Romance, From The Penile Perspective

Hello everyone! This week's guest blogger is Pandem Buckner. He's an editor at The Wild Rose Press. Let's all give him a very friendly Deadly Vixen welcome! =)
-----------

I am often asked for my views of romantic literature (okay, romance novels) and issues related to that field. Why, you may ask, is this?

Is it because I am an editor for up-and-coming e-romance publisher The Wild Rose Press? Is it because I am an aspiring writer? Is it because I am the author of a well-written current events blog, Vagabond Saint? Is it because I am world-renowned, for my knowledge and skill in the area of romance?

No, no, no, and, to my knowledge, no.

It's because I'm a guy.

That's right, I am a male, albeit one slowly seeking deeper into the world of romance publishers, and, apparently, there are very few of us ovary-challenged beings to be found here. That suits me just fine (what guy wouldn't want to work with 60+ women?), but it does occasionally lead to questions on what I think of a literary market that has been historically written by and for women.

So, what do I think of romance novels?

Well, I certainly have nothing against them, and I read them as much as I do any non-fantasy genre. A good story is a good story, no matter what genre it's been slotted into, and I've found just as many good romance stories, percentage-wise, as I have in every other genre. The part that confuses me is that romance novels somehow have a reputation as being trashy, ill-written books with absolutely no substance and nothing to say. I am inclined to believe that people who espouse that view have obviously not done any reading from the political sections of their local bookstores. There's a Valley of the Shadow of Ignorance, if you're just looking for one. Romance novels are just the same as any other literary form: some good, some bad, most in-between.

Here's the thing that makes them stand apart, though, and makes me wonder why more guys don't read them: they're chock-full of good romantic ideas to try on real women. Seriously, all guys are looking for ways to woo women, be it for women they want to be with or women that they're already with and are trying to keep, and here, loaded on numerous shelves in any bookstore, are literally millions of ideas! What is wrong with you, men? Do some reading and learn something, from books written by women, for women, about what women secretly fantasize about! Call it “research” if it makes you feel better, but there's a lot to be learned from these books! No fantasy novel on earth is going to help you land a lady, unless she's into them and you give it to her as a gift!

Sorry, I just had to get that rant out. I feel better now. Back to my perspective. . .

I don't really think of my perspective on romance novels as being a male perspective; if anything, I think of it as being the perspective of someone who has read a whole lot of books, across all genre lines. That's how it is to me, although I can certainly understand why my presence in the industry makes some women react as though there's a boy in the girls' locker room (or a fox in the henhouse, if you prefer). Like any other reader, I have my favorite authors in this genre, those being Rynne Raines, Sherrie Eddington, and Nora Roberts, right now. There are books and authors I don't like, and I won't mention them. There are heroes and heroines that I like, and some I can't stand.

In short, my perspective really isn't different from that of any given woman's, I don't think. But then again, I might be wrong.

* * * * * *

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the guest blogger do not necessarily reflect those of The Deadly Vixens.