You too, Daily Show?
I was excited to watch this clip when it rolled past on my YouTube recommended feed. I am excited that Georgia might elect it's first Black Woman as Governor. And the fact that she's a romance writer was almost enough to make me want to move to Georgia just so I could have the chance to vote in such a historic election.
Who does the Daily Show think is going to vote for this top-of-her-class trailblazing woman and Georgia house minority leader? Go ahead. Watch.
*deep breath*
Okay. So I thought we'd moved on from the romance genre being a punch line, but I guess it always circles back.
Maybe moms are voting for Stacey Abrams because she is fighting for affordable education and child mental health services. Maybe humans are voting for her because she's working toward anti-discrimination laws. Or because she is working for our vets to keep their jobs at home when they are called on to serve.
But since she writes romance novels, all that is put aside.
*yet another deep breath*
Guess what, world... ROMANCE READERS VOTE. I don't know of a more feminist and empowering genre than romance. And maybe those "Horny-Ass Moms" will be the next wave of incumbents.
Romance readers read more than the average reader. Romance writers write more than the average writer - at least the successful ones do. Because we have to keep up with the demand for the BILLION dollar industry. According to RWA the romance genre occupied 34% of the fiction market in 2015. We're in a saturated market because in the end we want our heroes and heroines to accomplish their goals, and find their happily ever after. We fight through edits and re-writes and late nights after we've worked all day to get these stories written.
Romance writers are tenacious and strong. Romance readers devour stories that give them the hope things can get better and we can overcome whatever obstacles are put in our way.
#RomanceReadersVote
And I can't wait to watch people realize the reality that Romance Writers are also going to be leaders in the community and the country. Because we all know this gig comes with the need for a day job.
This romance reader votes for legal protection of LGBTQIA rights, for higher wages, more access to health care, and protection of the public school funds which are vital for kids with special needs. #RomanceReadersVote
— Roxy Mews (@RoxyMews) October 11, 2018
And for my non-US buddies, what do you think of a Romance Writer up for election over here in the states? Pretty damn cool, right?
Tweet me, comment, however you want to communicate. Tell me what you think. I'd love to hear it.
~Roxy