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Romance Author Roundtable
8.
AOTW: What are some things that you think could help increase awareness and sales of romance books?
Kerrelyn Sparks: There are plenty of good ideas out there. One good one is to advertise romance books at movie theaters (during the advertisements before the film begins). After all, people who enjoy a good romantic movie should also enjoy a good romantic book. Also, awareness of romance will increase as more romances are made into movies (example-romance author Meg Cabot with Princess Diaries). Recently, author Deborah Smith has sold the movie option on a romance titled Sweet Hush. Romances are also creeping into the curriculum of college campuses. This sort of acceptance will do wonders.
Carly Phillips: Good question! I'd like to see romance be introduced to the mainstream public a little more. I think that would necessitate publisher support in major magazines and newspapers.
Rachel Gibson: The most powerful selling tool is to write a good book. Good cover art help. Good placement within a store is important, but the most important thing is a good marketable story.
Judith McNaught: They already account for more than half of all book sales. I think that's an amazing feat.
Christina Skye: Having Tom Cruise narrate an audio version?
Brenda Novak: Education as to what the genre is really about would probably boost sales. It is already. According to statistics reported on the Romance Writers of America website (www.rwanational.com): "More than 2,000 romance titles are released every year, and the genre generates more than half (55%) of all paperback fiction sales in America." That's a pretty big piece of the pie. There's got to be a reason for that.
Shirlee Busbee: Promotion. Promotion. Promotion. Advertising. Advertising. Advertising.
Gaelen Foley: I would love to see a show on Bookspan where a romance novel discussion group made up of real romance enthusiasts would talk each week about their favorite new books. Most people probably don't realize that scores of romance book groups meet every week (or month) at local libraries and bookstores all over this country. A show where romance novels are discussed the same way the readers discuss them in their book groups would send a very healthy message, that no woman should have to feel ashamed for reading romance novels. And then the public would see that romance readers are smart, wonderful people who come from all walks of life, not whatever weird, hurtful stereotype people have about them, as frustrated housewives or whatever. Some of my fans include English teachers, a female army sargeant, a woman physician with two kids, girls in university in the United Arab Emirates (talk about feminists!), several successful female attorneys, a top dog breeder in the UK, a hip young graphic artist in the Silicon Valley, etc. The stereotypes just don't fit anymore, and I feel they are the biggest detriment to the genre.
Barbara Samuel: More critical attention --- honorable reviews (whether positive or negative) by trained reviewers. Cross-shelving --- books shelved in both general fiction and romance.
Jo Beverley: If I understand the question correctly, I see two parts. I think it's time that the media, and thus the public, became properly informed about romance novels. No one would claim that all romance novels are jewels of literature, but among so many books there are jewels, and there are also excellent books to suit a wide range of tastes.
Many people think that romances are one simple thing, which is silly if considered. In literary terms romance novels are a major food group. Making sweeping statements, or judging on one nibble makes as much sense as assessing fruit by eating one grape, especially if it's the one left in the bottom of a box out the back of the supermarket. And especially if the tester's tastes run to crisp apples, bananas, or raspberries.
There should be more good reviews of romance novels, especially in local newspapers. Many do review columns on mystery and science fiction, but not romance. This is blatant, ignorant, exclusion. Incidentally, there are also bookstores that have sections for mystery and SF, but not for romance. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Romance novels don't particularly need help with sales, not when we have over 50 million readers and romance novels are 35.6% of all popular fiction sold in North America (more stats. available at http://www.rwanational.org/statistics.stm). However, I'm sure that there are many more readers who would love romance novels but are put off by the way the books are often depicted.
The best romance novels are fun, exciting, and touching novels with the bonus that they always have a happy ending. The reader won't become attached to a character and then have them slaughtered, or be left with a feeling of futility. Like all popular fiction, romance novels are stories of courage, hope, and triumph, and they leave the reader feeling lightened and brightened. Who doesn't need that?
So it's time the media stopped irresponsibly denigrating a whole form of fiction, and I urge all romance readers to rebel against anyone who tries to put down their chosen reading.
Mary Lynn Baxter: Better marketing and advertising and each author writing the best book possible.
Leslie Carroll: I would like to see publishers creatively market the authors and not the genre. The very problem with the word "genre" is that its root is "generic." And good romances written by good authors are anything but. I don't think any writer would wish her work to be considered "generic." Mass market doesn't have to mean McDonald's. I believe there has to be a way for an imprint to let readers know that they're picking up a [Red Dress Ink, Ivy, Avon, etc.] book, without all the covers looking so similar that it does the individual authors a disservice. The authors' imaginations aren't interchangeable. It doesn't cost the publishers any more money to think out of the box when it comes to marketing and promotion. Also, getting back to cover art, I have learned from personal experience that many romance and women's fiction books appeal to men. Guys like my books. Several chick lit books, for example, have wonderfully delineated male characters and tackle issues that are equally relevant to men as to women (dating is a good example), but men are embarrassed to buy these books because of the covers, which are so girly-girly. In my opinion, clinch and cartoon cover art are another reason that the romance genre still maintains a negative stigma. One of my biggest wishes, hopes, and dreams is to see the market moving toward more mainstream-looking covers. It will increase readership by attracting both men and non-romance women's fiction readers and will go a long way toward having the genre taken more seriously. A picture proverbially being worth a thousand words, the immense value of a first impression should not be underestimated.
Teresa Medeiros: I think education is the key. Any time an author can speak to a non-romance reading group, whether it be at a local library, bookstore, or a Kiwanis Club, she has the opportunity to talk to people about what romances are "not." In May of 2000, I spoke at the American Library Association convention in San Francisco and found them to be incredibly receptive to our message. I don't believe we should always be put in the position of defending our genre, but we can emphasize all of the positive qualities our genre embodies --- the empowerment of women, the positive world view, the exploration of ancient myths. And if that fails, I always just say, "Romance typifies the archetypal struggle of integrating the masculine and feminine aspects of our psyches." That usually shuts them up! Education is also a chance to get our books out there because so many people judge romance without ever having read one. If you're witty, intelligent, and articulate during your presentation, a lot of people are going to want to go home and read your book.
Candace Camp: Sales and marketing are not my strong suit. I do think that the main thing that has sold romances through the years has been word-of-mouth. I started reading them because the other women where I worked read them. I'll buy a book because someone recommends it --- that's particularly the case now that books are as expensive as they are.
Because of that I hate to see the passing of small, personally owned bookstores. Nothing helps sell books of any kind like a knowledgeable, helpful staff, people who know their customers and their books and can recommend the kind of books they know their customers will like. I think websites can help in that regard because they review and recommend books, and people can chat about their likes and dislikes.
Dorothy Garlock: I'm sorry this is not my field. I wouldn't attempt to tell a salesman how to sell my book or a promoter how to promote it any more than I would welcome them telling me how to write my books.
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