Romance Writers & Readers discussion

This poor little folder looked sorta lonely sooo...

I'm making a thread, baby! ^_^

Question: Besides romance, what other genres do y'all read?

Personally, on the fiction side of things, I have a soft spot for children's book. I have no children. Is that weird...?

#DefinitelyWeird

I'm a huge fan of fantasy. Most of what I read in fantasy also has some romance, but my all time favorite series is a fantasy series by Dannika Dark, her Mageri series. I've reread all 5 books like 4 times. I also am totally in love with the Rylee Adamson series by Shannon Mayer, which doesn't have much romance at all but has a lot of ass kicking by a bad - ass female lead.

Nicole wrote: "ass kicking by a bad - ass female lead"

Sold.

I'm pretty boring I only read romantic suspense.

Oh and kiddie books if I'm at work, some goodies are Where is the Green Sheep, The Very Cranky Bear series, The Day the Crayons Quit, plus I love fairytales, and anything Dr Seuss!

@Princess Jane: No Robert Munsch...?

*puppy dog eyes*

I normally stick to romance, of any variety. Back in the day, I used to read Dean Koontz. I really enjoyed his crazy tales. But these days, I stick to what I love. Romance! Although, I have nabbed a few indie authors books over at supportindieauthors group and I do plan on reading those books. I have to be in the mood for it though otherwise I don't fully take in what I'm reading.

And children's book, yeah that's pretty common in this household. My 6 year old is an Alvin and the Chipmunks fan. I enjoy listening to her read those:) Alvin's so crazy...

I usually read paranormal, dystopia, and fantasy and they usually have romance as well :)

Sounds like we're all pretty romance-y, eh?

*steeples fingers*

Excellent...

I prefer mystery books, crime stories, and, of course, romance.

Annie wrote: "@Princess Jane: No Robert Munsch...?

*puppy dog eyes*"

I haven't read any of his stuff but looked it up, it looks good!

Ooooh, Princess Jane...

The Paper Bag Princess

We could start a legit buddy read with that book hahahaha!!

Annnd we seem to have a few romantic suspense lovers, eh?

Actually, I read an alpha male romance where the hero is the killer. I gotta find the title again...

Whoa, the hero is the killer...yes, that sounds like a very interesting read. Find it, find it!

I'll dig through my Kindle app haha!

Gotta warn you, though, my Queen...

I have a tendency to read OTT alpha males that most women frown upon. Just saying haha!

Bring it! I've read a few books where I wasn't sure, but eventually found that I enjoyed it. I'm so excited now. I hope you can find it *grins madly*

I read a ton of "questionable" stuff. That's actually my preference haha!

Have you read Captive in the Dark or Consequences...? The hero in Consequences is effed up. Heck, it's all effed up. But...

*also grins madly*

I have not read either of those. They did sound pretty dark. Not normally my usual read, but hey, I just might break out of my shell at some point. They sounded good. *cackles madly* I felt like my inner evil queen had to emerge a little....

Amanda wrote: "*cackles madly* I felt like my inner evil queen had to emerge a little.... "

I have that effect on people.

(Kidding but kinda not kidding haha!)

Besides romance--Dr. Seuss. I've read his books over and over so many times. But each time is like starting new. He was a genius!

But I'm going to venture out and try different genres--one day:)

OMGoodness! I wonder if there's a correlation between romance writers and reading children's books! There's a few of us who do that hahaha!!

In my quest to help support other indies, I read all sorts (just so long as it's fiction).

I mainly read romance (obvs), but I dip my toes into paranormal, scifi, dystopian, even a smidgen of historical.
There's also some funny books that I've read (e.g. Carl Wiggins; I have no idea which category to put him under). Hey, maybe we should invite him to this group? He's funny.

xx

I have a very short, but you-don't-know? question:

What's the difference between an Indie author and a regular self-published one? All this time, and I still don't know.

I think lots of people use the terms interchangeably (myself included) but they ARE different...

Self-publishing: Getting a publishing package from a company. They own the ISBN and are listed as the actual publisher. They also do other stuff like formatting and listing your book with retailers. Personally, I believe Smashwords falls under this category.

Independent publishing: You legit do everything yourself. You're listed as the publisher, own all the rights, and may even register an LLC. If you're not doing your own formatting/editing, you're personally sourcing it out. No middlemen whatsoever.

Clear as mud? LMAO!

Hugs,
Ann

What???? All this time I thought I was more of a self-publisher. Hey, guys, I'm an Indie! LOL!

Don't quote me on those definitions. I might be talking outta my butt hahaha!! But either way...

*fist bumps Miss Groovy*

Hmmm...I think self-published and indie are more interchangeable.

You are independent if you press the 'publish' button yourself, despite the platform it's on.
When you only have ebooks you don't need an ISBN, but you've still published online.

Being indie/self published involves you having to do all the donkey work yourself (editing/publishing/promoting on top of the writing). Of course, you can still pay for copy editors and professional cover designers, but the main work is done by yourself.

It's hard life, but one writes because it's what we are.

TL wrote: "one writes because it's what we are

^^^ and try explaining that to the people who "really love to write" but never actually do...

I think (not everyone) but so many people who write don't really have a choice... the stories just ooze. Puke. Pour, if you want a more poetic term.

PS My secret reading vice is actually... cozy mysteries. No longer with cats (but that was a phase). Now I'm back into the classics.

Also, Jane Austen.

There have been years when I've read nothing but Jane Austen.

But generally, I read EVERYTHING.

I have become really picky, though, about finishing. By which I mean--I used to slog to the end of books no matter what.

No more.

I walk away now after a chapter, three--three quarters into the book, even, if at that point I stop giving a flying [my 2nd favourite 4 letter word here] about the characters.

M. Jane

M. Jane wrote: "the stories just ooze. Puke. Pour, if you want a more poetic term."

OMG, Miss Jane! Yesss!! You're speaking to my soul right now. Seriously. People always ask why I write. I just HAVE to...

*lobotomizes self*
*dumps out brain*
*feels better*

I'm with ya on the no finishing too. I read cuz I enjoy it. So the second I don't? I ain't getting read haha! And if, at any point, I stop giving a flying (view spoiler)[rainbow-shooting pegasus (hide spoiler)] about the characters...

*takes book out back*

I read anything and everything when I feel like a change, the story just has to look good to me (obviously) and Goodreads helps with reviews when picking out a novel. Once in a blue moon the desire to read an erotic story will hit me, but they tend to be very predictable and far fetched, but I guess that's the point when it comes to living out an erotic fantasy within the pages of an erotic novel. But mostly I prefer romance that has a good story to it with a very small amount of "cheesiness."

I don't know what I would do if I didn't write (or have music in my life). But to me, the characters and stories would live in my head and bug me until I wrote them down on paper and got them published. And I don't know about anybody else, and I loooovvvvee this part, but anything can spark an idea for a story--a song (I shot the sheriff) something someone said or did (Prince)

One of the novels I'm working on now was inspired by a song I heard as a child, about a woman who came across an embattled snake, she took him in, cared for him, and in the end he bit her, when she wondered why he would betray her, his words were: "You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in." Does anybody else remember that song?

And to be able to take not only the readers, but myself on exciting journeys I would never experience in real life is again, exciting. I can't wait to be able to get to my books and work on them.

Tim wrote: "I don't read romance. I read thriller... :D I did read yours, Annie, but that was exceptional... X"

You may stay, Mr Tim ^_~

(Yeah, I just HAD to quote that haha)

Other than romance, I like a good fantasy... urban, high, whatever... and occasionally a good sci-fi. I read a lot of marketing and PR books, too, but that's not exactly "for fun" reading.

I'll read pretty much anything. For me it's more about the writing style than the genre it falls into. I've read a lot of nonfiction lately as research for my nonfiction book, and I've enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. The other thing I've read a lot this year is paranormal romance. I adore Richelle Mead, so I've been reading her stuff in abundance the last year or so.

A lot of my friends are also YA writers/readers, so that rubs off on me and I read a lot of YA too.