Mr. Burns seems to think that publishing is a zero-sum game — that there are a fixed number of books that can be published and that each novel published reduces his chances of getting a slot. Even if that were the case — which it is not — literary fiction is not in direct competition with genre fiction for those slots. And while the line between literary fiction and commercial fiction can be a blurry one — and it often changes as years pass (see Shakespeare, Dickens, etc.)– good fiction (and good writing) speaks for itself. It does not need to denigrate other genres.

His bitterness is obvious, so there’s no need to lend any credence to his outcry. (The ravings on his blog would be enough to make any editor or agent think twice before signing him.) Mr. Burns has enjoyed “hundreds” of people reading his work for free in the last month. Ms. Lindsay has had thousands of readers pay their hard-earned cash — and times are tight, folks — to read her books last month. If all Mr. Burns wanted was praise for his genius, then the praise from those who have read his book would satisfy him. But Mr. Burns’ wants commercial success as well. He can shout his noble purposes from the towers, but this comes down to cash and fame.

I could call Mr. Burns’ work pretentious, navel-gazing crap. I could say it’s derivative in style and juvenile in execution. But I can’t back up my argument because I haven’t read it. Mr. Burns’ comments should be weighed the same way. Without specific examples, his argument has no grounds. To what, specifically, does he take literary insult? Language? Style? Content? Lack of symbolism? Until Mr. Burns has read enough of the genre to form an adult, rational — and dare I ask scholarly — argument, he needs to keep his mouth closed. And his fingers off the keyboard.

I *do* have the creds to argue the finer points of literature, but that does not seem to be what Mr. Burns wishes to do. And even if he did, I shudder to think what he would consider an appropriate forum. After all, he thought this was the proper place to stop by and rant about not being appreciated for his work.

Wild lashings at a genre as a whole (or its writers, publishers, or audience) cannot form the basis of any argument of literary anything.

Can someone please share the formulae with me? No one gave me one, you see, and it’s taking me months and months and months of hard work to produce a romance novel when it seems I should be able to do this in mere weeks.

But, wait…perhaps that’s because I don’t believe in the cookie-cutter myth.

Oh and one last thing – they’re not ‘bodice rippers’. They’re books. As is true of other genres, some may not be good, or well-written, but you have to read widely to get that gold. The majority are rich, well-rounded stories about survival, acceptance, love, triumph over adversity and personal growth. It’s really amazing when you get fan mail saying your book helped someone overcome a difficult time in their life, gave them hope, took their mind off some tragedy and generally uplifted them. That’s what romance is all about.

Uh… maybe it’s telling me that you have a lot of lemming friends who read your book and posted on your blog. I’ve read my share of literary prose (university, you know) and CHOOSE what I read now. I much prefer a story about love than one filled with post-modernist angst.

As far as hacks and excretion and low-grade talents — it’s pretty sad that you’ve sunk to name-calling in order to boost your own ego. I’m sure Ms. Lindsay has better things to do (like excreting her books that are published by a world-wide publisher and probably offer her a tidy living to boot) than bear the brunt of your anger at the publishing industry.

There’s room for every genre. I haven’t heard Stephen King slamming romance lately. Maybe because he’s intelligent enough to realize it constitutes over half the paperback book sales. Who’s idiot enough to slam that? Oh yeah… you.

It’s a rough publishing world out there, Cliffie boy. If you can’t take the heat, perhaps you should start ordering take-out.

The vast majority of romance writers are low-grade talents who have little or no respect for their readership, who (regardless)are undemanding when it comes to exceptional prose…and think “syntax” is what you pay when you buy junk food or pop. I’ll stack up the love story at the heart of SO DARK THE NIGHT against any of your favorite bodice-rippers any time, anywhere, any year.

Yvonne – CONGRATS on the online job!!! I LOVE those – am so totally addicted and have been for years (I used them to ‘research’ the lines in fast fashion when I first started writing – you can get heaps in the online reads library at the M&B UK site… love them,love them and SO looking forward to reading yours!!! When will it be up??!!!

~Nat

But we’re bringing so much joy to those who like to feel morally superior…