I didn’t add the name I wanted to call her to the end of that sentence. #%&$!!! But I thought it, I did.)
The Harpy (as she will now be known) laughed and patted my arm in condescension, and that’s when I couldn’t take it anymore. I’m sure my eyes must have turned red, maybe they spun around in my head. I know I felt the growl in my throat, too. Harpy had no intention of answering my question; she figured she’d taken her shot, wrapped herself in her literary superiority and would move on from our conversation, leaving me to my bodice ripping heroes.
Yeah, no. This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
O2 must have sensed it because she was urging me to leave, tempting me with frozen yogurt. But I was single minded as I set out to bury Harpy with the facts. Facts about romance’s incredible reach, profitability and the most basic of all: that if the genre were to become extinct, 1.3 billion dollars in book sales would be lost. It would decimate publishing and all those “real books” wouldn’t have anyplace to go. I talked about academic work being done at major universities studying the genre as literature and I talked about how it made people happy. And in the end, that’s all that mattered.
Romance is about happiness.
Which is something Harpy would know nothing about because like so many people, she’s never read a romance, but has chosen to criticize the genre. Dumb.
And she decided to criticize the genre to me. Even dumber.
So, with each word I uttered, Harpy’s chin dropped a little closer to the pavement. I don’t know if she was stunned by the facts or that I was insulted by her comments, but neither bodes well. As I finished ripping out her heart to feed to my cat, making my point, I enjoyed watching her squirm. It was fun and I can tell you honestly, while the encounter was aggravating, it improved my overall mood.
Facts are facts. Romance novels are profitable and a mainstay of publishing, but that’s not why I write. I write because I know my books will make people happy. Someday, when I finally get that call, my greatest joy will be in the knowledge that people will be reading what I’ve written. They may laugh, they may cry, but in the end I will have the satisfaction of knowing that, for a little while, I helped someone escape from real life.
When I got home, I went to my office and looked at the manuscript that’s been giving me trouble. Suddenly, trying to work out the plot holes didn’t seem so bad. I have the harpy to thank for that. She helped me focus on the good in what I was doing, not the bad.
It’s unfortunate there’s no hope for her.
To celebrate romances and the happily ever after, (because I’m feeling like a warrior woman right now) I have a copies of Jill Shalvis’ Simply Irresistible, JoAnn Ross’s One Summer, and Kristan Higgins’ Catch of the Day that I’ll give away as a bundle to a person randomly chosen from the comments.
***JoAnn Ross has graciously offered to send the winner of the drawing an autographed copy of her NYT bestseller, One Summer along with some other goodies. (See comment 20 for details and a great story.) Thanks, JoAnn!
So, I’ll be sending out Kristan’s and Jill’s books to the winner…JoAnn will send hers from her home base in the PNW.
(Contest is limited to people in the U.S. and Canada–sorry–and will close on Thursday, August 18th, 2011 at 6 pm EDT.)
Good luck!
What a wonderful defense of romance. Please count me in on the drawing. Those are wonderful titles. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to win one?
Thanks for reading, Clarissa…it just had to be said.
Loved the way you stood your ground and defended all of us who write romance novels. I thank you. You are correct too. When things were really rough in my life for a while, I turned to happily ever afters to escape. Worked great. They also probably saved my sanity. I would love to know some of the facts you threw at her, so when my turn comes to defend the genre for all, I will be prepared. You go girl! Thanks for what you do. :^) EJ
EJ, I think we all have books that have saved us. That’s my goal, to give people a mini-vacation in their heads.
I will admit that I was a genre snob until I joined RWA and became acquainted with all of these amazing romance writers. But at least I had manners! Good for you for educating the harpy. Who knows? – one day she might be one of your biggest fans!
Thanks for the contest – count me in!
Pam, I doubt she’ll be a fan, but a little respect would be welcome.
Girl, if I had a nickel for every time I got that comment…Good for you, Miss Jeannie! 1.3 billion dollars can’t be wrong, to paraphrase some Elvis Presley album my mother played over and over when I was a kid. Ain’t nothing wrong with happiness.
Thanks for commenting, Kristan. I re-read two of your books over the winter when my father was in the hospital because of the warm fuzzies I got from reading. I didn’t need a message, I needed a break.
Oh, this assumption gets me riled up every time. Good for you for standing your ground and not just letting her walk off with her smug self. I want to tell people who get so haughty about romance to try writing one to see how “fluffy and easy” they are to compose. Yeah. Good luck with that.
I write erotic romance, so I get this type of comment and assumption even more because I’m not just writing silly romance, I’m apparently also writing p0rn. *rolls eyes*
Roni, I don’t know how I would deal with the added problems you face writing erotic romance, but you could sure have fun teasing the devil out of people when they ask the “how do you do your research” questions. Thanks so much for commenting.
At first I avoided writing romance for fear of that exact attitude toward the genre even though in my heart, I knew that’s what I wanted to write. Then I happened upon my writing group who gushed about my stories, especially the romantic elements I tried to hide deep within the text. Knowing I’d given them some enjoyment made me feel silly for avoiding my passion. Now all of my writing revolves around the great romance. I say to hell with the poo-pooers. Great post.
Jocelyn, if you don’t write what you love, the readers know it. Congrats on finding the passion.
Way to go for standing up for your passion! Bringing more happiness to the world is wonderful….what a noble intention. Who could fault you for that? I get the same digs about writing Young Adult. These people who cut us down have no clue how difficult it is to write a book. Kudos to you for explaining the facts so well.
I give you credit. I teach high school and live the teen drama everyday and there is no way I could write YA. It’s hard! You’re right, the biggest naysayers could never do what we do.
This is wonderful! It’s tiresome having to defend romance books all the time. And I find the need for it so puzzling, because if you ask people what is the most important aspect of their life, they will typically respond “spouse and family”, which is exactly what romance celebrates.
I’m glad all of it provided you with some inspiration and motivation for your writing. That’s the best part of all.
Thanks, Donna! I agree…why criticize the genre that brings to life the things most people want?
Great job Jeannie!
I have a co-worker like that. Thing is, we work in a bookstore. I keep telling him that those “silly, plotless, wastes of paper” (his words) feeds his family – if he hadn’t noticed since they sell more than anything else in the store. People are going to continue to have this opinion of romance and instead of getting mad, I feel sorry for them. Imagine, living your life without one ounce of romance … a dry and lonely existence.
That’s why I write romantic comedies – I want people to laugh. Laughter is healthy! Next to sex, it releases the most endorphines!
If I win, you’ll have to send the Shalvis book to someone else … I have more Shalvis books in my collection than she does .. lol
Make ‘em laugh, Bailey! And as far as your co-worker, there’s no talking to people who spout that much pretense. If he has to wallow in negativity, let him do it alone.
And all folks that write children’s books get the same comments. Good for you for knowing your facts.
And Lou Grant used to make Mary Richards mad just to get her out of her funk. When my mom does that, I say she’s pulling a “Lou Grant.”
Are any of your giveaways alpha males that aren’t grumpy, un-dateable?
Smooches and cupcakes,
SL
SL, The giveaways are wonderful books…two of the three hero’s are staid, and come around to hot and loveable. The third hero is just hot and amazing all the time. These are cupcake worthy romances.
*applauds* You’re my hero! Good for you, Jeannie.
My temper was simmering while I read this post and I wanted to track down said harpy and beat her senseless with a stack of romance stats.
*deep cleansing breath* I feel better now. As someone who’s read your work cover to cover and moaned, panted, cried, laughed, sighed and finally, grinned – I am qualified to say you made me HAPPY.
And did so without chocolate. Now THAT’s hard.
Squeee! I made you happy. That’s a win. Thanks, Patty.
xoxo
Great defense of the genre. Good for you going back at her. I’m glad you made her squirm a bit. I love reading all sorts of books including romances!
Thanks, Donna. There’s no way I could let her get away with it!
the only response to what the Harpy said to you is to do exactly what you did.
bravo.
right on, sista! also, write on, sista!
Abby, it felt really good.
This post is wonderful. Romance novels are certainly real books. It takes real blood, sweat, tears, and words to get romance novels out, the same as any other genre.
After getting to know writers through Twitter and Google+ I am finding that many of them are romance novelists. As a friend, I started reading their sample chapters and must admit, I am slowly getting hooked into the romantic comedies.
Keep on writing your real romance novels. I for sure will buy them.
Thank you Ashley! I find romance writers so accessible and nice. They love their fan base and it shows.
I haven’t gotten that ‘real book’ comment yet, mainly because I haven’t told the people I’d get if from (my family). But my mother-in-law is a huge romance fan and she supports me 100%. She believes intelligent women read romance, and every intelligent woman I know agrees.
How great that you get support from you MIL! Tell people–then slap them with the stats.
I saw this re-tweeted by Ashley March, who is one of those suspect ‘romance novelists’ and had to come have a look. I’ve been a romance writer apologist for a good two years now, hearing comments from friends that range from ‘Hey y’all, Jenn’s writing smut books’ and ‘Oh, you’re doing porn?!’, to ‘That’s the most puerile, artless crap’ . The next time I catch a smirk and raised eyebrows coming my way, I’ll be sure to remember this post. Really awesome.
Smut and porn? Wow, Jennifer, I’m impressed. LOL. I can get past those comments because those people don’t get it and if you hit them with numbers, they back down. The “puerile, artless crap” comment would burn me. I hope the post gives you the ammo you need.
Way to go, Jeannie! Thanks for writing what many of us think. I’ve had co-workers give me that smirk and well-meaning acquaintances tell me romance is “a good starting point.”
To those who think romance is porn I explain my characters have their clothes on 90% of the time, and to the others I say reading romance has helped me through some very difficult times and I want to give other women that kind of comfort and happiness. That generally shuts them up. I’ve never had a Harpy experience, but if it would help my writing as it did yours, I say bring it on!
Believe in yourself, and write what you love. Nothing’s more real than that.
Jolyse, the last line of your comment is magnificent and it says it all. Thanks for reading and commenting. Your harpy will visit, but you have the perfect answer.
Good for you for standing up for yourself, your genre and industry. I cannot believe someone would be so rude to do that.
Thank you for sharing this!
Molly, the rudeness floored me. I was really stunned, I’m just glad I was able to keep my head on straight to respond.
Oh. My. God. As a romance writer, reader and redhead I would have completely lost my cool (not that I have much, since, you know, I am a redhead) and would have completely annihilated that woman. Good for you for putting the facts to her in a manner in which her feeble mind could digest them.
I feel sorry for people like her, close-minded, unhappy fools. I love to point out that many “classic” literature stories are romance novels at their core. My favorite is when the person locked in my target starts sputtering and their facial muscles start spasming as if their brain is malfunctioning from factual overload. Sorry. Like many people in this feed of comments, ignorant morons like your Harpy get my blood moving a little faster.
The funny part is, maybe if these people would just read before criticizing they may be able to find a little happiness for themselves. Like you said, “Romance is about happiness” and who couldn’t use a little more of that in their lives?
Good for you, Jeannie!
Karen, if someone doesn’t like a genre because they’ve tried it and it’s jut not their thing, that’s one thing…but to pull the snob card? No. I’m with you.
I’m not a big mystery reader, but I’m not going to say the genre doesn’t have value. Of course it does!
In the end money talks and romance has a big voice.
Yay you! I’ve been hearing that since 1982. For two years I had an In The News column in the RWR. People would send me news clippings. Every month I’d get at least ten “bodice ripper” articles.
One jeweler who made the mistake of disparaging romance, while I was shopping for a very large and sparkly wedding/engagement ring to replace the much smaller one I’d lost, lost a very nice sale when I walked out. (The only reason he asked what I did is that Jay had already told him I was buying the ring, so, since he had a lot of doctor clients, he thought I must be a doctor.) He did back up a bit when sweetie calmly suggested that perhaps he shouldn’t have insulted a potential customer. But it was too late.
I’m often tempted to tell people, “Oh, I’m making so much money writing fake books, I wouldn’t want to switch to writing real ones.” lol
Got a proposal for you. How about I send whoever wants One Summer an autographed copy? With a bookmark and magnets for One Summer and On Lavender Lane? Then you can donate the one you have to a good cause.
Someday, I want to use your line, “Oh, I’m making so much money writing fake books, I wouldn’t want to switch to writing real ones.” I just want to use it once to watch a reaction.
JoAnn, you are awesome, as always. Thank you so much for contributing the signed book and goodies. I know whoever is picked will love it.
Good for you!!! I don’t write romance, but I read it and have a TON of it on my shelves!! I have to listen to this same bullsh*t from people on comment threads on Facebook all the time…those who believe it’s not real or just training — something people write before they write “real” books.
*GAH!*
Keep up the good fight, sister!! And good for you for speaking your mind while the situation was happening! So often we go home and think of what we SHOULD have said! haha
Cynthia, I was so happy I kept my wits! I was afraid I would be like Meg Ryan in “You’ve Got Mail” and be struck dumb. I’m thinking the Harpy wishes that had happened.
I love romances and am not longer embarrassed to admit it!! That’s all I read. Since “Harpy” helped you with the plot holes, maybe you should name your next villian after her!!
Lynne, that’s a great idea. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Don’t let the literary snobs get you down. If they could write a book, they would. But they can’t, so they comfort themselves by putting down those of us who can.
Isn’t this the truth. Thanks, K.D.
I would have added in how much raw research a romance writer typically needs to do, and I might have added a bit about how strict the guidelines are to write romance, which has to follow some sort of definable road. “Literary fiction” is just code for “writer with nothing to say and no clue how to say it,” or “writer with something to say who says it in a way no one can understand,” at least sometimes. Is *that* what makes a “real book?” Incomprehensible drivel? Ummm, no thanks!
You know, Trisha, I like most genres. What I don’t like is when romance is seen as the red-headed stepchild. Romance keeps publishing afloat and more people need to know it.
I write young adult but I have certainly had my fair share of prejudice to deal with because I’m self published. I have had to bite my tongue a few times when family or friends have brushed off my work because they can’t buy it at the local Walmart. It’s sad that some people can’t realize the amount of blood, sweat and tears that go into those few hundred pages. Romance is one of my favorite genres and I can only ask that you trudge on for those of us who are anxiously awaiting your next work.
CC, good luck with your work. Books are too hard to write for people to be so negative. If they only knew.
First of all, I wish I could write romance! Second, revenge is sweet-make this RUDE co-worker the Evil Bitch in your next romance. How’s that for “real?”
Jan, were you and Lynne talking? That evil bitch idea has merit!
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Jeannie,
Good for you! Your post, combined with another conversation I had today, triggered a post on my blog: http://wp.me/p1J2N4-3a.
I honestly haven’t told anyone at work about my writing (well, they know I write fiction, but no one asks what I’m working on, and I don’t bring it up unless they ask, so…), which is unfortunate, since I do so much social media stuff as a writer, and I work in PR, so that’s a valuable job skill. Not sure if I would get the weird stare or not. Or any snarky comments. But, if we don’t give people this info, they’ll just go on thinking the same ol’ crap forever.
Seriously, your post really got me thinking. Thanks.
Janelle, I read your post and I love that I helped get your ideas flowing. I’ll be hopping over there next to read the post again and comment.
Great post!
I really do wish people would spend more time propping others up vs knocking them down.
This summer has been a rough one for me because of various medical issues my loved ones had to face. Thankfully, everything worked out well (spit spit).
Because of everything going on I didn’t have any time for reading…until now. I started the latest Julie Garwood and I’m almost halfway finished. Reading one of my favorite romance authors always puts me in such a great mood and allows my mind to escape to a glorious place.
So THREE CHEERS to romance writers everywhere! Keep on sharing the happily ever afters. Lord knows the world can use some.
Lisa, I agree…we should be trying to prop each other up! How comforting it must be to know that when life knocks you around, romance will give you an escape. (I feel the same way!)
I love your post! I don’t write romance (or anything else), but I have been reading them for over 40 years. You can count on the ‘happy ending’ and unlike real life, books will wait for you to have time for them. Of course, most of the time I don’t want to wait and I stay up too late reading. Thanks for sharing the stats – I know I will use them.
Thanks for reading Betsey. I love getting lost in a good story, just like you.
Nice job, Jeannie! I’m proud of you for standing your ground. While I don’t read romances often (unless you can count Emily Giffin books as romances), I definitely respect anyone who has the courage and patience to try to write a novel. I, myself, don’t think I could ever write a book. I can help other people with their writing, mostly kids, but I don’t think I have it in me to write an original story. I don’t even know where to begin…
How dare this person insult you? It always amazes me how people think it is okay to insult the interests of others. But it always impresses me when someone stands up for what they believe in. Good for you!
Thanks, Michelle. I love when my friends get going on a post…they get so mad for me. Don’t apologize for not reading something…you read what you like and what makes you happy. Emily Giffin is wonderful.
Thanks for the encouragement and the love. <3
You don’t have to enter me in the drawing if others are dying for those books, because I don’t read romance.
Much.
That’s not why I’m commenting.
I’m commenting to say I would read ANYTHING you wrote, from a paper napkin to a book, because I know you’ve got the goods. If you told me you wrote a book in some whackadoo genre I’d never heard of, I would totally read it because, and I know I repeat, you’ve got the goods!
I rather suspect Harpy knows you’ve got the goods, and maybe she’s just a wee bit jealous? (In addition to being ill mannered and ignorant.)
I do hope you drop off a signed copy of your first pubbed romance novel so she can finally see what all the fuss is about. Unless a display at the book store smacks her in the face first.
Oh, and incidentally, I want to clarify I’m not sure why I don’t read romance much–not bc I have ANY kind of negative opinion of it, like the harpy. I have definitely been in a non-fiction and chick lit (is that term still in vogue–I’m thinking I heard no, but you know what I mean) pattern the past several years. But as I come across more and more aspiring, intelligent, and entertaining romance writers that is surely changing! Bring on the romance!
I’m just picturing that book store display. What a lovely vision.
As far as what you read…it’s all about taste. I don’t read horror, but it doesn’t make it bad or unworthy of publication, it’s just not my thing. Other people love being scared; it’s an adrenaline rush. I prefer to get the blood flowing other ways.
Harpy doesn’t like anything that isn’t in her realm of taste. That’s too narrow for my existence.
I would love for the Harpy to stumble upon this blog post where you flay her alive in public! Seriously, I have read so many great romance novels and met many brilliant romance authors. I used to get mad by this kind of snobbery, but now, I prefer to let the dollars & profits speak for themselves.
jesilea (at) charter (dot) net
Oh, Lord…could you imagine? LOL. It’s a good thing I don’t see her that often. Oh, well, this should be a warning to all: when you insult a writer you become material.
Good on you! I know romance has a much larger share of the market than the other genres combined, but as far as I’m concerned, Harpy was dissing all genre fiction, so I’m very proud you stood your ground and buried her in facts.
Keep up the good work!
I wrote a post today that followed up on this one that focused more on the genre bashing. You’re right, she was dumping on anything that wasn’t literary. Thanks for reading!
Gosh, I can’t believe how some people behave. I have been a long time reader of romance books from when I could pick up old Harlequin’s for a nickle back in the day at yard sales (I still have some of the oldies but goodies) and I WISH that I could write romance because I love the HEA and would love to be able to give that gift to my readers. I don’t have the knack for writing romance. It is hard work and takes a lot of brain power. I wish I had the gift.
In the meantime just know that I am a romance reader and ardent proponent of the genre. I have more than 40 years of romance reading under my belt and I hope to get in at least another 40 years before the lights go out.
Cheers,
Ardee-ann
Readers like you keep the genre popular and progressing! Read on! And thanks for commenting. The HEA is what life is all about.
I agree with MuffinTop, the first thing that came to mind, is that the woman is so obviously jealous of you and your dreams and ability. I don’t get why life just continues to be high school and why some women just love to bring others down.
You’ll have to post what happens when you see her next..lol
I don’t know about jealous, but there are some women that never leave adolescence. It’s sad.
Great answer. I remember being snubbed by a book club because I wrote “those” books. I went to a meeting and never returned. Someone actually laughed when I said I’d published a paranormal romance – she thought it was funny that anyone would believe what I wrote.
I’ve laughed all the way to the every bank every month for the last 4 years…haven’t missed a paycheck, sometimes more than one since I have three publishers.
Marianne, your success is the best revenge. I’m looking forward to that.
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please enter my name into the giveaway, thanks for having this, Julie
My pleasure, Julie. Thanks for visiting!
You don’t have to be a writer to get that attitude. I blog and read ALOT! I like to talk about what i read too. I get a lot of the comments about what i read and the looks. Ticks me off but i don’t care because they don’t know what they’re missing.
I wish i could have been standing in the vicinity near you so i could see what confrontation but i more than likely would’ve joined in the fray and it would take more than frozen yogurt to save us lol. Ok it wouldn’t have gotten that ugly but i would’ve had your back!!
No body should knock you for doing something you love.
Lisa B
Lisa, the comments were overwhelming not only from writers in all genres but from readers who felt they had to hide what they read! I wrote a follow up today because the whole thing, the snobbishness, really struck a nerve.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
I have all of these lovely books already, but I just wanted to say, You go, girl!
Thank you, Virginia!
Intellectual snobs expose their most unattractive assets when they bury their heads in the sand. Congrats on kicking this one in hers.
LOL. I love this comment. Thank, Peggy.
Way to sock it to her!! I want to give the Harpy a piece of my mind and I’ve never met her! I work in an office where there are a number of professors, so I get that attitude from them–but most of them can’t operate a fax machine or photocopier, so their opinions don’t matter as much to me.
And there are some professors who are studying this genre as literature and are willing to talk to me about it–so that gives me hope.
I’m glad you got something positive from the experience in standing up for yourself and the genre and also in getting your mojo back to work on the manuscript again. Huzzah!
I would love to talk to academics studying romance. McDaniel College is where Nora Roberts made a donation to fund courses and research in romance literature. There’s a conference there over Veterans’ Day. The keynote speaker is Eloisa James in her academic persona.
First off she was just plain rude and rude is never right. I always say of the people who have no manners, that I know what barn they were raised in. Glad you responded the way you did.
I was stunned by her comment. It just lacked class.
I love romance book for that purpose to get out of my world as a mom, home daycare provider. So you keep on writing…I know someone told me to stop reading that junk, I’m just a mom, and not a writer. I told this person to mine her own business on what I read. I never critize what others read or watch on TV. All i can say is I keep on reading romance and loving it!
I’ve always worked outside the home and honestly, I’m thankful for it. Being a stay at home mom and daycare provider is hard work! You need any kind of break you want.
Love to read romance always have! Just started writing 2 years ago! Not published yet, my Mom said could you use an alias! I think it embarrass’ her!
When I start talking about “things” my kids get embarrassed. (They’re young adults) It’s fun watching their faces turn red.
People amaze me!! I grew up on the saying ” If you can’t say something nice…you shouldn’t say anything at all!” I realize that everyone is entitled to their opinions, but to be so blatantly rude and condescending like…..wow….what a sad person to live their life acting like that. Way to go for sticking up for yourself and the genre!!
Stephanie, this woman forgot all her sandbox rules. And man, was I mad! Like I said in the post, I felt better after our “talk.”
A wonderful post, Jeannie! I’m so proud of you for standing up for yourself, and the romance literature (yes, I’m using the word literature here because that’s what it is!).
As a newer romance author I sometimes wonder what people will say when I tell them that I write romance, but your post has given me strength, courage and some fightin’ words in case a Debbie Downer every crosses my path.
I raise my fist in solidarity to you and all the other romance writers.
Ugh. My very own sister is a Harpy. And whenever she gets on her superior high horse I simply ask what she is currently reading or even the last book she read. Usually shuts her up fairly quickly.
great love stories will never go out of style… the prejudgements I think have more to do with a bias against female writers
Shakespeare for example wrote some dang good romances, and modern day men like Nicholas Sparks get a pass for their writing based on what is dangling between their legs
just my opinion, that and one thin dime won’t even buy a cup of coffee these days
Diane, remember, as Mr. Sparks will tell you, he doesn’t write romances (a genre dominated by women) he writes love stories. He’s got the same problem as the lit snob and I agree if there were different parts involved, he wouldn’t be getting a movie deal with every book. Thanks so much for commenting.
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