I cannot tell you guys how many times I’ve been asked why I choose to spend my time reading romance novels, participate in book blogs and all other things associated with the romance community.
My best friend Mulu will always ask me (after a long winded rant on whatever drove me bat shit crazy on one of the many blogs that I read) why I bother to participate in reading these blogs and participating in these communities if they drive me crazy so much and no matter how many times I tell her why I stick around despite certain issues that I have with certain blog posts (mostly, the reviewers are meanie posts) and what not, she just doesn’t understand.
She doesn’t understand that the negative side of the romance community is such a small side of the community. She doesn’t understand or remember how many times I’ve gushed with her about this book being so good and that blogger being so sweet but there are many reasons why I love the romance community and one of the reasons is, the readers.
We all know that the romance community is known for their dramatics and their rabid fangirls but what people don’t understand about us is that we’re a really great community to be apart of.
I have been amazed time and time again over the generosity of my friends in the romance community. I have loved each and every time I’ve met up with other bloggers, other readers I’ve met on the bb’s that I used to frequent and it never ceases to amaze me how I can meet people for the very first time and talk to them as if I’ve known them for years. There’s a comfort when meeting other readers to know that someone out there shares your passion of romance novels.
Today, I came home and found that I got a package from Rosie. Curiously, I opened the book and then I remembered that Holly told me that she had given Rosie my snail mail addy and I held in my hands a book that Rosie got for me from RWA and had gotten signed for me. Now, last year I read and loved Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series. I still adore that series and am looking forward to more but I am so thankful to Rosie for thinking about me. She remembered that I loved this series, she remembered that I loved Robyn Carr and she got a book signed for me in San Francisco.
THANK YOU ROSIE, you are one of the very best people that I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and I’m touched that you thought of me in San Francisco and you are part of the reason why I love this genre and it’s fans so much. Your kindness speaks volumes of the kind of person you are and the kind of people that are apart of our community.
And THAT is why I love this community so much because it’s filled with warm, caring and thoughtful people who make reading so much better than anything else.
None of my friends…who aren’t into reading romance novels…understand it either. I’m with you on that! And I got my book from Rosie yesterday as well! Yay Rosie. (Mine was Demon Night by the wonderful Meljean Brook).
Yes!!!
Today at Suzanne Brockmann’s BB Q&A, Suz shared a story about putting one of her few original copies of Get Lucky (out of print and so far not word on reissuing it) as one of the prizes for a charity raffle at some event or another, and that one of the attendees really desperately wanted it. Someone else’s name was called, and this second lady chose that one copy of Get Lucky, and then gave it to the desperate reader!
That lady gave a prize worth quite a pretty penny (check eBay or amazon to get an idea) to another reader just because the other reader desperately wanted it.
How can we not cherish a community where these things are more common than the petty drama?
I totally agree. My non-romance reading friends roll their eyes, but they have never experienced the kinship, the fun, the caring that I’ve seen time and time again in the romance community. And the friends I’ve made are friends for life. I will always treasure that.
Azteclady, I love the Brockmann story. Now that’s showing some love *g*
Great post, Rowena, and I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments toward the kinship among romance readers and romance reading bloggers. It’s pretty cool.
Don’t know what I’d do without the romance online community. It’s where I’ve found most of my cherished friends.
Tracy,
See? I’m telling you, how can you not love Rosie? She’s seriously the best! =)
AL,
Wow, what a great story….and it makes me feel all good inside knowing that I’m apart of a community where that’s an everyday occurence.
Stacy,
My sisters don’t even understand and they do read romance novels but for me, reading romance is not enough, it’s that kinship with other readers that I absolutely love. There aren’t better readers out there who care as much as we do. I’m proud to be apart of that.
Rowena! Imagine MY surprise when I got home from work and saw this post. You brought tears to my eyes. I had to call GG in to read your post because you were so sweet.
I’m so glad you like the book. Ms. Carr is a sweetie btw and one of the writers who is very appreciative of the blogging community.
Christine,
Thanks, I’m so glad to be apart of this community dammit! =)
Farrah,
Awww I heard you were talking about us at RWA, hehe…We love you over here at Book Binge as well, Farrah! =)
Doesn’t Rosie just ROCK!!! She asked for my snail mail too but being in Canada nothing has shown up – yet 😉
If it wasn’t for my online romance reading buddies I’m not sure I would have stayed sane during my 9 month reading slump. At least I could read reviews and remember that when I broke through the dang thing I would have great books to come back to.
Great post Rowena!
CindyS
Ooops, forgot to mention that I have yet to talk to anyone in my family or friends offline who have made the kind of connections I have online.
I know it doesn’t mean I don’t have a life because my friends spend just as much time and sometimes more online. They’re just not interacting with other people!
CindyS
What a great post. I totally agree – I had no idea this community was so awesome!!
Rosie,
Thank YOU sweetie, I love the book and can’t thank you enough for being such a great frickin’ person! =)
Cindy,
YES! Rosie rocks my socks and we’re very fortunate to have friends like her all throughout the romance community.
CJ,
Thanks, aren’t you glad you came over to lala land? LOL.