Modern Good Reads discussion

Hi, Dianne! :)

Know what? You're right.

October Snow

Dave is my dream man. ;)

LOL Yeah, I posted in that discussion.

I'd yell at him. Big time. Letting Sammy walk away like that? I don't care how distracted he was, setting up his practice - I was mad at him even as I wrote him. ;)

I don't like reading romances, but I love books with romance in them, does that make sense? For example, I hate Harlequin, but some of their historical romances are really interesting. Dawn Tevy's Angels & Warriors: The Awakening is an epic fantasy, but the romance is what I took away from the book.
The reality is that most people have romance in their life, so to not have it to some degree in a book is not true to life. I know very few people who are single that are not looking for romance, I know even less who are married that don't keep working on the romance. But please, do not ever recommend a Nicholas Sparks book to me. My thoughts.

Heidi wrote: "I don't like reading romances, but I love books with romance in them, does that make sense? For example, I hate Harlequin, but some of their historical romances are really interesting. Dawn Tevy's ..."

Precisely! I like romantic plot elements, but there should be a little something more to the novel than just romance.

Our very own Michelle Browne has a wonderful and hilarious blog post on this subject, "Love Hurts: Why Modern Romantic Comedies Inevitably Suck"

http://scifimagpie.blogspot.com/2013/...

:)

Nice! Interesting article!

Jennifer wrote: "Hi - I am new to the romance genre and the linked article (Thanks, Travis) brings up a question I have. How do you know what "classification" a romance is? Is there a definition sheet somewhere? Is..."

Here's a good link to a breakdown of Romance genres:

http://www.writing-world.com/romance/...

Good article, but aargh... I so envy these people. I gave up on marketing because I simply can't find the "target market"-type demo for my novel. My marketing plan is... Keep writing, I suppose. :D

Dianne wrote: "Thanks! Julia, would like to agree with you but I think there's still a strong market for dominance and submission. I remember reading something awhile ago that said if you haven't written a book o..."
I agree with you, besides romance I love cozy culinary mysteries and will pick up a book simply because it combines the two. As a reader, I like what I like and trends don't matter that much to me. Unfortunately as a writer, I know that a certain reader can be turned off on my entire sub-genre by reading a single work. So write what you love!

Hi Dianne
Congratulations on your book's success.
I love romance, but mine tend to be a little 'left of centre'. ;-) I'm a member of Romance Writers of New Zealand and you couldn't find a more helpful and supportive bunch of women. Something you really, really need in this industry.
I was reminded yesterday by a writer who knows her stuff (multiple NY Times bestseller) that the best advertisement for a writer is the next well written book.
The best kind of advice, I think.
Toni

Dianne wrote: "Readers, why does the genre appeal to you?"

Because I'm an emotional junkie! ;-)

Hi Dianne! remember little ole' me?

Why does the genre appeal to me?

Because tales of men and woman are as old and elemental as Adam and Eve. Generation after generaion, love comes and goes and we never get tired of it.

I don't know why the genre doesn't appeal to me. I'm definitely into relational lit, but I suppose at my age, I'm more about friendships. And as the Boomers age, I see older women banding together - especially those of us who are on our own now, if you know what I mean.

There should be a "buddy" genre, IMO. :D

I agree with you Jenna. If you think about the success of the US TV series "Friends" it's clear that friendship is an important theme for many women(maybe men too..not sure?). I read an article recently that suggested that women wanted to read "realistic, thought-provoking stories about women who are facing problems in their lives; stories about death, divorce, hardship, finding good friends... stories with more interior exploration of character..." and I was quite pleased because I had just published my novel "Swimming Upstream" on Amazon - which is exactly that sort of novel!

And yet, when I'm marketing it and am given a choice of categories to put it in there is only "women's fiction" which would cover a range of very different types of novels. Sometimes even "women's fiction" is not available as a genre option. I think it's time that there were some sub-genres available within "women's fiction".

I just checked out Swimming Upstream, Ruth - it looks like a terrific story. Congratulations! I'll be adding it to my list.

I so agree with the idea that mature (Boomer) women are seeking deeper meaning - not only in literature, but in most aspects of their existences. Our upbringing turned so heavily on image and fantasy - and comparison - that many of us are just exhausted by the arbitrary demands of a culture that seeks pleasure above all else.

One of the most common comments about October Snow is that the readers are regarding the characters as real people, and they identify with the friendship among the three women. Another is the expression of surprise that the subplot - the love story of Dave and Samantha - is done with a "G" rating, yet it's "swoonable". (Love that.)

Overall, I think mature women are underappreciated in the literary/media realm. Many of us would like to move beyond the explorative stage of life, and into the results (wisdom?) of what was learned.

Off to read your excerpt...

Ruth wrote: "I agree with you Jenna. If you think about the success of the US TV series "Friends" it's clear that friendship is an important theme for many women(maybe men too..not sure?). I read an article rec..."

Ruth, I read your excerpt - excellent.

I'll be buying it as soon as I can get myself a Kindle. :)

Dianne wrote: "Jenna, Ruth, I couldn't agree more with you. I don't know if it's the culture of Barbie Doll that has promoted what I consider to be an artificial lifestyle - and living in Southern California I'm ..."

I so need to get that sound file edited and out to you.

I'm putting a new feature on my website, for advice to the kids - ours, and theirs. Let me know if you'd like to submit a piece. (You too, Ruth.)

Here's the link, if you want to check it out. I just started it, so I'mm still figuring the format, but I'll have the first column up tonight or tomorrow:

http://jennabrooks.weebly.com/the-boo...

BTW, I want anyone who contributes a column to use their piece for any promotional they want to do for their other projects, plus I'll be promoting columns as well. As you know, breaking into this (or any) demographic requires establishment of expert status, and this kind of connection helps.

Thank you so much, Jenna. I have also checked out and added October Snow to my TBR list - it looks a great read about a very important subject (which is also touched on in Swimming Upstream). I'd be more than happy to submit to your website.

Dianne, I think that the point you make about society glamourizing the image of women is one of the reasons why I hesitate to say that I am a true fan of the romance genre. I DO like romances - I've read some good contemporary ones and I love some of the romantic classics such as the works of the Bronte sisters. But I do think that romantic relationships are only a part of the road to fulfilment for women and that society still to some extent looks down on women who choose to be single or to look for more in their lives than finding a partner and having children. The emphasis for women in the media is still on looking good, on sex and on getting a man to love you - as if those were the only things that mattered.

Hi Everyone. I dislike labels - on people and on books! I think labels should be used for peas and beans etc in tins on a shelf:) I read like a maniac since I was 6, but since I started writing (when I was about 40) I read less - I was just too busy writing! (I'm 64 now) I feel, somehow, that by writing a story I am the first reader! Watching the story unfold, I write it down. I can't remember when I was the manic reader whether there were so many specific genres! It is a modern thing, I think, perhaps to try and categorize the millions of new e-books? What genre is "Cannery Row" eg.? Catcher in the Rye is now YA.Terry Pratchett's books? Fantasy? Midnight's Children? Life of Pi? Jane Eyre? Women's Fiction? Steppenwolf? At the risk of sounding ancient ...:) I don't much care for this "genre" thing. Detective Stories ... but what if the detective is a zombie ...? Hehe. Actually I don't know what to say, I just find it incredibly difficult to choose a genre and a sub genre for my books. I think all books are about people and their doings ... I know several people-zombies ... But I suppose it is a practical method to sort and to try and bring readers to books they would probably like ...

This is a great discussion thread, and I feel connected to what so many of you have said. Like Dianne's experience, I've worked in many fields, mainly medical writing and editing, but I've also taught creative writing for 25 years. I finally said to myself, wait, why aren't I publishing all my stories? I call my first book (just self-published in January) a romantic suspense, but like others, I have a difficult time with labeling, and just fitting into a genre. I like a good read, whether it's 'serious' literature or just a fun 'chick lit' or romance read. I have learned SO MUCH in the past year on marketing and self-publishing. My brain is re-energized, and now about 20 years younger, at least.

The thing I have learned about romance, both the novels and the writing styles, is that they have a special way of making a reader care what happens to the characters.

I like to see some romance in a novel, when it feels genuine, because it draws me into the experience of falling in love, and it connects me to the characters, so I want to know what happens next.

:)

Why do I love the genre? I suppose because it taps into an emotion that for better or for worse, everyone can relate to. It's universal.

But as much as I love romance, and I do, I often find some romances to be too sappy. I prefer a romance that has laughter, a sense of humor, even in dark times because to me that seems to ring truer than overly dramatic romances.

I also have trouble with heroines who whine constantly and seem helpless. There is nothing worse for me than getting in to a book only to discover the damsel in distress is useless and waiting for her knight in shining armor.

Also someone mentioned finding a target audience for their writing and to just keep writing anyway - and I totally agree. When I find a book that I love, I usually end up with every book that author has written.

I think you're right, Virginia and Travis... a well-written romance with fully rounded characters is definitely something I will enjoy reading. One of the things I love about the Bronte sisters is that their female characters are anything but sappy and Charlotte Bronte's books are littered with the most amazing philosophical and social insights, as well as being love stories. It's the damsel in distress image of romance that puts me off too... probably because I can't relate to those weak female characters too well...

I prefer romance with a story too - a well developed story. I don't understand the fascination with erotica (but accept it's a popular trend.) I can write a sex scene in my books but I can't make the whole story into it - as I can't seem to come up with 'new' ways and the same ol' is boring to me. I guess I'm getting older now.