Article: “Romance, Gender, and the Measure of a ‘Real Book'” (Joyce Lamb)

For an older but still-relevant (and quick) read about the cultural disdain for romance novels (and novelists), check out the following link.

I’m lucky. I have an M.A. in English and American literature and a Ph.D. and non-romance writing credits to my name(s), so no one gives me shit to my face.

But … this! Here’s a pull quote from a romance author quoted in the article:

“My fiction muscles are not as strong as my non-fiction muscles. If you try to sit down to write a romance novel, it’s hard. It is not easy. And I want to smack the people who say, ‘Oh yeah, someday when I have a spare weekend I’ll write a romance novel.’ I want to stab them with a fork.”

Yes.

(You may need to click on the title of this post to activate the link to the article … still figuring out the vicissitudes of the blogging platform!)