Fabulous Mullets, Throbbing Members and Pounding Hearts: Or, Why on Earth Do People Read Romance Novels?

Fabulous Mullets, Throbbing Members, and Pounding Hearts Or, Why on Earth do people read romance novels? Katie Dunneback Consultant, East Central Library Services [email_address] com LIS 590 KKL – July 26, 2010

Your Expectations

Tonight’s Agenda
A short history of the genre
Reader expectations
The spectrum of romance
Subgenres
Classic authors
Modern classic authors
Rising authors
Trends
Your experience with romance

A Short History
Pamela by Richardson
Jane Austen
Mills & Boon
Georgette Heyer
Harlequin
The Flame and the Flower by Woodiwiss

Reader expectations
Happily Ever After (HEA)
Happy For Now (HFN)
What is the focus of the story?
Women vs. Men

Appeal Factors
How do we talk about romance?
Katie’s #1 rule: Respect your reader.

The Spectrum of Romance
Romantic vs. Romance vs. Erotica
Sensuality levels
The “Porn for Women” debate
Multi-genre

Subgenres of Romance
“ With Romantic Elements”
Contemporary
Category
Historical
Christian/Inspirational
Paranormal
Erotic Romance
Science Fiction/Futuristic
Fantasy
Romantic Suspense
Gothic

Classic authors/titles
Jane Austen
The Brontë Sisters
Charlotte – Jane Eyre
Emily – Wuthering Heights
Anne – Agnes Grey & The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Georgette Heyer
Barbara Cartland
Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy/Philippa Carr
Anya Seton
Kathleen Winsor
Phyllis A. Whitney

Modern classic authors/titles
Nora Roberts (Co/P)/JD Robb (Multi-G)
Jennifer Crusie (Co/P)
Stephanie Laurens (H)
Christine Feehan (P)
Loretta Chase (H)
Julia Quinn (H)
Jayne Ann Krentz (Co/P)/Amanda Quick (H/P)/Jayne Castle (SF/P)
Linda Howard (Co/P)
Suzanne Brockmann (Co/H)
Sherrilyn Kenyon (P)
Beverly Jenkins (Multi-C)
Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Co)

Rising star authors/titles
Eloisa James (H)
Meljean Brook (P)
Nalini Singh (P)
Meredith Duran (H)
Gena Showalter (P)
Lauren Willig (H)
Joanna Bourne (H)
Kresley Cole (P)
Ava Gray (P/SF)/Ann Aguirre (SF)
Victoria Dahl (H/Co)
Tessa Dare (H)
Erin McCarthy (Co/P)
Maya Banks (Ca/ER)
Lora Leigh (P/ER)
JR Ward (P)/Jessica Bird (Co/Ca)
Sherry Thomas (H)
Elizabeth Hoyt (H)/Julia Harper (Co)
Karen Rose (RS)

Collection Development Issues
Cataloging
Format
Heat Level
Purchase vs donations
Weeding

Awards
RITAs
Romantic Times (RT)
RWA Chapter awards

Reader communities
Nora Roberts’ ADWOFF group
Jenny Crusie’s Cherries
Lori Foster’s Reader/Author Get Together
Lora Leigh’s RAW (Reader Author Weekend)
Christine Feehan & Brenda Novak’s FAN Convention
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
Dear Author

Trends
Published w/both traditional and new digital publishers
Urban Fantasy
Steampunk/Gaslight Fantasy
Historical “comeback”
Vampires – still coming or on their way out the door?
Boom & bust trends

Your experience with romance
Have you read it before taking this class?
What were your expectations of the genre?
What did you read? Was at least one of them published within the last 5 years?
What did you think of what you read?
Did you ask a romance reader what you should read if you weren’t already familiar with the genre?

Questions?

Further Resources
Katie’s Delicious links: http://delicious.com/KMDunneback/romance
E-mail: [email_address]
Twitter: @younglibrarian

Fabulous Mullets, Throbbing Members and Pounding Hearts: Or, Why on Earth Do People Read Romance Novels?

by Katie Dunneback

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Fabulous Mullets, Throbbing Members and Pounding Hearts: Or, Why on Earth Do People Read Romance Novels? Presentation Transcript