Do romance novels offer escape…
Posted by Blaze Author in Tori Carrington, tags: Tori Carrington Don's Books 60th Harlequin Anniversary Celebration
…from financial worries? If so, how, specifically, do they achieve that?
This was the opening question posed to us by a reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal recently. Our response? You’re damn right they do! Well, okay, maybe we didn’t phrase it exactly that way. ;D But we did go on to say that reading romance novels is always a good idea. And in trying economic times that can prove doubly true. Not only are they an affordable form of entertainment, they celebrate and reinforce what is truly important in life: love and sharing and human connection.
For a few hours a reader can escape into an alternate reality. Make friends with characters not all that different from her, characters that are going through many of the same struggles she is, even as they overcome problems both large and small on the often times bumpy road not just to love, but that once-in-a-lifetime love. Far from the pauper-to-princess fairy tales you might have read as a child, Harlequin romance novels are escapism in its purest form that also provide a measure of levity.
And for a few precious weeks, we as the writers also live that journey through the eyes of our characters. And if we’re doing it right, we come away with the same feeling of epiphany.
Since we’re plugged into social media (okay, I’m completely addicted to Facebook and Twitter and Myspace – look for us under Tori Carrington!), I floated this question to our FB friends. These are just a few of the touching and compelling responses we received from the other side of the book:
"I’d say not just financial worries, but all worries in life can be escaped when reading a good book." Jacquelyn R. Ward, Columbus, Ohio – Paralegal who specializes in bankruptcy and other federal court cases. She adds, "I see people at their worst times in life and while trying to help them with their finances we get to talking about the things we enjoy in life… [T]he number one way [for me]to escape reality is a good book."
"I love reading a new romance novel and just escaping life as I know it for a few hours!" Kristal Gorman, Blasdell, NY – single mother, a full-time employee and a full-time nursing student
"I don’t know if I’ll have cable or Internet access next month, and I know I won’t have this house in two (moving in with in-laws), but whether it’s from my stash, the library, or one of my daughters brings it home, I know I’ll have a book to read with characters that work through their problems and end up together at the end.”Debbie Mekler, Silicon Valley, CA
"I love to read a good book. It helps me relax and who wants to watch the news when it’s all bad. Books help you when you’re low and out of sorts, if that means money problems then yes!! Books are the answer, because you always get a good ending and a ‘free’ trip."Amy Gray Cornelius, Corinth, MS – Preschool teacher
"A good romance novel can put you totally into a separate world far away from the issues that stem from today’s economy. A good romance is a stress reliever and a good story with a happy ending can put you in a really good frame of mind." Livia Holton, http://theromancereadersconnection.com/
We were astounded and humbled by the number of responses we received. And were thankful for the reminder that while reading Harlequin romance novels won’t help pay the bills, or erase the worry of an impending foreclosure, or even cure an illness, they do allow precious escape from those staggering realities…and ultimately leave you refreshed and refocused and more psychologically able to deal with them.
And, as Tony points out, a Harlequin romance novel is a vacation in a book…without the sunburn! (However, when it comes to Blaze, you may want to be careful of contact burns. ;D)
Should you be in the market for primo escapism, our two latest titles, UNBRIDLED and BRANDED, are available now.
This weekend, help us celebrate all things romantic by attending the special 60th Harlequin Anniversary Celebration hosted by Don’s Books in Kokomo, Indiana. All day Friday and Saturday, August 7th & 8th, Don’s will feature Harlequin authors Vicki Lewis Thompson, Dana Corbit, Janet Dean, Lori Foster, Blythe Gifford, Jade Lee, Loralee Lillibridge, Denise Lynn, Ramona Richards, Patricia Thayer, and, of course, us.
We’ll be there on Friday from 2:30-5:00 p.m. and 6:30-8:00 p.m. with plenty of Tony’s Famous Baklava on hand! With a little help, I might be able to convince Tony into staying over for some of Saturday’s events…
Check out the tentative schedule by going to http://www.hazeltineandgraham.com/news/harlequin_event.html
Here’s wishing you and yours a hot and meaningful August. Oh, and don’t forget to enter our monthly drawing at www.toricarrington.net. Up for grabs in August is a yummy Vanilla Milk Bath Set!
We want to hear your thoughts: Do romance novels offer you escape from financial worries? If so, how, specifically, do they achieve that?
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Ah, yes. What a morning here in NW Ohio. Muggy, muggy, muggy. Which is exactly the way my gardenia bush likes it! She’s popped two flowers in the past two days, after a bloom-less summer so far. Last year, we had a couple of dozen by mid-July. From what I understand, most can’t get their gardenias to pop after the first year (even in more inviting, southern environs), so I guess I’m pleased that three years in, our baby is still being good to us. Mmm…there’s no scent quite like that of a fresh gardenia. Now where are my Billie Holiday CDs?
Lori
By selling like gangbusters, I hope!
Seriously, I love to lose myself in a good story (luuuuv your Sophie Metropolis!) and hearing from someone who feels better after reading one of my books is the highest compliment there is!
Have fun this weekend and may I put in a request for Tony to bring his baklava to the next RWA conference?
LOL, Heather! Big, wet cyber smooches on your Sofie thumbs up.
Hearing from readers is the ultimate compliment, isn’t it? It’s also something I haven’t quite gotten used to yet. Case in point: We signed at a great indy this past Saturday (check out Netti at http://www.thebookexchange.net), and a reader came in gushing about how she buys all the books and how much she loves them and can’t wait for the next ones to come out. Given her wording, I thought she was talking about Harlequin series romance in general so I, of course, completely agreed with her. The convo when on for about five minutes before Susan Gable clued me in that she was talking about ‘our’ books. LOL Gawd, I must have come off as grossly immodest. Then again, given the reader’s shy reaction, she probably didn’t even register my response. I hope!
On the baklava, since Nashville is within driving distance, we’re talking about bringing a batch, perhaps for the Blaze Pizza Party? That is if there’s anything left after the 8 or so hour drive. ;D
Lori
I love this topic! And the answers you shared were right on the money. I’ve always read romance novels to escape: from boredom, from a less than exciting relationship, from tiredness, from bad news, and from thinking in general. I always end the book and feel better. They’re like therapy!
Have a great time in Kokomo! With all those fabulous authors, yourself included, how could you not??
Jill! Hi, sweetie.
Yes, this topic is one we never tire of, if only because it reminds us why we love what we do, and how very lucky we are that we get to do it.
Yes, Kokomo should be a blast! We haven’t seen Vicki in like forever, so we’re looking forward to catching up with her. And even though we only live a few miles away from Denise, we can’t wait to see her again, as well. lol
Don’s Books has an entire room dedicated to Harlequin and the whole staff actively promotes romance as a whole. You couldn’t ask for better company!
What a lovely blog — some of the responses really choked me up. It’s a nice reminder of how important what we do is to our readers. Thanks for posting these!
And yes, the summer weather is finally here in Syr, has been for a few weeks, and I hope it keeps up — the flowers are finally blooming here, too. It’s just all far too short…
Sam
I knew you’d enjoy it, Sam. Gotta tell ya, when I posted the original question to FB, I hadn’t expected but one or two responses, perhaps over a day or so. Instead, they flooded in instantly. I swear, I’m tearing up all over again remembering when I checked our Wall and found them waiting there. I wanted to hug each and everyone of the posters. A true testament to how we’re more alike than different. And that a hand reaching out will always find another one waiting for it…
L (G)
I don’t know if it’s a source of the familiar, or escapism. I’ve been reading romance novels since I swiped them from my mother when I was a teen, and 35 years later, I’m still a sucker for a happy ending. However, 10 years ago when I left a bad marriage, they were the escapism for me that not all guys were evil, and I could still look for that special someone.
Thanks so much for sharing, Tracy. Hugs on the bad marriage. See. Romance novels celebrate all that is beautiful about life. Beginnings, middles and happily-ever-after endings.
I will say that a response I haven’t been able to perfect is one for those working with battered women. Way back when we were promoting our first book, we were signing at a B. Dalton’s on Staten Island. A slender young woman descended on me, little girl in tow, and demanded to know why we romance writers insisted on sending free books to the battered women’s shelter where she worked. ‘Can’t you see?’ she asked. ‘That you’re just making things worse for them?’
God. My throat tightens just thinking about that moment. I was green enough to not know quite how to respond, yet experienced enough to know that nothing I could say to her would convince her that romance celebrates real love. And women in abusive relationships are not loving or being loved, but are rather being controlled and victimized…
Ahem. See. I still have to work on that one…
I thought about sending copies of Hard to Resist to the local shelters, because it sends exactly this message, but also, that people have to talk to each other to heal from that kind of thing. But I haven’t, precisely because I was worried about the kind of response you received. However, I did notice at RWA that there was an organization that will do this for us — they take romance novels and redistribute them to women’s shelters. I can’t remember the name now, would have to dig it out — you might know what I mean, or someone else might.
This is pertinent in the recession, where I heard a news report that abuse was on the rise both due to household stress, and because some men, who might have lost their jobs, cannot deal with their wives being the breadwinners. So sad.
Sam
If you find out the name of the organization, please do share, Sam. Romance is not about victimization, it’s about personal empowerment.
We’ve heard similar reports on abuse. Extremely sad.
L
Reading romance novels takes me to place I can’t afford to visit yet and I always get a HEA. I guess it is a way to escape for a while, and I look forward to reading every single day. Although romances are my first love, any good book will let me escape and go to a place without worries for a while.
Okay, at the risk of looking stupid…what does HEA mean, Liza? ;D
I hear what you’re saying about any book being a good gateway, but, well, romance novels are the ones that always, beyond compare, touch me in a positive, life-affirming way. Illustrate what’s important without a diagram. Give me a Harlequin novel over any book any day! lol
Happily Ever After. It took me a bit to figure out HEA too.
Hi, Lori & Tony, Those comments are so touching.
Romances allow me to escape the hard times in life, even if just for a few hours. Hq.’s stories always make me feel that, if you are in love, how lucky you are, or, if not, how it felt to be in love & may be for you again in the future.
Patricia
Beautifully put, Patricia. And considering your own personal journey…well, can I hug you right now? You are a living, breathing example of feminine strength and endurance. And that you’ve allowed your trials to empower you rather than embitter…simply beautiful.
xoxoxoxo
L
A good book always makes me feel better, but romances have long been my favorite genre because I know that, in the end, everything will be okay. I know that despite whatever troubles they have to go through, the couple will get their happily-ever-after. There is something so intrinsically optimistic in romances that I think few people could read one and not feel better about life in general by the end.
Well put, Katie. Since the characters do have to earn their happily-ever-after…well, you truly feel they deserve it and celebrate their ultimately achieving it. Great lesson for life, as well, I think.
Lori
(& Tony (H) )
Reading romance novels allows me to get away from all my troubles if only for a little while. When reading a good book I don’t have time to think about anything else. (H)
Sorry we missed your post, Joan! There are few things like disappearing between the pages of a good book for a few, precious hours. And that respite gives you a whole new perspective once you emerge because you haven’t fretted or worried for that time, prepping your mind for clearer thinking, doesn’t it? Love it!
Lori & Tony
(H)
i absolutely love to escape in a good book, away from the bills, the transmission dying in the car. The rain that wont seem to quit long enough for my hubby to get in a full week at work. kinda hard to pour concrete in a downpour)
but that it reaffirms your faith in love, the human relationship and mankind in general. beacuse no matter what love triumphs and overcomes all obstacles, not matter what. that is why i read romance. The Happy! We so need more happy in our world.
good writing you two. and i will try my damndest to make it to nationals in nashville, just to try the baklava! yummers!
jody
Jody! Hi, sweets. The Happy, huh? Love it!
Hugs on the rain. While we complain about the fact that it barely seems like summer at all, the weather actually means economic struggles for you and your fam. Double hugs.
Dying transmission, huh? Sigh. I can so relate. Although in my Mustang Lucille’s case, she needs a new rear end…and won’t be getting it anytime soon. Which means I haven’t gotten in nearly enough cruisin’ with the top down, tunes up this summer. I’m going to treat her canvas and rubber bits sometime today so we can put her winter cover back on. And I’ll try not to cry while doing it. Sniff.
On a brighter note, wouldn’t it be nice if we could all go in for a rear end replacement?
yeah, especially if i could replace mine with a younger higher model. lol
love it!
jody
I started reading romance in the late 1970′s so I have ‘grown up’ with it, seen all the changes in how the romance genre has evolved from the medical romances and “bodice rippers” (I hate that espression). Reading is escape for me and I’m sure alot of others.
I am not going to go into much detail but from 1997 to 4-2001, I watched my Mom’s brain deteriate due to vascular dementia. I didn’t get alot of support in having immediate family see her to give me a break. She passed from an infection.
How I survived being with her 5-6 times a week in the afternoons (I stopped working to be with her) in her nursuing facility, was to read romance books in the car before and after being with her. Reading allowed me to relax before and after each visit.
I do my best reading sitting in my car (and I guess I’m one of the few who can read while my husband drives as he listens to sports) and from 11 pm to 1 am.
We all have the right to read what we want as long as what we are reading doesn’t hurt the reader or any one else.
If I could read a book a day, it would take me at least 1 year to read the TBR pile without adding any new ones. I finally have reached the point of looking at the pile and saying “I have nothing to read”