Just recently my Rita-Award winning author Linnea Sinclair was recently asked to present at the Popular Culture Association National Conference in San Fran next year. She emailed me to ask if it was worth her going.
And that is a really interesting question.
On one hand, I don’t think presenting at this conference will necessarily create larger name recognition for her or broaden her fan base (and thus sell more books). But I have to say that after she decided to attend, I ‘m glad she is presenting at this conference.
Why? Because I think any opportunity a career writer has to broaden the general audience’s understanding of what is romance is a positive thing.
Heck, it was only a couple of weeks ago that I was at social function and when it was mentioned that I represent authors (and romance authors as well) that a gentleman referred to bored housewives as the main readers for romance. Such a cliché and so stereotypical.
I simply smiled at him and replied, “No, actually, that is not the main demographic for romance readers because most “housewives” don’t have time to read. They’re working.” I went on to state that a large percentage of publishing profits come from that sector and I was more than happy to have a slice of that pie.
I’m sure I didn’t broaden his horizons but Linnea speaking at what is essentially an academic conference just might do exactly that.
Reading and writing romance is an influential part of American Popular Culture and how our society is shaped. It is a worthy, legitimate discussion. Of course on this blog I’m already preaching to the choir…
Related posts:
Many chocolate chip cookies to you, Ms. Nelson, for setting the gentlemen straight on the reality of housewives. My exhausted husband thanks you too.
And a big ‘way to go’ to Linnea too!:wink: She deserves the honor and has the eloquence to set a good example for the genre.
Well, we very much look forward to seeing Linnea there! I think this year’s romance section of the PCA conference is going to be incredible. I just can’t wait!
I went to the Popular Culture conference once in my graduate student days and had a blast. The best part was meeting academics who are also readers. I had dinner with some (formerly complete strangers) who were comics fans, for example.
Also, after listening to papers all day, I was brimming with ideas about genre and what I could do with it.
Too many people dismiss romance like that, not realizing the size and force of the genre. According to http://www.journalism.sfsu.edu/www/pubs/gater/fall97/dec16/ROMANCE.html romance is more than 50% of ALL mass market fiction.
It is also wrong to categorize romance readers as was so eloquently pointed out. Being a firm believer in happily-ever-after and true-love-conquers-all, I like romance books as well as action shoot-em-ups.