Oh... You write that?

So, we've all had that conversation where someone says, "Oh, so you're a writer/author?" (At this stage, they're wearing a semi interested face.)
You reply, "Yep!" with a big smiley face in return =D
"What do you write?"
"Romance."
"Oooh. Really? Like smutty, trashy, sex stuff? (Paraphrasing) Really?" Followed by the laugh that really says, "Are you freakin kidding  me? Why the hell would you want to do that?"

This conversation comes up a lot for me and while I was blog surfing, staying up to date with stuff here and there, I came across Angela James of Carina Press answering the question and saying it in more ladylike language than I would have...


'If you had to reach out to someone who’d never read a romance, what would you tell them about Carina and romance books in general?

Are you a mom, a wife, an employee, a daughter? Is your hair red, blonde, brunette or gray? Are you the oldest child, the middle child or the youngest child? Are you stick thin, pleasantly plump or struggling with those extra pounds? Are you young, middle-aged or in your twilight years?

Tell me…have you ever been stereotyped or pigeon-holed based on those things, without anyone having gotten to know who you are, maybe without them ever having even spoken to you? How much do you hate it that people do that?

Now, be honest, why haven’t you ever tried a romance? Because you’ve heard/thought/believed they’re…fill in the blank?

Give your beliefs a basis in fact and try one for yourself. You might find yourself pleasantly surprised at what you find when you think beyond the stereotypes. Strong heroines, compelling stories, complex relationships (and yes, sometimes hot sex too). Try a romance today and get hooked on the adventure.'
Link for the full GeekMom interview with Angela James is here.

Love it! What a well done way to get your point across and still encourage people to pick up a romance today!

Don't ever be ashamed about what or who you are just because someone doesn't understand! The people who laugh or turn their nose up when you say you are a romance author or writer are either ignorant, jealous, a dumbass who doesn't read anything at all or all of the above. I happen to love romance. I love escaping to worlds where chilvalry lives, where women can be whatever they want to be and equality exists! I love the sarcastic wit, the to and fro, the tension, the sex, the images the author puts in my head with her words.

Why wouldn't I want to hop on the band wagon and share a piece of that pie?

With that thought, happy Thanksgiving to my US peeps, have a great weekend to everyone else and enjoy whatever it is you do!