First, let me reference this: My name is Sylvia…
Then, allow me to reference this: http://wordworking.blogspot.com/2005/02/lipstick-on-pig.html
Quote:
The other day I was reading a writing blog; it’s one of my favorite procrastination techniques; and the writer started out telling how some family members don’t respect her because she writes Romance. I could sympathize.
Anyway, the woman went on to clarify that she write not just Romance, but she writes Romantica.
Ha! See? I’m “the woman” who writes “those books”. 
Quote:
If you’re not familiar with the term, this is the latest bait-n-switch in the pornography game.
*clear throat* Excuse me?
Quote:
Yes, folks, men have long had movies, mags and The Penthouse Forum, now women have ROMANTICA.
Romantica, (why do I always roll my “r” when I say it?) sounds catchy and not seedy and trashy at all. Has a sort of soft-core porn, out-of-focus lens, smooth jazz, satin sheets sort of feel. Gone are the days of, “Come and take me, Big Boy.” Now it’s “Come here, Big Boy, I wanna take you.” I guess sexual manipulation is more virtuous when done by a woman. Mmmm.
Quote:
Sex remains one of His most awesome gifts to mankind. In the context of marriage it is the glue that makes it possible to remain faithful to an impossible ideal. Outside of that, it can still be pleasurable, but can quickly sink to depths yet unplumbed.
So when you hear the term Romantica, remember the bait-n-switch is on.
Oh hello, my dear and gentle religious (reader/writer/?), who thinks I’m in collusion with the publishing industry to deliberately deceive the book buying public. How wrong you are. Yes, wrong. You know that smooth jazz, satin sheet sort of feel you reference? I work hard for that. Lush, evocative, lyrical–those are words often used to describe my writing. I sweat and bleed to get it that way. Why? Because I’m writing a LOVE STORY. About two people–a man and a woman. They’re always monogamous, they always fall in love, they always marry. They go on to have children and grandchildren, they have friends and lead normal lives… even in the bedroom.
Romantica means exactly what it implies, a romantic relationship of intense passion. It doesn’t mean pornography. *gritting teeth* It doesn’t mean harsh, emotionless, depraved sex. It doesn’t “sink to depths yet unplumbed”. *growl*
First and foremost, it’s about love and how that manifests itself in physical as well as emotional needs. Because I prefer to call a body part what it should be called instead of euphemisms that make me laugh like “petals”, “plump folds”, “manhood”, “love sword”, 
and the like, doesn’t make my writing dirty or evil. It makes it real.
Before you start questioning my character and accusing me of deliberately attempting to pull a “bait-n-switch” on anyone, read my work. In fact, send me your address and I’ll send you a copy. If you don’t like it after you read it, then feel free to say so, but until then don’t attempt to label my writing sub-genre when you don’t even know what it is.
Here’s another quote from one of her later posts:
“I’ve always thought it’s a bit showy to go to a cafe/bistro/coffeehouse and write. Too urban/urbane. But when you’re desperate, you will try a lot of things.”
on February 13th, 2005 at 12:13 pm
Excellent post, Sylvia. I read the Lipstick on a Pig blog, not with disbeilf, but a certain amount of resignation. People make their judgments–uninformed, or misinformed. These people will never be your audience. Dismiss them from mind.
LOL, Maili.
on February 13th, 2005 at 11:23 am
Oh boy. As a writer of “those books” I’m still speechless.
on February 13th, 2005 at 10:13 am
I think it’s wonderful she’s ‘practicing what she preaches’. (Tongue planted firmly in cheek.):wink:
on February 13th, 2005 at 9:52 am
You know, when I first read it I was jaw dropped.
Then I laughed. 
And then I got irritated. 
Not so much with what she said about romantica (because really, you should pity the ignorant), but that she said she sympathized with me until she realized what I wrote. Then suddenly, I wasn’t worthy of sympathy. Not that I wanted it, just that it’s very judgmental and that irked me.
on February 13th, 2005 at 9:47 am
The ‘Lipstick on a Pig’ post left me speechless. I shan’t say any more than that.
Ooh. You’d send her a copy … ?
*thinking*
… you know, Sylvia, I absolutely agree with her. Romantica is nothing but manky pornography! It’s all about beasts, dogs, umbrellas and, and, and, savage tears! It stands against everything a respectable person believes in! Romantica doesn’t sing praises of love, respect, passion, HEA and chocolate. It’s all true! I can tell from looking at those romantica book covers.
P.S.
You may send your copy to this address: mcvane.blogspot.com
on February 13th, 2005 at 9:16 am
So, like, how long has she been reading your blog (visiting your site) and didn’t figure out what you were writing? Um HELLOOOOOOO
Sheesh! Saskia’s right. There’s always gonna be someone!
on February 13th, 2005 at 6:42 am
A beautifully written response, Sylvia
on February 13th, 2005 at 6:35 am
The fact is that if you write anything expressing sexuality you will be damned or shamed or treated as depraved by someone in this world. However, you will also be held in esteem, admired and cheered on by fans of what you do! You can’t please all the people all the time and that goes for many things in life, not just writing sex… I say ignore them and don’t let it get to you. She hasn’t got a clue about what’s in your work and has made assumptions, that’s obvious.
I see a lot of tension over this subject and authors of explicit romance really shouldn’t have to defend themselves. Rise above it. It’s THEIR problem, after all
on February 13th, 2005 at 1:47 am
This woman’s arguments are just too silly to listen to. Comparing Penthouse Forum to romantica is absurd and uneducated. Porn isn’t even comparable to erotica, and is so far removed from romantica that it’s clear she’s unfamiliar with any of them or she’d realize how laughable her points are.
Like Alison said, sad.
on February 12th, 2005 at 8:22 pm
The “Lipstick on a Pig” title is as bad as the other blog’s “Mean Kids on the Playground” title. I love how these authors who condemn others also feel no compunction about calling names. Sad.
on February 12th, 2005 at 5:31 pm