Regardless of your political persuasion, there’s no denying that the events of the recent change of administration including the inauguration, the parade and the numerous balls, were exciting. Maybe even romantic? I was thinking that with the exception of a few authors who were outspoken during the election process, making no bones about their politics, most of the authors that I follow remained mostly mum. Personally, I feel that two things, my politics and my religious beliefs, are private and I typically choose not to discuss them. I wonder if some authors might feel the same way. Book sales and future contracts are their bread and butter and given how easily some readers’ feathers are ruffled, I imagine many feel it’s best not to step on toes. Do you think that readers might deliberately alienate an author if their political views differed significantly?
What about politicians in romance? Other than the occasional daughter of a (insert office here – president, senator, congressman, governor) who falls in love with the bodyguard assigned to protect her, I can only think of a handful of political characters that have played a major role in a romance novel.
I can’t help but wonder if all the political chatter and hopeful anticipation of a fresh start and brighter days to come, might influence romance writings. Could political romance be the next big thing? Can you picture a rise in the interest of political romance? Yes? No? Couldn’t care less? What do you think?
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Interesting post! I want to try and answer, even though I don’t follow politics very closely. If anyone could lend a romantic side to politics, I think it would be Obama. Clinton obviously failed, and remains in the doghouse, and Bush could never exude the intelligence necessary to be taken seriously. Obama is not only more youthful in appearance than any of the previous presidents–sans JFK–he’s also in a marriage that, by nature, seems easier for others to relate to. Politicians just aren’t known for possessing a human-like warmth, and if Obama brings that warmth into politics, that will open the door for romantic association to begin. We’re close to Valentine’s Day, and if we’re lucky, Obama will do something romantic for his wife and the media will catch wind of it.
Thanks for making me think! I will favorite this blog right away!
Like you, Laurie, I tend to keep my political feelings private, especially in the romance arena. We all have strong feelings about many things, and I see no need to debate something as potentially violatile as politics at romance blogs, etc when I’m there for the books and the wonderful authors and stories, not to discuss my political beliefs.
But as Quipid mentioned, having a president in the White House who seems to have a strong, loving marriage might change people’s POV about reading/writing a story about politicians. We would have a strong example to relate to, and in that case I would have no problem reading books about politicians falling in love.
Interesting topic Laurie.
As you say I don’t really remember a higher powered person than say a Senator being the lead in a book, but I’ve read several that have been set in various political forums and have enjoyed them.
Sandi
Well, I tried to keep my mouth shut during the election, but I’m an Alaskan and so it became impossible. Whether I agree with Sarah Palin or not, the crap people said about her was vicious, twisted, and largely untrue.
But, anyway…
Actually, I’ve never found political characters appealing. Politics is not a job I’d wish on a dog a didn’t like. I’ve always felt that way.
Politics of what country?
I’m an eBook author.
I have readers all over the world.
Looking at my blog stats,
only 38% of my readers come from the U.S.
Explaining that in the U.S., there are two major political parties and their beliefs are xyz gets in the way of telling a great story.
And it would be challenging
to have a realistic politician hero/heroine
without, well, getting into politics.
Oh geez, Laurie, are you talking about ME!? LOL I admit it, I took the election very, VERY personally this time around.
I won’t get political here, I promise, but I couldn’t keep my mouth shut. Normally, I would never mention my political beliefs one way or the other – like you said, they’re private.
But with the recent election… ah, no, I got pretty vocal.
But I tell ya, I think I’ve lost more readers by writing a TT than I ever could have lost with my political views! LOL
Lori
I believe we’ve had some romantic Presidents and First Lady’s in the White House before now as well as those that were not. I think the age of the family affects how their love is shown.
I can say that one authors comment during the election really turned me off from her and I don’t see me buying any of her books in the future.
I remember reading a book a long time ago and I can’t think of the name of it now but I believe it was a Sandra Brown about a family in politics. The politics were mainly about how being in the public eye affected their lives.
Laurie I feel like you, it should be kept private. I only voice my opinions with my family and very close friends.
I am not sure I would buy a book that involves politics. Now if it was one of my favorite
Authors and they are a auto buy I would keep it and even read it. I would not purchase
one though.
I just put a corrupt congressman in my last book. He didn’t have much of a part personally but just a bad guy. And he brought the hero and heroine together so bad politics can have an up side.
The fun side of bad politics.
Dianne
I did two political romances a couple of years ago, and despite getting good reviews, they just didn’t sell well. As you said, it may have been the climate/administration that just didn’t have people equating politics with romance. Which kind of surprised me. People loved the West Wing, not for the politics but for the relationships, from Jed’s rocky but committed marriage with Abby to the Josh/Donna will they/won’t they. I think there’s a market for it, but it’s a fine line to walk to avoid alienating people of one political persuasion or the other.
It’s hard for me to imagine a political hero. Political *villains*, now, that’s another story. Every day there’s a new story out of Washington or various state or local political centers about corruption, manipulation, greed, sexual misconduct or just plain stupidity that to believe there’s someone truly heroic pushes the limits of my imagination.
If he really existed, he’d be drummed out of office or completely ineffective because of the opposition to his views. Whenever someone gets elected who I voted for, that’s what happens.
I read one with a liberal heroine and conservative hero and they had different opinions on how something should be handled (imagine that), but really enjoyed the story b/c it wasn’t that either was right or wrong, but showed how people can work together.
I love seeing Barack and Michelle together. I think they’re very romantic. He’s pretty hot, too! I have a bit of a crush.
Sandra Brown wrote a great romance with a politician–Mirror Image. But it wasn’t very “political,” as far as taking sides, partisanship, etc.
Kathy–that sounds like a good book. Arnold Schwartzenegger and Maria Shriver make it work. Why not?
I agree that politics are private. With that said as a reader I actually enjoy political intrigue in my romances. I don’t think party politics necessarily have to be discussed or pushed on a reader to have a good political book.
I think that political families and their trials and tribulations can be interesting and dynamic. Because the world of politics is so intriguing on its own I think it lends heavily to romance and intrigue.
As always, Laurie, a thought-provoking blog, without being provoking, if you get me. Here in Canada, the politics of the US is always watched, sometimes with amusement, sometimes amazement, but always with interest and discussion. We’re a gobby lot when it comes to politics!
As to whether or not there are lines to draw when discussing things publicly, I do believe every public person, be it author, actor, singer, whatever…. you have to weigh how important it is to you to speak, and be prepared for consequences when you inevitably offend someone with your statements. Even those meant to be totally innocuous. A person with any following does wield influence, and what they say is going to be considered. The larger the reputation, the more impact of the words, written or spolen. In most cases, it’s better to keep controversial issues personal, simply because it makes more sense.
In romance, I think every author can create a sexy romance with a political figure at the core of it, but once again, you have to handle the correlations carefully. Each of us views all artistic expression subjectively, so it’s hard to keep it neutral and appeal to a broad audience. Maybe that more than anything else is why there are so few romances that have a political focus, you can’t really win, and the politics of your characters will likely being ended up branded as your personal views, whether they are or not.
Nice one, Laurie!!!
Blessings to everyone…
Denysé
I am currently working on a proposal for a romance with a charismatic Illinois politician at its center (sound familiar?). It is proving remarkably easy to write a story about a politician without dwelling on the actual politics, this simply does not play a prominent role. About the only thing specific is his party affiliation (he’s a Democrat, which should surprise no one, since he is black).
I enjoyed this post and reading the responses! Thanks, Laurie!
Laurie: an author’s public comments–whether regarding politics, religion, or any controversial topic–would certainly affect my willingness to buy and read her work. What appeals most to readers, after all, is an author’s voice, and that voice is inextricably tied up with her world view. If there are glaring differences in our world views, I likely won’t enjoy her writing.
On the other hand, I certainly respect her right to express her views as freely as any other American. She just shouldn’t expect that it won’t impact her readership.
And Kimber An: I’m also an Alaskan, and I have to agree regarding the media treatment of Palin. Whether one agrees with her politics or not, many of the stories published–by reputable news sources!–were little more than pure conjecture and slander. And they didn’t do much better with Hillary Clinton. As a woman, I was appalled on both of their behalfs.
I like keeping political and religious opinions to my self as I feel they are personal. But I think romance written with political figures can be very interesting and fun!
Great blog, Laurie!
C~
I’ve struggled with this issue from time to time, but in the end I decided that I’m more than a novelist – and writing is one way I express myself. I usually find myself in the middle offering insights into both sides. I also believe what others before me have said – that a writer must tell the truth in their writing and that sometimes that makes you unpopular.
I like a good body guard romance, so why couldn’t it be a Senators daughter and her bg?
I’d love to read a political romance. (If anyone could point me to one, please?) As for voicing my opinion about sensitive topics on my blog? I’d rather not, but I’ve come across a few authors who are very outspoken, and it hasn’t stopped me from buying their books, even if I didn’t agree with them half of the time.
Great topic! I actually got involved in this last election and it was great fun, but we try not to discuss politics in my Yahoo group because people are so passionate about their political beliefs. I’ve seen friendships and even families destroyed by it, which tells you that there’s tons of potential for dramatic conflict in a story about politics. And they are using it on TV now, on shows that are doing really well, like Brothers and Sisters. And of course, West Wing. But I think it’s tricky.
I have a crusading congressman in my current book. He’s a minor character, not the hero, and though he appears to be a good guy, it’s not clear. It was fun because I got to deal, very very briefly, with some hot-button issues like excessive CEO salaries and bonuses.
Suzanne
I have a favorite author who puts political ideas out that are not about parties, but about issues that are near and dear to her heart. She knows a lot about Hurricane Andrew that did severe damage in South Florida. In her book about a fictitious Category Five Hurricane, which incidentally came out about the same time as Katrina. I was so upset about Katrina that I couldn’t read the book for nine months. Her book included little asides about how the main character’s FBI lover had flashbacks to seeing mishandling of Andrew. I looked up references and every one of them had been reported in newspapers locally, but were ignored outside Florida. The references were so vague that most readers wouldn’t even bother. She didn’t give her feelings about government directly on the pages of the novel.
Another TT series by the same author is about a crooked Congressman and some greedy “scientists” who punish dissidents by banishing them to another time period. The politics does not point fingers as any particular group as the Congressman is a rogue.
Her books always have a little of the paranormal, but generally things that I believe happen in real life. She writes series so the romance builds with the series, but it is always there.
I think politics can appear in fiction as long as it is not in your face. The same with religion. A character can be spiritual without in your face religiosity.
Ray
Laurie, I like to keep my politics and religious beliefs to myself as well. It’s all well and good to let others know what you believe in the right format, but I’m definitely not interested in debating them. With that in mind, I probably wouldn’t mind a book that had a politician as one of the characters.
Great topic. I bought a romance outside my first buying choices exactly because it had a hero and heroine of opposite politics. With all the divisiveness put there in real life politics, it appealed a lot so I couldn’t resist. I wanted to read about that.
On the the other hand, several authors started posting their political causes all over Facebook, which of course meant their politics, which were NOT mine, started showing up all over my profile. I had to remove them from my friend list. I don’t mind allowing authors to use Facebook for PR for their books, but I refuse to be a bulletin board for beliefs to which I do not ascribe, especially when Facebook is a place for my other friends, friends who know me personally.
I love political thrillers as well as romance but even there, politics are generalized to be more about universal values rather than a specific party.
My grandfather was very politically active and instilled in me a civic duty to get involved. Part of me wants to believe that every person (even authors) should have the right and duty to be involved in things that affect others because being silent and uninvolved doesn’t seem to be a good thing or hearing one side only seems detrimental to solving real problems…but I just don’t like being used as a reader to promote beliefs to which I am opposed. Also, I really hate preachiness of any sort, not just religious or political, in books. I want a story, not to have an author preach at me or talk down to me. Politics were different in my grandfather’s time. There were just as many scandals (Watergate) but politicians at least where I lived were gentlemen and argued ideas like crazy intellectually but remained gentlemen. When one of the NC political figures died, all the members of the other party were in teary-eyed as they paid their respects. If the political climate was more like that or involved honorable politicians who respected opponents, I think it would be more interesting to me to see politics in romance.
Religion and politics are both private and public. And yet — they do inform public life or should maybe if one is to have a healthy nation, but I don’t like others forcing their beliefs on me. I guess what makes me uneasy about the entrance of politics into romance is that the political climate of late has been so full of things that seem antithetical to romance ideals…corruption, greed, etc.
Although it has little to do with politics, I will enjoy seeing a younger image, especially the Obama children. I loved hearing the non-political White House staff talk about how excited they were to have young children in the White House again after so many without and how children just made the place have a different tenor. I would hope attitudes like could enter romance without having to provoke political backlash.
Funny comment on the Time Travel element versus politics. I have been reading romance only for a few years now but I am unpleasantly surprised as a reader sometimes when I feel marketing pressures limit romance or authors from exploring new things. I suppose I would rather see a romance with politics than read a genre that doesn’t have a few surprises sometimes.
Politics work well for me in historical, fantasy, paranormal romance because the world is not my own and therefore seems to reach more a sense of universality. Maria V. Snyder’s series did and excellent job of expressing universal political ideas that were thought-provoking but not tied to current politics. Her books appealed to readers and friends I have of all political persuasions.
I’m loving the responses – thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts! I’ve been bed bound with a flu bug today, and will be checking back again later.
Kimber An and Kacie – I’m with you on the media’s treatment of women in politics. It seems they always find a way to make their thoughts and actions seem petty or insigificant.
Lori, no, I wasn’t pointing fingers! You’re entitled to your opinion and whether I share someone’s beliefs or not, I wholly respect their right to have and share them. I will admit, however, that the extreme reader responses to your TT made me think about the possibility of readers abandoning an author because of something they’ve said, done, or in your case, written.
I’ll be back!
Terrific topic! I felt strongly this last election, but tried to keep it out of my blogs. I did comment on other writers’ blogs who I agreed with.
The way I feel about most politicians, I’d be more likely to make one a villain than a protagonist.
Laurie….great subject……
As a reader I would have to say that writers should write about politicians, but leave out the politics.
Romances are about relationships and those are the same regardless of the employment of the characters. In real life they just get more media coverage if the persons involved are high profile.
Interesting comments….
Great post Laurie.
I actually read a romance where the hero was a senatorial candidate.
Catherine Mann – Rich Man’s Fake Fiancee
Silhouette Desire
A fun story, as it didn’t focus on the politics, but instead the public image.
I think this is a touchy subject for some people. I don’t talk politics on my blog or use them in romance. I never read books that have politicians as heroes. Even though I love fantasy, that’s too out there for me to believe. A political setting is an immediate turnoff for me. I do believe that as writers, some of our personal beliefs and values must color our characters and the situations we put them in.
Interesting topic Laurie. I can’t say that I would actually look for a book set in the political arena but then I would not not read it if that were the background either.
I can see a reader putting an author on the “do not buy” list if you will if that author’s veiws are very different from the readers. It’s not something I would do because I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion about these things. that’s what makes this country great we have the freedom to make our choices and not fear for what retribution might be the consiquence of those choices. The thing that would bother me is for someone to tell me that I am wrong because my choice differs from theirs.
I can recall several books where characters were senators I believe or running for senate. I think Susan donovan’s recent The Kept Woman the main male character was running some sort of campaign. Also Shelley Shepard Galloway’s recent Amish title Hidden had someone running for office in it.
I think a political background could be an interesting setting for a romantic suspense book.
Interesting reading the responses here.
I try to keep my views to myself, mostly because I’m aware that they are very different. However, I had a story grab me that had to be written… and thus we have URSA MAJOR, my Jan release from Pink Petal Books. This is a book that yes, is closely tied into my world view, and yes, it is very political. But it was a story I felt I had to write and had even vetted through some people whose opinions I respect. I certainly hope it’s political nature doesn’t turn people away from reading this shape shifter erotic romance.
Great conversation today! Thanks to everyone who took time to share their thoughts and opinions. There were so many interesting comments – I think some of us would have liked to know authors and titles for politically-charged romances that had been enjoyed by others.
Someone mentioned writing for international readers, making American politics less significant, something I hadn’t really considered.
Thanks again, everyone!
Interesting discussion. I tend to avoid books with political issues in it, mainly because I do follow politics in life pretty closely and so when I read, I want an escape from it.
Darn it, hit submit too soon. Wanted to add that it’s OVERT politics I avoid. And that includes politicians in the storylines. I do make exceptions for favorite authors, but I really don’t want to read the romance of a Senator or President as a general rule.
Following up on my previous comment, I found a new article on romance that uses Obama and his wife as an example! Looks like it’s happening.
In Relationships, Small Gestures are the most Romantic
I wouldn’t stop reading an author because she expressed political opinions differing from mine.
I have however, struggled with HOW some authors have shared their opinions~as in “You are a complete idiot if you don’t believe.. ….” and they go on to express that I am, in fact, an idiot.
I have read things like that (though not from any authors commenting here) and that is a complete turnoff.