The feminist touch: A romance writer’s apology
WHENEVER someone asks what I write, I want to apologise.
You see, I write romance.
Yes, yes, have your snort of derision now. I understand. We may like to read romance, but won’t necessarily admit it. Well, try admitting you write it without your face flushing slightly.
When I wrote Feral Bells – my debut romantic-comedy – I was not trying to make a statement on feminism. It does reflect a contemporary woman’s decision to forgo marriage and children in favour of her career, and how real affections for another can co-opt those priorities. But I was not illustrating how little has changed in the grand scheme of feminist things.
It’s like life… your beliefs, your social activism and your feminist agenda might not always line up so beautifully with your real life.
Every day women make judgment calls on feminism, whether they consider themselves a feminist or not. From working instead of child-rearing; from household chores to avoiding the Barbie lane at Target; from writing an article as your husband folds washing and loudly envies your life to deciding not to have that fight in front of the children.
It seems there is little we do that isn’t subjected to a feminist touch lately. When a working woman publicly admits she doesn’t consider herself a feminist, she is the subject of prominent feminists’ scoffing. But if one woman criticizes an anti-feminist woman, isn’t she too being anti-feminist?!
Riddle me that, Batman!
So it is with romance writing… I’m not making a political statement here. I’m taking the personal journey that so many of us have when our situations challenge our ideals. Whether it’s spiritual, moral or political… it’s the tension of living up to our own expectations – or failing them – that I wanted to explore.
And, of course, it centres around the most universal of themes… love.
Peta-Jo is a debut author of romantic comedy Feral Bells (available at all good bookstores and online at berminghambooks.com). Her second book is due out in early 2013. She is also a mummy blogger at petajo.com and can be found purchasing mock cream buns at Woolies most days.
Peta-Jo at Website I Facebook I Twitter I LinkedIn
ENTER TO WIN
Peta-Jo is offering
1 print edition of Feral Bells
Open worldwide
To Enter:
& then
ENTER HERE
Entries close November 25th 2012
Winner drawn via Random.org
I did not snort. Nothing wrong with a well-written romance 🙂
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Thanks you for the awesome giveaways Shelleyrae
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i can’t seem to get the link to work for this one Shelleyrae!
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The link to which Kate? The form opens for me and already has a few entries
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I always like seeing the Australian books you post about, since I feel like we can be very focused on American books here in the US. There’s so much more good English writing than just the stuff from the US and Great Britain 🙂
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Aussies rock Audrey!
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Even though romance is one of my favourite genres, I still blush a little when I say I read or write it too. Hopefully the stigma will disappear one day! Great post and thank you for the giveaway.
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Thanks for hosting the giveaway Shelleyrae – sounds like a great book.
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I don’t have any trouble admitting that I read romance, or any other genre really!
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We really do need to change how people view readers, and writers, of Romance. After all, what the world needs is more love.
It’s been ages since I had a Mock Cream Bun.
I look forward to reading FERAL BELLS.
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I’m a romance freak so instead of snorting, you got a huge whoooohoooo! I haven’t read many authors that aren’t American for the simple reason I’ve not been exposed to them. So that being said, I can’t wait to read “Feral Bells”. Thank you for the giveaway and thank you for giving us a glimpse into the book. Congratulations on being a debut author!
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It can be difficult to find books by Australian authors overseas but that is changing slowly as publishing becomes a global concern
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I am really surprised about how much I wanted to read this book after I read the review. I don’t think it sounds like a traditional “romance” at all.
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You are right April, though there is a traditional romantic connection at it’s core, Feral Bells is more than a love story.
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I blame this book for my lack of sleep lately. It was a case of ‘ I’ll just read one more chapter”. So believable and I do like that I know most of the places in the book. I am looking forward to Peta-Jo’s next one 🙂
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Thanks for the chance to win a copy. The book looks really good 🙂
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