This Month’s Featured Article

Last August, in honor of Romance Awareness Month and Read-A-Romance Month, I wrote an article for Main Street highlighting the insights and accomplishments of independently published romance novelists AK Landow, Brooke O’Brien, Jade Dollston, and Maggie Rawdon. According to market research company Circana (formerly IRI Worldwide and The NPD Group), US print romance sales increased to nearly 19 million units as of August 6, 2022, making romance the leading print genre in terms of growth as of September 13, 2022. Therefore, it has definitely been worthwhile taking a closer look at this billion-dollar book industry and its community.

As a college student suffering from a long-term personal reading slump, I had much to learn from these authors regarding their navigation of the genre and their perceptions of the book industry at large. As the authors explained the depths of their inspirations, writing processes, and varying responsibilities, they also referenced other authors in the genre, as well as readers and countless other figures that support their accomplishments in the independent publishing realm. 

After the project, I had felt inspired to delve back into reading, having gained a better understanding of the complexities of romance authorship. But I also had a ton of new questions. Who were those individuals that loved supporting indie authors and their work? Through their passion for the genre and their efforts to help, what do they hope to accomplish? What impact do they aim to make in romance writers’ lives – and within the romance novel community as a whole? And ultimately: why do they feel compelled to make this bookish world a major part of their life and work?

Thus, walking away from my initial article, it seemed like a no-brainer to continue exploring this topic, seeking out a new selection of authors, a sample of avid romance readers, and indie author social media influencers (who are often called “bookfluencers,” “bookstagrammers,” etc.), as well as two photographers and a PR representative that play a pivotal role in these authors’ visions coming to fruition. After learning from these brilliant individuals and hearing their perspectives, I have a more complete grasp of what makes the romance book community so special and such a uniquely vibrant group of individuals making connections, helping each other, and circulating sincere, powerful narratives.

A social, passionate readership

Across all my conversations with members of the bookish community, especially those who are indie romance fans in particular, one common theme stood out among the rest: the community is exceedingly encouraging and welcoming, allowing all involved to form lasting bonds with each other. It’s undoubtedly true that, if not a deciding factor, this element is a major reason why people dive deeper into this bookish environment. 

“Some of the very best friends that I have,” bookfluencer Mindy Menotti shares, “I’ve met through social media and the bookish community. I’ve formed friendships that I know will last a lifetime and made friends that I talk to multiple times a week, if not on a daily basis.”

Renowned Australian cover photographer Michelle Lancaster adds, “I’ve become good friends with many authors along the way and really enjoy their intellect and humor. It’s a great world to be part of. They are almost like an extended family to me. The banter between us is priceless.”

A major draw for this community, especially as a reader, is this sense of unity, which seems to uplift every single member. Lisa Gray, who organizes live interviews with an array of indie authors in collaboration with her close friend Merrit Townsend, remarks at how considerate this group has been throughout this endeavor. “It’s crazy how helpful people are. They want you to succeed just as much as they want to succeed.” New Zealand-based reader Sherrece Tanner adds, “I am grateful every day to find like-minded, amazing people in this book community. I feel like I have found my people.” 

One of Sherrece’s close friends, reader Lakshmi Praveen, lives in India. Sherrece describes how the two have been able to connect over their similar time zones while the rest of the world sleeps. And Lakshmi notes that despite her bookish relationships being wholly virtual because of her geographic location, these connections are strong enough to completely transcend distance. “Even though everything is virtual like this, it’s that spark. And once that happens, I’m completely hooked.” 

Interestingly, two of my good friends from Marist College, Evelyn and Cait, formed a closer bond not through being at the same college (or being mutual friends) but rather, through reading romance. Cait explains that in validating romance novels, Evelyn opened up the opportunity to connect on a deeper level, forming a valuable friendship. “Evelyn was the first person I met who seemed to love engaging with literature critically and academically, and also loved to read romance. Talking with her the first time about one of our favorite romance authors felt like a breath of fresh air because I could openly talk about romance without the other person dismissing it as not real literature.”

Evelyn’s appreciation for romance is deeply rooted in her passion for starting discussions around books and using literature as an opportunity to learn. She says that, in reality, the truth behind romance media disproves prevailing stigmas surrounding the genre. “For a while, I was convinced that it wasn’t intellectual or worthy enough to read seriously, but I’ve come to find that romance has a very social and political history of feminist resistance that helps us explore women’s wants and needs as active members of their own relationships and their place within society.”

Networking among authors

What is particularly remarkable about friendships in the indie romance realm is that they include the authors themselves, giving readers and influencers a direct link to the lives of these independently published writers. Bookfluencer and close friend of Mindy, Brittany McKeel, points out, “Being a part of the book world has brought me close to a bunch of people that I couldn’t see my life without. I now have a larger circle of friends including authors that I am thankful to know!”

When Lakshmi first explored the community, she found this authorial accessibility aspect to be especially compelling. “It was so intriguing for me that the authors were willing to listen and hear their readers out. There was a back and forth. The fourth wall had been broken down. Authors connect with you and want to interact with you. That was really, really nice.”

Autumn Sexton, publicist, brand manager, and owner of Wordsmith Publicity, confirms the importance of these positive relationships in all dimensions of the indie publishing industry. Not only does she ensure all of her authors feel prioritized and curate a personalized approach for each of them, but she also strives to facilitate positive connections between her authors and influencers. “Because of my experience in blogging, I know how much work is involved in creating content and writing reviews, so I want all of our influencers to feel appreciated, no matter how large or small their following is.”

Authors cite their friendships with other authors as hugely impactful to their journeys. Carolina Jax, who recently collaborated with Alexandra Hale in an interwoven two-story pair centered around a set of twins – with each author writing one point of view – looks up to her network of fellow authors as both great friends and trusted mentors. “A lot of times, if I get stuck on a storyline, I’ll run it by one or two of them, and they can help talk me out of the hole and into something that moves the story along,” Carolina explains. “Finding the right circle is huge; that support is needed to get through the days of self doubt.”

Moreover, all the authors I talked to feel heavily indebted to their readers for their support, feedback, and friendship. Author Nicole Abrams says she feels fortunate to have a strong relationship with her alpha and beta readers, who see the story in stages prior to the final draft. She’s also incredibly thankful for her advanced reader copy readers, who, in sharing their feedback, validate her position as an author. “I think I get more nervous about sending out ARCs than I do about the release. Because these are the people that follow you, and I really care about what they think and how they receive it. So, when that feedback starts coming, and they’re just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love it,’ it really helps reduce my imposter syndrome.”

Alexandra notes that to see the fan-made creative content following a release is also immensely fulfilling, a sentiment that Carolina also shared. She feels flattered when she’s called a reader’s source of comfort or exactly what a reader was looking for in that moment. “I want people to use my books as a comfort read. I like to be, you know, a palate cleanser for somebody who reads dark romance all the time and is like, ‘You know what, I need something lighter.’ That’s a huge compliment for me,” says Alexandra.

Lyra Parish, who has been an indie author since 2011 and has published 53 romance books since 2014, emphasizes, “I honestly let my readers’s excitement dictate how many books a series should be. I joke that I’m in control, but really, they are. I do this for them.” She even says the period of time when ARC reviews are rolling in feels like “a countdown to Christmas.”

Authorial exploration of fictional worlds

Another vital aspect of the community that truly shined throughout the interviews revolves around the romance narratives themselves. It’s clear that indie romance is currently flourishing, in large part, thanks to the captivating universes into which the authors welcome readers. For many indie romance authors, including all of the ones I spoke with, this means devising stories that weave together and span multiple books in a series.

“I love to write a series because I love to follow through on all the characters,” Carolina shares. “A lot of times I will read a story and fall in love with a couple and then you never hear about them again. With my series, we follow the entire family and get glimpses of how each couple evolves as the stories progress.”

Thus, the creation of expanded worlds that encompass families and friend groups reflects authors’ personal connection to the characters, places, and plots they have written. To Lyra, the hero and heroine are often what changes about her novels, while the location stays the same – which is her priority “after spending so much time building a world that feels like home.” 

Forming these throughlines is important to Alexandra as well, and she applies the excitement she gets perceiving patterns and links as a reader to the process of writing her own stories. “I like to have things that are connected. I think it’s fun for readers to say, ‘Oh, I remember that character’ or ‘I remember where they are.’”

Nicole mirrors these sentiments, pointing out her love for crossovers and spin-offs, both of which underscore that her books are about more than just the featured couple, highlighting the importance of lasting friendships, too. “I’ve kind of created this world, now, that I don’t wanna leave.”

Providing readers (and themselves) with a source of solace

Directly hand-in-hand with these authors remaining dedicated to their own fictional worlds is the noteworthy peace these novels provide for readers, a fact that was another prevailing feature throughout my many discussions. Mindy notes that because of each romance author’s ability to illustrate their own distinct vision, the reading experience is all the more soothing. “Every author brings something different to the table, which is just incredible in itself. And being able to disconnect from the outside world and outside noise is very relaxing.”

Often, the act of picking up a romance novel and diving into its pages can serve as an opportunity for sanctuary, an escape into complex, well-written atmospheres, and a temporary reprieve from life’s stresses and anxieties. “I think romance readers are looking for connection, emotion, and escape,” Autumn observes. She considers herself especially lucky to have designed her career around the very books that “feed [her] brain and creativity and have offered solace and a safe place.”

Authors also imparted this same sense of gratitude for the retrospection writing offers. Alexandra and Carolina both appreciate the ability to write from their own experiences and lives. Explaining her close connection with her narratives, Alexandra states, “I think that there’s a piece of me in each of the heroines, different points of my life. And I like to put the best pieces of myself in there.”

Lyra is thankful “that people are finding joy from reading romance books that came from [her] heart.” Meanwhile Carolina is dedicated to writing stories she herself is in love with, providing readers with happily ever afters to get lost in.

Furthermore, Nicole told me about how her first book acted as her way of healing, and that like Alexandra and Carolina, she continues to put a little bit of herself in her characters. Her hope is that her own stories, and the genre at large, can have the same effect for readers, helping them to heal from whatever they might be going through.

This restorative effect is evidenced across indie romance’s readership. “That’s why I read, it’s an escape for me,” Lisa says. “Because I can either have a great book boyfriend, you know, or I could go to Europe.” It’s no wonder then why Michelle says, “My main passion is bringing book boyfriends to life.” 

Merrit adds that this concept plays a central role in people feeling drawn to and invested in reading as a whole. “I think that’s why books are so important to so many different people. Because you do get that escape. You get to get the heck out of that crap day you had or that crap week, and you can escape into a book.”

Wander Aguiar – a professional photographer well-known and highly sought after for his thousands of images currently gracing romance novel covers – points out that just as society is enthralled by rom-com movies and love-filled TV shows, these books give people the same sense of enjoyment. “Those stories are entertaining and a lot of us out there need them to help go through the day, worrying less about [our] own problems.”

The comforting element of the romance genre in particular is undeniable. As Lisa mentioned, characters play a special role in readers’ lives and their ability to find tranquility in the everyday. “What keeps me inspired? The promise of escape, […] because a world of fiction and a book boyfriend is sometimes all you need to find peace in a world where you sometimes think you don’t fit,” Sherrece reflects.

Keeping up the reading momentum

This question of inspiration is one I asked out of my own curiosity, as I’ve struggled to continue reading for fun because of academic burnout and constantly being surrounded by screens. Brittany shares Sherrece’s appreciation for a personal sense of peace, commenting, “I read for myself.” While this seems too good to be true, the more I spoke with readers, the more I understood that it really is that simple.

Cait’s outlook truly opened my eyes to the fact that reading is something to be enjoyed, not forced. “I used to feel like if I wasn’t reading, I wasn’t being productive,” Cait recalls. “I think it’s important to remember that reading is supposed to be fun. If reading ever feels like a chore for me, I don’t want to feel guilty for picking up the TV remote instead.”

Lakshmi describes her reviews as reflective of this very approach, focusing less on plot points and tropes, and more on the feelings and real-life connections associated with reading each book. “I write about how I felt when reading it, try to resonate with what’s going on in my life and what I have seen. I feel as a reader, if I’m reading something, I think that’s more something that would pull me to want to read a book.”

Many of the readers I spoke with, regardless of their current role in the bookish community, also cited their own unique histories with reading that continue to ebb and flow over time, but have ultimately led them to this strong passion. Evelyn, for instance, remembers how her parents introduced her to books as a baby, and how they have been a key part of her life ever since. “Thanks to them, I’ve seen the entire world through books and my morals have been shaped by the stories I’ve read.”

An innate drive to support and promote

Because of how influential books can be in people’s lives, it’s unsurprising that the community as a whole dedicates huge amounts of time and energy to their respective efforts. In fact, the community’s dedication to the romance genre in particular is far stronger than just purchasing, reading, and giving feedback on these books. 

A good portion of those I interviewed, including Lakshmi, Sherrece, Brittany, and Mindy, participate in alpha, beta, and/or ARC reading for authors, taking the time to not only read indie romance releases at an awe-inspiring pace, but also provide honest, comprehensive notes and reviews based on what stage of reading is being done. What’s more is that oftentimes the authors will take their feedback and not just apply it to their story, but sometimes even change their story in light of it. 

The authors I connected with emphasized the importance of these responses and the overall excitement and reassurance they feel when they hear back from readers, especially those with access to the book before publishing. “When I finish writing a book, I usually feel good about it. When my betas are finished reading it, I feel PROUD of it. There is a huge difference between those two things, at least for me,” Lyra says.

Readers can also join author groups on various social media platforms, including Facebook, and influencers can not only coordinate these pages, but also host virtual events, share content about or their reviews of books they want to promote, and create their own graphics or videos that visualize and draw attention to these stories. 

Meanwhile, Autumn works hard to be readily available for anything that might come her authors’ way, and Wander networks with authors to ensure the characters they’ve created can accurately come to life on their book covers. Michelle explains, “I really hope readers continue to see the value in real humans gracing covers. There is a lot of heart and soul in the work we do, which just mirrors the heart and soul put into the stories authors write.”

In their live author interviews, which typically occur multiple times each week, Merrit and Lisa strive to find the “needle in the haystack” books, as Lisa describes them, and shed light on these novels through their bookish platforms. In a time when indie authors truly rely on influencers to spread the word about their work, it’s sometimes difficult to determine when one has done enough to promote a novel for which the author has had to do virtually everything else. Regardless of the algorithmic challenges and a fluctuating market that influencers and authors alike must confront on a daily basis, Merrit admits, “I think we stress more wondering whether we are doing enough for the authors.”

To some, it truly is just second nature. Sherrece explains, “I was already sharing things I loved, so for me, promoting authors and books was no different. The books and authors I have read and often engaged with are amazing, and anything I can do to help them, I absolutely will, no question.”

“I feel like I connect more to indie authors, because I think, base level, we are the ones who uplift them so that they can soar and they can do more great things,” Lakshmi illustrates. “My heart and soul is with the indie community.” 

It is quite an extraordinary phenomenon, I think, for so many people to act out of such radical selflessness and pure love for a community. With this newfound understanding of what makes the genre so popular and why it attracts such a passionate, generous group of individuals, I move forward in confidence knowing that as I navigate my future reading journey, this unique, powerful community will always be there with open arms. •

In honor of Read-A-Romance Month, to learn more about all of the authors, bookish influencers, readers, and the PR firm and photographers quoted here, please visit our website for their full interviews at mainstreetmag.com.