I’ve found RT helpful. There is a lot in it that I don’t find “silly and fluffy.” I’ve gotten a lot out of articles on authors and on publication articles. And I enjoy some of the fluffy too.

I’m so glad you answered my comments directly — I love that we can have these kinds of discussions!

Perfectly said…

Wayne

It gives a very bad impression to vistors. I’m sure RT has enough going for it that it doesn’t need to keep peopel “hostage.”

Having written at least two non-Path to Publishing feature articles for RT I confess I shamelessly gushed all the heck over Laurell K Hamilton when I wrote the piece on her novels. I love her writing and wanted to convey that to other paranormal, sci-fi, romance freaks like me who might not have picked one of her books up. It never occured to me to do a literary break down of her work in the limited number of words I was given with which to create an article.

I introduced LKH to the reader, fleshed out the origins of the series, coaxed a few “didn’t know that” tidbits in and finished off with what’s coming next. (I have enough notes left over to do a second article on writing advice from LKH.)

So. It was a fan piece. In a magazine whose format is to inform the readers what’s great to read, inform authors what happening in the biz and the writers in waiting how to navigate the land mines, where is there room for discecting a writer? If anyone wants me to write such a piece, I’m game. RT might even print it.

Maybe RT can take up some hard hitting subjects and scoop out why HEA’s will never win Pulitzers or other “serious” fiction awards.

In the mean time, I enjoy reading RT and have been reading it for over 14 years.

You and me both.

Tara writes:
“I think all precocious kids who make gruff heroes melt and turn every heroine into the perfect nanny should be banished.”

Sorry nothing intelligent to add here, I was too busy laughing my ass off!

Tara Writes:
“And if your book stars a modern successful businesswoman, don’t turn her into a clumsy, disheveled, Lucille Ball clone and expect me to find it cute.”

Oh this one sounds familiar too, and yes, I completely agree with you.

Tara also writes:
“So before you blame RWA or RT or clinches for tarnishing the genre, perhaps you should take a real honest look at why we’re so ashamed of our reading choices. Romance is about love, and sexy men and women, and yes, even passionate clinches. And what’s wrong with that? Maybe a little honesty amongst ourselves is the first step to “fixing” romance’s image.”

Amen to that!!!!!

Damn, I agreed with everything you said, that hardly ever happens.

I skip all the party/cover model/frivilous stuff. I don’t fault RT for printing them — they’re in business and they are appealing to their readers. I recognize that RT is primarily for readers, not authors, and therefore if readers are interested in it, fine.