Romance novels are more than Mills and Boon or 50 Shades of Grey according to three authors.
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Fiona McArthur, Janette Paul and Sandie Docker are celebrating love in all its forms with a tour of panel discussions at Wollongong, Nowra, Penrith, Sydney and Belmont in a bid to break the cliches surrounding romance novels.
The trio will explore why society needs to make room for women’s stories written by women for women; the importance of strong female characters; and how love stories can teach people about themselves and life.
A man writes about love and it is a love story; a woman writes about love and it’s a romance.
- Janette Paul
Ms Paul said it’s great to be part of the tour at a time when women’s voices and experiences were being heard and respected.
“Women’s fiction written by women is often looked upon as ‘just women’s fiction’, (for example a man writes about love and it is a love story; a woman writes about love and it’s a romance),” she said.
“But as the MeToo and TimesUp movements suggest, there is a need for women’s voices to be heard and their stories to be told. And contemporary women’s fiction and romance are doing that – reflecting women’s lives and experiences and, in the case of romance, chucking out the old formulas and embracing a diversity of genres.”
As the MeToo and TimesUp movements suggest, there is a need for women’s voices to be heard and their stories to be told.
- Janette Paul
Ms Paul has penned two romantic comedies (Just Breathe and Amber and Alice), as well thrillers and crime novels under the guise of Jaye Ford.
“The difference is how people respond to you when you say ‘oh I’m a crime writer’ and then you say ‘oh and I also write romantic comedy’,” she said.
“There’s that misconception that ‘it’s got romance in the title so it must be this scary romantic thing that we don’t want to read’.”
Women’s fiction needs to be defended a lot, Ms Paul said, and there was a perception sometimes that it’s not as good as other genres despite the majority of book lovers being female.
A 2017 survey by the Australia Council into the reading habits of nation found males were far more likely to be non-readers than females, while almost two-thirds of frequent readers were female.
Love Between the Pages, Wollongong Library, 41 Burelli Street, April 17, 11:30pm. Cost is $30 (includes finger food and a glass of wine). Bookings essential, call (02) 4227 7414.
Desiree Savage
At the helm of Australia's premier publication for people aged over 55, covering hard hitting issues, travel, lifestyle and entertainment. Got a hot tip? Email me - edit@TheSenior.com.au
At the helm of Australia's premier publication for people aged over 55, covering hard hitting issues, travel, lifestyle and entertainment. Got a hot tip? Email me - edit@TheSenior.com.au
