Or in this case write it… or better yet print as in newspapers and such things. Dear Jane blogs about the cry of woe going up in the world as many papers are closing their pages to book reviews. And she makes many a good point in:
One thing that seems to come up is print is here today but is very possibly going to be gone tomorrow. The internet is here to stay and where many a person already gets their news. And honestly, if you don’t want to invite us to the dance, we are tres cool with that because we know how to make our own beautiful music.
Something I told Lisa Kleypas at her signing, is something I think goes for a hella lot of romance authors out there… there is many an author should be shaking your hand and thanking you. If it wasn’t for the amount of money romance makes the publishing industry, many of those ‘real’ books wouldn’t have get published.
So should we care if romance reviews are in print? No. But I think some of the point is – Mr. Newspaper Man Stop. Being. Stupid.
Romance readers are by far the best people and we are the best fans to have. Love us or hate us, those meangrrl bloggers who some authors would love to shut up are readers with a capital R. As long as you are honest and don’t lie to us, we are open to just about anything. We love your historical romance novels, we will take a chance on your contemporary. Even if it is in hardcover (that we hate), in first person (that we hate), with a love triangle (that we hate… oh or is that just me?) but we will take that ride with you because we are fans.
Fangrrls might be mockable as all get out but you do not because a top best selling author without them. And no matter what favor of nut we may be romance readers WANT authors to succeed. Something that is often lost is I may not like your book but I know Jane will… or Gwen… or Lawson… or Bam. And as much as I hate to be let down by a book because it didn’t met my needs, I LOVE to tell another reader about a book I think they will LOVE.
My point because oddly I do have one. Inviting romance reviews into your paper might not sell more romance (but it could) but you can bet your ass it will sell more books. Because all romance readers want is a good story….
(and a HEA if you label yourself romance)
