Meet Devon

I learned to read at the age of five, and pretty much never stopped. I eventually got a BA in English and then an MLS. I’ve worked in schools, and now, public libraries for almost ten years, trying to help children find their own inner readers. I started out as a mystery and horror reader, with some fantasy thrown in for good measure. I always liked a bit of romance in my reading, so when I discovered paranormal romance, a whole new world was opened up. I will read almost anything if it strikes me and the mood is right. I have a definite preference for paranormals (especially vampires). I enjoy historicals as well, and lately I find myself reading more and more contemporaries (particularly of the Harlequin variety). I like ‘em hot, but sometimes I long for a sweet romance with the focus on relationship development. I enjoy humor and wit as much as tortured angst. Yeah, I’ll try anything once, as long as it can hold my attention and sweep me away from the everyday. If I wanted reality, I’d read a newspaper every once in awhile.

What interests me most is figuring out what makes a book work. That mix of compelling characters, internal/external tension, plot and romance conventions that can completely sweep me away. How can a book make me suspend all disbelief? How can a book make me overcome all my feminist objections and make me root for these people? What makes a particular style or genre irrestible to some and unreadable to others? What is it about romance that keeps us coming back for more, hackneyed cliches, gender stereotypes, the negative perceptions of others and all? The romance genre is as diverse as the readers who love it, and reading about the genre can be almost as fun as reading the books themselves.

Visit Devon’s blog at http://badattitles.blogspot.com.