Tina Donahue
So You Write Romance, Huh?
It’s that ‘huh’ that always gets me when a new acquaintance learns I’m a romance writer. Even before any additional questions are asked, I can often see growing disdain in the individual’s eyes. I can sense what’s going through the person’s mind.
Romance is so lame.
Romance is so cheesy.
Romance isn’t real writing.
Romance is easy to write.
*pause for a deep breath while I’m fighting the urge to roll my eyes, scream or maybe even laugh*
Nothing, and I do mean nothing, is harder to convey on a page than emotion. Engaging a reader to feel what your characters do, to bring your reader to tears, to have them laugh or sigh, is a monumental task.
One romance writers accomplish every day, while weaving stories that explore topical issues. For example, my highly acclaimed romance In His Arms deals with the subject of sexual slavery. Deep, Dark, Delicious explores issues of abandonment and how it affects one’s ability to love. Adored, my award-winning romance, is a journey of two people learning to trust. And in Sensual Stranger, which was voted Best Erotic Romance 2010 by Blue Moon Reviews, I tackled a story of second chances, of renewed love.
Cheesy? I don’t think so. Lame? Only for people who can’t feel. Easy to write? Not in a million years. I sweated over each word of those novels and was rewarded by readers telling me I made them cry, laugh, sigh.
That, my friend, is real writing.
And now, after many years of writing contemporary romance, I’ve tried my hand at a paranormal – The Yearning. As with my other works, I wanted depth for the characters and plot, dealing with issues of jealousy, stalking, guilt and redemption. The reviews have been great. TwoLips gave it a Recommended Read, while Whipped Cream Reviews gave it 4.5 cherries.
Here’s the blurb (PG-rated):
Cursed by a jealous rival over a man, Jasmine’s conventional world spirals into one of insatiable desire, forcing her to seek pleasure no matter the danger. Haunting Key West’s nightlife, she meets Mike, a commanding lover with psychic power and a guarded past. Desperately craving his potent masculinity, she lures then imprisons him so he’s always available to feed her passion. Not about to be any woman’s prisoner, Mike uses his power to secure his freedom, capturing her instead. Moved by her underlying vulnerability, he’s determined to find the source of the curse and defeat it. Under his masterful rule, her yearning evolves into rapture as she surrenders to his hunger for her and the emotional connection that lies beyond.
Buy Link: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/the-yearning-p-6248.html
Tina Donahue is a multi–published novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work; she has reached finals and /or placed in numerous RWA–sponsored contests. Three of her erotic novels were named finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition.
Email: tina@tinadonahue.com
Website/blog: www.tinadonahue.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000458023097
March 20th, 2011 at 4:03 am
[...] be at Romancing the Pen today, talking about being a romance writer and how people react to that fact when they find [...]
March 20th, 2011 at 7:48 am
Thanks for having me here today, Angela. I’m looking forward to hearing from fellow authors and getting their take on the above subject.
March 20th, 2011 at 8:03 am
Great post and absolutely so true! There are no “easy” books to write–it’s incredibly hard and even agonizing at times when the writing is not going well. And indeed, if you can touch a reader and make them feel true emotion, what an amazing ability, and how gratifying it can be to the author. I met a girl yesterday who told me she hated to read in school–hated it–and then when she read her first paranormal romance, she was totally hooked and is now an avid reader, As a teacher by profession, I know how difficult it is to hook these young people into reading great books. It was actually inspiring to me to hear her say that she loved Romance. The best book in the world is nothing if it’s not being read! Romance writers have the best, most loyal readers in the world!
March 20th, 2011 at 9:28 am
Hi Tina – great post!
Good luck with The Yearning winning Book of the Week at Whipped Cream – I voted!!
Lily x
March 20th, 2011 at 11:12 am
you tell ‘em, girl.
March 20th, 2011 at 11:48 am
Hi Tina, I use to get most of the same comments when I just told people I write romance novels. Now(with a positive mental attitude and a smile) I first tell people I’m a published author. They usualy reply, Oh, what do you write. I tell them I have 2 books out, a Sci Fi/ Space Opera and a erotic, IR,action adventure Vampire romance. I am also currently working on 6 more books. Their next response is either great what are they about or I (or some friend or family member) love vampire books, where can I find your books. I tell them both are available on Amazon or my publisher’s website for the Vampire book. Sometimes they’ll ask if I’m self published and I tell them no I’m traditionally published and who my 2 publishers are. The person will usually ask me to tell them about my books. I guess being a male helps and that I give them the full catagory of what I write. I guess by putting all those adjectives before romance as well as telling them I’ve 2 books published and am working on 6 more at the same time short circuits their snide remarks, most of the time. I also guess my 6’1″ 440 lb body might also help some too. LOL My Uncle always told me that when I’m promoting something or myself,never lie to them but dazzle them with BS and make them think that what you’re selling is the grandest thing since sliced bread and make them believe that they can not do without your product.
G W Pickle
March 20th, 2011 at 11:58 am
What kinds of fiction do the naysayers read? That’s the first thing I ask anyone who says I don’t “really” write. Nice observations here. Definitely going to check out The Yearning.
March 20th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
I always want to ask the nay-sayers–If “romance” is so cheesy, easy and unimportant, then why do so many romance novels get dog-eared at the best parts, treasured , hidden in night stands for years on end and stolen from libraries? Romance novels are part of a woman’s secret world and that’s what’s seen as unimportant-how sad.
XXOO Kat
March 20th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Hey, Kay – good point. A lot of people who trash romance haven’t even read it.
March 20th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
ROmance can be the hardest to write because of the depth of emotion required. When the entire purpose of a story is to have two people fall in love, the reader needs to feel something for the characters or they won’t give a darn.
March 20th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Great post, Tina.
One time I was part of a jury panel and when I said I was a novelist, the judge asked what kind of books I wrote. I told him quite proudly, “Lusty romance.”
I was excused from the jury pool. Gosh, I wonder why. I’ve found that when I smile when I say I write romance, and look as though I might be wearing bright red lingerie, people meekly crawl away.
March 20th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Yeah, I wonder at the negative response to romance writers, too. Like what? we aren’t capable of writing anything “literary”–whatever that means. There is nothing as important than what resides in the human heart. Oh That’s where everything else begins. That romance outsells every other genre is an indication of how revered it is. Excellent blog subject, Tina
March 20th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Thanks, Sarah – I think the reason a lot of authors don’t write about emotions is because it’s so danged hard!
March 20th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
So true, Tina, so true. I love romances that deal with “issues.” Whereas when I used to write “straight” hist-fic, many readers and reviewers were shocked to find such explicit sex. As though the two can never combine!
March 20th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
Hey Tina, I’m glad you decided to pop by.
March 20th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
Barbara, I’ve always loved to read, but I’ve never been a big history fan. The more I write and research…the more I have to discover the past. It’s opened my eyes to a lot.
March 20th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
GW, it’s so funny…because when I think about how people rush to the movies to see the latest movies by Adam Sandler, Reese Witherspoon, Julia Roberts, or just pick anyone…I think that’s a romantic comedy. No matter what anyone says Adam Sandler writes romantic comedy movies. So, why is it such a stretch when people meet authors of romance?
March 20th, 2011 at 10:39 pm
Karen, I recently read something from Ursula LeGuin that said she thought the categories (for writing) didn’t described her work. At least not for anything she’d written for anyone over the age of 10. I thought it was funny and true. Romance covers so many types and styles that it almost seems unable to fully capture every nuance. But, I guess that’s where all of the sub-genres come in.
March 21st, 2011 at 12:44 am
Tina,
I have a niece who has her Masters in Social Work, and she wouldn’t touch one of my books with a ten foot pole. Smile.
March 21st, 2011 at 12:46 am
When people roll their eyes at me, I ask them what kind of music they enjoy…and what’s the subject of most of the songs they listen to? Usually love, unrequited, new, old, painfully over, etc. So if that is acceptable fodder for songs, why is it that romance is judged so harshly in books? I figure it’s because women are usually the authors, and the readership (I also think that’s part of the popularity of e-readers…no one can see the cover of what you’re reading!) So since women’s concerns are denigrated by many, so are the books they write and read. Sad but true, that men write books with romance/sex in them and get lauded as great writers. Women get snarky comments. When I was in sales I realized that when men gossip, it’s called “talking business”, but it’s just as mean-spirited. Have we really come a long way, baby?
March 21st, 2011 at 2:50 pm
LATE but still here to support a lady I respect and look up to.
Congrats and I hope to get to your book very soon.