Description
Book SynopsisA comprehensive guide that defines the literature and the outlines the best-selling genre of all time: romance fiction. More than 2,000 romances are published annually, making it difficult for fans and the librarians who advise them to keep pace with new titles, emerging authors, and constant evolution of this dynamic genre. Fortunately, romance expert and librarian Kristin Ramsdell provides a definitive guide to this fiction genre that serves as an indispensible resource for those interested in it—including fans searching for reading material—as well as for library staff, scholars, and romance writers themselves. This title updates the last edition of
Romance Fiction: A Guide to the Genre, published in 1999.While the emphasis is on newer titles, many of the important older classics are retained, keeping the focus of the book on the entire genre, instead of only those titles published during the last decade. Specific changes include new chapters on linked and continuing romances, a new section on "Chick Lit" in the Contemporary Romance chapter, an expansion of coverage on the alternative reality subset. This is THE romance genre guide to have.
Trade ReviewLibrarians have waited a long time for the updated edition of one of their most popular and heavily used readers'-advisory tools, and they are now well rewarded for their patience. Noted romance expert Ramsdell delivers a comprehensive second edition to update the first, which appeared in 1999. . . . This long-awaited revision of a classic readers' advisory resource is an essential purchase for public and academic library readers' services collections. * Booklist, Starred Review *
Essential for public librarians overseeing fiction collections, especially when they are without subscriptions to fiction-advisory sources. The go-to book for guidance. Previous editions should be retained. Highly recommended. * Library Journal *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Preface to the Second Edition
Introduction Purpose and Scope Organization Bibliographies
Authors Included Titles Included Years Covered Entries and Annotations Cross-Indexing Suggestions for Use
PART I: INTRODUCTION TO ROMANCE FICTION Chapter 1—Definition and Brief History of Romance Fiction Definition A Brief History of the Romance Novel
Early Influences Beginnings The Nineteenth Century The Twentieth Century The 1960s—The Gothic Touch The 1970s—The Hot Historical Explosion The 1980s—The Romance Boom The 1990s—A Decade of Diversity and Change A Brand New Century Chapter 2—The Appeal of Romance Fiction The General Appeal of the Romance The Specific Appeal of the Romance
Chapter 3—Advising the Reader Know the Literature Know the Reader Connecting the Reader and the Romance Selected Issues
Chapter 4—Building the Collection Collection Building
Selection and Acquisition Reviews Collection Development Policy—Selected Issues Collection Control and Display
Cataloging Processing, Displaying, and Shelving Collection Maintenance Basic Resources Research Collections
PART II: THE LITERATURE Chapter 5—Contemporary Romance Definition
Traditional Contemporary Romance Category, or Numbered Series, Romance Women's Romantic Fiction Chick Lit Soap Opera Medical Romance Contemporary Americana Romance Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Traditional Contemporary Romance
Early Classic Contemporary Romance Writers Selected Traditional Contemporary Romance Bibliography Contemporary Category Romance
Selected Category Romance Series Women's Romantic Fiction
Selected Women's Romantic Fiction Bibliography Chick Lit/Mom Lit and the Like
Selected Chick Lit/Mom Lit Bibliography Chapter 6—Romantic Mysteries Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Romantic Suspense
Classic Romantic Suspense Authors Selected Romantic Suspense Bibliography Gothic Romance
Early Gothic Prototypes Modern Gothic Prototypes Modern Classic Gothic Romance Authors Selected Gothic Romance Bibliography Chapter 7—Historical Romances Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Historical Novel
Selected Bibliography of Classic Nineteenth-Century Historical Novels Selected Bibliography of Twentieth- and Twenty-First-Century Historical Novels Romantic Historicals
Selected Bibliography of Romantic Historical Prototypes Selected Romantic Historical Bibliography Period Romance
Brief Historical Descriptions Medieval Period Sixteenth Century Seventeenth Century Georgian Period (1714–1830) Regency Period (1811–1820) Victorian Period (1837–1901) Edwardian Period (1901–1910) Modern Historical Era (1911–1945) Selected Classic Period Romance Authors Selected Period Romance Bibliography Western Period Romance and Selected Bibliography Native American or "Indian" Romance Period Americana Romance and Selected Bibliography Chapter 8—Traditional Regency Romance Definition The Evolving Regency
The Regency Period Appeal Advising the Reader Origins and Brief History of the Regency Romance Early Regency Prototypes Modern Regency Classics Selected Traditional Regency Romance Bibliography
Selected Anthologies Chapter 9—Alternative Reality Romance Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History
Selected Modern Classics Fantasy Romance
Selected Fantasy Romance Bibliography Futuristic Romance
Selected Futuristic Romance Bibliography Paranormal Romance
Selected Paranormal Romance Bibliography Time Travel Romance
Selected Time Travel Romance Bibliography Urban Fantasy Romance
Selected Urban Fantasy Romance Bibliography Chapter 10—Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Romance Definition Appeal Advising the Reader
Selected Reference Sources Publishers Brief History Classic Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Romances Selected Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Romance Bibliography
Chapter 11—Inspirational Romance Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Publishers Brief History Classic Inspirational Romance Writers Selected Inspirational Romance Bibliography
Chapter 12—Ethnic/Multicultural Romance Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Publishers Classic Ethnic and Multicultural Romance Writers Selected Ethnic and Multicultural Romance Bibliography
African American Asian and Asian American Anthologies Latino Native American Other Multicultural Romances Chapter 13—Linked Romances Definition
Linked Romances versus Publishers' Series Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Classic Linked Romances
Selected Linked Romances Bibliography Multiauthored Series Chapter 14—Erotic Romance Definition Appeal Advising the Reader Brief History Publishers Selected Erotic Romance Bibliography
PART III: RESEARCH AIDS Chapter 15—History and Criticism General Guides to the Literature History, Surveys, and Criticism
Classic Overviews Classic Gothic Overviews British Perspectives Research Articles, Studies, and Books
Governesses and Ladies' Maids Dissertations and Theses Trade and Library Publication Articles Popular Press Articles
Chapter 16—Author Biography and Bibliography Author Biographical Sources Biographies, Autobiographies, and Other Single Author Sources Bibliographies The Internet
Chapter 17—Periodicals and Review Sources Periodicals Book Review Sources
Indexes/Databases Academic Search Premier Book Review Digest Book Review Index Expanded Academic ASAP Lexis/Nexis Proquest Newspapers Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature (Book Review Section) Review Columns "Fiction: Romance" in Booklist
"Romance" in Library Journal Internet Sites Chapter 18—Miscellaneous Romance Reference Sources Romance Authorship Aids Historical Background Sources Word Books, Recipe Books, Spell Books, and Other Miscellany Websites
Chapter 19—Societies and Organizations Writers' Organizations Readers' Organizations, Lists, and Websites Academic and Scholarly Organizations, Lists, Blogs, and Websites
Chapter 20—Awards Affaire de Coeur Reader/Writer Poll Awards Romance Writers of America Awards
Golden Heart Awards Rita Awards RWA Service Awards RWA Emma Merritt National Service Award Lifetime Achievement Award Hall of Fame Award Favorite Book of the Year Janet Dailey Award Veritas Award Librarian of the Year Steffie Walker Bookseller of the Year Vivian Stephens Industry Award ARTemis Awards RWA Research Grant Program RWA Special Interest Chapter Awards Royal Ascot Award Prism Award Daphne Du Maurier Award RT Book Reviews Magazine Awards
Reviewers' Choice Awards Career Achievement Awards Sapphire Awards Quill Book Awards Borders/Walden Bestselling Romance Awards Romance Readers Anonymous LISTSERV (RRA-L) Awards Romantic Novelists' Association (RNA) Awards
RoNA (Romantic Novel) Awards RoNA Rose Award Romantic Novel of the Year Award Member Awards Katie Fforde Bursary Joan Hessayon New Writers' Scheme Award Elizabeth Goudge Trophy Georgette Heyer Prize Betty Trask Prize and Awards
Chapter 21—Collections Reading Collections Research Collections
Boston University Bowling Green State University Brown University California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) Michigan State University Stanford University University of Virginia Library of Congress (LC) New York Public Library (NYPL) Chapter 22—Publishers Alyson Publications Avalon Books Avon Books Baker Publishing Group Ballantine Publishing Group Bantam Dell Publishing Group Barbour Publishing Bella Books Belle Books The Berkley Publishing Group Bold Strokes Books Blush Cedar Fort Cerridwen Press Cleis Press Dorchester Publishing Ellora's Cave Publishing FaithWords Firebrand Books Five Star Publishing Grand Central Publishing Robert Hale Harlequin Enterprises Harlequin Series Silhouette Series Mira Books HQN Kimani Press Luna Red Dress Ink Spice Love Inspired (Formerly Steeple Hill) HarperCollins Harvest House Publisher Hodder & Stoughton ImaJinn Books Intaglio Publications Kensington Publishing Corporation Liquid Silver Medallion Press William Morrow Multnomah Publishers Naiad Press, Inc. Thomas Nelson Publishers New American Library (NAL) New Victoria Random House Publishing Group Red Sage Publishing Running Press St. Martin's Press Samhain Publishing Seal Press Simon & Schuster Siren Publishing Spinsters Ink Thorndike Press Tor/Forge Torquere Press Tyndale House Publishers Virgin Books Warner Books Waterbrook Multnomah Zondervan Publishing House Appendix—Sample Core Collection Literary and Early Romance Classics Modern Romance Classics Current Romances
Contemporary Series Single Title Women's Romantic Fiction Chick Lit Historical Romantic Mysteries Romantic Suspense Gothic Alternative Reality Fantasy Futuristic Paranormal Time Travel Urban Fantasy Regencies Inspirational Ethnic/Multicultural African American Asian Latino Native American (sometimes called "Indian" in the trade) Sagas Linked Romance Gay/Lesbian Erotic Romance Author/Title Index Subject Index
