Time Out!

There are very few things that make me rant. At least, that make me rant like a lunatic in public. I used to rant a little more, especially in defense of my reading/writing genre. But then I realized that I'm not going to change minds — people who have closed ones tend to keep locks firmly in place and not open up to anyone or anything. It's sad, but it's not my problem if they want to limit themselves or criticize/judge others in order to feel better about their choices.

But yesterday I saw an article that sent me into orbit. Honestly, I'm not even sure why, except that there was an appalling lack of research hidden behind an uninformed and passive-aggressive insult.

The story is about the launch of Avon's digital-only romance imprint. In the article, the author states that, "The digital market has been especially strong for romance fiction, in part because fans can read e-editions in public without fear of embarrassment."

WTH??? Time. Out.

So? You might say. I'm embarrassed to read romance novels. Or, I know people who are embarrassed. Or, the covers can be embarrassing.

Yes, there are horrid covers. There are people who don't shout their love of romance to the world. That's fine. But embarrassment is not the reason the digital romance market is so strong.

Sure, the sentence says, "in part." But why choose embarrassment as the part? Because if it is a factor, it's probably the smallest.

The digital romance market is strong because the romance market in general is strong. It's the bestselling genre, so of course the digital market will be strong if the print and audio markets are strong.

Romance readers have definitely taken to ebooks, and there are a lot of reasons that have nothing to do with embarrassment.

For one, romance readers are voracious. They read a lot of books. Many read several per week. Their shelves are full. I can't tell you how many readers tell me they've adopted ebooks because they simply can't store more print books. When you read 5 books a week, it adds up.

In addition, many epublishers offer their books in digital format months before the print version's release, and the books are much cheaper than a paperback. Romance readers have latched onto this, and I've seen the results in my Samhain statements. My ebook versions of Snowbound, generally up to $9 cheaper than the print version, outsell the paperback 20 to 1.

Romance readers are not ashamed, Associated Press and ABC News. They are smart buyers who spend a lot of money on books…more than your average reader…and they've discovered that digital books give them more choices, more storage options, and often, they are less expensive, which means they can buy more books. Romance readers also often buy multiple formats of the same book…which is easy to do when the digital version is cheaper than the print version.

Then there's the instant satisfaction factor that comes with the digital format. I can pop onto Amazon and have an ebook downloaded to my Kindle within seconds. No waiting on the mail or driving to a book store.

Granted, I still buy a lot of print books, but my digital buying has doubled since getting my Kindle — and not because I'm embarrassed to read romance in public. It's because it's so freaking easy to buy digital books.

So, Associate Press and ABC News, let me rewrite that sad little low-blow jab sentence for you:

"The digital market has been especially strong for romance fiction, in part because fans are voracious, smart, well-educated readers who know that e-editions give instant gratification, are often cheaper, and are highly portable for people who read more books than those who read other genres.."

/Rant mode off