Member-only story
Don’t Be Ashamed of What You Write or Read…
Romance/horror/dark fantasy…oh, my!
I once was a member of one of the largest writer’s organization, RWA — Romance Writers of America — and learned a lot about writing and the genre. Romance is much maligned by the literary “elite” but represents more than 50% of all titles sold. When I retired and my small RWA chapter disbanded I left the organization — it was an economic decision. But I’d also discovered that I wrote more than straight (or gay) “romance” — I wrote supernatural and dark fantasy without romantic elements — not part of the newly ascribed RWA Universe.
I’m also addicted to more than writing, I’m addicted to books, well…to reading. I’ve written about this addiction here and how I have books everywhere in our home.
There is one or two genres that stand out in my addiction –mystery and paranormal — horror, supernatural.
Why would a woman who had nightmares as a child (and who was whipped by her father for having those nightmares) read “that stuff?”
Why not.
On a book shelf I can see from my writing desk sits a Peter Straub/Stephen King book alongside Thomas Tyron’s “Harvest Home” (which I highly recommend). Keep looking on the next bookcase and you’ll find Daphne DuMaurier and Ruth Rendell along with more King. On the chest that…
