Quote in The Popular Fiction Report by Michael J. Vaughn Writer's Digest April 2008

I am very disappointed and upset by some content that appeared in the April 2008 issue of Writer's Digest Magazine. In the article The Popular Fiction Report by Michael J. Vaughn (page 36 and 37) erotica writers and erotica stories and novels were thoroughly insulted.

Mr. Vaughn interviewed a romance agent for information about the romance genre, a Steven Axelrod who supposedly has been a romance agent for over 30 years. Axelrod is quoted as saying "You give a group of romance writers a couple of drinks and they'll admit it is pornography," he says. "It's hard to see it as true romance, and it has a very limited audience- they can't seem to grow it. Very few good storytellers seem to be staking their careers there."

I am used to defending erotica. I am used to the popular argument of erotica versus porn, but to see this blatant disregard of the whole genre in Writer's Digest really agrravated me. No talent, no good storytellers? I think erotica authors were thoroughly dissed and we don't deserve that.

First of all what is a romance and love story without sex, people in love have sex, basic fact of life why skip over it in a book. Second I don't think the erotic stories that I read or write should be lumped into the same category as a Web site full of guys gang banging one girl (pornography). Third if there is no market for erotic romances or no good storytellers in this sub genre than why have all the major romance publishers added erotica lines. Berkley, Avon, Harlequin, Kensington all have erotica imprints and more publishers are adding them everyday. Harlequin just added another erotica imprint, Nocturne Bites, for short e-book stories of erotic fiction. (my article The Growing Genre of Erotica on FundsforWriters.com expands on this trend http://www.fundsforwriters.com/roxannerhoads.htm).Third if there are no good storytellers in this genre why have Laurell K. Hamilton, J. R. Ward, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Mary Janice Davidson and many more authors that could be put in this sub genre been best sellers?

Mr. Vaughn should know to double check his facts, Mr. Axelrod is way behind on the times and I feel bad for any of his clients who would love to branch out into broader ranges of fiction and I am appalled that the editor's of Writer's Digest let this slip through the cracks and get published. Erotica is alive and well as are all of the erotic and erotic romance authors that your magazine just insulted.

I wrote a letter to the editors at Writer's Digest I urge any erotica writers, readers, or publishers to do the same. writersdig@fwpubs.com