I’m late to the party on this one but I am going to add my two cents anyway. This happened in January before I had this blog so I didn’t even know about it until yesterday. Apparently this guy wrote a blog post titled “The Problem with Romance Novels”. I am not going to mention his name or link to his blog because I don’t want to drive traffic to his site because he is an idiot and that is what he wants. You could easily google it and find it but I ask that you don’t because that will make him seem more important than he is. He is a nobody and I would like it to remain that way. Apparently when he wrote this piece a lot of romance readers and writers tried to comment on his blog but he would delete their comments but the blog post was talked about quite a bit in the romance community.
I read his piece and my first reaction was to act like a juvenile and call him an asshole or a prick or dickhead or a moron or a pathetic loser but I have decided not to do that and attack this from a purely logical point of view. He starts off with this:
In this age of cultural and moral relativism, it should be no surprise that we often find people demanding respect in every field of art, where a finger painting is held in as high esteem as a Rembrandt for instance.
First cultural relativism has to do with the different values and morals of cultures for example the saying “one person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter” that is cultural relativism and it has nothing to do with romance novels or any novel for that matter. You’re not making any sense. You are using a widely accepted modern anthropology idea and using it to suggest romance writers/readers demand respect. Who exactly are we demanding respect from? You? People YOU consider great writers? Who gave you that authority? Why do you get to decide what is good and what isn’t? Is it because you have a blog that no one reads? Is it because you wrote a book that no one has heard of? Was that book even published? For someone who admits on their blog that they have no job, no money and is good at telling lies you are one arrogant fuck.
The fact that you are arrogant doesn’t bother me as much as the fact that you are wrong. I happen to know quite a few romance writers and they are wicked smart. You wouldn’t last one minute in a debate with these women. They are creative women who know how to write good stories that people like to read. You know what else they know? How to get published.
And for your information my daughter’s finger paintings are more important to me than a Rembrandt so fuck you. Next you said:
Romance novels are inexplicably among the best selling of all genres. The fact that we have nearly a 50% illiteracy rate in this country might be partly to blame. Many people don’t have the reading skills to rise much higher than children’s books or romance novels. Because romance novels do sell so abundantly in our day, I’ve noticed more and more articles about, and interviews with, romance writers where they are as often as not put on a pedestal—as though they somehow belong in the same class as authors of much higher standing.
Now you have gone from insulting the writers to the readers. You are suggesting that people who read and write romance are barely literate and stupid. Let me give you some facts:
Half of all women who read romance have a college education
The average household income of a romance reader is higher than the national average
74% of romance readers have more sex than the average person (for clarification someone like you would be considered the average person).
You’re upset that romance writers are being put on a pedestal. I have a solution for you since you are So much better than them. Write your own book and make it really good so you can be on that pedestal. Oh I forgot you did write a book but no one bought it or it wasn’t even published. I don’t know because I googled you and did not find any book by you all I found was your blog.
I have a blog too you know and I have a lot of women who read it and I talk to them and you know what I have found out? They are educated, smart women and they tend to be happily married. They are all of the things you aren’t. Next you said:
What the modern reader needs to understand is that romance novels by their very nature are meant to be inferior.
This statement makes absolutely no sense and confirms my suspicions, you are stupid. Explain this since you are so much smarter than us. Why are they meant to be inferior and inferior to what or who? And why would someone intentionally write an inferior book? So they could take it to a publisher and say “here you go you’re going to love this one, it really sucks”. So you are suggesting that publishers are stupid too? I am asking you because I don’t know. I’m not an author like you and you are the one who has experience writing an inferior book so therefore you are an expert and I would like you to explain this please.
I have read a lot of books in my life including the one’s you consider classics. Just because not every writer is a Hemingway doesn’t mean they aren’t talented. Remember, you aren’t Hemingway either.
I think it’s safe to say that no Ivy League school will ever teach out of romance novels as part of the required curriculum. No romance novel will ever be thought of as a classic along side Spencer, Bunyan, Swift and Dickens.
I think it is also safe to say that no Ivy League school would allow you in as a student. And how do you know a romance novel won’t be taught in an Ivy League school someday? How do you know that a romance novel won’t become a classic? Stephen King will never be considered in the same league as Dickens but that doesn’t mean he sucks. He is the best at what he does and writes in a genre much smaller than romance with much less competition.
If a romance story were that good, it would no longer be referred to as romance, but would instead simply be known as drama or literary fiction or a classic love story. If you think about it, there are of course a handful of classic novels that fit the description of the latter: novels that are full of romantic love but which are so well written that they aren’t thought of as romance novels/stories. Romeo and Juliet probably tops the list (though it was a play of course) followed by Jane Eyre.
Romeo and Juliet is considered a romance story and even has a sub-genre called Tragic Romance and is a classic so you have proved yourself wrong by providing a romance that is a classic. You should feel pretty stupid.
No one would call Jane Eyre a “romance novel.” It would instead be referred to as a “classic love story.”
You are right and wrong at the same time. You are right Jane Eyre would not be considered a Romance Novel because it isn’t it is a genre named Bildungsroman which means a coming of age story. And you are wrong that it would be called a classic love story because wouldn’t it would be called a coming of age story.
The very thing that separates classic love stories from romance novels is that romance novels must by default be bad, tacky even, or they’ll no longer be classified as romance novels and will get placed in a higher category. I find it difficult to respect something that is purposely meant to be a lessor work. One should always strive to do great work. If an author classifies their own story as romance, that tells me that even they don’t think much of it. That being the case, neither should we.
Where is your evidence that romance novels must by default be bad and tacky? Where does it say that? You find it difficult to respect something that is meant to be a lesser work. I actually agree with you on this. As a blogger it is difficult for me to respect other bloggers whose blogs are meant to be lesser works. The problem is I don’t think you meant for your blog to be lesser I think you meant for it to be good and it isn’t which means you are trying to be good but still suck and that really sucks for you.
It’s funny because you talk about how children could write a romance novel and one of your readers agreed. She said she could easily write a romance novel. Then I have a question for you. Why don’t you? You aren’t having any success as it is so if is so easy why don’t you do it and make some money. Because you can’t that’s why.
You know after reading this I have realized it was a waste of my time to even address your stupidity. It is very clear that you are simply jealous. You are not a successful writer and you are bitter. You are trying to build yourself up by tearing someone else down and that makes you pathetic. And the fact that you deleted comments from women on your site shows that you are also a pussy. They were probably comments that you didn’t know how to respond to because they were written by women clearly smarter than you so you deleted them.
Romance is a huge genre some books are bad, some are good and some are even great. They are written by talented people and read by smart people who like to read well written fantasy. Romance writers write a plethora of books with some of the most creative stories you will find. Romance is the largest selling genre did you ever think that maybe you are the one that is wrong. Maybe all of the people buying these books are the smart ones.
You write that you are sexy and single. The sexy part is debatable as to why you are single is not.
One more thing. There is one really funny part on your blog. One of your readers complimented you and said this must be one your best posts because you got fifteen comments. Come read my blog mother fucker.
Wicked. Rm, you are wicked…smart, funny . . .
Is anyone gonna tell this person about this blog?
Or are we all just going to nod our heads in agreement that you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.
Or, you only understand what you want to.
You are just AWESOME! I love the way you think!!
Amen to everything you said RM! You fucking rock! I read this blog the other day after it was mentioned here and was really pissed off. What an ignorant asshole. Your last line—BEST. LINE. EVER. I think I love you
)).
Nice! Way to tell it like it is.
Actually I think I found a college that teaches romance novel classes: http://www.mcdaniel.edu/romance/abstracts.htm
not an author, but I love your blog.
FYI the DB is totally wrong. Romance novels are college courses, and one best selling author – Eloisa James – is an IVY LEAGUE professor – so he can stuff it….
Keep telling it like it is!
I would walk through hell with you.
I was right. You're my kind of superhero!
I had heard about this guys from authors that I follow. I think you have summed up very well what most of us were thinking. Thank you for that.
Having 3 older brothers & married for 8 years, I have heard some crazy bullshit come out of a man's mouth before, but I think this tops anything I've ever heard. Who the fuck does his guy think he is judging millions of women AND men who happen read and write romance? As for him basically comparing romance novels to classics, I can only speak for myself and say that I read a romance novel for the simple purpose of having an escape from real life. I hardly take what I read seriously because it's not the reason I read them. I read them cuz I love them. And forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't it a proven fact that people who read more, regardless of the genre, are more intelligent? And for this moron's information, I AM college educated & the only art on my walls are my daughters' art projects and I wouldn't trade them for a piece of shit painting worth millions for anything. And I have an idea for this fucker, let's take the amount of money that these "inferior" novels have generated and compare it to the amount of money this asshole has made writing that stupid blog, no screw that, compare it to the amount of money he's made in his entire life being a clueless fuckhead and THEN we'll see who's inferior.
I remember reading that asshat's post. It started to make my blood boil. But then I thought that if I got angry, it would only prove that his opinion mattered. And I refuse to expend any energy on such a weenus. All that said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your rebuttal to the asshat!
Fucking perfect!
I remeber when all this shit came down. You are so right he is a fucking douchebag!
In a way you have to feel kind of sorry for the little prick. I mean, he is probably the 40 year old virgin the movie was based on.
How would you feel never to have eaten or fucked a pussy?
You told him, RM! Logically presented. Good job!
I remember that… If he stays single all his life, we won't have to wonder why. He also deleted the majority of dissenting comments … Precious, yes ?
I think this cocksucker (and I call him that because he's never gonna get any more pussy) is one of those men who is afraid of or intimidated by women's sexuality. I read an article where this man was talking about how it can be complicated to bring a woman to orgasm. He remembered being in his twenties and the first time he made a woman have a thrashing, screaming, out of her mind orgasm. He said he never felt more like a god. From then on, he knew it was his calling as a man to bring his woman pleasure. Real men, like RM, feel that way and enjoy everything that gets their woman hot, including romance novels.
Damn your Good ! there will always be people trying to knock other people down, he sounds like a Complete Turd. Possibly full of sour Grapes and Hemorrhoids . i have to agree with Scarlet that last line , the Absoloute Bestest !
I read this back it January and this guy is a complete and total douche-bag. Someone shared it in one of my book groups and all the ladies tore him apart. He is such a pussy he actually deleted the comments he didn't like off his blog.
RM, You Rock! I take back all my cupcake comments.
@crazygranny, you are so funny. I love you!
I will admit I never thought I would love "Romance Novels" as much as I do. I also found that so many writers and their readers are happily married with families and highly educated. Being able to write and read about sex and intimacy, mostly from a female authors's point of view, breaks down a lot of sexual barriers for a lot of women that still seem to remain even in this day and age. So as far as I'm concerned that undersexed bastard can go fuck himself.
It's obvious this guy hasn't gotten laid in his entire life.
Huh, over 15 comments in about 10 minutes. All of them agreeing this tool is a douchebag. I wonder if he feels like a god now?
WOW – you nailed it and nailed it good, or is it well? See that is why I'm not an author. Not everyone can do it. Romance is what the makes the world go round. I thank the Almighty that he is single because idjiots like should be removed from the gene pool and shouldn't be allowed to breed.
He is a bitter man, because the relationships that he did have probably revolved around stupid video or role playing games and his gamer girlfriend left him after she read a romance novel and thought to herself, this guy could find my clit with a road map.
You are my hero for taking this man to task. You deserve to wear that cape and even those sexy blue tights!
I have not heard of this guys blog before this. And I will follow you anywhere RM, and I will not bother to google it. As you said, its not worth my time wasting on that fucker.
Yet again, it shows that the romance genre, despite the huge sales, is the Rodney Dangerfield of books "don't get no respect"! Fact is, if the rest of the population wants to turn up their nose, so be it. The rest of us haven't missed you.
Goddam I just got on and I can't comment to everyone cause my wife made me cook tonight. So Thanks and we obviously all agree.
What an idiot is all I can say. I thought you were quite clever on your come backs.
Well said! I remember this post and the resulting kerfluffle. Your response is amazing. He deleted all comments except his little friends' comments. it was ridiculous. I do think he was just jealous because I did see a picture of the dude and he is soooo not sexy (like I'm not sure when the last time he took a shower or shaved) not to mention that everything that came out of his mouth was pure vitriol. But as a romance writer, I get to hang around very hot models, and super smart male writers who do enjoy romance that have more intelligence in their little pinky than he ever could hope for.
Some people just have too much time on their hands.
Finally someone that actually uses logic and common sense to address the bog that you addressed. As a man that reads romance novels, I really found his comments boorish and insulting but like you, wasnt going to respond and give him any credit for writing pure crap. Kepp up the good work. By the way….I would pay 10K for my daughters finger paintings as well. The Rembrandts just dont interest me. I guess in his mind that would make me an uneducated idiot. In my mind? It makes me a Dad!
Wow….what a douche. You hit the nail on the head. One of my favorite parts:
"And for your information my daughter’s finger paintings are more important to me than a Rembrandt so fuck you."
I couldn't agree more.
Phil my brother! Where have you been? Me, Scott and MMM have been surrounded by chicks for months now.
And surrounded by chicks is a bad thing why?
You go get him Romance Man! I cannot believe what an ass this person is!! He obviously has never really even read a romance novel. RM your points were great and well written. I really do not understand the negativity about romance novels to begin with, everything has its place and it should not be about one-upmanship but about enjoying what you write/read. No way will I be looking this person up and the fact that he is so chicken that he wound delete comments he does not like shows that he is petty and a coward. Anyway, as usual you hit it out of the park RM!
Good point Diane, go away Phil
Crossover here, RM, but I thought your comments on Lady Scribes about romance book covers was intriguing. Maybe with the dominance of e readers and e books more men will feel comfortable reading romance since the cover is not in their face.
I would love to tell the idiot who wrote that piece of trash blog that my 13 year old daugher is an aspiring author. She has written over 20 short stories & won a Young Author's award at school last month. When she's older she wants to write romance, which I will back 300%. So in 10-20 years when her first romance novel is #1 on New York's Best Seller's list, I will send this asshole a copy of her book with a note that I will cheerfully write that says, "go fuck yourself".
Ha! I remember reading that blog and I laughed and laughed. It was so utterly ridiculous and over the top I was sure that it was completely facetious and only intended to garner attention. I mean, nobody could seriously be that stupid, right? It HAD to be a joke.
Good point Diane
Dear Romance Man,
I love it when a big strong man, or really any male, comes to my defense and that of those I love. Seriously, I do. I get tired of kicking ass myself sometimes. And you did a right fine job of it.
The trouble with idiots like the one who posted the blog to which you most eloquently reply in this post is that they're too ignorant to know they're wrong.
Those who think it's easy to write a romance should stay up with me till 3 AM sometime, watching while I look up words to make sure they existed in 1760, while I struggle to make the words do what they need to do to describe some of the most personal of human emotions, and to help me brainstorm new ways of describing ejaculate. (Now that sounds funny there at the end, but it's not easy, which is my point.)
I interview romance novelists for USA Today, and so far I've interviewed multiple attorneys, some PhDs, a cancer research scientist who gave up science to write romance, a few journalists and other brilliant, educated women. The running joke among those of us who write romance is that romance novelists are such underachievers, because we have the college degree, the kids, the career AND we write romance.
I was the first woman editor-in-chief of two different newspapers, a columnist and an investigative reporter before I took up the pen and wrote romance. This is much more difficult that journalism. (I had two stalkers, multiple death threats and a bunch of really nasty experiences as part of that job, but the writing was easier.) The writing is so much more complicated than tacking a bunch of facts and putting them together in some easy-to-read way. Before I went into journalism I did master's work in archaeology. That's ancient history, art history, Latin, Greek, and Egyptian hieroglyphics ALL together for one delightful course of study. I had a 4.0 — and two kids under the age of 6.
This guy and the men and women like him have a chip on their shoulders. They believe it's up to them to define value in art. I think they dislike romance because romantic fiction is by, about and for women. It's subversive in that it helps rewrite the rules of love and sex so that women win, too. It places a woman's happiness and sexual fulfillment at the forefront of a story, making it inherently feminist (in my opinion). It reshapes our fucked-up world so that families and love and relationships matter more than anything else.
And guess what? On the day we die, *those things* are the very things we're going to think about. They are what matter most in life.
So romantic fiction is about the things that matter most in life, told and experienced from the FEMALE point of view, unlike most of literature.
I suspect this idiot isn't just an idiot but also a sexist pig and LOUSY in bed (partly due to lack of practice).
Thanks for this post! My readers are lovin' it!
Yours,
Pamela
Diane, your cover/ereader comment reminds me of an ereader that advertised that the cover stayed visible on the reader even when turned off…I laughed and wondered how many would NOT buy it because of that feature.
RM these are a couple of articles on Romance novels as course material in universities, beginning with Yale
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/01/24/entertainment/doc4b5b8a729dc88965559255.txt
http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.co.nz/2010/02/next-big-trend-teaching-romance-novels.html
Way to be a knight in shining armor for the romance genre RM
Its unfortunate that a lot of people hold opinions somewhat similar to this, that romance novels are only fluff-books that house wives read because their too stupid to comprehend Shakespeare or whoever else. It's really frustrating and easy to get angry about, I even wrote a 20 paged paper for my college Sociology class about why romance is a legitimate genre.
Clearly that douchebag was a troll.
Damn Pamela, you should have wrote this blog cause you said it much better than me. I get the sense from this guy that he is in some way intimidated by women. I hope you are wrong about the feminist thing though. i would hate to think only feminists feel that way cause I hope most people do.
I agree Emmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmily
RM Pamelas post was beautiful, but no more so than yours . You ROCK.
I read this idiot's blog back in January. A few of my author friends were up in arms about it. One went so far as to leave a comment which was deleted because she didn't agree with the moron's point of view.
I had the same thoughts on it when I read it. Thanks, RM, for saying exactly what I was thinking. You've done a justice to romance writers and readers everywhere.
Snort. I just had this vision of the RM caped superhero being all Clint Eastwood: "Come read my blog mother fucker." I know you can't put that on FB but that should be your motto!
It's a little absurd to get excited about 15 comments don't you think Diane?
Thanks MJ and Gemma.
Diane, how about …
Come read my blog if you think your man enough!
@ Pamela. I think I love you!!
RM, I hope most people feel that way too. Of course, I hope most people are feminists, which I think of as meaning simply "pro free-and-empowered woman."
And your post was perfect.
Holy Shit""". Scarlet said Fuck!!!
Well, RM you sure have all your " chicks" fighting mad. Extremely well said .
Can't wait to hear what Kate has to say on the matter. I am not ashamed of what I read…never have, never will be. Your blog has given me the opportunity to meet great authors, make life long friendships, and I found my soul sister! What's jackass got to show for His blog?
Well RM, as always you are my hero, your like the rooster in the hen house, getting all the chicks in an uproar!! LOL
Thanks Pamela. God I hope you're right about that. I don't know why anyone would want women any different than that.
Of course I'm your hero Pat, I am a superhero, look in the upper left hand corner see me?
LOL Loved this. Except for one small thing. The last comment. I would be over the moon over 15 comments
But I'm a small blogger who does it for myself and a few fans lol Love the comments on here. Thanks for putting this so well!
Thank You RM!!!!! This blog is the best!!! I only read romance or romantic thriller's…I am educated and 48 …and I know what I like. What ever happened to reading for enjoyment???
Leona, what is your blog so I can go comment. And I didn't mean to down a blog that doesn't get a lot of comments it's just that we tend to get quite a few so for him to brag about that seemed silly.
RM well said. Sadly, the title of your blog summed it up. There are those who will always look down on romance novels but you know what they'll never have? They'll never have a reader write to them and tell them thank you for writing a book that touched their lives. They'll never have a reader write them and tell them they laughed so hard they had to leave their nurses' station. THAT is why I write romance. Because it's about relationships. Between heroes and heroines but more, between writers and readers. And that guy, and guys like him, can kiss my ass.
Well said Jessica.
"Come read my blog mother fucker" I agree with Scarlet & Teri..brilliant!!!
I've only been reading romance for a few years. Before that, I was a mainstream (?) fiction reader. I am constantly impressed by the ingenuity and creativity in romantic fiction. There is AMAZING writing out there, and it truly is a shame that it's not given the credit it is due simply because it's categorized as romance.
Does anyone know if this is the same jackass who was included on the Dr. Drew show talking about 50 Shades? If so, he's a tool, and one that will probably go mostly unused (as others have said). And I would pay good money to watch Diane (or any of the BBL's) give this guy a verbal beat down. He wouldn't know what hit him.
Thank you for such a perfect come-back to the idiot's rant!!
Well done RM! One of the smart, funny & awesome women who are on Pamela Clare's FB group posted a blog of yours and now I am hooked. On Sunday, two women at our church coffee hour we're making fun of romance novels while discussing book club books. They also work at Thrift shop at church and said that one woman donated all of these "smutty" novels and they were suprised that students from Swarthmore college bought them. After asking if there were any books left I commented that I love a good romance novel and my husband loves the benefits of my reading romance alot better than the depressing title book club had chosen. I am a bad christian but it was great to make them choke on their coffee.
I bet that nowhere in Douchebag's 15 comments did anyone use such wonderful words as "weenus" and "kerfluffle." Awesome words. I love this blog, and the amazing conversations it engenders (used my ivy league word there).
You guys are funny.
This man has never read a romance novel. This proves that: "The very thing that separates classic love stories from romance novels is that romance novels must by default be bad, tacky even, or they'll no longer be classified as romance novels and will get placed in a higher category." I will be completely honest, before I read a romance novel, I assumed that they were cheesey love stories. Thanks to a brand new Kindle and a free novel by Erin Nicholas, my world was changed a year and half ago. I now read for pleasure more than….ever. After teaching government all day, the last thing I want to do is come home and read a classic. Hell, I don't want to read a classic, period. Been there, done that. Sorry, it ain't happenin'! And since finding this genre, I have made some of the best friends. I have met and chatted with authors from all over the world. I traveled to Chicago to meet many of them. These authors are amazing men and women who deserve a hell of a lot respect.
BTW – I have a Master's in Administration. I am happily married, with a very artist son, we do make over the national average yearly income, my husband and I have *awesome* sex – frequently, and I have spent more on romance novels in the past year and half than this guy will ever make on his yet to be published book.
I will repeat…holy shit! RM, your cape is flying high tonight!!!
Well said Kim
First off – I stumbled upon this blog through a friend at FaceBook and Jessica Scott on Twitter and the first time I read it I was hooked – I think I have sent some others to your FB page…
The author of the blog you are talking about shows just how smart he really is – illiterate people cannot read…Duh!!!!
I love reading your blog – I usually end up laughing out loud for real.
Thank you!
Have my babies?
RM and Pamela,
I am grateful that you both were able to say what I so strongly feel. I know romance is fantasy…I HAVE LIVED reality and need a break where life is (ultimately) fair, love lasts forever and your soul mate doesn't die all too soon. You both are my heroes. Continue doing what you do so well; I will continue reading.
Pat, you said holy shit! Twice!! Lol.
Hey RM-you know how to cook? Yay for you!
thanks Nancy!
KT, ok, if it's alright with my wife.
Not very good Scarlet. But we have a new deal since my wife does pretty much everything I am now in charge of cooking dinner and cleaning after dinner. But that's all I have to do so that's cool. Tonight I made her lobster with Tilapia
Lobster with Tilapia??? I LOVE Tilapia .How did you cook it ? I love lobster too, but that you pretty much boil.
What is ironic to me is how many previous comments touched on one of the main reasons romance is so popular. It's primary focus is the relationship. And that very focus is what makes many people dismiss it. But if you want to understand world events and study history, you find that "relationships" are the underlying force behind wars, empires, etc. Whether it's an Antony and Cleopatra or two brothers fighting over a throne, humans are social animals and our relationships define us. A real example: King Henry the 8th recognized the Church of England. A large part of that was driven by his multiple marriages. He changed the course of Christianity in England. And Alexandra and Rasputin's relationship arguably contributed to the Russian Revolution. Romance readers already know that nothing is more fascinating or enlightening than reading about relationships. And that relationships drive history.
RM – okay you made lobster with Tilapia and you say you don't cook well – okay when Hubbie cooks here it is out of a box from the freezer. You are a Renascence Man! Do you make a different meal for the kiddos?
Pamela well said
Ellie – I agree with you – I started reading this past year when my Dad was diagnosed with cancer – never read a bunch of romance but at first it was what I found for free on Nook – now I am hooked a great get away from real life.
I am educated – I have a masters and I am a corporate trainer and college professor. Hubbie and I have been happily married 19 years. I have found the romance authors I have written to very articulate and lovers of their craft. They work hard on their books, researching and slaving to make sure the story is told in a wonderful way. Logic says if they did not create stories we loved and characters we wanted to get to know better the genre would not survive. Simple supply and demand – if the supply sucks there will be no demand!
Pat I cooked it in a pan with a lemon dill sauce. It was awesome. The fish was fresh my daughter caught it in the keys this weekend. she caught the lobster too
OK, screw my previous post. Let's talk food. Did you really, truly, honestly make lobster? And, Pat, did you mean broiled, not boiled? Grilled lobster is excellent too. RM, what did you serve with it?
Did Diane say something about Rumplestilskin
MCC, I am not a good cook but that is one of the things I can make which is why I made it. The kids have the fish and I let them have a little lobster.
I told you to ignore that! I was typing when the food talk started.
Diane, I cooked the fish in a pan and boiled the lobster and served it with vegetables broccoli, steamed with butter and garlic salt
OK, I'm good with that. Broccoli is my favorite vegetable. Now when my husband makes me lobster, he knows that I hate to wrestle with animal carcass, so he deshells it for me, and sets lovely lobster meat on my plate. When you have the 1st Annual BBL Clambake at the beach, I will expect the same treatment.
"The kids have the fish and I let them have a little lobster." I'm not judging but I have this image of your daughters with their face pressed up against the candy store window. "Father, dear father, may we have another morsel of lobster? We are ever so hungry." You probably don't share the JB with them either, do you?
Lemon Dill sauce – yum! I have never tried to make lemon dill sauce. I wouldn't share my lobster either! Yeah for your kids for liking something other than chicken nuggets – bugs me when my kids friends come and won't try any food if it isn't beige.
Did you get my interview questions?
Diane I split the shell in half and the meat pulls right out
Diane we made the big mistake of letting out kids learn to love seafood and steak and it's all they want when we go out to dinner. We didn't have much lobster so we didn't give them much. They can deal with in therapy.
Scuse us everybody, we're going to talk food for a minute! RM. What a feast! I'm so proud of you. fresh Tilapia, yummers. that's my favorite veggie too, broccoli .
The best part is knowing how fresh it is, because your daughter caught it!!! YAY for her ! I love that, " did Diane say something about Rumplestilskin?"
Yes I did get your questions Mcc and I need more from you guys. The lemon dill sauce I didn't make I bought it. I think it was McCormicks
OMG…Diane, our favorite veggie is broccoli ……amazing!!
Well Rm, I am truly impressed! I too love tilapia and grilled it the other night–yum! I also bake it in the oven with a mixture of pesto and panko on top-yummy! Even my husband who doesn't like fish really likes it that way. Lobster for me has to be in red sauce and served over spaghetti! It's the only way the Italian in me will eat it
)).
RM, awesome blog; the next time someone pisses me off I so want you in my corner. I read romance novels, fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, military drama, science fiction and everything in between. I have enjoyed all of them and never once have I read a romance novel and thought "Wow" this book is so much less because it is a romance novel. I just finished "In Service" by Marcus Lutrell, a gripping real life story and "The last boyfriend" by Nora Roberts a total romance novel. And guess what I loved them both for completely different reasons. The guy is an idiot! these people with their one sided opinions are something else. What that something else is, well I think you handled that part. As always RM you ROCK!!!! I can throw that cape on and super hero for us "stupid" romance novel lovers anytime!
Thanks Theri!
I am still working on my questions RM
. Is there a deadline?
Pat, I am no longer one of the 'quiet' ones, huh? I don't think I've ever told RM off either, I'm just honest with him, right RM?
I have to admit, RM cooked an awesome dinner tonight and even cleaned up after afterwards. Our oldest caught the fresh seafood while she was in the Keys last weekend, she is gone for 3 weeks so we only had to share the lobster with our other two. Our kids love seafood so they were so excited……and then dad even made dessert with fresh fruit. Great night……
Lexie
No time limit Scarlet, and no you never have
Will look for that – I love Knorr's Creamy Basil sauce – make that with pasta, broccoli and a protein.
RM, that was grouper you cooked not tilapia
Lexie
You know RM and Pat, I will no longer try to validate romance. Let's tell the truth. The only reason we read it is for the hot, smutty, steamy, explicit, graphic sex. Are you happy now? mumbling, I'll rump their stiltskin.
Firstly…you cooked!?! Can you please give my husband some tutorials? I refuse to get on board with his, "cereal & grilled cheese are considered cooking," train.
Secondly, what a punk that guy is. He clearly has some issues with successful women, the only one he's close to is probably Rosie Palm. I think it's funny that some people choose to showcase their supreme ignorance. He deserves a raging case of bleeding fire crotch…but, thanks to him and his small mindedness….I'm going to read a really trashy-tacky-full of cliches & cheesy quotes romance novel. And I'm going to LOOOOOVVVEEE it….so suck it Mr. McDouche
And, Grace, bless his heart, right?
We have turned Grace into a monster. Poor mister Grace
Exactly, Diane!! Bless his little heart
Yes, poor Mister Grace…which I will call him from now on, so thanks
He's listening to me rant!
I was one of the few who had the dubious honour of NOT having my post deleted (well one or two of them anyway – I think he deleted the last one I made), at least, that was the case the last time I looked, which was around the time. He deleted posts from people such as Sarah Frantz (President of IASPR) and Laura Vivanco (from Teach Me Tonight) all talking about how romance is in fact studied in Colleges (possibly Ivy League ones, but I'm not 100% on that and as the posts were deleted by el douchebag, I can't check).
I believe his author name is a pseudonym – I'm not sure whether he's published or not but I think you're spot on with your assessment of him. He's a sad lonely unattrractive douchebag with too much time on his hands.
I can only HOPE he visits your blog RM!
Man, I would not want to get on your bad side, RM! Lol. Nice post, stickin' it to him!
Loved Pamela's comment too. I remember saying after first reading that guy's blog that I know professors that have taught romance in class (yes, the pop stuff), critiqued and commented on it, and written it. So he is pretty much wrong on every count possible, lol. Also, he writes sff, which is also looked down upon by the "literary" community. Glass houses, lol. Also, who puts romance authors on a pedestal? Not the critics. They get no respect, no respect, I tell ya.
I don't think he'll come here Kaetrin. If he does I should just delete his comment.
Nu, I wish I would have knows it was taught in college I would have added that
It's not letting me post again!! Dammit!
Why does it take a 1-liner and not a paragraph the way everyone else writes paragraphs???
I give up. Dammit!
And it was an informative, scholarly reply, too. I'll see if it allows me more than one sentence. With no cursewords.
OMG, " rump there stiltskin". I love it Diane! I do read romance novels for those exact reasons!!! Oh.. Grouper.. I love that too. A lot of the restaurants near our beach serve grouper bites as an appetizer.
Oh, Diane, the hot covers are fun too! Right?
Wow…look what I miss when I stay off the Internet all day to write my trashy romance novels for illiterate people to read. Amazing…and funny thing, but I never heard about this jerk's blog. Probably wouldn't have read it even if I had–who wants to waste their time with idiots? Besides, if what he says upsets you, you've just given a total moron the power to upset you.
He doesn't deserve it.
Now reading RM's post was like reading pure poetry, and Pamela C., I really loved your response, and everyone else's as well. Yes…I have read all 104 comments, and while I plan to write more tonight, I'll be checking back, too.
RM, have I told you lately that I absolutely love this blog? You're like a bright spot on a somber day, but the sun is ALWAYS out here.
Later, guys, and thanks, Lexie for saying it was grouper, not Tilapia! I read an article about farm-raised tilapia and haven't been able to eat it since. Wild caught grouper on the other hand is a whole different kettle of fish…or just one fish.
Nevermind.
Cris there can be only one reason. Squarespace hates you.
I love seafood – living in the middle of the country near the mountains means I don't get the fresh stuff very often, and when I do, I pay thru the nose for it. Sounds like a lovely meal. And I am working on getting my passport, so that when the BBL clam bake is on I will be ready.
Thanks Kate. I miss you not being on here as much
I wrote a post about that particular blog post, myself. It rrreeaalllyy ticked me off.
Thanks for sticking up for all of us, RM.
Unfortunately, douchebaggery is not prosecutable. I've been reading since I was three years old. I have been reading for fifty-nine years. I have read about a book a day for that entire time. I am educated, educable, and erudite. My ebook apps in my iPhone hold hundreds of books. I have some science, some math, some anthropology, some psychology and a smidgen of woo-woo intermixed with romance, lots and lots of romance. I would love to sit in a room with this tool and discuss the merits of the romance genre. Then I could help him find a few of his flaws. I might even hurt his itty feelings while I was at it, or call him a tiny little prick. Thanks for your ability to write a decent blog, RM, you're a peach!
Loved your last line!!!
DoucheBag should know that according to the Romance Writers of America, 168 of their members who have written book-length romance novels or other books (not including anthologies) have made one or more of the following best-seller lists: New York Times (top 20), Publishers Weekly (top 15), USA Today (top 50). If romance was only for dullards and dweebs, how did these authors hit such rarefied air?
Sarah Frantz, (PhD U. of Michigan), Associate Professor at Fayetteville State University, and Eric Sellinger, (BA Harvard, PhD UCLA),a professor of English at DePaul University both founding members of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance, have organized national and international scholarly conferences on the representation of romantic love in global popular culture, the first of which was held at – ready for this? – Princeton University in April 2009. (I attended and boy, was I pleased to have us romance writers taken seriously!) Among other scholars, Eloisa James, tenured associate professor of English Literature at Fordham University spoke, along with Jennifer Crusie, who has two Master’s Degrees. Both have appeared on the above lists multiple times.
These folks would make mincemeat (dogmeat?) out of DoucheBag. RM, they have a list of “Romance Writers Groups’ Blogs” on their site http://teachmetonight.blogspot.com/ and I wonder if you’d qualify, since all the BBLs contribute and you have a lot of romance writers who comment.
Gosh, only 18 attempts! If I did sit-ups that religiously, I'd be svelte.
Wouldn't it be awesome if douchebaggery were prosecutable. Lynne, I love the very thought.
"You've been charged with five counts of doucebaggery, two counts of douchebaggery by a person in a position of trust, three counts of second-degree enticement to commit douchebaggery, and one count of aggravated asshattery. Would the defendant like to enter a plea at this time?"
Not sure what "doucebaggery" though. Ahem. Typos.
I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted ! The comments were coming in fast and furious! Heading to bed with my smutty, poorly written , piece of trash I love so much!!! Thanks for standing up for us Cape man…..see you in the morning…….Good Morning Luci.
. XO
Where is Fiona, I want to read it. unless it has big words in it
Thanks Lynne, I don't think he is man enough to sit in a room with you.
I remember this blog post and the idiotic statements made within. I think I remember being to the point and just commenting… Asshole.
*deleted* lol
Cris, I don't think I would qualify for that since I'm not a writer. But I solved our problem with why you can't post. If you try and post something with a link or website squarespace doesn't always let it through. In the future write you post and email me the link or put it on facebook.
Pam, if we did that we would be a country of prisoners because there are so many fucking douchebags in the world.
Excellent post as always! Idiots seem to be plentiful these days.
You and Lexie have a great night.
Well, I think this post wins the prize for the single day with the most new people posting! They are coming out of the woodwork. Lurkers
This is also a great place to come and blow off some steam cuz RM won't delete the comments, he just shoots down the idiocy with logic.
Hey LG, I was wondering where you have been. i'm sending you something
Hey RM, I had to go to a Dr appt. This blog is a stitch!!
Who needs antidepressants?!
You keep sayin' you have something to send me, but I don't ever get anything.
Did Lexie get my last email with my snail mail?
LG yes books on the way. I have something to send you
RM, please please please I'm begging you – send it. Whatever it is, it doesn't matter, all that's important is that its from you.
No, really, I check email fairly regularly.:)
I just found a new author…has anyone read jessica Anderson?
The NightKeepers? Mayan lore and modern science . . .
OMG! LG
Love, love, love that series.
It is a great twist on the Mayans and the end times. You are going to be hooked.
Oooooh, Mayans? I love that shit. LG I have something to send you
thanks crazygranny. Its good to get some feedback from someone I know
RM, please please please send it!!!! I'm begging you, send it.
Oh, yea, it must come from romanceman, not squarespace, cuz there are so many that I'm simply deleting them all in one sweep at a time!
I love those kinds of books that put a good twist on something from history. Its a good mix of paranormal modern, and history. Its not so over the top to be unbelievable. Well. Maybe a little, but thats what makes it so good.
LG – Crazygranny is right Jessica Anderson's Nightkeepers is a great series! I think you will like it too! Let us know what you think?
Oh, RM, you had me at "wicked smart."
Back in January, I read this guy's blog post…and promptly dismissed it as an inane rant. People say whatever they want on the internet, and for the most part, I just ignore them. But the fact that RM jumped into the fray to defend what I'm passionate about makes me want to speak out.
I know this blogger-who-shall-remain-nameless has no idea about what he speaks, which is part of the reason my blood didn't boil. RM did a great job of addressing the facts, but I'm going to talk about some personal experiences.
When I was in law school, my friends and I (all with Ivy League degrees, mind you) devoured romance novels. I've written for federal judges, law journals, and some of the toughest professors in the country, and let me tell you – writing a romance novel is harder. I can't write a dumb book because the readers aren't dumb! You would not believe how wicked smart these readers are. Without fail, every time I mention to one of my friends what kind of books I'm writing, it is always the smartest ones who tell me how much they love reading romance. And by smartest ones, I'm talking women so smart, they make Ruthie Knox look like a dunce.*
What's more interesting is why people feel like genre fiction is an easy target.
* Ruthie is the very definition of wicked smart. Just using some hyperbole here, folks!
i figure this dude needed some traffic and used something/negative controversial to get attention. it just lazy to take cheap shots at other writers. just another man using hard working women to poof himself up.
I would love to meet a chick that makes Ruthie look like a dunce. I don't have any education so I can't really offer much but I know how hard it is to write a blog so I can imagine how hard it is to write a book. The thing is you are right the readers aren't dumb. i talk to them everyday and they call bullshit all the time on bad writing.
Pamela Clare–I've never read your books, but I swear, after reading this comment, you're going on my list. This is WONDERFUL stuff! "You've been charged with five counts of douchebaggery, two counts of douchebaggery by a person in a position of trust, three counts of second-degree enticement to commit douchebaggery, and one count of aggravated asshattery. Would the defendant like to enter a plea at this time?"
And RM, I always get this way when I get into a story. The first few weeks are sort of slow and easy as I get to know my characters, but then the story catches hold and I really have to go with it. Sort of like the way Gina disappears when she's writing. What makes them work is the fact we're so locked in to the characters and what's going on that we can't walk away from it. Even for you, sweetheart. Though I've been trying to stop in throughout the day because I need this blog and all of you guys.
And welcome to so many new
members…it posted all by itself! Weird. Time to get off.
I love the end-of-world stories!
I will let you know if I like The NightKeepers
Crazygranny, is it gonna be hot enough for me,do you think?
Goodnite
The boy has issues. He needs to grow a pair, grow some hair, and stop being scared of women. It's embarrassing.
Well said this man is an ass I won't bother like you said to give him satisfaction by looking him up. The research that the romance righter do just to make a story good is amazing and dedicated. I love your blog I find you funny and refreshing and I am thankful for Kate Douglas turning me on to you!
I read the douchebag's blog last week some time when it was mentioned here and while I found it offensive, in the end I thought all his pathetic ass did was show his ignorance. I couldn't muster enough interest or energy to reply to his drivel because his opinion about what's worth reading doesn't mean jack shit to me. No matter how many opposing opinions may or may not be posted on his blog (and it never occurred to me that he would be so chicken shit as to delete comments that disagreed with him) , he would still be left holding his Vienna sausage with one hand and searching for his balls with the other because I always take into consideration the source of information.
He stated that he was a sexy. Not in this fucking lifetime! He must be looking at a different photo of himself than I am and clearly must be on some heavy hallucinogenic drugs. His appearance made me want to scrub my eyeballs. He's a hot mess and his stupidity would keep any intelligent women far, far away.
I appreciated your well done vent Remy, as well as many others that expressed lots of the same thoughts I had. Venting is good. Besides that, the bitch in me loved your last line: "Come read my blog mother fucker." I totally jumped up and gave you an Amen! Romance readers give another by spending their entertainment dollars exactly where they want to…on all those wonderfully hot, trashy novels that make women's nipples hard and their panties wet or that give men boners or takes couple sex to another level. Makes me proud to be part of the group supporting all that entertaining and educational material. Plus, romance books take me to my happy place.
@MisterG. Well said, sir;)
don't take this the wrong way, but I love you RM.
Thanks Kris
LG, yessssss.
RM…as a man who not only reads but also writes romance books, I say thank you for your intelligent reply to that ignorant blogger. (Got to admit it…My first reaction would have been to go all ape-shit crazy on him).
Thanks Mark and welcome. Another man and you're from my area!
Wow, RM, it's nice to see men posting. The male contingent is growing. The BBL might decide to let you put a men's bathroom in now and you can stop going to the portojohn in the backyard.
That would nice Diane I am so tired of having to sit when I pee
Great rebuttal! Too bad major douchebag probably won't read it. Or perhaps that's for the best. Wouldn't want the likes of him lurking around here…ieghgh
Good morning RM and Lexie…..sent you another question RM…see if this one's any better…..
I'm not sure about the men's room…..we've been talking about expanding the SPA to include waxing…. Have to discuss it with Diane!
Love this! He just shows how uneducated and bland he really is. I work at a university in Indiana and several of us (professors and administrators) regularly talk about what we have read and what is on our list to be read. We even swap books – and many of them are romance (We've even checked out E L James) My opinion – if a professor can write articles that are published in Journals and they read romance – it can't be all bad. He sounds like he has a very boring existence. Glad I am not involved with him – I might have to kill him.
I agree Lynne. He is a pathetic little man afraid of women. That is my opinion.
I am not an author I am a n AVID reader and I did read that other blog and did try to comment but alas never saw my post, Im guessing he could not respond due to lack of gonads. Having just read and thouroughly enjoyed your blog I had to comment,lol! THANK YOU! for putting it so eloquently!
kris said: "don't take this the wrong way, but I love you RM.
"
Honey, you'll find that sentiment expressed a lot on this blog. RM "gets" women. And Lexie loves it.
And RM, thanks for the squarespace explanation. Let's hope that's the answer.
Now I gotta go see about an implant. For my tooth, not what you're thinking. At my age, to have to get a tooth pulled and a replacement, UGH!
Whee! This one worked the first time!
Thanks Fishy!
You are the best RM. I absolutely agree he's a bitter and jealous man. By the way I'm so happy I came across your blog. You are so funny and I love reading it and have reccomended it to my friends!
Thanks Emilia!
This is the old 'high art' sneering down at 'ordinary' stuff, and it is idiotic. As a guy who got introduced to these romances by my wife (and gotten the benefits RM has talked about from it) I can say the blog poster is a limp dicked turd of a person who is likely to end up only with Sally and Suzy as his mate.
These books aren't 'high art' but many of the ones these days, besides the inane covers, are well written and yes, *gasp* fun to read. They can be well researched and teach more then a thing or two about history (Dianne Gabauldon's "Highlander' books come to mind) better then most history books do. They can have great plots that engross the reader, characters you either love or hate, and otherwise transport you to a different world, which to me is the sign of a good book. The blogger also forgets something, these books aren't Shakespeare but what he chooses to forget is Shakespeare was a genius in part because he created well written plays that also appealed to a lot of people. His plots were often soap-operish (hell, Opera plots are soap-operish!) and he had all the popular elements, sword fighting, sharp tongued wit, that made it attractive to a wide audience. I am not comparing the well written romance novels we are talking about to Shakespeare because quite frankly there is no reason to, they stand out to me for very different reasons and appeal to different parts of me at different times, which is great. It isn't that I think comparing Shakespeare to romance novels is an insult to Shakespeare, far from it, it is that they deserve to have their own space.
As someone exposed to other areas of 'culture' you see guys like the prick in that blog all over the place. In classical music starting in the 20th century composers started creating what critics and insiders call "true music", that 100 years after the revolution started cannot find an audience other then a small group of esthetes and critics who thrive on it. They sneer at audiences who want to listen to the "Three B's" (Brahms, Beethoven and Bach), composition professors degrade students writing tonal, melodic pieces and so forth, and they miss something, that fundamentally art that people cannot grasp or find some commonality with is art to please oneself (aka jerking off). Both music and books these days that win awards tend to be warning signs to 'stay away'.
Point being, if a book gets people to read it,if they get something out of it, if it gives them something, whether a tear, a smile, a laugh or, um, gets them horny, that is a great book, for a great book can mean simply people want to read it and enjoy it. "Wuthering Heights" might be great art, but it doesn't make a husband and wife jump each other's bones with pleasure after a hard day of working, the kids, etc (quite honestly, for me personally, they could market "Wuthering Heights" as an anti-aphrodesiac, kind of book version of saltpeter).
Just remember how Twain defined the "Great Books", they are books everyone thinks they should read but don't want to….
And yes, limp dick is probably reacting, if he has even read any books by the authors I have read, to the feminism of the books, or rather female focus. Read books concerning sex written by men and what do you see? The women all have big tits, have a cold beer ready for them, enjoy watching football and love his car with the big engine in it and are just there to get him off when he wants it….and often portray women with the negative aspects of men, willing to cheat on a dime, obsessed with the physical characteristics of men, etc. These romance books on the other hand put a women's pleasure out there, which to dateless- one- the -blogger is scary, because he is afraid he won't measure up, so to speak (it is why male oriented stories often obsess about dick size, to them it is often about 'measuring up' rather then actually, gasp, knowing how to please a partner). While I will admit that the men in many of these stories are somewhat dangerous in comparison to be held up to, in that few men are virile ex Navy Seals who have a huge dick but who also cook dinner, do laundry and can have sex all night long and keep hard, but these are fantasies hopefully women will realize are such *lol* (note to romance authors of certain books,my pet peeve: if the spouse or boyfriend catches up with someone who has threatened their ever loving, especially ex military, they don't tie the guy up and give him over to the cops, at least not in one piece)
As far as the original blogger goes it is obvious he is lacking manhood and that is why he feels threatened by romance novels aimed at women, what kind of man is he if he puts out a blog and then is such a wuss he has to pull down the negative comments blasting him? I bet if someone criticized RM on here, he would be a manly man who with words could vivisect the arguments in a single blow, decimate the critics motif in a single tap of the keyboard, and then could give the misses a flourish or two without missing a beat (even if he couldn't figure out how to use a necktie right…)
REMYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! My HERO!!! I L-O-V-E-D your last line. I imagined you saying it just before you sprayed him with bullets in a dark, back alley after having kicked his ass the entire time you said that post to him. Wicked fucking cool!
I was one of the authors he refused to post my comment. I found the article through Larissa Ione's FB page. She too wrote a comment that never saw the light of day. Here's what I sent him (I also put it on my Fan Page when this happened, so I'm just pasting it from there, though I've redacted his name this time):
"I find it ironic that someone who is obviously educated and well-spoken as Mr. [redacted] can so blithely obliterate any credibility he might have by dismissing an entire genre–literally tens of thousands of books–based on an opinion formed from one book and various snippets of others.
To say you don't like, or even understand, the attraction to the genre is one thing. After all, anything creative–be it writing, painting, sculpting, composing, etc.–is subjective. Personally, I'm not a fan of the horror genre, but that doesn't mean I discredit every horror writer and reader out there. I've even read Stephen King and would never spout nonsense about his writing being crappy simply because it wasn't my cup of tea. I can recognize his talent even though it's not my preference.
It's both shocking and appalling to hear someone make such blanket accusations, touting them as facts, when it's obvious they're nothing more than his opinions. Just as it is MY opinion that he is wrong in his way of thinking.
As the old saying goes, Mr. [redacted], don't knock it till you've tried it. And in this case, "trying" for the sake of an intellectual argument, you must try many more than one of thousands before you can claim having an educated OPINION. Unfortunately, no matter how many you read, your thoughts will still be only that: opinions, not cold hard facts. Thank you for your time."
See? I was polite and professional and the fucker couldn't handle it because I'm right and he didn't want someone with a different opinion on his comments. If any of you read his comments, the only ones he allowed for Team Romance were ones he felt he could (and did) refute with more of his ridiculous arguments.
Calling him a douchebag is an insult to douchebags. I actually prayed that he got hit by a bus because it makes me sad knowing he walks this earth every day, affecting others with his negativity and unfounded arrogance. He's like a sickening infection and I fear for anyone who actually has to come in contact with him. He needs to be cut from this world like the malignant tumor he is. Call me harsh, but I absolutely mean it.
So again, thank you, Remy. Though he may never see your post, I feel a thousand times better knowing it's out there and that YOU are in our corner. Love you lots. *squishes*
Damn NjBILL, good post.
Thanks Gina. Your post to him was great but you should have just called him a dickhead
Hi,
I completely forgot about this drama until one of my friends linked your response. As a romance author myself, I don't know how much my two cents will be worth, but it sounds like this guy was trolling for attention. You know that saying, "There's no such thing as bad press"?
What I can tell you is that writing any kind of book is not easy. Writing a book people want to read is ten times more difficult. Writing a good book that people will want to read in a genre as massive as romance, well, that is what I would call talent. I'm a really tiny fish in a very big pond in that respect, but then I don't have huge aspirations of one of my books becoming a "classic". That doesn't mean I would EVER submit or publish a book that wasn't told to the very best of my ability.
Thank you for standing up to this guy. You met him on his own field of battle and won. And you did it with a lot more class than he pretended to have.
Thanks Alianne!
Thank you for being such a wonderful and articulate advocate for romance novels.
Personally I wanted you to call him an "asshole or a prick or dickhead or a moron or a pathetic loser." But that would be my inner, uneducated, romance writer hick coming through.
Best,
Toni Anderson, Ph.D., happily married with two kids.
Oh Pat, I forgot about the spa expansion. I guess we could give him the key to the executive bathroom but I hate using it after him. I'm never really sure he is washing his hands after touching his junk. Boy cooties!
njbill that was awesome
And if someone came on here attacking RM I am sure there would be alot more people dissecting the post too. Not that RM can't take care of himself – but you know us woman
Sorry I'm so late to the party. FABULOUS blog, RM! You really ARE a hero! Thank you for that wonderful insight. As you suggested, I won't even bother looking up this turd as I don't want to even acknowledge his idiocy. How small and petty.
Don't have time to read all the comments, so this might have been covered already. I've been reading romance for many years (and a lot of other genres, which I sure a lot of us do). When I first started reading romance, we were thought of as stupid or silly for reading such 'fluff'. We had to practically read on the sly and hide the covers. It's so heartwarming to see how that attitude has changed for the most part. I'm also thinking a lot more husbands have come to realize the benefits of our reading choice, as well LOL!
RM, I'm home, where is my email from you?
LG, I will be sending you something
Just checking in. I"m babysitting the granddog tonight. It's a tough job, sitting on the daughter's back deck with a gorgeous view of the town spread out below, sunset over the mountains, last shadows over the vineyards…damn. I haven't been writing, just relaxing. Feels sort of weird…but I knew that you guys could handle the drama, and as always, RM's got things under control. G'night, dear.
Must refill. My glass is empty.
Good Morning all……just wanted to let anyone interested in Pamela Clare books, I downloaded her latest Skin Deep, it's a novella. I decided to read a couple chapters before starting my day…….I can't put it down!!! The action starts in the first chapter.
Another cool, cloudy day here. RM…anything exciting for us today??
Hey Pat, gonna spend some tine with the kids today and take them to a movie. I received an email asking me for advice from a young girl and today I will post that with my response.
Good morning all! Hey RM, I can't remember how old your kids are, but I saw the Avengers and it was really good. My daughter's 7 years old (yesterday!) and I don't think it was appropriate for her, but maybe if your kids are older it'd be ok.
Looking forward to reading today's post =). Now it's time for me to go party!!!
RM, Have a great time with the kids!!!
Scarlet..Party ~ Hearty!!! Hope Sunshine enjoys her party!!!! XO
You. Are. Awesome. That is all.
RM I am in love with your brain and your way with words. (Too bad you're married and in Florida, lol.)
I actually gasped out loud when I read that he said romances are meant to be inferior. Who the hell purposes writes inferior work??
BTW "Come read my blog mother fucker." should def be your motto.
Love your posts!
Thanks Jenn and the TheHeimster
Thanks Pat! A great time was had by all
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RM, I applaud you for standing up to defend the romance genre against yet one more attack from the so -called "literary" world. Unfortunately, no matter how often we repeat the arguments or make our case, if they've already made up their mind, nothing we say will ever change it. Luckily for us, these trolls are not the majority, at least according to the sales numbers which show romance outstripping every category of books sold by miles. Success is always the best revenge.
I’m also very late to the part to RM as I just saw this post but I have shared in on my facebook groups. Thank you for defending a sub-genre I dearly love. I am college educated, have an I.Q. of 134, have been happily married for 29 years with a fulfilled love life, and write erotic historical romance. The guy you wrote of is a class A schmuk!