I don’t know what most Romance Authors do, but I let people know what I do for a living. Some people might keep the fact that they write erotic romance to themselves but I don’t tend to be able to keep my life a secret. I mean, how do I explain that I can’t do all the PTA stuff that is always being advertised?
I’m a writer. I write.
Most people aren’t all that interested and then a few are way over interested. I’ve gotten all kinds of weird remarks. Don’t even get me started. I try to keep most conversations outside the elementary school to talk about, imagine it, the kids.
But the other day…I found myself to be very very popular.
Why?
50 Shades of Grey came out. Let me clear. I have not read this book. But every mother in the school yard seems to have read it and they all seemed to want to discuss it with me. In whispered tones.
“Rebecca, have you read it?” Giggles. “Oh my god. What did you think?”
I looked around wildly. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
By now, we had a crowd. One mother had suddenly become five mothers. All giggling. I finally caught on. They’d just read 50 Shades of Grey.
“Is that normal? Is all erotica like this Rebecca?”
“Oh my goodness, Rebecca, my husband gave me the book and then I called him so he rushed home from work and took me upstairs…”
OKAY! Too much information.
Please don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled to see them reading, but the friendly neighborhood erotic writer does not want to hear about your sex life. Not even a little bit.
And I still haven’t read 50 Shades of Grey. But when I do, I think I’ll find a way to talk about it that doesn’t include whispering in the school yard.
Come on ladies, as professionals, mothers, wives, friends, and strong women. There’s no such thing as a dirty look book. Enjoy it out loud.
About Rebecca Royce: As a teenager, I would hide in my room to read my favorite romance novels when I was supposed to be doing my homework. I hope, these days, that my parents think it was worth it.
I am the mother of three adorable boys and I am fortunate to be married to my best friend. We live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.
12 comments:
I haven't read the book yet either, Rebecca, but when I first heard the title I thought it was mainstream fiction. Had no idea it was erotica until I read your post!
I haven't read it either. Mostly because I'm a genre snob...lol. I like my romances to have more men and fewer women, so Fifty Shades doesn't really interest me. I've hear members of the BDSM community aren't impressed with it, to say the least. Given that I do write BDSM, I might give it a look one day, to see what it is they don't like about it. I'm sure it's due to turn up at the local used book shop in multiple copies soon enough...
I've heard of this book as someone asked me what I thought of the "mommy porn." O.O Mommy porn? Really? Not having read it, I'd heard that it was like Twilight for adult women. (hanging head) Then I read an excerpt (The first x number of pages.) and while I can see some of the appeal, I can't say I'd buy the book. From a review I've read and the quotes from the sex scenes, I don't know how it classifies as erotica. And it's a bit frustrating that this type of stuff is what catches 750,000 readers attention. (sigh)
Marci
It just amazed me that it's such a big deal!
Okay, I'm curious. Anyone know what this book is about plot line wise?
You can find a review here: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/books/fifty-shades-of-grey-s-and-m-cinderella.html
I hate to say this but that book just sounds "meh" to me.
Faith, I've been given to understand that the D/s elements aren't very accurate, but I haven't read it. My own view was that as soon as the blurb characterized the man's Dominant tendencies as: "Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control." it turned me way off right away. In my experience, a guy tormented by demons is not a guy I want having any sort of control over me. Just sain'...
Jaime,
From the sex scene quote I read, it was lame. I don't know how it can be characterized as mommy porn when it doesn't use any explicit language at all. The sex scenes, from one review I read, are glossed over, and so on.
It's unfortunate that a piece of tripe like this can sell well when there are so many other talented authors with amazing stories that don't. :(
Jaime, I totally get you, lol, and agree!
Marci, don't get me started! You know better than to do that! LMAO!
I couldn't help myself, Faith. (g)
My understanding is that it started out as Bella/Edward Fan Fic and she's basically changed the names.
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