Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

Declare Your Independence

When I saw I was scheduled for July 4th, I knew immediately what I had to address – independence. Yes, it’s Independence Day here in the States, but I think this July 4th should be Independence Day for all readers all over the world. Independence from what, you ask? Silly literary stereotypes.

You know the ones: only geeks read science fiction, only intellectuals read literary fiction, only bored housewives read romance… Yeah, those. And erotic romance? Well, we all know what the women who read those are like.

How many out there have tucked one book inside another or in a magazine to hide a cover? Are there certain books you won’t read in waiting rooms or on the train? Yes, I’m guilty, too.

I was raised in a family where romance was considered mindless trash. Didn’t matter who wrote it or how good the plot may be, romance was garbage. I never picked one up until I was in college and found a novel my roommate left lying around. Color me surprised when it was actually good.

I had to let go of a lot of preconceived notions before I could enjoy the book, and even then it was a guilty pleasure. I couldn’t let anyone else see me reading it. I’d always been seen as this semi-intelligent person, after all. I couldn’t let people know that I read stupid romance.

And then I started writing it. Yeah, that went over like a lead balloon with the folks. But I had matured in the years since I hid under the covers to read romance. I had grown and decided I wasn’t going to feel silly or guilty for reading what I wanted to read. After all, my mom reads tons upon tons of nonfiction and I don’t find her the least bit boring.

I finally decided that like most stereotypes, those revolving around what we read are complete rubbish. Still, there are those carryovers from childhood – the ones that tell me I should be ashamed of what I read and write.

So today I am declaring my independence. I will no longer select my reading material based on what someone else thinks it says about me. I’m going to read what I want to, and not care what others think of it.

And how about you? Take those books out of their fake covers. And if the cover’s truly a little too hot for public consumption, that’s what ebooks are for, baby! Read away! And no matter what, remember what matters most is how the words make you feel. And all that says about you is that you are smart enough to choose books that please you.

Happy Independence Day.