Romance Writers & Readers discussion
Reading Romance
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How did you get into reading romance?
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Haha! I think I know what group too:)I honestly can't remember how I got into. I've always loved the idea of happily ever after, though, and reading in general. My mom used to say that I would read billboard signs like crazy when I started to learn how to read and just wouldn't stop.
I used to love R.L. Stine books and the Babysitters Club. Loved the Babysitters Club books. I probably started reading romance in high school. But hey, my memory comes and goes...old age....haha...yes I'm only going to be 33 soon. That feels so darn old some days.
Mod
It's the group I never speak up in cuz... *whispers* ...they reeeally like HEAs and I... *gulps* ...reeeally like angst.
Tee hee.
Hey! We're like the same age. I'm 31 ^_^
Loved reading for as long as I can remember, I also liked R.L. Stine, also loved the Laura Ingalls books, Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley, and really pretty much anything spooky or crime related. How I specifically got on to romance is extremely personal so I'm not going to share that story but these days romantic suspense is pretty much it for meWhen's your birthday, Amanda? I'll be 33 on March 1st next year
My birthday is on March 2nd!!! Hahahaha but I'll be 18 ups... I feel a bit young now...
and I actually can't remember how I started reading romance... hummm I should think about it
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Sorry, kiddo!! ^_~
Jane wrote: "Loved reading for as long as I can remember, I also liked R.L. Stine, also loved the Laura Ingalls books, Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley, and really pretty much anything spooky or crime related. Ho..."September 21....I expect a huge cake *grins*
Annie wrote: "Hey, I'm turning 32 in February so we'll all be the same age for a few weeks! Well, except Miss Maria...Sorry, kiddo!! ^_~"
Sorry, Mistress Ann...my birthday is coming really soon, you'll still be just a tad younger than me. *starts to cry* I knew I was old....haha. Just kidding. I only feel old on certain days.
Mod
Now, now. What did we say about crying...?
[insert evil laugh here]
Amanda wrote: "September 21....I expect a huge cake *grins*"Okay, cake for the 21st
I baked this cake last week for my dad's birthday . . .
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...
Tee hee; my story is "because of the book that sounds like a colour chart" (not naming!)Because I read it and thought it was dreadful!!
"Even I can write better than that," I thought, somewhat arrogantly. So I tried. :)
And I trump you all; I'm over 35! ;-P
Annie wrote: "*wipes Queen Amanda's tears away*Now, now. What did we say about crying...?
[insert evil laugh here]"
Hormones? Likes crying? The whip? So many reasons it's easy to cry... *smirks*
Jane wrote: "Amanda wrote: "September 21....I expect a huge cake *grins*"Okay, cake for the 21st
I baked this cake last week for my dad's birthday . . .
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb......"
OMG! Talk about making my mouth water....that looks so delicious:)
TL wrote: "Tee hee; my story is "because of the book that sounds like a colour chart" (not naming!)Because I read it and thought it was dreadful!!
"Even I can write better than that," I thought, somewhat arr..."
Whew! I didn't like being the oldest... *big hug*
I'll be 35 this February, but I'm told I still look like I'm in my 20s, so I'll take it!I do remember what started me reading romance novels. I worked in a grocery store while going through college and my manager handed me a book one day that was going to be thrown away to make room for more books. It was called The Bachelor List by Jane Feather and ended up being a historical romance trilogy that I read in its entirety.
But I didn't really become an avid reader until I read the Twilight books sometime around 2008. Since then I pretty much read nonstop.
Mod
*fist bumps your old manager*
Oh, man. I've never read Twilight or watched the movies...
*commences self-flagellation*
*grins*
I am sad, I am older than all of you! :-(
How did I come to like romance? Well, I guess I would have to admit that I was in denial of liking romance, I mean I am a man, men don't cry, right? We are supposed to be out putting engines in trucks while the lady in our life is out with a girlfriend watching a "chick flick," right? Boy, do I ever hate when people stereo type. While I was in my denial phase I tried reading horror novels, war novels, action, gangster, so on and so on, and I usually hated them during and after having read them. I have just recently accepted the fact that my genre is romance and drama. That is what makes me happy while I am reading them, so screw those who say romance is for women. I have always had more female friends than I did male friends, and I tend to like many things that females like, and romance novels is one of them. I also like cooking, flowers, candles, puppies, gardening, etc etc. And I am ok with that!
Amanda wrote: "OMG! Talk about making my mouth water....that looks so delicious:)"Thanks! It was very delicious!
Nicole wrote: "I'll be 35 this February, but I'm told I still look like I'm in my 20s, so I'll take it!"Someone at the bank the other day thought I was 21! I totally love getting older and want to look my age!
Okay I know I'm the person who killed off one of my main characters in my first series, but I do like happy endings, that just wasn't the way that story went. For me though its super important in the books I read that they have a good conclusion to the "suspense" part of the story, I need the characters saved and everyone alive and going to be okay. I don't mind if the "romantic" side doesn't have as happy an ending so long as the main characters involved are saved/save themselves, and the bad guy is appropriately punished! So in a way that's kind of what got me reading romantic suspense
Mod
I've been casually chatting to this guy at the gym cuz I talk to everyone haha! Anyhoo, he's 35, a nice guy with reeeally yummy muscles *smirks* Anyhoo, he finally asks for my number a month later cuz he's chicken poop *smirks again* Then five minutes later, he's like, "Sh*t! You're over 18, right?"
Umm. Dude. If you thought I might not be, why are you talking to me?? LMAO!!!
Yeah, I look like a teenager.
#Sigh
Annie wrote: "OMG! I gotta share this cuz it's sooo freakin' bad...I've been casually chatting to this guy at the gym cuz I talk to everyone haha! Anyhoo, he's 35, a nice guy with reeeally yummy muscles *smirk..."
Lol....this had me laughing so hard. Wow! Now I'm curious. did you give him your number and go out with him?
Annie wrote: "OMG! I gotta share this cuz it's sooo freakin' bad...I've been casually chatting to this guy at the gym cuz I talk to everyone haha! Anyhoo, he's 35, a nice guy with reeeally yummy muscles *smirk..."
(>‿♥)
So, you going out with him?
Mod
*pokes fancy schmancy abs*
I dig it. I might be giving him (view spoiler). But I dig it ^_~
I agree with Jane. I have to have HEA. Reality doesn't always end that way, so when I read, like Jane, I want everybody happy at the end. I don't mind people dying, as long as the heroine is saved and happy at the end.I got into reading romance when Harlequins used to advertise in the papers. (remember newspapers?) I liked what I saw, signed up, and I was hooked. We were in a circle of friends who read Harlequins and Silhouette, and we would trade garbage bags loaded with those books between us. When my books came in the mail in that cardboard box, I was excited.
And that's why I love writing about true love and romance. But now, it seems I'm more into romantic/suspense.
Authors like Violet Winspear, and Charlotte Lamb's novels, you can't find anymore because people hold onto them rather than sell them.
Ooh I got sidetracked. I was still in junior school I think when I read my first 'naughty' book. I think it was called Forever? It was very tame but the boy named his 'thing' something; Ralph, I think. But I've always loved love.
Earth angels are attuned to the big fluffy pink and red stuff from day 1.
My very first naughty book was Tiger Eyes from Judy Blume, her only book where her characters actually Did It.After that, I moved on to Georgette Heyer and it got very tame, until I moved again to Victoria Holt and Virginia Andrews.
I wasn't (and still aren't) so huge on the sex scene, but I love me a good love story.
Mod
*gets all nostalgic*
When I was about 8, I found my grandma's Harlequin stash, been enjoying romance and smut ever since *cheeky grin*
You know what? I have absolutely no idea.I THINK it stems from reading The Princess Diaries as a tween/teenager, then reading Meg Cabot's YA and adult books. I'm really not sure though...
I was always a thriller/spy novel reader until a friend gave me one of Nora Roberts' Irish trilogy books and that was it. Since then, probably 90% of the books I read are romances (and those that I write are too). I switch off between historical and contemporary, but definitely expect the bedroom door to be left open...
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"I dunno what happened. One day I was reading Dr. Seuss and then... BAM!!" Tee hee.
@Miss Harriet: Wow. I have a few thriller buddies I'm gonna tell that to *smirks* They'll soon see the bedroom light too...
*grins evilly*
Hugs,
Ann
Annie wrote: "@Miss Kristina: OMG, I love that you're not sure haha!"I dunno what happened. One day I was reading Dr. Seuss and then... BAM!!" Tee hee.."
XD
You know what? I didn't even read Dr Seuss as a kid. I think I skipped the children's books and most YA stuff and went straight to the adult romance after The Princess Diaries XD I swear I read more YA stuff now than I did as a teenager.
Annie wrote: "DISCLAIMER: I take zero credit for this topic. I shamelessly stole it from another GR group. Here's my copy/pasted comment cuz I'm being lazy...*waves happily*
I totally can't resist sharing on ..."
I'm pretty sure the Fear Street series was what somehow got me hooked too! They had a "sexier" edge in some stories than anything else in my elementary school library, plus they were on the 6th Graders only shelf, and I had to hide them in my desk because my mom wouldn't have liked to see me reading them. Forbidden fruit, I suppose.
I don't remember who was my first romance author, maybe my brief dive into Mary Higgins Clark and then whatever authors were on the shelf around her at the local library. Once I started, I was hooked. No going back.
I'm in the "31 and look far younger" camp, mostly thanks to round cheeks. I'll take it!
Oh man, I remember Fear Street. I read those as well and loved them. And Mary Higgins Clark, yes! Love her as well:)
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@Miss Abigail: ikr?? There was definitely some YA romance sneaking its way into Fear Street *smirks*
@Queen Amanda: Fear Street totally makes sense for you, considering what a sicko you are...
Kidding (with the exception of certain books tee hee)!! Love you!!!
EDIT. *grumbles* Typos...
Twilight was my gateway drug. I was in a really sad place in my life, and the happiness that Twilight gave me was my first step into reading stories about romance and vampires. I then moved on to Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire series. After that I couldn't stop.
Interesting side note: During the few months that I was immersed into the world of Twilight and the Southern Vampires I lost twenty-five pounds, because I only read and only ate when I had to. I told people I was on the vampire diet. LOL!
Interesting side note: During the few months that I was immersed into the world of Twilight and the Southern Vampires I lost twenty-five pounds, because I only read and only ate when I had to. I told people I was on the vampire diet. LOL!
Mod
LOL
Jami wrote: "Twilight was my gateway drug. I was in a really sad place in my life, and the happiness that Twilight gave me was my first step into reading stories about romance and vampires. I then moved on to C..."I totally loved the Twilight books. I'm not ashamed. :D
Jami wrote: "Twilight was my gateway drug. I was in a really sad place in my life, and the happiness that Twilight gave me was my first step into reading stories about romance and vampires. I then moved on to C..."I've never read the Twilight books, I'm out of the loop again . . . (◑_◑)
I enjoyed the Twilight series:) I have all the books. They are huge too!
Jane wrote: "Jami wrote: "Twilight was my gateway drug. I was in a really sad place in my life, and the happiness that Twilight gave me was my first step into reading stories about romance and vampires. I then ..."
Join the club. Neither have I.
I prefer Garwood or Roberts or Julia Quinn. And of course Judith McNaught and so many others....
Join the club. Neither have I.
I prefer Garwood or Roberts or Julia Quinn. And of course Judith McNaught and so many others....
I LOVE Julie Garwood's The Secret! I read it once a year.
Rowena and Jami- Julie Garwood was my very first ever Romance novel when I was 17.... It was love at first read. I have every single book of hers and was heart broken when her new book got pushed this year....
*waves happily*
I totally can't resist sharing on this one haha!
So I luuurved R.L. Stine books as a kid, specifically Fear Street. When I was 9, I ran outta FS books to read. I'd read them ALL. Dead serious.
Sooo my sister (11 years older) took me to the public library and introduced me to my first romance novel, Silver Angel. That summer, I read every single Johanna Lindsey novel I could find. Also dead serious.
And here I am 22 years later tee hee.
٩(๑•◡-๑)۶ ⒽⓤⒼ ❤,
Ann