Romance Author Sold 85m Books World-Wide, Yet Has Never Seen Anybody Reading Them…
Tuesday, April 6, 2010Posted in: romance, romance is bad for women and it's just porn anyway
This is a really interesting interview featuring Roger Sanderson aka Gill Sanderson, and Penny Jordan, both of them, Mills and Boon authors.
I was quite surprised to learn that Gill Sanderson is actually a man. Apparently, the only man who writes for Mills and Boon. He specialises in medical romance. Go Roger.
It was also interesting to learn that despite selling well over 85 million books world-wide, Penny has never actually seen anybody reading her books in public.
Who says that shame in romance-reading is a thing of the past?
Portia Da Costa
April 6
3:02 pm
At one time there was another man writing for M&B too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marius_Gabriel
She/he had a book out in 2009
Nadia Lee
April 6
6:00 pm
Maybe many of her readers read at home?
I usually read HP right before I go to bed.
LizA
April 6
6:39 pm
I thought Roger was really sweet. I really liked the way he got started, by just giving the books his daughter read a chance and looking at them without prejudice….
Dorothy Koomson
April 6
8:41 pm
I haven’t sold anywhere near 85 million books (I wish!) but I’ve never seen anyone reading my books, either. I think my parents bought them all and put them in a garage somewhere.
FD
April 6
9:15 pm
@Dorothy Koomson -It’s funny you should say that – I was reading one of yours in the physio dept of my local hospital last Wednesday actually (thanks to Karen). The older lady sitting next to me wanted to know what it was about, so I may have converted someone else – I promised to lend it to her if I see her again tomorrow!
As to Penny Jordan – I’ve a couple of hers on my book shelf but I wouldn’t actually want to read ’em out and about, because I consider them a guilty pleasure – quite a few of her heroes are somewhat unredeemed alpha-holes, as someone on SBTB put it. I reread them when I want to revel in the melodrama and expunge some rage.
Edie
April 6
11:25 pm
There has been a couple of blokes on and off over the year, an Australian ex-journo wrote several in the early eighties, and of course I can not remember his pen name now.
Edie
April 6
11:39 pm
And that last comment of mine was supposed to read early nineties. *headdesk*
Ann Bruce
April 7
12:22 am
When the majority of my reading was still in paper format, I would never travel with a Harlequin category because it’s so short. On a four-hour flight, I’d rather carry a nice, thick Tami Hoag novel instead of 4 categories.
Ann Bruce
April 7
12:23 am
And Roger is adorable. If I was into medical romances, I’d pick up one of his titles.
katiebabs
April 7
1:55 pm
85 million romances sold? Amazing!
Thursday Midday Links | Dear Author: Romance Novel Reviews, Industry News, and Commentary
April 8
4:17 pm
[…] Scott highlighted an interview with two Mills & Boon Authors. Penny Jordan has sold 85 million copies her books worldwide and […]
Writing Roundup, April 9 « Uncategorized « Jen's Writing Journey
April 9
1:49 pm
[…] Romance Author Sold 85m Books Worldwide, Yet Has Never Seen Anybody Reading Them What is the event that will let you know you have made it? Will it be landing an agent? Landing a book deal? Or, much like the singer who goes crazy the first time she hears her song on the radio, will it be when you see someone reading YOUR BOOK on the bus, subway, or park bench? What if you sell books like mad, but you never get to see someone reading them in public? […]
Michelle
April 19
5:39 pm
When the majority of my reading was still in paper format, I would never travel with a Harlequin category because it’s so short. On a four-hour flight, I’d rather carry a nice, thick Tami Hoag novel instead of 4 categories.