by hollandrae | Mar 28, 2019 | Characters, Feminism, Industry, Reading, Romance Novels, RWA, Women's Rights
We’re still here. A year after the RITA awards were acknowledged as problematic and promoting of a biased system, we are once again, as a romance industry, fighting for inclusivity and equal opportunities for all authors. Small victories for authors from historically...
by hollandrae | Feb 13, 2019 | Guest Post, Heroines, Industry, Intersectional Feminism, Interview, Romance Novels, Tour, Uncategorized, Women, Women's Rights
I got to sit down with Kay Blake, one of the founders of Bookish Brown Girls, to hear all about this awesome reading and writing programs! When did you realize or decide you wanted to do Bookish Brown Girls? My oldest daughter asked me about books with black girls....
by hollandrae | Oct 29, 2018 | Characters, Feminism, Industry, Inspiration, Intersectional Feminism, Musings, Reading, Research, Reviews, Romance Novels, Series, Women, Women's Rights
Every genre has its pitfalls. Mysteries that give away the whodunit too early. Sci-fi that falls this side of derivative. Romance with two-dimensional Ken doll heroes. Writing genre fiction comes with all sorts of challenges, and it takes a certain set of skills and...
by hollandrae | Sep 24, 2018 | Industry, Intersectional Feminism, Interview, My Books, Research, Romance Novels, RWA, Women, Women's Rights, Writing
Recently, I was given the remarkable opportunity to write about the romance writer, reader and industry. A culture snapshot, my editor explained, to give insight into what makes this genre so successful and beloved, despite generations of doubt, dismissal and outright...
by hollandrae | Sep 10, 2018 | Art, Heroines, Industry, Inspiration, Intersectional Feminism, Musings, My Books, Research, Romance Novels, Women, Women's Rights
Happy New Year! Sundown last night marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and the celebration will last through tomorrow night at sundown. I was raised with the cultural importance of these holidays, just as I was raised with the cultural...
by hollandrae | Aug 20, 2018 | Art, Characters, Industry, Inspiration, Musings, Research, Romance Novels, RWA, Statistics, Women, Women's Rights
Busting the Myths and Misconceptions Around Fiction’s Most Valuable Genre The romance genre is not new. Since the age of Austen and Bronte, romance has reigned, from the quiet, brown paper bag covers, to the shelves of the grocery store, from the bodice rippers...