Love Between the Covers

Weekend magazine

30 Jun, 2017 06:00 PM2 mins to read

Weekend asked three writers featured in the film to define their craft. Photo / Supplied

Mary Bly (Eloisa James)

Tenured Shakespeare professor by day, bestselling romance author Eloisa James by night. This romance heavy hitter navigates the high-powered New York publishing industry with her friend and personal assistant Kim Castillo, who helps to make Eloisa James the Harper Collins "rock star of social media".

'I'd say romantic writing is defined as a story that ends with a thoughtful, respectful, loving and sexy relationship between two people, but sometimes between more. And may include a blue alien, or a lion-shifter.

'Here's a great line, from a contemporary romance, John Green, The Fault in Our Stars: "As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once."

Beverly Jenkins

Pioneer of African American romance, author of historical, suspense and inspirational romances. Jenkins and her vibrant community of readers explore their heritage through love stories rich in history, powerful heroines and gallant heroes. She's amazed and humbled knowing that she makes a difference in people's lives "with just paper and ink".

'Romantic writing is a story centring on the journey of two people searching for the hope that love can bring in an ever-changing and sometimes hostile world.

'Writing romance has taught me that through strength, anything is possible.

Len Barot (Radclyffe)

Surgeon, farmer, publisher, and well-known author of lesbian romance fiction, writing under the pen names RADCLYFFE and L.L.RAAND. Bold Strokes Books, the publishing house Len founded a decade ago, now publishes more than 140 authors worldwide, providing both advice and a safe haven to its authors and readers.

'Romance writing is the art of depicting the emotional, physical, and spiritual journey of two (or sometimes more) people who are committed to facing life's challenges together.

'The digital age has made the world smaller in the sense that we can now reach individuals all over the world with what we write in an accessible and affordable format, while enlarging our horizons by making what we write about more inclusive, informative, and enlightening.