What She Said

When I tell people I write romance novels (both for teens and adults), I often get a puzzled look, one that's easily translated to one of the following:

"Really? You don't:

a) look like you spend your time on a beach, dictating novels to your fave cabana boy. Are you yanking my chain? Are you REALLY a writer?"

b) look like a loser, holed up in her apartment like Kathleen Turner in Romancing the Stone, weeping over her characters' romance. Are you yanking my chain? Are you really a writer?"

c) act like crabby Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets, getting out his frustrations by writing sappy stories. Are you yanking my chain? Are you really a writer?"

or d) dress well enough to be a writer. Writers are rich dilettantes, aren't they? Are you yanking my chain? Are you really a writer?"

Here's the thing: Writers can look like anyone else you know. For those who've ever wondered what a romance writer looks like, or why we do what we do, check out this piece, written by the fantastic Eileen Dreyer (aka Kathleen Korbel) for CNN.

From now on, when anyone asks me if I really write romance novels (even though I don't look like I do, apparently), and why I love what I do, I'll simply say, "What she said!" and send them to Eileen's article.