Simply Inflatable – and other romance titles

“What’re you reading now?” my husband asks. “Buggered by the Butler?” Yeah, yeah. Everyone who reads romance knows the titles can earn them some raised eyebrows and a few sniggers. They don’t embarrass me, and I’m happy to see some of my favorite authors having fun with them too. Sound quality’s not great on this,… Continue reading Simply Inflatable – and other romance titles

Guest post by Sara Megibow: being a feminist romance reader

Late one evening, when I’d just finished writing my post on being a feminist romance novelist, I was chatting with friends on Twitter when a tweet by agent Sara Megibow from the Nelson Agency popped up. I don’t remember exactly what it said, but she emphatically said that a woman can be a feminist and… Continue reading Guest post by Sara Megibow: being a feminist romance reader

Confessions of a feminist romance novelist

Tomorrow is the 100th International Women’s Day, and I’d like to talk about something that’s been on my mind for a while – the way novels written by, for, and about women are often dismissed as being harmful, demeaning or stupid. The first female brain surgeon I ever came across was the heroine of a… Continue reading Confessions of a feminist romance novelist

Do you want your fiction realistic, or real?

I met my husband in one of the world’s most romantic cities – Prague (Czech Republic, not Oklahoma). We were sitting in a smelly classroom at an English language school. When we introduced ourselves, I arched my brow (which he thought meant I had attitude) and he spoke with a deep voice and British accent.… Continue reading Do you want your fiction realistic, or real?