25 Things Learned From Opening a Bookstore

[spear]

Heck I'll admit it, it was erotica, romance, etc that got me started with the whole eBook thing. I had discovered Elloras' Cave and found out that in order to get the new stuff (or the stuff that wasn't deemed worthy for paper publication) I would have buy it in eBook form (this was in 2006/2007) which I had never heard of before. Their website had information about the eBook-Wise 1150, which I purchased. Four eBook readers later and I am still at it (and not just erotica either, depending on my mood it can be many things....doing the Mental Floss books now). So if not for smut, I may have missed out on the whole e-reading thing.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I was reacting to NinjaLawyer, not to you. I adore the Smart Bitches! I just get so tired of people referring to romance as women's porn. My DH referrs to it as relationship porn, which is perhaps more accurate. The big difference between romance and men's porn are little things like... oh, plot, characterization, little things like that.

It's a long running gag that women are into relationships and men into porn.
And another that many romance readers (of both sexes) don't want it known.
Both false.
But they're good for a few gags here and there, now and then.

Like #3 in the article. And #4.
Which I found amusing as a friend of mine is an avid historical ebook reader... when he's not reading about zombies and Lincoln the vampire hunter.

Me, I enjoyed Julie Kenner's Protectors series.
(There's more to ebook life than John Ringo and David Weber blowing things up, no?)

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by vulcan_girl

Nicholas Sparks is romance for people who say things like "I would never read a romance."

Okay, if you people keep it up I'm going to have to buy a Nicholas Sparks book.


(Time to google the guy up.)

[fjtorres]

Oh. *That* is Nicholas Sparks?
Sat through two movies of his stuff... at gunpoint.
Ran away screaming at the preview for #3.
(Rom-coms yes, tear-jerkers, no.)

Thank god for John Ringo.
(Somebody needs to adapt Vorpal Blade to a movie.)

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Okay, if you people keep it up I'm going to have to buy a Nicholas Sparks book.


(Time to google the guy up.)

I'll save you some time:

Spoiler:

Whoever you're rooting for will die. The End.

Okay, not every time, but still.

[TechnoCat]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I find those who react to Romance like the earlier comment have never read one and have no idea what's in them.

Some romances hit closer than others.

Ah, the sensation of stroking her barrels, pulling her trigger gently until suddenly the striker plunges forward, and then massaging her stock with a good wood oil.

Or... that tearful goodbye after years and many journeys together, knowing her weaknesses and playing to her strengths, until it was finally time to pull the plug. Feeling guilty, but knowing it can't be helped... that no mechanic can bring her back and besides, taking up with that cute Audi isn't infidelity really...

They just don't aim romances at my demographic I suspect.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by TechnoCat

Some romances hit closer than others.

Ah, the sensation of stroking her barrels, pulling her trigger gently until suddenly the striker plunges forward, and then massaging her stock with a good wood oil.

Or... that tearful goodbye after years and many journeys together, knowing her weaknesses and playing to her strengths, until it was finally time to pull the plug. Feeling guilty, but knowing it can't be helped... that no mechanic can bring her back and besides, taking up with that cute Audi isn't infidelity really...

They just don't aim romances at my demographic I suspect.

[BeccaPrice]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Nicholas Sparks is one author I wont touch. For me a romance has to have a happily ever after or I wont read it.

Sparks doesn't write romance, he writes tear-jerkers. I can't stand them. Or, for that matter, Danielle Steele.

Love Nora Roberts, though.

[emellaich]

Romance or porn? Tomayto or Tomahto. I'm sure of it is pg and some of it is XXX.

I'm one of those people who likes paranormal, and unfortunately in this market that means I read paranormal romance because that's how most of it is currently published.

At least in the paranormal area, the 'romance' appears to include a lot of explicit sex. In my taste, this is porn, and in your taste it may not be because of the associated plot.

Wierdly enough, I'm a guy that likes romantic comedies, like "You've Got Mail", and I have no problem with romance in books. However, when I'm reading a book for entertainment, I'm not looking for XXX material. I do still buy them, but I just skip through parts of them.

I understand if its not porn in your book, and if you enjoy reading it. I understand if it is porn in your book, and if you enjoy reading it. I understand if you only read the types of romances that are pg.

However, whatever your opinion is, I will continue to think of the stuff I have seen as porn. That's not a value statement, just a description.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

Sparks doesn't write romance, he writes tear-jerkers. I can't stand them. Or, for that matter, Danielle Steele.

Love Nora Roberts, though.

I don't like tear jerkers but the again I don't care for chick flicks. I find them boring. I don't read Daniel Steele either. Nora Roberts is okay. I prefer funny romances like Jennifer Crusie, Christie Craig or Susan Anderson. Romantic suspense, modern western and paranormal romances are the others I read. Historical romance are probably my favorite though. I like westerns and Regencies most in that genre.

I don't mine a book that invokes strong emotion but for me the book must have a HEA or it just isn't worth reading.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by emellaich

Romance or porn? Tomayto or Tomahto. I'm sure of it is pg and some of it is XXX.

I'm one of those people who likes paranormal, and unfortunately in this market that means I read paranormal romance because that's how most of it is currently published.

At least in the paranormal area, the 'romance' appears to include a lot of explicit sex. In my taste, this is porn, and in your taste it may not be because of the associated plot.

Wierdly enough, I'm a guy that likes romantic comedies, like "You've Got Mail", and I have no problem with romance in books. However, when I'm reading a book for entertainment, I'm not looking for XXX material. I do still buy them, but I just skip through parts of them.

I understand if its not porn in your book, and if you enjoy reading it. I understand if it is porn in your book, and if you enjoy reading it. I understand if you only read the types of romances that are pg.

However, whatever your opinion is, I will continue to think of the stuff I have seen as porn. That's not a value statement, just a description.

Yes the ones rated XXX are called Erotica or as Ellora cave calls them Romantica. They are not really romance books it's a different genre. Although alot of modern romances border on the line or Erotica these days. It's becoming a fine line with some publishers. I know what ones to stay away from no matter how interesting the plot is. I think there is more paranormal erotica out there parading as romance than other themes in romance books.

I really like urban fantasy with some romantic elements those are the kind I read. My problem is by the time I am on book 4 of the series there is no HEA yet Take the Kitty Norville series for example. Talk about throwing me for a loop!

[Nancy Fulda]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

3. If someone comes in and asks where to find the historical fiction, they're not looking for classics, they want the romance section.

Lol! Just goes to show how important semantics is, and how few of us actually speak the same language despite the fact that we are all using English words.

Great article. Thank you for sharing.

[RDaneel54]

Huh. I always thought Romance novels were novels in Spanish or Italian or one of the other Romance languages. Live and learn.

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by Dopedangel

2. While you're drafting that business plan, cut your projected profits in half.

That is a good idea for ANY business.

After we started our business, we told people several things to take into account.

1) Cut projected profits (and income) in half. You are probably planning on a pie in the sky level of work (or sales).

2) Start up costs will be twice what you expect. Once you get going, there are a lot of things you will find you forgot to budget for.

3) Plan on making NO money (profit/pay) for 1 year. During that period you will be behind and plowing any additional money back into the business.

You MAY beat these, but if you plan based on them, you will have less probability of problems.

[taustin]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I just thought of a new business. Paperback book covers that stick on like Post-It Notes. These covers would have boring and respectable titles and pictures to be stuck over romance novels. "Wow, Mom, you're reading "Expanding the Concepts of the Physical World"?

That's hardly a new idea. There are tutorials on how to do your own if you Google for it.