Friday, May 13, 2005

Who Reads Romance Anyway?

In 2003, sales of romance novels reached 1.41 billion.
48.8% of paperback sales in 2003 was romance.

37% of readers read only
“single-title”
romance
18% of readers
read only
“series”
romance
45% of readers
read both
single-title and series
romance
So who reads romance?
Woman ages 35-44 make up 25% of the readership, followed by the age group,
25-34 wo make up 21%, followed by 45-54 year olds at 17%. It seems like the age of romance readers have matured. Only 8% of readers 20-24 are said to read romance novels.
And here are some helpful stats as well:

Selling Points Romance Readers
Consider When Selecting a Novel:

1st most important
Description on back cover
2nd most important
Personal “flip through” of book
3rd most important
Word of mouth
4th most important
Author Name
5th most important


Character Traits Romance
Readers Enjoy in Heroes:

1.Muscles
2.Handsomeness
3.Intelligence


Character Traits Romance
Readers Enjoy in Heroines:


1.Intelligence
2.Strength of Character
3.Attractiveness


Settings or Sub-Genres Romance Readers Enjoy
91% of readers
romantic suspense
80% of readers
contemporary romance
78% of readers
exotic-locale-set
romances
(such as the tropics)
65% of readers
colonial America-set
romances
64% of readers
American-West-set
historical romances
61% of readers
inspirational romance
53% of readers
historical romances set
in Scotland
49% of readers
medieval-set
romances
56% of readers
historical-set romances in
England
39% of readers
futuristic or time-travel
romances
37% of readers
paranormal romances

Something to keep in mind when you sit down at your computer to write that next romance novel.

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

The Dreaded Synopsis


The dreaded synopsis ...
Does the very idea of writing a synopsis make your hands sweat and your confidence slip?
Don't worry, you're not alone. Every writer feels that same apprehension at one time or another when they sit down at their computer and stare at the blank page. Synopsis are hard to write. There is not way around that fact.
But take heart, there is help out there. Over the years, I have found a couple of valuable websites that give excellent tips on writing a synopsis.
Here are a few:
Charlotte Dillon has a website called Resources for Writers, where you will find some excellent advice on synopsis writing.
Harlequin also provides tips for writing the synopsis on their eHarlequin site.
Rose City Romance Writers of Portland Oregon offer a synopsis workshop on their website.
So, you see, no matter how anxious you are, you can take comfort in knowing you are not alone. But there is help available from the wonderful souls who have been there before you.

Tuesday, May 10, 2005


Where Do Ideas Come From?
Most writers are born with an overactive imagination.
So where do writers get those great ideas for best sellers?
For me it comes from something I've read, perhaps in a paper, or maybe something I've seen on tv, sometimes even a dream. Then the overactive imagination comes into play and I think, 'what if this were to happen instead,' and a whole new idea (and story) is born.

Monday, May 09, 2005

Which Came First?


Today, as I reach the halfway mark in my current wip, The Broken Road, I'm thinking about the question that I've been asked many times in past interviews. Which comes first? The story or the characters.
For me the answer is a little of both.
I know, that sounds strange. But I told you it was a strange world within the mind of a writer.
Usually I have the story idea loosely mapped out in my head before I type that first word and that includes some idea of the characters and their personalities. The characters start to flesh out as the story comes together. Then a strange thing happens. The characters have a way of taking over my story and directing it down the path that they want it to be told.
Not that I can blame them really. After all, it is their story.

Sunday, May 08, 2005

Happy Mother's Day...


A mother's day wish..
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Dance....I hope you dance. I hope you dance....I hope you dance.I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

God Bless the Mothers.

Friday, May 06, 2005

Keeing the Faith in Writing. Ever wonder how hard is it?
Keeping the Faith -- The Difficulty of Keeping the Faith in the Romance Industry
By Mary Eason
In the past three years, Inspirational Fiction has literally taken off. Walk into any bookstore and you’ll no doubt see a variety of Inspirational Fiction ranging from tender romances, to suspense, to chick lit and even science fiction. Every type of genre imaginable has now been claimed by the Inspirational writer.
In two recent articles concerning the Inspirational chick lit phenomenon, one by USA TODAY writer, Deirdre Donahue in an article entitled- Publishers put their faith in churchified 'chick lit' Donahue talked about Steeple Hill Café, the new imprint from Harlequin that will offer "smart, hip editorial that features faith and humor," says Harlequin senior editor Joan Marlow Golan. "It presents real-life situations that modern women of faith face without sacrificing strong morals and values: How do I live an authentic contemporary Christian life?"
Christian writing is a growth area in publishing. "Sales of Christian fiction have doubled in the last 10 years," says Golan. According to the CBA (Christian Booksellers Association), sales of Christian books are up 6.8% from 2002.
Secular and religious publishers are adding a Christian twist to the genre of young women's fiction called "chick lit." Publishers Weekly dubbed it "Bridget Jones goes to church."
The entire article can be found at:
Ten Thousand Angels -It was just a faded poem tucked away in a book belonging to an old woman. Who could have known that the words of that poem would touch two people with two very different tragedies to overcome and teach them how to love again?
Would you like to buy the book? You can by going to By Grace Publishing
Everlasting Love - For hundreds of years, he's waited for her to be reborn. Now can a young woman accept love from a mysterious man who claims to only have her best interests at heart.
Would you like to buy this book? You can purchase Everlasting Love at Triskelion Publishing