“Disrespect” is spelled “r-o-m-a-n-c-e”
Wednesday, November 14, 2007 12:31
Jane over at Dear Author posted some interesting numbers on her blog today. According to her sources, net revenue from U.S. retail sources of published materials was $6.31 billion in 2006, of which romance accounted for almost 22%! Â
The romance genre is the same size as the next three smallest combined, but do you see it being given the same attention in the media or the bookstores? I think the New York Times Book editors wouldn’t be caught dead with a romance novel review on their front page 22% of the time, or even buried somewhere in the deep, dark recesses of their pages. Nor will you see 22% of a book store’s space dedicated solely to romance!
It’s a true failure on the part of the “high brow” media types and bookstores to largely ignore 30% of the fiction revenue! Every time they do it’s like they’re saying, “Hey, ROMANCE FAN! Yeah, you! Yer ugly and yer momma dresses you funny!” 
katiebabs says:
November 14th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
The New York Times can kiss my ass.
What is considered high brow anyway? Puuulease!
EC Sheedy says:
November 14th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
A worthwhile rant, Gwen!
This snubbing of the romance genre persists no matter what, who, where or when romance authors–most of them very professionally–fight the stereotype. But it’s a testament to the power of women, that they ignore the *ignorers* and keep buying the books they want to read, isn’t it?
The Good, The Bad and The Unread » Blog Archive » Affirmative Action in book reviewing? says:
November 14th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
[...] The Pond « “Disrespect” is spelled “r-o-m-a-n-c-e” [...]
Zara says:
November 14th, 2007 at 4:25 pm
You said:
It’s a true failure on the part of the “high brow†media types and bookstores to largely ignore 30% of the fiction revenue! Every time they do it’s like they’re saying, “Hey, ROMANCE FAN! Yeah, you! Yer ugly and yer momma dresses you funny!â€
That’s so true, and I really don’t appreciate it. I mean, I’m not ugly and my momma has not dressed me in many years. Well, there are those fuzzy sweaters she still buys me at Christmas, but I don’t wear them in public. So there, “high brow†media types! At least our books don’t cause us to need antidepressants after reading them.:)
Holly says:
November 14th, 2007 at 4:26 pm
I agree that “high brow” makes no sense. Who decides?
And I LOVE that picture. I could so see my son (and think I have, actually) in that exact same position.