Why Is Romance Maligned So Much?
Three Ways to Overcome the Bias
By Cindy Fazzi
Let’s
face it, romance is the most maligned genre today. Some critics have called the
genre beloved by women as “crap” and “moronic.” If you’re a romance writer or
reader or both, let me share a few thoughts about overcoming such prejudice.
About the Book
I mulled
over the prevalent anti-romance sentiment when I wrote my first romance book in
2013. I have written two romance novels so
far and both were published traditionally. I decided to use the pen name Vina
Arno for my romance books because I was too aware of the anti-romance bias. I
was afraid my non-romance novels would not be acquired by traditional
publishers unless I separated them from my genre work.
The real
test for me has arrived with the publication of My MacArthur, my first
“serious” novel using my real name. It’s a fictionalized account of General
Douglas MacArthur’s interracial, May-December love affair with Isabel Rosario
Cooper, a Filipino actress, in the 1930s. Sand Hill Review Press, an
award-winning small publisher in the San Francisco Bay area, published it on
Nov.1. How will My MacArthur fare
given my previous genre work? It remains to be seen.
Anti-Romance Bias
First,
let’s explore the reasons why some people love to hate romance. At the height
of the Fifty Shades of Grey
phenomenon, critics described the book (and romance genre as a whole) as a
“moronic craze,” a “preponderance of crap,” and “Mommy porn.”
It
takes just one book like Fifty Shades
to denigrate all romance writers and readers
alike. The immense popularity of romance also drives the haters nuts. The
romance-novel industry is worth $1.08 billion. You can criticize Fifty Shades all you want, but the
trilogy sold 100 million copies. I’m not a Fifty
Shades fan, but I respect its success and I don’t judge the people who like
it.
Women
love romance novels—82 percent of romance readers are female, according to the
Romance Writers of America. It’s not surprising that insults hurled at the genre
are similar to insults associated with women. We all know the “dumb blonde”
stereotype. Well, romance suffers from the “dumb and glib genre” stereotype.
Overcoming the Bias: Three Ways
If
you’re a romance reader or writer or both, you are likely to encounter the
anti-romance bias in one form or another, if you haven’t already. It’s
particularly hard for new romance writers like me, who must contend with such
prejudice on top of other publishing and marketing challenges. For what they’re
worth, I’d like to share some tips.
#1 Write well. In
the “high brow versus low brow” debate, the romance genre gets pummeled because
of the writing quality. Again, it takes one Fifty
Shades to affect the entire genre. The best way to overcome such prejudice
is to write your very best romance book. Take your craft to the highest level
by attending writing workshops or courses, getting meaningful critiques, and
revising like crazy until your writing shines to the point of blinding the
haters!
I
will never forget what Pulitzer Prize winner Richard Russo, one of my favorite
literary authors, said at the 2017 WritersDigest Annual Conference: “The best genre fiction is as
good as the best literary fiction.” If you write well, you will never have to
apologize for writing romance. I certainly don’t.
#2 Embrace the risk.
There’s a lot of similarity between writing and gambling, perhaps more than
writers are willing to accept. Like gamblers, we take a chance every time we
write a new manuscript. Like gamblers, we’re addicted. Otherwise, why do we
endure years of rejections and heartaches?
The
anti-romance bias is just one of the risks we face. Once we accept and embrace
such risk, we can face it with aplomb and focus on writing well (read #1 tip
again).
#3 Nurture your creativity. Romance
books are often criticized for their lack of creativity and originality. As
authors, we have to follow the HEA/HFN formula because that’s part of our
agreement with the romance reader. Apart from that, there’s no excuse for
sticking to cardboard characters and tired tropes. Don’t just mimic the latest
fad; find your unique voice.
To
paraphrase Russo, romance is just as creative as literary fiction, so prove it
and take your craft seriously. Never mind the haters. They don’t know what
they’re missing.
© Cindy Fazzi
About the Author
Cindy Fazzi is a
Filipino-American writer and former Associated Press reporter. My MacArthur, published by
Sand Hill Review Press, is her literary debut. She writes romance novels under
the pen name Vina Arno. Her first romance book, InHis Corner, was published by Lyrical Press, while
her second romance novel, Finder Keeper of My Heart, was
published by Painted Hearts Publishing. Her short stories have been published
in Snake Nation Review, Copperfield Review, and SN Review.
About the Book
The year is 1930. The place: Manila. Douglas MacArthur is
the most powerful man in the Philippines, a United States colony. He is fifty
years old, divorced, and he falls in love at first sight with a ravishing young
Filipino woman. He writes her a love note on the spot. Her name is Isabel
Rosario Cooper, an aspiring movie actress. One glance at his note and she
thinks of him as 'my MacArthur'.
MacArthur pursues his romantic obsession even though he’s
breaking numerous taboos. She reciprocates his affection because he could open
doors for her financially struggling family. That MacArthur happens to be
handsome compensates for the fact that he’s as old as her father.
When MacArthur is appointed the U.S. Army chief of staff,
he becomes the youngest four-star general and one of America’s most powerful
men. Out of hubris, he takes Isabel with him to America without marrying her.
Amid the backdrop of the Great Depression, MacArthur and
Isabel’s relationship persists like 'a perilous voyage on turbulent waters,' as
she describes it. In 1934, after four years of relationship, MacArthur leaves
Isabel for fear of a political scandal.
The General goes on to become the iconic hero of World War
II, liberating the Philippines and rebuilding Japan. Isabel drifts in Los
Angeles, unable to muster the courage to return to Manila.
Excerpt:
Douglas
MacArthur. Her pulse quickened as she read the name. His neat
handwriting exuded confidence, but just the same, his note struck her as an
anomaly, a mistake. The white man who acted as his messenger stood next to her
at the bar.
Men
of all ages filled the Olympic Boxing Club, waiting for the fight to begin.
Filipinos, Americans, and Europeans caroused and mingled freely here, unlike
the Elks or the Army and Navy Club, which banned Filipinos. The foreigners sat
at the tables, drank Cerveza San Miguel, and smoked cigars. The Filipinos stood
at the cheap section of the club, jostled and bet among themselves.
“I’m Captain Ed Marsh, by the way.”
The messenger extended his hand.
An American officer in civilian
clothes. It was Saturday night, after all
“A
pleasure to meet you, sir.” She shook his hand, but withheld her name.
Isabel
Rosario Cooper came to the club in search of her brother, or rather his car.
She needed Ben to drive her to the Manila Carnival.
Women
didn’t come here because they didn’t watch boxing, so when she stepped inside
the club, she’d grabbed everyone’s attention without trying. The men had
erupted in whistles and cheers. The crowd had parted as she crossed the room.
Just the way she liked it. She was born to part crowds—to turn heads. For an
aspiring actress, every place was a stage.
Who
knew MacArthur sat amid the boisterous horde? She read the note again. I can’t help but notice your gracious
presence. I would love it if you can favor me with your company. Please join me
for dinner at The Grand.
This
time, the words made sense. Not a blunder on his part or a misinterpretation on
hers. The message hit her like a jackpot—bigger than the Carnival Queen title
that her best friend, Nenita, aimed for. He was the most important man in the
Philippine Islands. He could open doors for her and her family.
She
stopped herself from blurting out a yes!
She couldn’t afford to give herself away. Nothing compelled a man to
pursue a woman more than her lack of interest.
“Who’s
Douglas MacArthur?” She stood with the note in one hand and her silk purse in
the other hand. Chin up and chest out, despite the sweat underneath her lace
blouse. Her skirt squeezed her waist and constricted her breathing, but she’d
worn it because it displayed her figure. The stifling humidity now made her
regret her choice. Even the garter belt and stockings itched in such heat.
“You’ve
never heard of Douglas MacArthur?” His eyes widened.
She
shook her head. A saxophone wailed, distracting them both. They turned toward
the elevated boxing ring—empty. Below it, a band warmed up.
Captain
Marsh offered her a pack of Lucky Strike. “Care for a cigarette?”
“Why,
thank you.” She tucked her purse under her armpit and took one stick, which he
lit with a lighter. They stood side by side, watching the band.
“Do you see the gentleman in the
middle?” He pointed at a table not far from the band. “White suit. Gray-striped
tie. Do you see him?”
“Yes.”
“That is
Douglas MacArthur.”
The
man stared at her while smoking a long-stemmed pipe, the bowl shaped like a
corncob. He didn’t smile. The band played a jazz-style rendition of a Filipino
folk song. The audience, packed ten deep, hooted and screamed for the fight to
begin, but MacArthur didn’t even blink.
She
glanced at his note again before inserting it in her purse. “This is nice. But I don’t know him.”
“It’s
unbelievable. You really don’t know him?”
She
shook her head and shifted her weight to one hip.
“He’s
the Big Cheese!”
She
arched her eyebrow.
“Major
General MacArthur is the most powerful American not just in the Philippines,
but in Asia.”
She
took a drag on her cigarette. “I know what big cheese means, thank you.”
MacArthur
stood out in his expensive suit, slicked-back hair, and intimidating pipe, but
he was as old as her father, if not older. His title was commander of the U.S.
Army’s Philippine Division, though everyone treated him like a king.
He
stared with a cool expression, pretending to be uninterested. The man was an
actor. Perhaps they were not too different.
Get a copy of My MacArthur:
Connect with Cindy Fazzi
The Complete Tour
November 7th @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
November 21st @ Mam's Rants and Reviews
November 5th @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Stop by
Women on Writing's blog and read an interview with the author Cindy Fazzi and
enter to win a copy of the book My MacArthur.
November 6th @ Coffee with Lacey
Get your coffee and stop by Lacey's blog where
she share her thoughts on the book My MacArthur.
November 7th @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Stop by Beverley's blog and find out what she thought about
Cindy Fazzi's book My MacArthur. This book is sure to entice historical
fiction readers everywhere!
November 8th @ The Frugalista Mom
Stop by Rozelyn's blog and catch her thoughts on the
historical fiction book My MacArthur.
November 9th @ The Frozen Mind
Grab a blanket and stop by the blog The Frozen Mind and
read their thoughts on the incredible historical fiction book My
MacArthur.
November 11th @ Bring on Lemons
If life hands you lemons, read a book! Come by Crystal's
blog Bring on Lemons and find out what she had to say about the book My
MacArthur.
November 13th @ Mommy Daze: Say What??
Want to know what this mom had to say about the book? Stop
by Ashley's blog and read her thoughts on the historical fiction book My
MacArthur.
November 16th @ Amanda's Diaries
Find out what Amanda had to say about Cindy Fazzi's
historical fiction book My MacArthur in her review today.
November 16th @ Chapters Through Life
Stop by Danielle's blog where she spotlight's Cindy Fazzi's
book My MacArthur.
November 19th @ Madeline Sharples Blog
Be sure to catch today's post over at Madeline's blog
author Cindy Fazzi shares her tips for writing fiction about a famous
person.
November 20th Here
November 21st @ Mam's Rants and Reviews
Stop by Shan's blog where she shares her thoughts on the
historical fiction book My MacArthur.
November 25th @ The World of My Imagination
Catch Nicole's review of the book My MacArthur and
find out what she had to say about this fantastic book.
November 26th @ Break Even Books
Stop by the Break Even Books blog and read Cindy Fazzi's
article on the pros and cons of using a pen name.
November 28th @ Charmed Book Haven Reviews
Visit Cayce's blog and check out her thoughts on the
book My MacArthur by Cindy Fazzi.
November 29th @ Memoir Writer's Journey
Start your journey today at Kathleen's blog Memoir Writer's
Journey where author Cindy Fazzi talks about the challenges of writing different
genres.
November 30th @ Joyful Antidotes Blog
Want a joyful way to start your day? Stop by Joy's blog
where she reviews the incredible historical fiction
book My MacArthur.
November 30th @ The Uncorked Librarian
Make sure you stop by Christine's blog and read what she
thinks about the book My MacArthur.
December 1st @ Charmed Book Haven Reviews
Visit Cacye's blog again and read her interview with author
Cindy Fazzi.
December 2nd @ Author Anthony Avina's Blog
Start your morning out right by reading Anthony Avina's
review of the book My MacArthur.
December 2rd @ 2 Turn the Page Book Reviews
Visit Renee's blog when she reviews Cindy Fazzi's
book My MacArthur and interviews the author.
Thank you for visiting, do please leave a comment below
Your Host today: author Helen Hollick
Website: www.helenhollick.net
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Hello, Helen!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for letting me guest-blog and for hosting MY MACARTHUR. Kudos on your many books! I know how hard it is to nurture a novel, from idea to publication, so hats off to you. Speaking of hats, I love all of your hats(:
Cheers,
Cindy
Helen HollickNovember 20, 2018 5:08 pm
DeleteThank you Cindy - it's my pleasure to welcome you as a guest today!