Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

The Evolution of Romance

Okay, I confess, I started reading happily-ever-after romances before I became a pre-teen, which was somewhere in the early seventies, (yes, I’m dating myself). At that time, romance novels fell into pretty much two categories. The bodice rippers and the sweet romances. I read the sweet romances, mostly because I could find them at the local library and my parents wouldn’t buy me the bodice rippers.

Those ladies (and men) who wrote back then helped pioneer the start of what would later become the billion dollar business it is today.

In 2007, romance fiction generated $1.375 billion in sales.
How does the romance market share compare to other genres?
Romance fiction: $1.375 billion in estimated revenue for 2007
Religion/inspirational: $819 million
Science fiction/fantasy: $700 million
Mystery: $650 million
Classic literary fiction: $466 million

When I look back on those days, it is truly amazing how far the romance novel has evolved from its simple beginnings.

Today, you can find something to fit just about every reader’s taste, no matter how you like your romance. From Inspirational to Erotica. With a splash of suspense or a bit of humor. And every sub-genre in between.

The romance novels of our grandmother’s day was geared to transport the reader into a fairytale world where the hero and herione’s lived ended in happily ever after. Today’s savy herione may have to kiss a lot of frogs before she finds her prince or she might end up having to kill the alien attackers to rescue said prince.

In today’s romance novel, just about anything goes and the only limit is the writer’s imagination. But there is one thing you can always count on. A truly satisfying story and and an ending that will leave you with a smile on your face for days to come.

All the best…

Mary Eason
www.maryeason.bravehost.com
Thirty Lessons – Available now in ebook and print
The Things You Think You Want – Available in ebook and coming to print, September 2008Survivor – Available now in ebook and coming to print, December 2008