Since we are in the midst of a romance writing competition, I thought it would be a good time to find out how my fellow authors feel about writing romance. I mean, the romance part of romance, the part that makes your reader fan herself and drop a few ice cubes down her blouse. That part.
The reason I ask has to do with my mother. She arrived today from out-of-state, and I told her about my First Chapter entry, Trust Me .
"Would you like to read it?"
Mom made the face that I describe as biting into a bad lemon. "Is it that romance stuff?"
"Yes, but it's currently the highest rated one in the contest!"
More lemons. "I liked your murder mysteries better. You know the one where he buried all those bodies in a field?"
Mom likes dead bodies better than romance. I suppose it's a matter of taste. But it's hard enough to let family members read the parts with all the steamy S-E-X (if you write that stuff, and I did) without the lemon face.
So here's my question, and be honest: Have you let family members read the hot-as-burning-lava parts of your novel? If you were offered a publishing contract tomorrow, would you want your own name on the cover of a book right above the blurb that reads, "A steamy page-turner!"), or would you use a pseudonym? Will you pass out autographed copies to your co-workers, even when you know Jason from shipping and recieving will wink while asking you to include your phone number?
Will ya? (Remember to answer without using the nudity, profanity, or suggestive language that will get this article banished from our forum.)
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Comments: 16
Your points being made, I am thinking pseudonym. LOL, I am still afraid of my dad.
I will let anyone, read anything I have written. If I can let strangers read it I can let anyone read it.
I already have my pseudonym ready, more the fact that I want to keep those long lost people from my past just that...long lost. And my last name is to hard to pronounce I dont want to confuse my readers before they get into the book.
I already promised a few autographed copies for people who have helped edit along the way. And a few for folks who inspire me. Since I'm a stay at home mommy for the moment I don't have to worry about coworkers. :)
MY Sister told my mother I wrote a romance and then let my mother read it. Im still mad at her for that. Geezz,,, not MOM! Why Mom? Yeah Im going back to writing about bodies in fields too. I could let Mom read that. Im thinking the next one will star my sister....
Fate and Destiny
That said, several of my relatives are regular readers of my stuff and extremely supportive and helpful. I don't write romance, though, and it's more the dark aspects of my writing that I am a little uncomfortable revealing to people who know me in real life.
I'm an aspiring writer, who at this point has written nothing more than a college essay. My aunt Debi however, is a romance novelist/publisher/business advisor/artist and I remember vividly my grandmothers' reaction to reading her first book. I should say her attempt at reading Deb's first book because upon reaching page 3 (the first steamy romantic encounter), my grandma slammed the book closed and blushed as she ranted about Debi writing such vulgar pornography. I cannot say that I was too surprised with her reaction because I also remember my grandmother starring open mouthed at the T.V. screen during a Close Up Toothpaste commercial because it showed a couple french kissing. In my grandmother's opinion this was also vulgar pornography that should not be openly viewed by the public. She called it spit swapping and said that it was nasty. She's never swapped spit in all of her 78 years and it was just plain disgusting that our generation would participate in such unhealty behavior.
My grandfather on the other hand has read every book Deb has written and has several copies of each printed in various languages. He is an avid fan of romance, a fact about my grandfather that I have to say both surprised and pleased me.
We're from the south and have large southern families steeped in southern and religious traditions. We live in a bible-belt area where I knew that she would face alot of criticisim, I was thrilled when I received my first copy of her book and saw her name on the cover. She owned it all praise and criticism. This was her work and everyone would know it. She made no excuses to anyone and proudly professed her love of romance. I am proud of her for that. Go Deb!
Go with your gut Starr!
Tammy
I write erotica here under both my name, and the real s-e-x under an alter.
My kids don't want to read it but my sister and her husband LOVE it!