Recently I’ve bumped into a lot of friends I haven’t seen in a few years. Many of them are my BR friends - “before romance” so when they see me and I fill them in on my life I get a wide variety of responses. Most of them, I’m happy to say, are joyful and interested.
There are those who have rolled their eyes. Invariably the same questions come up. Why would I waste my time writing romance? When did I plan to write a “real” book?
This response used to bother me a lot more than it does now. In truth, I’m pretty secure in what I do and who I am. I like to write romance. What could be more worthy than writing romance? Romance is part of our lives. It’s the hallmark of our interactions with other people. I write romance because I think it’s important.
Is it splitting the atom? Well, no. Will my books win the Nobel Prize for literature? No. But there is power in telling a story that allows readers to escape for a while. It’s perfectly okay to address human nature through our interactions with our romantic partners. It doesn’t mean romances aren’t important. Because they are. But important doesn’t have to always mean weighty.
I read romance for many of the same reasons I read other genres. I like to read things that transport me to another reality. A spaceship, Italy during the Renaissance, small town modern day America - whatever. Tell me a good story, make me connect with the characters and their journey and you’ve done your job as an author.
I’m not ashamed to tell the eye rollers I do write real books. And I’m not ashamed to say I write romance because I love to explore people’s inner lives and their connections to one another. For me as a writer, that medium is most often romance because I find it such a rich subject matter. Other authors have other subject areas they prefer.
What about you all? Why romance?
Contest! I’ll choose a winner at random from the responses here on January 24 and announce the name on the 25th here in this post.
WINNERS: Michelle and Wendy! I decided to choose two since I was late! You both win any copy of my available backlist in whatever format the book is available in - so head over to my website and then email me your choice!
Lauren Dane is a multi-published author who is currently more harried than usual as she gets close to deadline. You can find out more at her website - www.laurendane.com
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Good morning Lauren! When I worked at the library years ago and I was one of those people that couldn’t understand why people would read romance, but then I didn’t read a lot myself (of anything, maybe if it was a good year 1 or 2 books that year–my mom was beginning to think she got the wrong kid at the hospital since she reads books that have a minimum of 1000 pages on a regular basis). I didn’t read romance until the last couple of years when I friend said “Hey, try this book, you’ll love it”. Since then I’ve been hooked.
I almost only read romances now and they have to have a HEA. I’m still very picky about what I read even in the romance genre. I want humor, I want smart females, I want guys with heart! Some days I even want a lot of steam!!! 
I figure if I want something scary or sad–I’ll watch the news.
by Laura J
on January 10th, 2008 at 7:21 am
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cause its fun to read and gives me escapism. Matter a fact it can take me anywhere I want to go and makes me feel good. And lately there is so many different types of romances I can have my horror, scifi, suspense and still have a heaping helping of romance.
by Pamk
on January 10th, 2008 at 7:53 am
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Hi, Lauren!
I’m actually not a romantic to be honest, (when my ex used to do romantic things, I thought it was really cheesy and would get embarrassed, which he’d think it was cute so he would make it worse, lol) but I love reading romance, it’s fun and entertaining and some books are so good at conveying the character’s feelings that I feel like I’m the one who just fell in love with a wonderful guy. :)
by Wendy
on January 10th, 2008 at 8:25 am
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Hi Lauren!!! I love romance for the HEA. Real life unfornately doesn’t always have it and I want to escape to a world where everything comes out okay and life is good. I love the sexy hero and the strong, smart heroine. Romance is what we all strive for, whether it’s admitted or not and if it wasn’t for a little romance, nobody would be here.
by Patty L.
on January 10th, 2008 at 9:13 am
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Definitely because of the way they make me feel. I am happily married so am unlikely to experience that falling in love sensation again…except vicariously. Then there are all of the other neat things about the early relationship and the emotional intensity not to mention the initial seducuction. Romance tends to make me happy and even if the ending isn’t the traditional HEA but happily-for-now, it lightens my heart in a world filled with worries. It isn’t a very expensive form of mild therapy but reading this genre is like taking a mini-vacation and is one of the best forms of escapism that I have found.
by Little Lamb Lost
on January 10th, 2008 at 10:07 am
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Romance so I can keep on believing there is HEA and so I can meet new people in books and explore far away places that I might never get to visit. If there is a continuing series I then get to re-visit old friends and meet new ones.
I can ‘get away’ for awhile while reading and relax from the everyday things.
by RobynL
on January 10th, 2008 at 10:15 am
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Enjoyable reading which transports me to another time, place and world. Where I can pciture the beauty and serenity of wonderful locales and experience the food, culture and people who are interesting and fascinating.
by anne
on January 10th, 2008 at 10:29 am
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Actually reading in general is a form of escape for me. But I love romance because it is a lighthearted (most of the time) look into relationships and resolutions.
by Sharmi
on January 10th, 2008 at 10:30 am
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I like to read romance because it is like another world that I can dream of and be in the heroine’s shoes. 
by Amelia
on January 10th, 2008 at 11:41 am
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Because romance novels have heas. And who wants to read a depressing book. Not Me. LOL. If the book has humor in it, it is even better. Although I do like a book with a good cry once in awhile, but if it is romance, it still has the hea.
by Pat L.
on January 10th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
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Hi Lauren,
I read romance because I love the emotion, the relationships, and the personal growth. I call romance “brain candy.” In other genres the characters might not really change- the events are what the focus on, not the personality. I love the angst, the drama, and the resolution. Most of the people who disparage romance are the ones who have never given it a chance. I love the escape romance offers me, and the warm fuzzy feeling I’ll get while reading it. No matter what, I know it’ll end well - even if the hero and heroine stumble at the brink of death (or breakup) numerous times. The world and my life are serious and stressful enough. Romance guarantees a happy ending, and I need my happy endings. =)
by JSL
on January 10th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
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It is a fun escape for me. With two kids under the age of 5 I need an escape from reality. Since that does not happen until the evening, after the kids are in bed, I don’t want to be reading anything heavy that is going to require any major thinking.
by Cherie J
on January 10th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
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I read romance because I love fairy tales and happily ever afters.
by Jane
on January 10th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
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Because it is a great way to get away from everything when I need a break. There are so many different types of romance novels out there that you can go back in time, foward in time. You name it.
by Maureen
on January 10th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
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I love to read romance because it is fun to read and I can escape the real world for a couple of hours.
by Estella
on January 10th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
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I read to escape from reality for a while and I love the HEA ending. There isn’t enough romance in the real world so reading about it helps make up for that.
by Carol
on January 10th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
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Ditto what everyone’s said about enjoying the escape that I can usually find in a romance, plus I love the character development, and the chance to experience the excitement of a new relationship and see two people work through their differences and make things work. I love the hopefulness and the promise of good things to come :) Plus the erotic ones can provide ideas for my own HEA ;)
by Fedora
on January 10th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
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I used to only read sci fi and disdained romance :oops: until a coworker suggested I read one of her books. I gave it a try and was hooked. I still like some action in the story but romance adds the character development and HEA. Of course, now there are also sci fi romances but I’ve expanded my repertoire to include contemporary as well as historical. Oh yeah, and erotic romances, well, hot damn who needs a reason for reading those. They’re just HOT!
by Laidybyrd
on January 10th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
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I used to roll my eyes at people that read romance books years ago, that is until I read my first romance book. I have never looked back since then. My house is full of romance books, I have even got my 16 year old daughter interested in sci fi and fantasy romance books (PG rated of course).
by Karrie Millheim
on January 10th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
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Hi Lauren. Why not romance, it’s an essential part of life, and I like to escape into that HEA - I know I’ll find it there always, unlike sometimes in real life. No matter the genre, a story that is good and entertains is what counts.
by Pam P
on January 10th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
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to escape, to travel to exotic places and for the happy endings!
by Linda F
on January 10th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
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I really enjoy HEA. There is too much sorrow and pain. Reading books with HEAhelp me escape for a little while.
by Joyce
on January 10th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
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Books have always been an escape for me and a good book is a good book no matter what genre. Romance happens to give you the HEA and since that’s more fantasy than reality, it makes for great reading.
by catslady
on January 10th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
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Hi Lauren, I read Romance because I Love happily ever afters. There is always so much horrible things going on in the world and you can get away for a bit with a good book. I also like to imagine being in other places, times, and worlds. I am so happy there is so many gifted writers that bring to life such rich characters that you hope the book will never end, thank heavens for trilogies and series.
by Dena
on January 11th, 2008 at 2:06 am
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There is so much bad news everyday, the war, the economy, global warming, murders,tornadoes etc. Plus, work, kids and family obligations. I definitely seek romance as a mental release…escape. You just have to love happy endings and romance has it all love, hope and happiness!!
by Laurie G
on January 11th, 2008 at 6:52 am
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great romance., sex and happy ending, i am a sucker for it
by kim h
on January 13th, 2008 at 1:00 am
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I used to read strictly scifi and fanatasy. I was about 24 when I realized that my favorite scifi and fantasy books were ones that had romance in them (Mercedes Lackey, Piers Anthony and Anne McCaffrey have some great ones), so I decided to try romance.
I read romance for the HEA and the romance. It is also my escape from everyday life. It is a nice change of pace from kids and husband and housework needing me.
by Kris
on January 13th, 2008 at 7:45 am
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everyone needs romance
and since books are the best way to get it for me :evil:
by tami
on January 13th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
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I love a good HEA and reading romance practically guarantees that! It is a form of pure escapism for me. If I want a healthy dose of misery, I can always watch the news or read the paper.
by Angie-la
on January 13th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
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Romance books are like tootsie pops. They are hard on the outside but all soft and gooey on the inside. I love the mushy love scenes, the rocky romances that lead to HEA, the suspenseful plots with twists and turns that you leave you wondering if the hero and heroine are going to get together or not. Sometimes it is not because the book is part of a series, woohoo! Love those books because then the romance is off and on again. Those are fun! The teasing love scenes where the hero is all set to make love to his girl and then something happens that tears them apart. Ooo…the tension! I just love it! Romance is my all time favorite! :grin:
by Michele L.
on January 18th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
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I love reading romances. I’ve read mysteries before and romances are better. lol. I like the HEA.
by Amy S.
on January 27th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
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any winnter
by kim h
on January 29th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
