By TellTale
March 13th, 2010

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by LaConnie Taylor-Jones

My response to this question has been and will continue to be the same – why not?

My love for the genre has nothing to do with the 2008 report from Simba Information, which reported that revenue from romance fiction remained strong at 1.37 billion, despite the economic slid. Nor does it have anything to do with the fact that romance fiction remains the largest share of the consumer market. But it has everything to do with this one simple fact: I love romance!

The genre first captivated my attention when I was a junior in college. The year was 1979. My college roommate introduced me to the world of romance when she handed me a tattered copy of The Flame in the Flower by the late Kathleen Woodiwiss. Instead of studying for an organic chemistry mid-term the next day, I spent the entire night reading one of the greatest romance novels of all times. And just in case you’re wondering, about that exam, wonder no more. Yep, I flunked big time. Overnight, I’d transformed into a hopeless, never to recover, romance-a-holic. I didn’t know it then, but that one night, almost thirty years ago, would eventually land me on the road to publication.

Becoming a writer was never something I was particularly interested in or even considered doing. Honestly, I was content being an avid reader. It was the challenge from my late husband in the spring of 2003 that made me seriously consider penning my first romance novel.

One night, I was in bed reading a romance, but I simply couldn’t get into the story. It was well past midnight and I guess I’d whined and moaned enough. Hubby turned to me and said, “Baby, if you can write a better book, do it. Now turn out the lights, please.” At first, I thought this man was crazy. Well, truth be told, I thought he was funky, crazy insane. Although I was a fairly decent technical writer in my profession as a public health educator, fiction writing was a different monster all together. Eventually, I honored his request, but not before a zany cast of characters settled in my head, and wrapped around my heart. They’d later become known in the literary world as the Baptiste Family.

Three months later, the timing was right and something amazing happened. My enthusiasm for teaching health, social responsibility and social justice over the years sparked a multitude of storylines. What if. . . Since I didn’t have anything to lose, I accepted the challenge and rolled the dice.

Four years later, the gamble paid off with the release of my debut novel, WHEN I’M WITH YOU followed six months later with my sophomore release, WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN. On March 4th, I celebrated the release of my third fill-length single title, IF I WERE YOU WOMAN.

It ain’t been easy, but it’s been worth it!!

Until next time – stay well and be blessed!
LaConnie

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