On Writing: Romance Plus
I recently had someone tell me that she never reads romance, but she tried Carry Her Heart and loved it. It wasn't what she expected in a romance.
That got me thinking. What do readers expect when they pick up a "romance" book? I think readers who read romance regularly (darn, that's a lot of R's) realize romance (when you're on a roll ride it) is more than heaving bosoms. Seriously, no bosoms heave in my stories. But my romances have been many things. Romantic comedies. Sweet Romance. Even when I write Cozy Mysteries, there's romance in it. Why? Because that need (not want, need) to be loved is universal. It's as much a part of life as breathing.
When I started writing bigger, more emotional romances I tried to coin the term Womance...women's fiction + romance. Uh, that didn't take off. But readers are beginning to understand what I mean when I say Romance+. They're stories about a woman's journey. A journey that includes romance, but love isn't the purpose for her trip or her final destination.
But as I thought about that reader's letter, I realized that all my romances are Romance +. All of them involve strong women who are searching for something. A family. A career. A purpose. I can wrap their journey up in comedy or a sweet romance or a women's fiction or even a murder mystery, but it's still there. All my books are at heart Romance + books.
I hope you'll pick one up soon and see for yourself!
Holly
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In Erie, you can find my books on the shelf at Werner Books! Stop in, check them out and tell them I said hi!
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