Hello everyone,

Today I wanted to talk to you about Romances.
There are many flavors of romance, one for nearly everyone's taste. However, as a writer I would love
to know what readers think about the New Erotica Romances coming out.
Not that I'm thinking of switching mind you. I'm not. But I am wondering just how much of a phase this is. I wonder what readers really want today.
When trends change, it usually means that people as a whole want those changes to happen.
But I've been around for a long while, and I also realize that trend come and go and that history repeats itself every decade or two.
Just like the fashions we wear, our taste changes to some extent too.
Funny, but romance itself has always been sort of a closet thing. I mean, let's face it, most people want it, but how many know what romance really is?
I have nothing against steamy, sensual romance, I write it myself. However, there is a big difference in steamy and erotica.
Is is merely a trend for women to want to read about sexual encounters, or is it that sex itself has come out of the closet?
You might ask why all romance writers aren't on the bandwagon for these hot selling books. The answer is simple...for me at least. I don't write sex, I write romance.
What's the difference?
That's exactly what I went to find out about not too long ago. I wanted to see just how far erotica went, and if it was much different than the steamy, sensual romances.
What did I learn? Plenty.
Erotica publishers want lewd langauge, fast paced and plenty of sexual encounters...of the third kind. What am I talking about...?
They want three in a bed, or four is even better. They want whips and chains and all kinds of sexual acts that until this new sexual revolution were only talked about in private.
Call me a prude, I don't care. This isn't romance folks. There's a fine line here between porn and erotica. Romance and erotica are not the same material and yet it is being served up as though it were.
Sex is a wonderful, beautiful thing, when it has one commodity...love.
For years romance writers and readers have been hiding in the closet to read "Oh those kind of books."
Now erotica comes along and it's become a craze. Can't get enough of type thing. HOwever, I wonder if this is just with writers or with readers. I wonder what the reader really wants. Erotica sells, and sells well. Those writers are making a fortune. They are turning them out faster than home-made candy. But is this really what you want? I wonder?
Call me old fashioned, go ahead, that's okay with me. I'm not gonna change my style for anyone.
Romance is escapism, it's where every woman really wants to be. It's what we want in our hearts. It is lasting.
Yes, so many have been written that women are probably thinking it has no where else to go. And yet
deep down, we all want the loving relationships in life.
Erotica has it's place in life, I suppose, I just don't understand why they classify it as romance.
Sex and romance are entirely two different things. The big difference being love is a huge part of romance, and love doesn't necessarily have to be even
in erotica.
I don't condemn erotica writers, please don't think I do. I suppose they enjoy it, and I'm sure they enjoy the money they make from it, but as for me
I'll stick with romance, be it sweet (with no sex) or sensual (with lots of it). As I say, I write both kinds, I'm just not gonna write erotica.
I'd love to know how you feel. What do you want in romance? What do you look for?
E-mail me at ritahestand@hotmail.com and let me know how you feel about this subject. It's a free country and you have a right to your own opinions.
As for me....I'll take romance!