Author Anna Zabo writes a lot of different things. Polyam romance, kinky romance, paranormal romance, all sorts of queer romance, and most recently, rockstars!
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a resident of Romancelandia in possession of a few hours of free time, must be in want of their next great read. It’s a also a truth, less universally acknowledged, that in order for that read to qualify as “great” it also has to be, on some level, relatable. And it is a bitter truth, often whispered but rarely acknowledged, that “relatable” is frequently coded language for white. While we would all like to think a community built on love and the belief that everyone deserves to live happily ever is devoid of the soul crushing inhumanity of racism and prejudice, that is simply not true.
Amy, who is Sri Lankan-American, is reading Nisha Sharma's new romance, The Takeover Effect, for Love in Panels and Nisha was gracious enough to answer her questions for us!
Read on for their discussion about writing across age ranges, weddings, and the Indian-American experience.
If Virginia is for lovers, then Romancelandia is for dreamers. We live in a world that’s uncertain and often unfair and while a lot of us are putting in the work the change the things we can no longer accept, sometimes we need to rest and reset. And in those times we dream of escaping to a place where we know, in the end, love really will conquer all. Romancelandia is that place. It’s a place where good always (eventually) triumphs over evil, everyone finds their soulmate(s), and “they lived happily ever after” isn’t an ending— it’s a promise.
Romance fans rejoice - a romance-only bookstore may be coming to the Midwest! Marissa and Roseann Backlin are a mother/daughter team who currently have a Kickstarter for Love’s Sweet Arrow. Their goal is to open up a romance focused bookstore in the south suburbs of Chicago with the funds raised. We spoke to Marissa and Roseann about their Kickstarter, their goals for the store, and some of their favorite romance reads.
Sometimes the most unexpected combinations make the best pairings and no one knows this better than the residents of Romancelandia. Opposites attract is a time honored and battle tested trope that helped create the very foundation our fair city rests on. Knowing that we love our opposites-attract romances the way citizens of Shondaland love popcorn and wine, Crystal B. Bright (yes, that is her actual factual legal name) offers her unique take on the trope by pairing sultry R&B divas with good ole country boys for her Love & Harmony series.
Author Jackie Lau (also Laura Jardine) wrote one of my favorite romances of 2018, Mr. Hotshot CEO. Her books are styled as rom-coms, but they balance the funny with heartfelt depictions of biracial identity, depression, and complicated family dynamics. They're pretty much everything... in a good way. With everything from a T-Rex costume to a clinically depressed heroine teaching a CEO how to have fun, Lau's books have something for everyone. And it doesn't hurt that she shares photos of food all over her social media.
You may have noticed that we've become rather fond of Jae's books here at Love in Panels. Margrethe reviewed Perfect Rhythm, and I've covered Just for Show and her latest, Paper Love. Naturally, I had some questions! Jae was gracious enough to answer them for us.
Anthologies always have a theme, whether it's a setting, a trope, or a cause. By giving each author a different season, the theme of the upcoming Seasons of Sorcery anthology allows four talented fantasy authors to pool their talents but retain some of the signature elements of the worlds their readers love.
Twitter is an awesome place to discuss romance books but sometimes I want to do it in person. Book clubs are a great way to discuss your favorite books with equally impassioned people, while maybe also having some cookies and catching up with friends. How do you start your own? We have some experts to help you out! Amy talked to Jen from Jen Reads Romance about their experiences starting romance book clubs in their community.
