 |
| Library of Congress - Main Reading Room (link) |
Continuing my recap of the romance conference hosted by the Center for the Book (link), I was eager to hear Panel 3: Community and the Romance Genre:
Moderator: Mary Bly/Eloisa James, Professor of English, Fordham University, and romance author
Panelists: Robyn Carr (romance author), Brenda Jackson (romance author), Kim Castillo (author assistant), Anne Jamison (Associate Professor of English, University of Utah), Kathleen Seidel (romance author and WRW member), and Sarah Wendell (book blogger)
Here are snippets from the conversation (paraphrase) about "community":
Romance is less about sex and more about hope
Robyn: romance community is a place to comfornt vulnerable emotions in a safe place
Brenda: garner relationships with readers
Kim: "pay it forward", reading romance is life affirming, it becomes personal to reader
Sarah: reading fiction makes us more empathetic
Sarah also asked Robyn how many virgins swam in the river (as her series is called Virgin River). Sarah is a born entertainer and enthusiastic reader.
The audience was comprised of romance readers, romance writers, and nonfiction writers curious about the genre. The panel demonstrated that the romance community is alive, well, and welcoming.
What are your thoughts on the romance community? Comments are open through Saturday, March 7, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 8.
Mahalo,
Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City
 |
| Lucky enjoys the romance community ... |
